Struggling with breastfeeding - should I buy a Haakaa?

[newmum234]

I’ve been very unwell since giving birth two weeks ago, and have been in hospital for most of that time undergoing various ops and procedures. I haven’t had the energy to look after my little girl or express much milk (I’ve managed 50ml with the hospital electric pump) and am feeling horrendously guilty. Meanwhile my daughter has been at home with her dad and grandparents for the past week, feeding on formula and is thriving.

I’m due to leave hospital tomorrow and am very keen to breastfeed if it’s still an option for me. I would like to buy a pump as am not confident at all that my daughter will be able to latch or how much milk I even have. I’ve been reading good things about the Haakaa pump - would you say that is a good option for someone in my position?

Any advice would be very welcome.

Forgot to say am also using formula too to take the pressure off so I'm not attached to the pump all day as I don't have a huge supply

You haven't failed in any way at all. Please stop telling yourself that.

When you are home make yourself a baby love nest where you can spend such time as possible snuggled up with baby. Have as much skin to skin contact as possible and put baby to breast as much as possible.

It is possible to develop a breastfeeding relationship still but please please remember that if it doesn't work out, or you decide that it is too much to cope with then that is ok. It does not mean that you have failed in any way.

No wonder you're feeling down. What a horrible start for you. I hope you feel much better very soon.

I found that pumping by hand produced a lot more milk than any machine.

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby.

I can highly recommend the Bella baby breast pump 43 pound on amazon I prefer this to my haakaa. I express for night feeds and pump every morning. Good luck x

I had the Bellababy too - it's great for the price, did the job for me.

I also want to recommend Boobix lactation cookies and Neuners nursing tea (tea is on Amazon), I think they really helped up my supply.

I also had a slow start to breastfeeding and was heartbroken when I didn't think it was happening for me. My milk took a while to come in and I was exclusively pumping for a couple of weeks which was intense. I then got my daughter on the breast using nipple shields which have been a life saver. I'm now weaning her off the nipple shields and getting her straight onto the breast at six weeks. She's exclusively breastfed now and I'm so glad I persevered.