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Original poster

Breastfeeding & Feeling Unwell - Better Routine with Formula?

5 replies

nobodygirl2023 · 20/01/2023 03:46

Not sure entirely what I'm here to ask but I'm now 4 days post c-section with my 2nd (also 2nd CS).

First CS was hard in terms of mobility etc and also just being a shock to the system. I gave up breastfeeding at this point that time around and really regretted it.

This one was elective and the 1st day or so was a breeze and got a good start with breastfeeding. Since then (and being discharged from hospital) I've been really unwell - vomiting and nausea that's totally flooring me. Midwife and doctors seems to think its just my system being under stress and a side effect of pain meds but I'm not so sure).

Baby is wanting to feed every hour (I know cluster feeding is a thing) and we also have a very demanding 2 year old who is struggling too so it's all a bit difficult.

I decided tonight that my body was under a lot of pressure that I was going to stick to formula for the evening to see if it helped - my nipples are all sore and cracked and I was dreading the night. Anyway, she's still fed every hour - 2 at most.

My older daughter was formula fed and it was a pretty consistent 3 hour schedule. I feel like I need this type of routine to feel ok.

I guess my question is - is it everyone's experience that you get a better routine in place on formula and longer stretches between feeds? I'm reluctant to give up breastfeeding to achieve that and find its not actually the case.

Really struggling.

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Theduchy · 20/01/2023 03:56

Hi OP. My eldest was formula fed - didn't manage to feed her myself at all after a rough labour. We still fed on demand rather than a schedule but there was definitely generally a routine where she'd want feeding roughly every 3 hours.

I'm not 4.5 months in to breastfeeding my second and there is definitely a lot less of a routine. It's taken us a while to get out of the habit of asking when he's "due" a feed. It just doesn't seem to work that way when breastfeeding. Sometimes it's still hourly, sometimes 3 hours but it's rare he'll go 3 hours without feeding.

What I will say though is you're right at the very hardest bit. My midwife described it as a full time job and it absolutely is at first. They need to feed pretty much constantly at first to get your milk supply going but once it's settled breastfeeding is really easy. It got a lot easier for me by about 2 weeks. If you can keep going it gets a lot easier very quickly but it (in my experience) never gets into a routine like with formula feeding.

Original poster
nobodygirl2023 · 20/01/2023 04:02

Theduchy · 20/01/2023 03:56

Hi OP. My eldest was formula fed - didn't manage to feed her myself at all after a rough labour. We still fed on demand rather than a schedule but there was definitely generally a routine where she'd want feeding roughly every 3 hours.

I'm not 4.5 months in to breastfeeding my second and there is definitely a lot less of a routine. It's taken us a while to get out of the habit of asking when he's "due" a feed. It just doesn't seem to work that way when breastfeeding. Sometimes it's still hourly, sometimes 3 hours but it's rare he'll go 3 hours without feeding.

What I will say though is you're right at the very hardest bit. My midwife described it as a full time job and it absolutely is at first. They need to feed pretty much constantly at first to get your milk supply going but once it's settled breastfeeding is really easy. It got a lot easier for me by about 2 weeks. If you can keep going it gets a lot easier very quickly but it (in my experience) never gets into a routine like with formula feeding.

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm conscious she's putting in her order as such and laying off the breast for a full 12 hours probably hasn't been wise but I just couldn't face it.

I feel like we do need routine as a family so this is something I do need to think quite carefully about, never mind how unwell I feel at the moment.

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 20/01/2023 04:47

At 4 days old, I’d suggest you treat every feed as a breastfeed with formula top up offered every single time.

That way the baby still ‘gets her order in’ but you don’t feel quite so stressed. For me, it got easier after the first week and then harder again at around week six.

Original poster
nobodygirl2023 · 20/01/2023 04:52

DifficultBloodyWoman · 20/01/2023 04:47

At 4 days old, I’d suggest you treat every feed as a breastfeed with formula top up offered every single time.

That way the baby still ‘gets her order in’ but you don’t feel quite so stressed. For me, it got easier after the first week and then harder again at around week six.

Thanks. I know this is general advice and understand why. I just couldn't face it tonight, I'm absolutely wrecked and have barely eaten in days so I think it's taking it out of me a bit. Just need to hope order still on its way.

We've still fed every hour with ready to feed formula which I've now ran out of up here in my room so next will be back on boob unless I wanna wake up whole house 😭

OP posts:
wibblewobbleball · 20/01/2023 07:21

If you want to breastfeed, I suggest you contact a local IBCLC to come to your home today who can advise on baby's latch as your nipples shouldn't be so sore and cracked. In my experience no newborn has a routine when it comes to feeding! Perhaps also contact your GP to see if there's anything you can have for the vomiting? If you want to formula feed then obviously go for it.

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