Expressing - is it hard to go back to bf?

[msVal]

Baby is 12 days old - first 5 days of breastfeeding went fine then suddenly she couldnt latch on. My nipples got really damaged, used a nipple shield on thursday hoping to give them a chance to recover,breast again on Friday then Friday night I had to start expressing and feeding her by bottle as I was just too sore. Got mastitis, fever etc on Saturday, on antibiotics so that's much better now, and my nipples seem to have healed up.

So - I want to try to put baby back on the breast today - but I am scared! Don't want it to hurt (such a wuss I know!) and am thinking that because she has gotten used to getting milk from the bottle which is really quick and easy and doesnt need the same latch as the breast we will have even more problems than before.

I bf baby no 1 til she was 13 months and it was brilliant (though hard at the start, but not this hard) and I really really want this to work for baby no 2. Also all the expressing and sterilising is such a hassle that I don't think I will be able to keep it up.

If anyone has any advise or suggestions I would love to hear them. Thank you x

I know of babies who've taken the breast after months away, so that's not necessarily going to be a problem. I think the theory goes that the sooner you get baby to the boob the better, so the fact that she's only 12 days may help.

Lots and lots of skin to skin - get people in to help look after your 1st LO if poss, or ship them out to family for the day. You want to get baby as relaxed as poss, place her on your chest and let her nuzzle and root - but don't let her get too hungry, so maybe a little expressed milk via the bottle first. When you're both comfy, try the breast. If it doesn't work first time, unlatch and try again.

You may find biological nurturing works for you. Also, warm bath with skin to skin too.

I would also get outside help one to one if you can, as you want to make sure that latch is spot on.

thanks jemjabella - the health visitor is coming today so think i will wait for her and see if she can help with the latch. thanks for the encouragement- i appreciate it :)

Unless the HV has specific breastfeeding training she may not be much cop (I know, I'm a big cynic). See how you get on, but if it feels painful at all you will need more help.

Nothing else to add Im afraid but just wanted to say, ask your midwife for some jelonet (surgical dressing covered in vaseline type stuff, cut into small squares and put on nipple) My midwife gave me some when my nipples were incredibly sore, and said that it will sort them out in 24 hours and it absolutely did. Its AMAZING stuff. I so wish I'd had some with my DS first time around. Anyway, I know that wasn't strictly the question but just a tip incase they get sore again and it puts you off!

i got my lass back to the boob after 3 weeks of expressed bottles to start off with, i did have the help of several breastfeeding consultants but i'm sure your health visitor would know where to refer you.
the latch has been dodgy since this was a bit of a dubious start, but when it has got really sore(but before it's really damaged) i have fallen back on expressing to give the nipple a chance to heal. they heal up surprisingly quickly when they have a few days rest, but you do need to keep expressing to keep the supply up.
i also found it really helpful to discover the least painful position (lying down for me) and use it as much as you can until she get the hang of it and it all falls into place.
it wasn't until she was 14 weeks that we were completely pain free, but i was so glad i persevered. i remember thinking that she was so small, how was she ever going to 'learn' what she was supposed to be doing (let alone ME learn!) but she did.
i hope you find the solution for you