Hello
Sorry for long post.
DS was born last week (12.10). Suffice to say that his birth was pretty traumatic and culminated in an EMCS (though not before I had already been torn really badly when they attempted to use to sucky thingy). We were then in hospital for nearly a week which was also stressful (DS needed antibiotics and more tests).
In hospital no one helped me latch DS on properly so over a couple of days he mauled my nipples and I was advised to take a break from BF and formula feed with a cup to allow my nipples to recover and DS to get enough food to deal with his relatively mild jaundice. So that's what I did.
I have since been unable to latch DS despite numerous attempts that have been upsetting for both of us. I have been formula feeding with a bottle and trying to express in between feeds so that he has at least a tiny bit of breast milk. Have also been trying to bring him to the breast and doing all 3 is exhausting, esp at night. The added problem is that he is pretty big (just shy of 10lb at birth) and so is having up to 120ml of formula per feed - it takes me a whole day to express enough for just one feed. Feel so down about it.
I don't know what to do and am pretty upset. I wanted to BF and would be happy if I could do 50/50 formula and expressing or BF.
Can anyone advise at all? He's my first DC.
Have had numerous midwives and the health visitor try to latch him on since birth but no success. It is getting to the point where I want to quit because we have had no time for skin to skin cuddles or to get to know each other. Feel so guilty and miserable though I know that bottle feeding is hardly the end of the world 