Breast feeding advice

[kylierose15]

My little one is 3 days old and the first two days I breastfed
But today I had to go out and get formula as my poor nipples are so sore and bruised

I feel so horrible if I don't try and express but I'm in so much pain
Please someone tell me formula isn't bad
I don't it for two days and now I can't do it anymore i feel awful

millions of women formula feed nothing wrong with it
The first few days and weeks of breastfeeding are the hardest

what do you want to do before anymore advice or not?

was your baby checked for tongue tie?

Congratulations on the birth of your baby

Formula isn’t bad. Fed is best.

If you do decide that you want to keep breastfeeding, ask your health visitor where your nearest breastfeeding support group is. Someone should be able to help with latch etc to make things more comfortable.

It is ok to breastfeed.
It is ok to formula feed.
It is ok to combi-feed.
It is ok to express.
Fed is best, do whatever works for you.

Hi op, ring midwives and ask for some advice they may come check positioning. I had very sore nipples during 1st week midwives came out and a specialist breastfeeding midwife who said my DS had a tongue tie. Very quick procedure later and my DS is 2 months and still exclusively BF (he's actually doing it right now) lanolin nipple cream is good for soothing nipples in meantime. Congrats on your baby. X

I bf my first DS for nearly 2 years and I am still mixed feeding my 3 week old. 2 bottles a day gives a chance for my nipples to recover and gives me some more freedom as my DH can do some feeds. Formula isn’t bad, whatever works for you and your baby is best.
If you are looking for help with breastfeeding, your midwife can help.

Hi OP

I was like this and despairing at the start, convinced I couldn’t do it. My boy is on the larger side and I felt I failed him, he was always starving and we couldn’t get the hang of it.

The support in hospital was poor and I had so many midwives give different advice.
I gave in and gave him some formula top-ups, feeling awful even though I know fed is best.

Eventually a kind midwife showed me some different positions and recommended Avent nipple shields (they have these on Amazon). Life saver, although a bit fiddly.
Still had pain until baby about 3 weeks or so, now there’s no pain at all.
This is normal from what I’ve heard.

If you want to stick with it the breast feeding support groups should contact you, they did for my health board. Ask midwives etc. It WILL get easier.

If formula / bottles will be best for your physical and mental well being then that’s what you do, and don’t feel any guilt or shame.

Those first days of breastfeeding would have been great benefit to baby however you proceed now xx

formula feeding is absolutely fine but your title is about breast feeding. Do you want help with breastfeeding? I have experienced one ff and one bf baby and both have there giod and bad points. Whatever you decide being a Mum is more than just milk and Mum needs to be in a good place physically and mentally (it takes time to there in the early days) to able to parent well.

Of course formula is not bad. Your baby going hungry is bad. If you want to try continuing with breast feeding I would really recommend seeing if there are any breast feeding drop in places in your area. They can watch you feed and give help and advice on position etc. Really valuable.

In the short term, have you tried nipple shields? Like you, around day two I literally couldn't feed her from one side as my nipple was so painful. I got the shield, and did lots of youtubing for videos on how to get a good latch etc. The shields took the edge off the pain, until my nipples were healed enough to start working on latch and positioning.

I am also new to this. Day 2. Nipples already sore. Someone suggested nipple shields! DP went to get some from Superdrug.
Marvellous! Although they did hurt a bit at first, now the milk is coming more, it's much better!
And nipple balm!

I adore formula feeding!! (good for mums who do breast feeding this is in no way saying that breast isn't good BTW)

I'm so happy to have bottle fed my baby is thriving, you can tell how much oz your baby is having, your partner can help out with night feeds, grandparents can help out if u fancy getting your hair done or even just sleep for a few hours.

I use SMA Pro, I've also heard great things about SMA little steps, cow and gate and Kendamil. ( don't know anyone who used any of the others

Also perfect prep machine is the best invention since baby milk in my opinion.

My baby is thriving, has a great weight and hits developmental milestones well. HV always comments on how lovely and bright eyed she is.

Congratulations op.

The first weeks of breastfeeding can be difficult, especially with sore nipples. For the majority of women , it does get much easier.

If you want to continue breastfeeding, please speak with your midwife or hv. There is support out there. Someone can come round or you can go to a drop in centre, if there is one in your area (I did this and it was great) where a trained professional will talk things through with you & show you different positions etc.

I used lanolin for the first 2/3 weeks - it’s great stuff but you might want to have your baby checked out to rule out tongue tie?

Breastfeeding is brilliant and if you want to keep going, there is help out there.

Please do not think you are failing your dc or yourself if you decide to formula feed - you are not.