Not sure I can carry on with breastfeeding

[PollyIndia]

It is getting more not less painful to the point that I cry each time we feed. I have had a multitude of advice on the latch but never seems to help. My nipples are cracked and bleeding and getting worse. I do not want to give up, but I am at my wits end. He is only 2 weeks old. I had mastitis last 2 days which didn't help. I a pumping the right today and will give him the milk in a bottle to give the nipple a break.

Could nipple shields be worth a try? This is worse than labour!!

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

Yeah I guess so. I had a rubbish pregnancy, a stupidly long labour & every BFing problem going. I do have a baby that doesn't cry though....

Really hope it improves for you. Think its sensible to give yourself time frame to re-evaluate. BFing is not an instant thing my any means, it takes a while for you both to adjust. If you do end up stopping you will know you've given it your best shot. You can't do more than that. The vasospasm is an extra whammy to contend with.

Hold on to the good feeds & they may slowly start becoming the majority. That's how it happened for me. It just slowly got better. By 10 weeks I realised I was actually enjoying it.

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

And lots of deep breaths!!!

[PollyIndia]

The vasospasm is horrible. Made it hard to sleep last night, my nipples were so painful. The weird thing is that the TT being cut seems to have made it worse. Is that possible??

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

They are learning to latch in a new way so it could be due to that. Kellymom has some good info on vasospasm. Did they say what's causing yours? Mine was raynauds & resolved on its own after a while.

How's the latch? I found the flipple helped with mine.

[PollyIndia]

They said maybe the tongue tie, but it hasn't made any difference, so I am off to the docs later to see what he can suggest. Then at least I have tried everything. And as i said, I am going to hold on to 6 weeks before making a decision so if I do decide to try mixed feeding, my supply will be established.

What is the flipple? I shall google it!

He has been quite unsettled the last few days, crying a lot and not napping for long, plus feeding a lot more than usual. A growth spurt do you think? He is 4.5 weeks old and has just started smiling and cooing in the last few days also.

[PollyIndia]

ah, the flipple! I have been trying to do that actually... will try and copy the video more closely

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

It took a couple of weeks for the latch to improve after having it snipped. I thought it would be instant but no, typically, it took a work. Could you go to the bFing cafes for help? I camped out in various ones for the first 8 weeks. Sure they were sick of the sight of me but I just couldn't get the hang of it.

The flipple really helped get a deeper latch going. it took practice & in a couple of weeks they are bigger which helps too.

Sound like a growth spurt. DS had one at 5 weeks for a week that nearly killed me! This is the big one that really establishes your supply. He fed constantly day & night. It's so lovely when they start smiling, I cried first time DS smiled. So nice to get something back!

[PollyIndia]

Yes, it really is!! So this could be that growth spurt?? (she says hopefully). Or am I due another one in another week or 2? Don't worry, I know you can't possibly answer that!!

Went to docs re the vasospasm but he just said give it time, use the hot water bottle and I am doing well to still be persevering. So no magic wand!

[PollyIndia]

I have read that growth spurts based on edd so as my baby was 2 weeks late, this could well be the 6 week one which makes me happy!!

[anothertiredmum]

PollyIndia I could have written what you have written... I feel the same, I am trying and trying and I am making very little progress, the pain is constant so now I am considering mixed feeding...BF is depressing me and turning me into a miserable mother... :( but the idea of not BF makes me sad too.

[PollyIndia]

The same anothertiredmum!! How old is your baby? Why is this so bloody hard?!

[PollyIndia]

Seriouslysleepdeprived, might go back to the breastfeeding cafe tomorrow. I have been going weekly to date.

[anothertiredmum]

PollyIndia I too feel I have tried everything, I saw a lactose consultant, la leche league, had a session one on one with a BF councillor, went to 2 BF cafes, plus the mw and hv.... when they are next to me, my latch is ok, at home alone, things are so different. Mind you every time someone shows me how to do it, I am on a chair and at home I feed on a sofa. I can't imagine feeding on a chair at night. My baby is 3 weeks old and I am considering very seriously to start mix feeding. I cried most of today and I am worried it will send me into depression as I feel such a failure.

[PollyIndia]

All very familiar, but you a not a failure if you switch and neither am I. Breastfeeding is really hard and lots of people don't make it to 3 weeks, your baby has had the colostrum, and that is amazing. See what you can do, but the mos important thing is a happy mother. Then your baby will be happy.

I have also cried a lot over this... But you have to draw a line I think. Mine is 6 weeks. I am sorry you are feeling as you do and I massively sympathise as will many women on this thread xxx

[anothertiredmum]

I was planning to carry on till 6 weeks as I thought it was supposed to get easier then.... but I am not sure I can do it. It makes me really sad. Thanks for your kind words x

[PollyIndia]

I wouldn't think about 6 weeks. Just think about the next feed, and take each one at a time. You may get further than you think, but if not, you have given it your best shot and that s all any of us can do xx

[BoffinMum]

I am so sad people are feeling depressed about not being able to bf successfully. It's really not an issue to your babies at all, they won't mind - they just want happy mummies. Please don't feel guilty. Ff for western people with clean kitchens is a perfectly viable option when it just proves too distressing to bf. Seriously. And all babies feed differently so it doesn't mean you'll always have problems with future babies.

[PollyIndia]

I think it is because I have put so much into it boffinmum. I can't quite believe we can't do it. I think once I have given him the first bottle of formula I will feel better... It is only my bloody minded ness stopping me!

[BoffinMum]

I can understand that. Well, one bottle of ff is only one bottle and you can always revert if you want to.

FWIW I think you have done amazingly.

[PollyIndia]

Thank you boffinmum xx

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

How are you getting on? Hope things have improved for you by now

[PollyIndia]

Still here, still feeding... Though still painful. I went for more osteopathy today with this charity who do it for donations so hoping that helps but he has lost his appetite this pm.

Thanks for asking! I made it to 6 weeks. Hurrah!

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

Oh well done! Sorry it's still painful though. Really hope it rights itself for you.

We went to the Wandsworth charity one when DS was around 12 weeks. They were excellent & helped loads. DS wouldn't really feed on the left & kept pulling off all the time. Turns out he had a stiff neck but its all sorted now.

The lack if appetite could be a growth spurt too. DS lost his at the 8 week one which made me worry (again). Do you have the wonder weeks book? Really fab.

[ChestnutsRoastingonaWitchesTit]

Get the tongue tie snipped!
No matter what your lactation consultant says, It IS severe if its causing latch and nipple problems!

My ds had a minor tongue tie but coupled with a dainty mouth, it caused me to almost give up BFing. He had his first, proper satisfying 20 minute feed the day after. The difference between this and his former 1-2 minute feeds was amazing. I carried on BFing after that til he was 15 months.

[ChestnutsRoastingonaWitchesTit]

Oops sorry, I skimmed the posts

Hope you and ds are well