Struggling to get 8 month DD to BF, need help!

[Lynzjam]

Arghhh sorry forgot to change title of Lynzjam thread so ditching that one.

DD is almost 8 months and we are having a really crap time of it just now.

Everytime I try to breastfeed her she goes from being quite happy to screaming and crying. She will only have a couple of sucks then sit up and cry. She sometimes leans back to try again but the same happens.

This means a let down doesn't happen and well she doesn't get milk. I keep persisting for five mins or wait til a letdown happens then put her on. She doesn't wait for the let down. I just have to grab her when I feel it and put her on boob.

I currently have an abscess in my left boob which I think is getting better. I have been back at work over a month and since then she has slept terribly.

I'm thinking her teeth have alot to do with it. Her gums are bulging and her top two will be through soon. She keeps rubbing her nose and eyes which I think are itchy due to teething.

I'm in a bit of a state with it all. What upsets me most of all is her getting upset when I try to breastfeed her and I'm aware I really need to keep boob with abscess milked as much as possible. It's a struggle for my mum (who looks after her when I'm working) to get her to take a bottle of EBM as she often refuses or just chews the bottle.

Lack of sleep is really getting to me too.......I' m on my knees here. Please tell me this will pass!

I dread breastfeeding her because ultimately it will lead to her getting upset.

Yours tearfully

Lynzjam

Nurofen. She is just plain refusing this morning.

Sigh..........

You really are having a tough time of it.
You are doing amazingly well.

Can you get to see somebody in real life today? A breastfeeding counsellor? Have you tried any of the helplines?

Don't be afraid to give her painkillers - give them to her regularly today and not just when she is grumbling again, it will be more effective.

Can you get her to the doctors today to just have her ears/throat etc checked out?

In the meantime, try expressing before a feed so that you your milk has let down when she latches on. Is it the same with both breasts? Could she be getting frustrated with the affected breast if supply has dipped temporarily?

Feeeling slightly better this evening but mega tired. I saw the doctor again today (a different one) just to sort of put my mind at rest over the weekend. He talked about waiting til I finished the course of antibiotics and perhaps going for an ultra sound to check the lumps in my boob. There are two just now and he's thinking maybe they are cysts?

I'm using a manual pump to get the letdown going then putting DD on straight away so she's getting milk from me now! I think DD is doing really well considering. She is really happy most of the time but obviously irritated with gums which are absolutely huge just now. She looks like a different baby with her big gums!

I think it's a combination of a lot of crap stuff happening all at once. Sudden abscess without knowing I even had mastitis, DD teething, nursing strike, crap sleep.

Right off to bed!

Oh I'll be seeing a BF support worker on Wednesday next week. I've been in touch with one via text too. Had lots of support, lucky me!