I really don't want to bf anymore, please help :0(

[Dalrymps]

Ds is 22 weeks old. Bfing has been very difficult from the start. I saw a lactation consultant and she helped me with latching on when I was close to giving up and I managed to carry on. My right nipple has a crack, it has never healed although doesn't bleed and according to my gp isn't infected so I don't need antibiotics.

I think the larch is possibly just not quite right on that side, it gets sore for a few days if he's had a bad feed then it slowly becomes bearable again. The 'goo'd' side can get sore too but is mostly ok.

He's teething and had started clamping down on my nipples whilst feeding just to add to my pain .

I keep trying him with a bottle as to be honest I never even thought I'd get this far (only managed 5 weeks ebf with ds1). he won't take it, tried tommee tippee and mam.

I feel like I really want to stop now, I can't take it anymore and feel I'm feeding avaunt my will as I have no choice.

Please tell me what I can do to get him to take a bottle.

I don't mean to sound like I for care, I feel very guilty for wanting to stop and I know none of this is his fault but I've just had enough

I'm glad your one side has healed up enough for baby to go back on. :) I had problems early on with one boob over the other (left boob) and found that by using rugby hold instead of cradle it helped.

FWIW you can still have a glass of wine in the evenings when breastfeeding

Do you really want to go off BF or would you want to see your GP to sort out your nipple and continue?

One thing I've tried which worked a treat with my 2 DC, was to hide my nipple with the teat of the bottle. When he starts to root, bring him up to your breast and gently ease the teat into his mouth.

It may take a while, but if you persevere, he may take the bottle sooner than you think, considering you're already trying. It sounds like he hasn't quite got used to the feel of the teat. Also, try to stick to the same size and shape of teat to avoid confusion and frustration.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Sorry Dalrymps. Just got round to reading the rest of the posts after posting (If my brain worked I'd be dangerous).

Dalrymps, I started reading your thread the other day and then got distracted and now things have clearly moved on a bit!

So sorry to read that you had/have such a hard time feeding your LO - as somebody who has never particularly liked BFing (and with some problems of my own) you have my full sympathies.

It is my understanding that after 5 months of BFing your milk supply will be well established and you should be able to feed as much or as little as you want - maybe after a period of adjustment. I know women who managed to feed 1x or 2x/day or only at night or only at weekends , so go for it and do what feels right for the 2 of you !

When I weanded DS3 (when he was 1, I realise differnt situation from yours, and he took a bottle happily at that point) I did at times feed him just for my own comfort, so maybe every other day or so for a fortnight. He was not bothered and it helped me a lot (I just could not entertaint he thought of blocked glands/mastitis again).

I would agree with all those suggesting different hold to try and see whether you can get your poor nips more comfortable if you want to continue some degree of BFing.

V v best of luck . Here comes my hungry monster, bye!!

Thanks for the advice pacific and chilledchick.

The main problem is the right side, the nipple is cracked and occasionally gets very sore. The left is mainly fine unless I manage to latch him on bad for a feed then I might get some discomfort. The cracked side has just never fully healed but I can't work out why.

glad that you're feeling happier with your decision - at least you know now that you definately want to BF but you have the option of a bottle if you need. :)

As for cracked nipple - have you tried vinegar? I tried it with DS1 when I had a crack and the start of thrush and it seemed to help (didn't sting either which I worried about!) Also leaving them out in the air as much as possible helped the healing (not very practical with more than 1 child though I know!) Definately worth chasing it up with gp/hv/nurse. Pain and crack does sound like possible thrush though.

I'd it possible to have thrush just in one nipple? Would it jot have transferred to the other one?

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time Dalrymps. I had the kind of pain you are having for just a few weeks and it was one of the most difficult things I have ever been through.

I think in general thrush does tend to transfer but anything is possible! My doctor was convinced I didn't have thrush but just very sore and bleeding nipples but still prescribed just in case.

I haven't read the whole thread (sorry) and I know you asked about ways to get DS to take a bottle but I just wanted to add (in case you do decide to continue or DS takes a bit longer to take a bottle) that the thing that really helped my nipples to heal were nipple shields that my bf counsellor recommended and, most importantly showed me how to use. I needed the small Medela ones that you have to order directly from the company. Don't know if you have tried them.

It did mean I had to work on re-correcting the latch when we gave them up (about 6 weeks later) but it meant that by about 8-10 weeks I was able to feed without pain.

Good luck, whatever you decide will be the right thing IYSWIM.

Just read some of your other posts - the other thing that helped me which may now be an option for you now that DS will take a bottle is for the first 2 weeks I was using the shields I also expressed a couple of feeds per day. It was time consuming but gave me more healing time between feeds.

Thanks for the advice mini

I am trying to sort the nipple soreness atm with a view to carrying on bfing the gradually weaning on to bottle/cup. I tried nipple shields in the past but felt that the pain was no better and they didn't really suit me... Will reconsider them though.

I'm hoping the lactation consultant can help when I talk to her.

Good luck, hope it works out the way you want it to.

My 'bad' side never produced as much milk as the 'good' side by the way, but it produced enough to be useful eventually!

I wonder if that's the case with mine. I always feed more from the good side out of habit and especially when the bad side is sore...

Hi Dalrymps just wondering how you are now and how the feeding is going?

Just needed to add that my DD2 took a bottle of EBM last night no bother (from me). I didn't need to give it to her but it was expressed for the previous night when I was going to a meeting so I wanted to leave DH something to try if needed. Anyway he didn't use it so I thought I would try and it worked.
Tonight we went out and just as we arrived back home the babysitter had warmed the bottle of EBM so I decided that DH should try and give it to her anyway. It was a complete standoff with very unhappy DD2 so I tried cargirls trick of starting on the boob and slipping the bottle in and it worked a treat so thank you I'd never have thought of that tactic.
Fingers crossed we can keep trying a bottle and she will take it.
I hope things are good with you Dalrymps.

Not too bad thanks. I saw the lactation consultant and she said I can mostly feed of the good side or gradually wean off that side all together and just use good side.

She said recent research shows that some babies just create a very strong vacuum when feeding and ds might be one of those.

She said to see how it goes and if no good she could give me a double pump so I can express milk quicker for him to try with bottle/cup.

The day after that as I was trying to feed less on the bad side and more on the good side he sucked a blister on the good side, typical! So I haven't been able to wean him off the bad side but it's less sore due to the bit of rest it has had. Past few days not been so bad.

I didn't try him with a bottle until yesterday after the trauma of cold turkey last week. Dh tried a breastflow one but he wasn't in the mood at all so we just left it.

He's slowly getting the hang of taking water from his sippy cup so maybe that might be an option...

Weaning is going ok, mostly blw with the occasional spoon offering which he either wolfs down or rejects depending on how he feels. At least he's starting to eat something though so that's a bit of pressure off.

Well done on your two bottle successes! When you do the breast thing do you start Breastfeeding the unlatch and pop the bottle in? Not tried that yet...