DS is now 4 weeks old. After having early problems with bfing, I saw a lactation consultant (who came highly recommended and who has been fantastic so far). She told me that because my nipples (not the areola - just the actual nipple bit) are so large, DS can't get enough of the areola in his mouth to stimulate the milk to flow properly (his little mouth is so full with my actual nipple that not enough of the areola fits in).
So she advised pumping to keep up my milk supply - initially every 2 hours for a week or so and then as my supply increased I could go to every 3 hours and then every 4. It was hellish at the start but now doing every 3 or 4 hours and have a really good supply (way more than DS drinks).
I have to feed DS with my milk from a bottle and try him on the breast once a day and also if he was uneasy and wanted to suck. Lactation consultant firmly believes that sometimes between 4 and 6 weeks (or possibly up to 2 months), DS should latch on well and I should be able to bf properly. She said that because I bf immediately after the birth and bf only for the first 10 days (was not expressing then at all) I shouldn't worry about nipple confusion and actually when DS is at the breast, he does do some swallowing (partic when i do compressions) and latches on and does seem happy and content there. And sometimes he definitely refuses a bottle on favour of breast (obviously jot that hungry then and wants to suck).
Just finding it hard to stay positive and optimistic that this will work out and that DS will drink milk straight from me. Have this feeling that I'm going to be pumping forever... And keep telling myself to be patient and wait for DS' little mouth to get bigger
Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone else with large nipples? Thank you so much!