Want to start breastfeeding 3 weeks in

[lauramay30]

My baby is currently 17 days old. I decided not to breastfeed after a long and traumatic birth, but am now feeling guilty for not trying. Can I start breastfeeding now or is it too late?

It's possible but might involve some hard work, the best thing would probably be to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor. NCT used to have a breastfeeding line and might be able to help.

It's possibly but get support to help you get there

It is certainly possible, though you will have to feed feed feed your baby to build up supply, and probably pump in between breast feeds too.

If you want to do this, I would recommend speaking to a lactation consultant (IBCLC), which you may be able to find through a local La Leche group, or independently.

Your hospital may also have an Infant Feeding coordinator or team. The coordinator at my local hospital is absolutely fantastic and would absolutely work with a 17 day old to re-establish breastfeeding. Worth ringing the HV or midwife team to ask if there's an infant feeding team you can speak to.

There is also a lot of online help and advice, though I would try to get some real life support too. Kellymom.com has a lot of very reliable, evidence based, information. The La Leche and NCT websites might hell too.

Good luck!

Sorry ugly link:
www.laleche.org.uk/relactation-induced-lactation/
Definitely get some face to face support. Contact your midwife and health visitor, ask for a referral to the infant feeding coordinator. there's probably a local bf peer support service, they're worth contacting as well. Plus a lactation consultant if finances allow.

Do lots and lots of skin to skin, hand express regularly and offer baby the breast lots and lots. Breast feeding is a lot more work for baby compared to bottle feeding so be prepared that she may object/fuss a lot until she gets used to it. Maybe look up SNS systems so baby doesn't get too confused switching between the two.