To call it a day trying to breastfeed

[Boymamabee22]

One day PP and I'm really struggling trying to breastfeed.

It's getting me down because everyone bangs on about how much easier & cheaper it is, and I do want to give it a good go. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be producing enough milk. He's had colostrum but I was in so much pain last night and so tired I gave him formula.

Not sure if this makes a difference but I had a C-section and ovarian cystectomy yesterday morning. Lost a significant amount of blood and had anaemia. Had an iron drip during the night.

Couldn't bf my first either because it was another complicated birth with him ending up in SCBU and me losing more blood.

Trying to massage my other breast while he latches and nothing is coming out.

Is it too soon to call it a day?

I’m not surprised you are finding it hard. Not everyone finds it easy in the beginning. I found it extremely hard. I ended up combo feeding and it worked for us. I’d keep putting him to the breast first and then feeding with formula. What ever you decide remember a happy baby is a fed baby.

I’m a complete BF advocate. Struggled for months to get feeding for DC 1 sorted. Fed DC 2 and 3 without issue. Definitely cheaper and easier in the long run.

I’m still going to say- your choice and not too soon. It’s more important you and baby are happy and ok than the method you choose to feed your baby.

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Not too soon, just give some formula for a few days to take the pressure off and allow yourself to sleep, heal and recover.
You can change your mind when your milk comes in if you want.
At this stage it feels like such a big deal but it’s probably the least important decision you will make as a parent.

My friend who bf always said it more expensive to bf than FF as she to pay for a bf expert several times due to problems and the extra food etc. Tbh it doesn't matter. Your baby your choice. Congratulations on the birth of your little one. X

You call it a day whenever you want to.

But first: congratulations! And have you got enough pain relief?

Right now, it’s perfectly normal that you are just producing colostrum, and his little tummy is ok with that. My milk came in on day 3 or so each time. What you can hand massage out doesn’t have any correlation to what your baby can get out of your breast either.

however for the first few days baby might be sucking pretty relentlessly - getting the “order” in for milk - which might make you feel that you’re not making enough for him.

Can you speak to a lactation expert at the hospital (provision of these can be really sketchy, most staff I saw had had some form of breastfeeding training but it didn’t mean they were experts)?

from personal experience: my first baby had mostly formula for his first five days, and a good amount of formula for his first eight weeks. I was told my nipples weren’t any good for feeding. He was breastfed til a year and my subsequent babies breastfed longer.

I've had one I pumped for and one I breastfed.

Sorry if this is obvious, but your milk won't come in for 2-5 days and after what sounds like a rough time for you it might take the longer end of that. Until then the baby is pulling tiny amounts of colostrum out. No baby is getting a belly full of milk at 1 day PP.

It's completely your choice, and the worst thing would be to feel like you're in limbo, paralysed with indecision. But what you're describing is 100% normal and things will be different each day from here.

Well your milk won't be in yet, one day PP. They only get like a tablespoon of colostrum per feed or something.

You can quit for any reason you want.

No one can tell you what to do. You know all the facts, it is cheaper, there are health benefits etc.

You need breastfeeding support by the sound of things, if you want to continue. Experienced breastfeeders will advise you if that is what you want.

If you decide you don't want to continue, that's your choice.

Completely your choice. Don't feel pressured. But think about if you'll regret stopping or not. There are advantages to BF and bottle feeding. I stopped BF after 2 days for many reasons, felt like I'd failed, but in the long run it was much better for me personally and planning on bottle feeding my second too.

And this too - everyone produces small amounts of colostrum for the first few days.

Read up on the facts here (if you want to) https://www.laleche.org.uk/beginning-breastfeeding/#colostrum

Your milk comes in by day 3 or 4. It's just colostrum before then.

Is baby content? If so, you may be doing fine, though understandable knackered!

Your body has been through so much, it’s not surprising you are struggling. All of the hormones involved in milk production are probably all crazy right now and need time to settle. Have you spoken to a bf counsellor? They may be able to help you with getting things established if that’s what you want to do. Unfortunately it will be a bit of a hard slog right now and it is very easy for us to throw in the towel as sadly our breastfeeding knowledge/ education is not great in the UK which combined with post natal tiredness and complications etc is not a great mix. With perseverance though most women go on to breastfeed successfully however, the choice is completely yours and you should make that decision based on what you feel is best for you and your baby.

You can call it a day at any point but it is normal not to be making milk for a few days after birth and your breasts do get sore as the baby suckles to bring the milk in. So so far so normal but you don't have to do it.

It took me 4 days with my first. Once my milk came it was easier and once I was back home and more relaxed.
I was offered formula at the hospital but refused and fed baby with a cup of express for a couple of days.
If you want to bf persevere. If you're not bothered don't. It's your choice.

You can quit if you want.
Newborn tummy is the size of a walnut they don't need huge amounts of colostrum/milk.

Getting passed the first 6 weeks can be hard going as your LO is trying to build your supply. And you are both learning what to do.

BF babies will probably feed more than a FF baby but Breast is the ultimate in fast food, on tap and always at the right temperature.

Only you can decide what you want to do.

Congratulations on your baby! Could you speak with an IBCLC (lactation consultant - google one in your area) or La Leche League group leader? They are honestly AMAZING - what they can do to help and all the knowledge they have is far, far beyond any advice you'd get at the hospital or from a midwife or HV. If you want to breastfeed and just need more support right now at this difficult hurdle, I can't recommend highly enough to speak to them, and they can help you through, I promise. The beginning is always difficult - but it's so worth it later on. Best of luck OP!

Fed is best, do whatever makes it easier after what sounds like a traumatic experience. I was in a similar position, baby screaming because she was hungry and she was much more settled once we switched to formula full time after a couple of weeks. Wish I'd done it sooner.

I’ll just start by saying, it’s your choice. But, problems with feeding are usually do to adjustments needing to be made with positioning and attachment. Have you got any drop in breastfeeding support groups, nhs run ones? They are amazing and run by the specialist infant feeding team who your health visitor can also refer you too.
As others have said your milk will not have come in yet. If you do want to continue breastfeeding definitely do not introduce any formula at this stage as it will affect your milk supply. Your milk is tailored toy put baby, and feeding produces the hormone that in turn produces more milk.
Seek support before you make a decision would be my advice.