What do I do?

[Nbg]

I was going to start this thread nearer to the birth but since we're moving and the internet might be going, now might be better.

Basically, I don't know what to do when it comes to feeding this new baby.
With dd I was 100% for breast but when it came to it, it didn't really work out.
Firstly one of my nipples is inverted so dd couldn't latch on and the second breast just wouldn't produce anything.
The morning after I had dd, I had a midwife squeezing one boob and an auxillary nurse squeezing the other, trying to get some colostrum into a dish to syringe feed dd.

Things got worse from there and I ended up bottle feeding as dd was getting nothing. This worked out fine, dd was happy and still is a happy healthy child.

Now I have to admit I wasn't disappointed in bottle feeding, I was totally happy with my decision and I loved the fact that dh and others could help out with the feeding.

This time I'm thinking I would like to give it another shot but possibly go for mixed feeding.
Would this be successful? Is there a fool proof way of doing it?

I just have so many questions running through my head and my other worry is that I will have to find new ante-natal care when we move (different part of the country) so I'm not sure what support will be there.
My midwife here is fantastic so I know I have lots of help and advice but this will all change in 4/5 weeks time.

I'll have to go now but will check back later.
Any advice/help/info will be greatly appreciated

IMO the best people to help are the ABM tyoes, i think they'll talk to you while your pregnant. Midwives are ok, HV are useless (may just be mine?) but the breastfeeding cousellors see it day in, day out and are so well trained and experienced. They may well be able to give you some advice on the inverted nipple thing too. You never know, your new health authority may be really hot on breast feeding support.

We
Er well that being me, dh and dd

Not me and the MW if thats what you thought!

Hi moondog, I feel that you are a little negative towards lactation consultants and or breast feeding advisors. I wouldn't have breast fed my daughter without the dedication of my breast feeding advisor. She deserves a medal, she even takes her mobile on holiday just incase you need advice or moral support. I fed my daughter untill she was two and couldn't wait to do it again. She got me through the worst time of my life and gladly it didn't happen 2nd time around with my son who is now ten months. Breast feeding is the best thing you can do for your child if people really knew the contents of formula then wouldn't give it to their child. I am currently traing to be breast feeding peer counsellor and I consider myself to have enough experience to offer advice and support for those mums who want to what they feel is right and want to breast feed. Don't assume that people don't know what they are talking about because that isn't always the case!

No bg,you've misread my post!
I'm saying that midwives generally aren't clued up about b/feeding unless they are additionally b/feeding vcounsellors or lactation consultants!!!

Fantastic that you are training to be a peer counsellor (I have done that also.)

You must be new around here,or I would suspect that you would know about my pro breastfeeding stance (which is putting it mildly.)

Bottlefed Dd1, like you nbg it worked out fine for me she slept through at 8 weeks and the fact that others could help out was a real bonus.

Breastfed Dd2 for 7 weeks used nipple shields as had problems latching her on.

I will admit that the support wasn't there and next time i will be looking elsewhere for help as i felt the midwives never really had the time.

Browniegirl
'Breast feeding is the best thing you can do for your child if people really knew the contents of formula then wouldn't give it to their child.'

So what is the contents of formula that is so bad for a child?
I would be interested on some real scientific information on the ingrediants of formula milk is the long term effects on a child.
I know others have said it before but just like to add that i was bottlefed, i am 27 years old have no allergies whatsoever and consider myself a reasonably healthy person, quite good really conseidering i was fed on something as dangerous as formula milk!!

amyjade, you can find info about the ingredients of formula on the l....o....n....g thread in this folder. It might need a bit of ploughing through but if you put 'ingredients' into Find then I think the info will come up.

good luck whatever you do, amy. If it's any consolation, I struggled and gave up after weeks of pain first time but 2nd time round had no problems whatsoever (and I chose to sort it out alone this time having, like you, got completely inadequate support/advice last time). I'd therefore say keep an open mind, if you do want to bf, you may find it much easier as you've tried it before, you know what doesn't work for you and have more confidence in your own body. Don't feel guilty if it doesn't work out though!