Help me follow my plan to BF the second time around

[ballinacup]

I'm currently 31 weeks pg with DS2. Initially I swore I would FF from birth but as my pregnancy progresses, I really want to BF.

DS1 was a nightmare birth, I had pre eclampsia and was hospitalised for the week before his birth. The birth itself was an agonising failed induction with no pain relief as the epidural failed followed by an emergency section. My milk didn't come in, by day 7 he had lost 20% of his birthweight and was screaming constantly with hunger. I gave him a formula feed and he was instantly a changed baby. He was content, he slept.

My milk eventually came in at day 10, by which point I was in the throes of PND.

Please tell me that I won't be left with the option of starve my baby for over a week or FF. Did anyone else wait that long for their milk the first time followed by a more normal 2/3 days the second time?

:( :(

Can you share your hopes and memories with a midwife you trust?

If there is any suggestion things are not going swimmingly from day 1-2, you can hand express colostrum, which can be given to your baby to maintain hydration/weight.

Sounds like the delay in milk coming in - which really was a long delay - had to do with your very difficult birth, and possibly events afterwards.

Hope you get good help.

Thank you for your reply tiktok.

I've never seen the same midwife twice unfortunately. I also live in an area with a very low uptake for breastfeeding. Unfortunately, this means that neither MWs or HVs will do much to assist beyond suggesting formula.

That's a shame....but there will be someone somewhere to help :)

There may be peer supporters and breastfeeding support groups in your area - they are everywhere !

The peer supporters will know how to get the sort of breastfeeding help you need.

You can google for your nearest groups or call the maternity unit.

I'm sorry you had such a stressful and upsetting time, and I hope for a much easier experience this time.

Peer supporters were my lifeline; breastfeeding cafes we're amazing and I wouldn't have got through the tough weeks without them. I had a different experience with a baby being bottle fed in nicu, but still a struggle getting established. I had to wait almost a week to start breastfeeding, but I was hand expressing in the meantime (pitiful amounts...)

Honestly, this place was also massively helpful. Someone was always on hand to listen, encourage and provide advice and experience. It calmed me down numerous times.

Good luck with your newest baby! I hope it goes really well.