Breastfeeding anxieties

[Glooorb]

Hi all, I'm really struggling with my anxiety around breastfeeding. I've a four month old baby and he bit my nipple last weekend, I haven't been able to feed properly on that breast.

I've been trying to pump from that breast to give my nipple a chance to heal, but I have trouble with the letdown because of the spiralling anxiety and so I'm getting very little milk. I now need to top up with formula.

Basically I worry about

• engorgement and blocked ducts if I don't pump efficiently > which then negatively feedback loop into my letdown so I don't pump efficiently. I had recurrent blocked ducts so I'm really scared of it
• needing to put my baby on formula and what if he started getting constipated on formula / stomach upsets due to the quick transition
• letdown - I now suffer from poor letdown on my unaffected breast because I'm so anxious. Which again another negative feedback loop since more anxiety > less letdown > fuel more anxiety
• pain - my nipple is too sore to feed and the last time I fed on it, it gave my sharp soothing pain radiating through my breast

I don't know how I can break the negative feedback cycle.

I had some CBT before and know that i should use worry time, listing down my what if's, etc. I will do them with my husband today to see if that helps. At least he is really supportive :) but I can't seem to get over the anxiety cycle myself

Oh I didn’t want to read and leave but I’m probably not much help as I was searching for something similar. My baby is 4 months too- he hasn’t got any teeth yet but I am so scared of the biting stage. He is really fussy at the moment and fidgeting/ popping on and off and poor latch which is making my nipples sore.

Going to try and offer anything I have for your specific worries..

1. On the blocked ducts, I had this early on in feeding and I used a haaka with warm water and Epsom salts to solve which worked a treat. I was really worried too but it honestly did the trick in a day so perhaps give that a go if you do find a block.

1. I don’t know anything about formula so haven’t got much to add on this except that you might not even need to use it! Perhaps feeding more frequently off the other boob to buy a bit of healing time?

1. I never feel my letdown but if you are measuring this from pumping then I honestly wouldn’t worry because I struggle to get much with a pump. I can’t get the elvie to work at all and whilst got loads from the haaka in the early days it’s not as efficient now. I can usually get some from hand manual pump because I can control it more. I find doing it whilst baby is on the other side or just after works best and take my time. I don’t get much those! Average of 2oz.

1. Argh it sounds awful. I’m honestly so scared of teething! it hurts enough when he pulls off now just with suction! The only thing I thought which might help are silver nipple caps- I have used them since day 1 and they are incredible for healing! Mine are senocare from Amazon. I just keep them in my bra at all times when not feeding, I would really recommend and hopefully they might help speed up healing for you. Worth a go!