Moving from EBF to bottle (pumped or formula)

[weloveicecream]

Im 11 days PP and struggling massively with the pain of EBF. Nipples are blistered and swollen, burn with just clothes touch them. I’m finding it so painful I dread feeding my baby. I have had a super helpful feeding consultant visit me at home to help with different feeding positions however to no avail as I am still finding it a very painful experience. I would love to continue but don’t think it is sustainable.

Does anyone have any advice on making the transition from EBF to formula feeding baby? I have tried pumping however found I became extremely engorged which was also painful.

TIA

The pain is horrendous.

Have baby checked (privately if you can) for tongue tie. The check they do at the hospital before discharge is worse than useless.

It’s absolutely fine to change how you feed your baby. I do agree though on getting LO checked for Tongue Tie, even if they’ve been checked before as it can affect Bottle feeding as well as Breastfeeding.

BFing definitely shouldn’t be they painful and it does sound as though there may be an issue

Have a read to of this on Kellymom as it has some tips for helping your nipples to heal. Paracetamol is fine to take when BFing.

Pumping is horrible (I have to do it now I'm back at work)

I had extremely painful nipples in the beginning too, we had a poor latch and also my milk didn't come for a week so my poor boy was cluster feeding for 7 days. We worked on the latch from day 2 but the damage had been done and it really took a good month to heal and stop hurting/being sensitive. For the first 6 weeks I had my breasts out and about in the house.

Has the baby been assessed for a tongue tie?

You can move on to formula any time but I feel you've already done the hard part!

How are you tonight @weloveicecream?