Expressed milk by bottle when?

[Vmama]

i've been told by midwife not to give ebm by bottle until DS is 3 weeks -he's 2 weeks now and i have really cracked sore nipples can we give him an ebm bottle to give my boobs a break? has anyone done this?

you can give EBM anytime you like
people often suggest not giving a bottle to avoid nipple confusion in the early days

You can give him EBM but it would be better given by cup to avoid nipple confusion. It sounds as though he is not attaching properly if you have sore cracked nipples. Has your MW or health visitor watched you feed?

yes I had lactation consultant round too and she said he seems as though he has nipple confusion already but he'd never had a bottle then -she thought maybe it was because he'd been sucking thumbs in the womb.

He struggled right from the start -I had a long labour and caesarian he was sleepy from the drugs and then jaundiced but each day his technique (and mine) improved then we had a bad day when we got home i ended up sobbing and sobbing and then finally we seemed to crack it.

at first he would feed from both breasts then after we came home he refused my right breast so i fed him just from the left now he feeds from both again but the right breast has less milk so he gets grumpy if i only give him that one so now he has left after right. I have started to express to stimulate milk suply in right breast. Nipples got so bad the other night that DH went out and got some formula and he had 2 bottle feeds. I worried that he wouldn't take my breast after that but if anything it's been better since then and gave me a break from the pain.

Last night he fed every hour between 5 and 9 then slept til 4am!

Health visitor coming tomorrow should I get her to watch me feed?

Definitely get her to watch - it may be that his positioning has slipped a bit. Also get her to check for tongue-tie. If he is on properly you nipples should be improving. Have you got Lansinoh cream for your nipples? Or silver breast pads for healing at all?

silver breast pads

mears, Determination is the only person I have seen recommending silver healing befre. have you seen it working?

Vmama, I had a really badly cracked nipple caused by improper latch before I knew what I was doing. Even though I was doing everything right after that, it didn't heal until I gave my nipple a rest. I used nipple shields temporarily and expressed and gave using tommee tippe closer to nature bottles and DS didn't get nipple confusion.

I would make sure your technique is right first tho.

I used jelonet and aven breast shells to help heal my nipple.

avent not aven

Thanks for all this -I have been expressing and letting DH give the last feed using tommee tipee closer to nature and so far so good -I keep getting mixed messages from the mw/hv though my hv said this was ok if it gave me a break and then today my mw said I shouldn't be doing it as it's too long to have him not taking my breast and will make my mil suply dry up!

Also is it normal to still be so weepy -most of the time I'm fine and feel really upbeat and pleased at how things are going then for no reason I'll get down and start crying for no reason and just feel overwhelmed by it all.

Depression runs in my family and I'm terrified of getting PND though I think this is normal -any thoughts?

Vmama - sounds like you've got a lot to contend with! The first few weeks are hard, I was up and down and all over the place, like you I worried about PND as I had depression in the past. BUT, I would say that this is probably normal for 2 weeks, especially if you are knackered. Keep an eye on yourself, and ask for help if you feel down all the time.

vmama, I was very down in the first few weeks as well. It is normal, but if it carries on too long go and see your gp.

things got better for me once my nipple healed up.

I think if you have sore nipples and are worried about how your new baby is feeding then you are a good candidate for being weepy and self doubting. Once they settle down and the feeding is second nature you will probably relax.

Try different positions - I think the feet under the arm one is easier on the nipples. And air time is good for sore nipples. As is kamillosan - the one in the tube not the tub.

Good luck. Soon this phase will be a distant memory.

Vmama: you'll be feeling weepy from hormones alone for a few weeks - tiredness from bfing adds another dimension. Get all the help (and sleep!) you can, and if you feel like it's getting too much, talk to your hv or gp. Things will settle down soon, I promise