Hi mums,
I desperately need your help. We've had a rocky start with the hospital encouraging formula on day 2 and baby getting formula fed for couple of days until she was back on the breast again. We had problems with latching and that persisted for a while. I'd say from week 2 to week 6 she was exclusively breastfed but for some reason, she started refusing the breast and interference of my mil telling me to express and feed her meant that my baby got used to the bottle. I tried but she wouldn't come on the breast. Stopped skin to skin and trying to put her on the breast for a couple of weeks as I was struggling with my mental health and constant bickering of my mil, who unfortunately was staying with us.
I'm now trying to get baby back to the breast but she seems to have forgotten how to suck. She's 16 weeks now, I know it's been so long. Doing everything I can to get her back on, expressing, skin to skin, nipple shield. Please I need help. Been to infant feeding cafes where I was told it's going to be very hard but to keep trying and stop giving her the pacifier. She won't sleep without it, she cries inconsolably. I had a good supply until week 6, I don't know why my baby started refusing the breast after that. She also had poor weight gain at that time.
I desperately want to get her back to Breastfeeding and give her all the nutrients. I was really against formula and feel so angry about listening to midwives and my dominating mil.
Please for those of you who've experienced it and succeeded share your advice.
I hope it's not impossible.
Many thanks 🙏