Help - 5th child, never breasted, started bottle but changed mind. What do i do?

[4athomeand1cooking]

Milk has come in and I have rock hard breasts.

I can't shake the feeling that I want to try breast feeding but used bottles (closer to nature) as I have never breast fed.

I don't want the milk to dry out but what do i do?

Do I need to express some to get the breast feeling softer before I offer it to baby?

Also I am not leaking anything, just really hard.

Congratulations on your new baby

Yes I would express some milk because it can be harder to latch on when the breast is too hard!

I'm not a breastfeeding expert so I can't offer any good advice but I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along with some advice!

I'm not an expert, hopefully someone will come along soon, but from memory yes express a little bit and then offer your breast to baby. I guess if your baby won't latch in you could always pump and offer a bottle until some meow expert help comes along. Good luck.

Please phone a breast feeding helpline

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/breastfeeding-help-support.aspx#close

Call your midwife and ask for information about local Breastfeeding support including bf cafés. Check if there is an Infant Feeding Specialist at the hospital where you gave birth.

Have you tried this website:

kellymom.com

Or this one:

www.breastfeedinginc.ca

Congratulations on your new baby!

Would second stargirl's advice to get help in RL.

In the meantime this page may be useful.

I would do skin to skin this evening with your baby and put them to the breast whenever he/she displays hunger cues. The page I linked to describes biological nurturing which can be a good way of getting started.

Thank you, these links have been very good.

Good luck! In some cultures they only start breastfeeding as their milk comes in so you aren't too late. Hope it goes well for you and you get some help tomorrow.