I'm struggling (very long)

[WillYuleDoTheFandango]

I posted the other day about my newborn DS(8days) - he is tongue tied and cannot latch. I managed to get him onto the breast but after 2 sucks he falls off, sobs and refuses over and over. The hospital cannot snip for 6-8 weeks

I have been expressing and mix feeding him but tbe tie also means he tires when taking a bottle and only takes 1oz every 1.5-2h. I am struggling to look after him, express and get a reasonable amount of food/drink/sleep to continue to produce milk.

I have borrowed the hospital medela double pump which means expressing only takes 40 mins (including sterilising etc) but to boost supply I'm having to do it every 2-3h and it has to go back on Thursday. The local rental place is closed until 2nd jan. this will mean I need to buy a cheaper pump and it will take considerably longer than it already is.

This morning I decided to give up and allow my milk to dry up. This seems like the rational choice in the day but at night I feel so sad thinking about it. I know you can't tell me what to do but any advice would be welcome. Also I'm in agony so any advice about stopping is welcome too.

Will jule, where are you? I have the contact details of a last who snipped my little ones tie, she is fab and we waited three days!
I know how hard it is. You are doing brilliantly! Xxx

Contact details of a lady WillYule!

It's very hard to be rational about anything with a newborn! Glad you are getting some help, I really hope you can come to a decision you are happy with. All the best to you and your little one.

Have you thought about a Supplemental Nursing system? It means you can bf and ff at the same time. I am using one to relactate. I wish I had known they existed when I was struggling with bf. I bought the Medela one from Amazon. I paid for express delivery and it arrived in 24 hours.

All the best.

Let us know how you are and what the mw and HV say tomorrow

I absolutely recommend getting it done privately. Your bf counsellor should be able to give you details, or Google it. I was told with DS2 I'd need to wait at least two weeks for the snip. I was in so much pain that was NEVER going to happen so we paid £150 and it was done the day after we were discharged on the kitchen table! Wishing you lots and lots luck

I'm in the northwest, my local hospital can't do it so I had the option of Oldham or Preston. I chose Preston as their list is slightly shorter.

I'll look into that Stargirl I've never heard of them.

I'll google going privately.

We've turned a corner with the ff and I am so much happier. I gave DS a dummy yesterday and its really helped him with sucking the bottle! I think we may have gone past the point where direct bf will be possible though.

I'll come back and update, thank you all

Hang on in there, I know it's hard and I will never thank my BC enough! La Leche League also have a helpline and if you find your local Baby Cafe you'll get lots of support not only from BC/LC but other mums who have been there! Good for baby blues as well!

Oh you poor love. My DS is 4 weeks and I had the same issues. Got the most wonderful help and support on here when I was in floods of tears.

We used a cup too but had to give up fir the same reasons as you. DS did get his tongue tie snipped very quickly (within a week). Is stepping hill an option for you - that's where we went. We had an appointment within 5 days of the referral.

Notwithstanding this, it has been really hard to get him back on the breast. Therefore, I've kept expressing (up doing it now). I have an ameda lactaline pump as mentioned up thread and it's great. I ordered a spare as so paranoid about it breaking and it was on special offer.

I've decided to keep expressing for as long as I can. Just taking one day at a time. I've managed to build my supply up relatively quickly and it's really not too bad. One benefit of the bottles is that my DH can help me out with night feeds etc.

If you can, do order the lactaline pump and I wish you lots of luck, however things turn out. I well remember the night time sobbing and I know how awful you can feel -they never cover this at the bloody NCT classes!

Midwife has just told me that Preston is stacked at the minute and recommended we go to steppinghill instead. I'm to ask the health visitor tomorrow.

I'm just going to express as and when I need to and give him that for now