Three week old baby, possible to start to bf?

[KatSlater]

Have name changed because it feels like such a stupid question

Have a 3 week old dd, bf for 2 days before I gave up. Several factors, but mostly because I have very large breasts, could only get a latch lying down and only on the left side. No joy at all on the right and I figured I couldn't spend the next 6 months lying down whenever she wanted a feed. In addition, I could barely see what I was doing when I was trying to get her on the breast. It all seemed stacked against me.

Now I just don't know... I was so proud of myself for managing to get her latched on at all (never managed a single feed with DD1) and I'm wondering if I gave up too easily.

Is there any way to restart or is it too late? There is a tiny bit there on both sides if I squeeze.

Im not more knowledgable, but i believe this is very possible....good luck

Yes, it can be done.
Takes a lot of time and stubbornness dedication.

Here is a good source for initial information

Have you contacted your local BFing support, often a dedicated MW, about this?
Or phone La Leche League or NCT?

Kat, yes, it's possible :)

You do need to work pretty intensively over a few days - any of the bf helplines will give you great support and info on what to do, and you are still within the time limit for midwifery care so you could call the community midwives and ask for help. You may be helped with an electric breastpump, but the main thing would be to simply put your baby to the breast as often as possible, keeping her skin to skin with you, and letting her self-attach as well (look up biological nurturing).

3 weeks is absolutely not too late but get going asap :)

Kellymom is a good website - I see it's already been recommended. There is a whole section on relactation. It is possible but will require a lot of work on your part and support from those around you. Good luck - it's not impossible and with the right support and plenty of chocolate cake, there's no reason why you shouldn't be succesful.

Thank you :)

I have all the various numbers in my discharge pack so I'll get on to them. I just wondered if it was possible as I didn't want to make myself look stupid in front of RL people . BF seems so long ago now!

I have bugger all else to do at the moment, I seem to be just feeding and carting round in a sling so time and opportunity is not a problem. I thought I was at peace with my decision this time but I don't think I am. I'd like to think I tried everything.

Kat, I have large breasts (38F when lactating) and I certainly found that BFing from a purely technical point of view got easier as my babies got a bit bigger themselves. Bear in mind, that baby has to learn as well how to do it, so patience and persistence is key (I am not very good at either ).

which I found very helpful when feeding a small baby. Don't worry, not a dodgy link .

Hi
Another big boobed mama here (48k), I've found recently that latching has got a little more difficult (my DD is now 4 weeks old) but am still managing, I've just had to adapt.
The breast sandwich video is interesting, I do a variation of this where I put my hand underneath my boob to make it stick out more and become flatter, which seems to help sometimes. I'd be worried about doing it exactly as the video shows though as couldn't that much pressure create blocked ducts?Another problem I have are my nipples point down so sometimes have to pull the skin up at the top to bring the nipple up.
Good luck, I'm sure plenty of skin to skin (and cake :)) will help get your supply up x

I was going to recommend the above links /organisations but also I think Dr Jack Newman has a print out on this if you google it. I got a little teary-eyed reading your post, I struggled a lot with BF in the first few months but have done it for nearly a year now and I'm so glad I stuck at it. It is hard work but it's so worth it.

I think it's amazing you plan to give it another go! Only listen to those who say you can do it and good luck! :)

I really hope it works out for you. Five months into BF my DS, it's definitely something I'm proud of. Tips from a fellow big boober (32HH):

positions can be tweaked to accommodate boobs that have a tendency to roll into the armpits, or are particularly heavy, nipples that face downwards and are flat & barely there (in my case). Don't take 'how to bf' pictures as absolute gospel (though obviously have someone on standby to help with any pain or latch issues)

Muslins are for much more than baby sick! I was jealous i couldnt really laych DS on, then very lightly support him with one, or even no hands because my (flappy flobby) boobs lolled out of DS' mouth, then a fab NCT counsellor taught me the boob hoist - basically a triangle fold muslin (like an arm sling) for hoiking up a (flappy floppy) big boob! Not one for out & about maybe! Also try rolling one up and sticking it under the boob to give a bit of 'uplift'.

Stick with it and best of luck!

Good luck, I have f cup boobs when bf and because they are so heavy the slip from dd's mouth so what I do is make scissor shape with my fingers one under the nipple one ontop, it makes more of a pointy shape. I'm always jealous of people that can one handed bf