Getting out and about when struggling with breastfeeding?

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I'm struggling to breastfeed and feel like feeding my newborn is taking up all my time between attempting breast feeds which take ages, doing top up feeds ad pumping to keep up supply (already failing to find time for the pumping). I'm trying to find professional help with the breastfeeding but how on earth do I get out and about or have visitors over in the meantime? I can only get comfortable breastfeeding with lots of cushions and am trying to do skin to skin as much as possible with my boobs on full display - not exactly easy to do in public or even with visitors over. If I bring formula for out and about it will reduce my supply even futher. I also don't know what to wear for leaving the house at the moment - most of my old clothes still don't fit, most of the maternity tops and the odd dress I have don't have easy access for breastfeeding and I don't want to invest in a new breastfeeding friendly wardrobe if I end up giving up soon. Any help much appreciated!

Honestly why are you putting pressure on yourself to go out? Just stay home.

We are at a similar stage but maybe slightly further down the road as this last week things have improved so we can now feed when out and about, which makes life easier. Before that, it was up to 40 mins of crying (me and her) to get her latched on!

I just took expressed milk or ready made formula with us as I also have a 3yo so needed to be able to get out and about for her, If you're only out for a couple of hours then it shouldn't have too much of an effect on supply etc. Just pump before you go and when you come back if you need.

After two not easy starts to breastfeeding, all I can say is don't let it consume you. Enjoy your baby and try not to let the constant pumping/stress stop you from enjoying those early days and weeks. Both of mine have suddenly 'got it' after a few weeks when they've gotten a bit bigger and their mouth has grown, and it's been relatively plain sailing from then on. This time round, I have been much less hard on myself as I know that it does get easier and quite suddenly.

How old is LO? Really unless they're 6m old you shouldn't be feeling bad about not getting out the house.

Both of you have to learn to bf and it isn't always easy. It's totally normal to spend most of the day and evening feeding (in my experience) until they're about 4m old.

Go easy on yourself 🙂

And of course you don't have to go out if you don't want to, but personally with both babies, sitting home all day when struggling with feeding was far worse for my mental health and I needed to get out there, so I just armed myself with a bottle and milk and tried not to worry about it for a couple of hours.

Just stay at home. Honestly this is a short time in the road of parenting. Just stay home and tell visitors to leave if you’ve had enough.

Congratulations on your baby.

Before telling OP to stay home, it might be better to know if OP wants to get out of the home or maybe has to?

You don’t say how old your LO is but tbh I didn’t really go out much for the first few weeks with my DC while we were establishing breastfeeding - in fact most trips were to the breastfeeding group or tongue tie clinic! In fact I’d say I went out less with each DC (I have 3) so I could really focus on bonding and feeding and napping. My preference was just to go out for a stroll for me/nap for the baby until they were a bit older. I felt so much pressure with my first to Get out and Do stuff it never occurred to me to trust my instincts and hunker down for a bit. I was so much happier with my 2nd and 3rd - not least because having done it all before I had the perspective that while it feels eternal when you’re in it, the newborn phase is so short.

Don't worry. This stage is short lived and it will get much much easier. Especially if you're getting some good experienced help in, I would expect that it will become much less time consuming and awkward.

As for the bf friendly clothes, the best ones I've found are just normal clothes - stretchy vests to pull down or loose shirts to pull up. You might have some things you can use already or just buy a couple of tops as you'll be able to wear them again later too even if not bf. Primark T-Shirts for £2 for instance. There is a brilliant FB group called can I breastfeed in it where they share finds in the UK high street as well as general bf advice and support.

If you can identify some clothing then you can at least have visitors as they won't mind a mountain of pillows!

Oh yes, I've never got on with breastfeeding specific tops. I find the flaps and things just too annoying. I wear normal tops over an Asda nursing vest, and just pull top up, unclip vest, get boob out. I have about 10 of those nursing vests and just wear one every day under normal clothes. They aren't expensive.

No need for breast feeding clothes or covers or anything else.
Assuming you have no other DC I think you should 'go with the flow'..Never look at the clock.lie about on the sofa or in bed and concentrate on rest, lots to drink, eating regularly and getting going with the breastfeeding so that you can stop the top ups asap.The more your baby suckles the better in this scenario so prioritise that. It gets better ...promise.

Ah, I recognise this.

I thought I needed to be out and about and receiving visitors with a tidy, clean house with my first born. It nearly killed me. We stopped BF at 4 months due to her undiagnosed silent reflux and because I was fucking exhausted trying to be all things to all people.

With my second I parked myself on the sofa, told everyone I would be doing fuck all apart from feeding and cuddling my baby for at least 12 weeks. It was sheer and utter bliss in comparison to the first time round.

Good luck with the BF. If it works for you it makes being out and about later on so much easier. But, if it doesn't, no need to worry, formula is marvellous too for keeping babies well fed.

I rarely fed my newborn when we were out actually - he would sleep for hours when we were on the move, whether in a pram or sling. I wouldn’t plan a big outing where you’ll have to do a feed if you haven’t been anywhere yet really - surely as a start it would just be best to go out for a short walk after finishing a feed. Breastfeeding out and about is easy enough once you’ve established it - but if you’re still struggling I would stick to feeding at home, you’ll just stress yourself out unnecessarily.

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Find an IBCLC

find a breastfeeding group:
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It's really tough but this super-intensive bit doesn't go on forever. Could you go to a breastfeeding group, or a good friend or close relative with whom you can sit and pump and chat and do skin to skin (or whatever regime) and have a cup of tea?