After my rant yesterday, today I'm quitting

[Sleepybunny]

It was going reasonably well. Nipples cracked sore and bleeding. Got nipple shields and worked on latching better. She fed until satisfied and I expressed a couple times a day to help with the evening cluster feeds and boost supply.

Last night was hell, she fed on and off for long periods of time. Nipples are in agony despite the shields and still seem to be bleeding.

Cup feedind is a nightmare, she spits out so much and takes an ounce over 40 minutes. Most of it is soaked into a cloth or down her baby grow.

She's only a week old, If i saw a BF councilor, I'm sure she's latch perfectly when observed.

Feel like shit and can't see a way forward. I have a three year old to think about too.

Cheers Soup, my first was a premie and would stuggle to even open her mouth to attempt a latch, so I expressed my way through it. Gave her EBM through a bottle, but she just never wanted back on the breast after a few weeks, and so long as she was ebf and happy, I didnt care. She developed reflux, so I was determined to keep her on BM, as the perscription formulas looked grim.

10 months of that shit, I was determined to get it right with this one.

if it hadn't been for the sheer bloody mindedness that got me through the first, I wouldn't have got through the next two. Knowing it would get better definitely helped (and I'm sorry but I can't remember when!! Only 2 weeks I think).

One thing about breastfeeding is that it can be a one handed operation (or even hands free with the right sling) leaving one arm free for turning the pages of a book or hugging another child. I found a sling invaluable with DD as it meant she was happy in there whilst I did stuff for/with her brothers.

At the end of the day, parenting is about compromise and doing what works for you.

You aren't letting your baby down, you have breastfed for a week - that's a wonderful start for your baby. Lovely to hear from others that you can mix feed and maybe return to ebfing later.

Every breastfed feed counts, sista!

Whatever happens today, just wanted to express (hoho) solidarity.

Whatever you decide is fine.

The group didn't have the breast feeding councilor today. Unfortunately not much help, but as a plus it was good to get out of the house and I mangaged to breast feed a couple times today and did a top up of EBM in a bottle.

Thanks again for the positive vibes.