Breastfeeding troubles

[Salsachick24]

Hi all,

I'm a first time mum to a beautiful 3 month old boy.
I'm
Currently struggling to continue breastfeeding and would like some help, I feel you should know my breastfeeding journey so far.

I have a severely inverted nipple that has made breastfeeding very difficult. When he was first born, the only way I could get him to feed on my inverted breast was to use a nipple shield. As he got used to this I had to use it on my other normal nipple too as he got confused if I didn't.

After a couple of weeks, my inverted nipple be self very sore and was bleeding during every feed.
I tried to do almost every feed on my normal breast to give it a break.

This then meant that my normal nipple became sore. I then realised that the nipple shield was too large for that side. Once I purchased a smaller one the pain went within a day. As I'd been feeding more on that side, my supply was plentiful so I began solely feeding on one breast to spare myself the pain on my inverted side.

I finally felt like breastfeeding was going well. I was not in pain and was able to feed my baby on my right breast for every feed (though I still had to use the nipple shield as he was used to it and confused without it)

Once he was two months, he was weighed. I was told that he wasn't gaining enough weight and needed to supplement with more breast milk or formula.

I knew I'd struggle to express much when that one boob was doing the work of two as it was so I gave him formula.
Fast forward to three months and now he refuses the breast during the day but seems fine with it for the night feeds.
I've started expressing but I only get 30ml in 15/20 minutes of pumping.

I'm heartbroken. I've tried so hard and it's been so difficult.
I'm wondering if this is the beginning of the end of my supply?

Does anyone have any advice?

Sorry to hear you’re struggling

Have you tried all the usual tricks for pumping?

• power pumping
• pumping between midnight and 4am
• breast massage / compressions whilst pumping
• covering the bottle so you can’t see how much comes out
• looking at baby or baby photos/ smelling baby out something they’ve worn
• do the flanges on your pump fit your nipples well?

I’ve seen all the above recommended to improve pumping output

Sorry to hear you’re having such a tough time. I really struggled with breastfeeding for the first 5 months. At my baby’s weigh in the midwife said he hadn’t gained enough and I had to start topping up. Similar to you, night feeds were fine but day time was really stressful.

You said he refuses the breast during the day, what do you do when he does that? Do you then offer bottle? If so, is he fussy with bottle too?

I was advised by midwife to start topping up when one week my baby only gained 80g. I saw a lactation consultant and she said that 80g weight gain wasn’t Particularly worrying as a one off and that the formula tops ups are then what messed with my supply x