New mum finding breastfeeding hard.

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My niece has a 6 day old baby.

They have both been finding breastfeeding tough and the baby has had a few bottles.

She's a bit disappointed and would like to carry on trying but I think is worried that she won't be able to.

That period is all a bit of a blur for me and not sure what to advise. I've told her to both get naked and take to bed.

Will it be difficult to get back on track?

Yes, skin-to-skin is usually very helpful. It's hard to suggest other things without the full picture. At 6 days old there is every chance she can get back to exclusively BF. Can you get her or her partner or whoever is helping out to call one of the helplines? LLL, NCT, BFN etc.

I found the first ten weeks extremely hard, razor blade pain. mastitis. I fed through to 13.5months, i found Supply & demand helped, skin to skin. The more baby feeds, the more your the body produces. I hope sea not beating herself up about it. It is really hard especially if you can't see any light at the end of the tunnel but I was told that the best was yet to come and I kept that in mind at all times throughout the open wound, mastitis, thrush and razor pain

The book "the food of love" by Kate Evans, or the womanly art of breastfeeding by LLL are fab. Or even go to your local baby cafe x

She can get back on track but probably not alone - she will need help and support. Can you tell her about this site? Also see if you can find out about any breastfeeding support groups/services/organisations near her?

If she's still under care of midwives she should be able to request a home visit to help with BF.