What to do next? Struggling to bf but baby refusing bottle

[dorcas111]

My dd is 5 weeks and we have had a terrible struggle with breastfeeding. Cracked, bleeding nipples from the start, eventually diagnosed with posterior tongue tie which we had snipped a week ago. Things seemed to improve, although I then was diagnosed with thrush which I am taking medicine for. But her latch is as bad as ever, she still doesn't seem able to use her Tongue to cushion her gum, my nipples are left compressed and misshapen and very sore. One is now bleeding. I have tried expressing from that breast to give it a break but she won't take the bottle or a cup. I'm at my wits end, in a lot of pain and not sure I can keep breastfeeding but I need to get food into her. Any ideas? How can I get her to bf better?

Bless you- sounds like you're having a difficult time. I only managed to express for 6 weeks as I had to go back to work so we switched to formula quite early on. We didn't have any problems with bottle feeding (using expressed breastmilk or formula) as ds had such a strong suck reflex but i did have problems breastfeeding and it was an awful time so can empathize with what you're going through on that front.

Have you tried speaking to the nct breastfeeding line on Breastfeeding Line - 0300 330 0771 8am?10pm, seven days a week.
www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.org/info-centre/getting-help/helplines
As far as i know you don't need to be an NCT member to use the helpline. i didnt use it myself so can't recommend I'm afraid.

I can't offer much help/advice except to say you need to do what's right for you and dd- despite all the encouragement by midwives to continue bf sometimes persevering with bf can cause unnecessary stress in what should be a lovely & happy time. If you have persevered for 5 weeks and bf is still causing so much pain i'd concentrate on getting some formula into dd and give you poor nipples a break. Have you tried lots of different bottles- some babies prefer a specific teet and they are all a different shape. Avent, dr browns, closer to nature tommie tippee, medela, boots own brand, Sainsbury's own brand etc. It might be an expensive exercise but maybe successful.
Also we were given some large sterile syringes by the postnatal ward for administering antibiotics but it was suggested we could use those for expressed milk in the first few days if the suck reflex wasn't great so that could be an idea?

What is dd's weight like? Is she dropping percentiles?

I would suggest the use of nipple shields as a temporary measure to help with the soreness. Worked a dream for me and saved my sanity. As far as bottles go, we found Dr. Browns to work the best for our fussy DD. Good luck xx

I think you need RL help with your latch try one of the helplines

National Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 100 0212

NCT Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 330 0771

La Leche League Helpline
0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
08444 122 949

and you deffanclty don't need to be a memeber to use the NCT BF helpline.

I think you will find that some babies with TT have as much problems with bottle's as with BF, you can try shields but they don't always work to help with sorness and are only best used temporarly so baby doesn't become attaceh to them. As for cup feeding have you tired syring feeding or feeding of a spoon. But do please get RL help I think this is a problem some one probably needs to see you with.

Another point about the thrush I take it they are treating both you AND baby this is improtant as you will just pass it back a forth otherwise.

Good luck.

Thanks for your replies and good advice. We managed to get her to take a bottle which was a relief, and we FF her for twenty four hours which gave me some respite. I'm now expressing and bottle feeding. Following a consultation with the LC I think the problem is the thrush mostly, which is causing me agony when she feeds, I think more so than the latch, although that is still a bit of a struggle for her at times. I am managing some breast feeds which I'm happy about, wish I could do more but need the thrush to clear up and the damaged tissue to heal. EBF is sadly not an option right now, I just have to hope bottle feeding is not going to sabotage the breast feeding.