help, i think i have blown it!

[FirmBottom]

I expressed and bottle fed my ds yesterday, to give my poor saw nips a rest, and because poor ds had thrush in his mouth. Today, he is refusing to BF.

I must admit I kind of prefer to feed like this, as i can see what he is getting, and it hurts less. But i cant help feel i have wussed out at the first hurdle :(

Does anyone else do this? Have they done it successfully for a couple of months. Please reassure me this is a realistic option.

If you do want to feed like this then there are mumsnetters who have done this. Obviously, it's hard, hard work and the pump is usually less efficient at removing milk than your baby. But, it is possible to do it for many months.

I'm assuming that you and ds have been treated for thrush so things should get better on that score. He could be refusing to bf because of the thrush.

If things weren't so sore, would you rather continue with direct bfing?

he is only a week old, bless him, and we are treating his thrush, which is a lot better today.

I am totally in two minds regarding the pumping, one minute i think, i can do it at more regular intervals, so I can manage my supply better and it seems to be working for me. Then I think, don@t be such a wuss, other people manage to BF, through much worse pain than me.

If things were not so sore, i would prefer to BF, right up to when i see his little wobbly head coming towards my poor boob!

I am a bit worried now that as it is about 48 hours, he won't go back to the nipple anyway.

I'm an expressor! DS is 3 months old and I can express 3 of his feeds a day (about 16oz) I then give him 2 formula feeds as well. DS although would latch at the beginning would scream after 3 seconds as he couldn't get anything out, at about 5 weeks I managed to get him to feed directly but we ended up in hospital for 48 hours a few days later (unrelated) and he never settled on the breast again, although if i am not careful he tries to snatch a snack here and there!

I have hired a hospital grade double pump after a disastrous week with a tommy tippee pump and it is difficult as I need to plan my day around expressing but i have got it down to 3 pumps a day and it works for us.

I never got to the point where i was feeds in front so what I express is what is used that day iyswim

It can work, but you need to decide what is best for you. Plus selfishly it means i get 3 20 min uninterupted sessions throughout the day to mn

thank you for all the help and advice. When the MW diagnosed thrush, she did not mention treating me as well.

I love the idea of staying in bed babymooning, but unfortunately, i still have to work a couple of hours a day, own business, no way round it and look after DD. Luckily he is a good sleeper.

I think i may stick to pumping, it does not seem to take any longer than BFing anyway, and it appeals to my need for control. I did not plan to BF for more than a couple of months anyway.

Glad to hear expressing works for you Pootle. I hope I manage to do as well