Breast feeding trouble

[Nothankyou0]

Hi I’m not sure if this is on the right category
Baby was born Friday and been having real trouble breast feeding. Two hours after birth baby latched on and fed for about half an hour. Assumed all was fine - when we got home that evening I could only get baby to latch for 5 seconds or so and ended up giving formula as we were both getting fed up and stressed. It has been like that ever since, it will take a while to latch with baby shaking her head over my nipple even if it’s right in her mouth, she will latch for a few seconds, make a face then cry when she can’t get the milk ASAP. Obviously a big mistake as now baby is expecting a bottle with free flow. I have pumped a few times but I only have milk just before or as baby is due a feed and only manage to get half of what her feed amount is (I can pump about 30ml, she drinks about 60ml).
I don’t even want to pump really, I just want to be able to breast feed when my baby would usually feed. Is this even possible now? Any tips on how to get baby to latch for a full feed rather than a few seconds?

Hi! There is an infant feeding section (under feed the world) with some experts who post. I’m no expert but did have lots of issues breastfeeding. You need some expert help, now is hard with lots of places closed, but is there a lactation consultant you can find online who can do an online consultation?
I found the Kelly Mom website & Jack Newman videos online really valuable.

You can also phone the National breastfeeding helpline (google the number) and also la Leche league usually have a local Facebook group.

It is absolutely still possible for you to sort breastfeeding but you need some individual help from an experienced/qualified person.

Good luck! xxx

I'd spend a day in bed doing skin to skin and putting her to the breast really often. There's a sort of compression technique you can do to encourage faster flow and maybe hand express a bit to get milk started before putting her on?

All the breastfeeding support line, they are amazing.

I think you hit the nail on the head, baby is likely to have developed a bottle preference. Baby needs to work harder to get milk from the breast, whereas a bottle is free flowing. Stop the bottles, spend the next few days naked in bed together, lots of skin to skin, free access to the breast, lots of patience, and it will happen. The longer you keep giving bottles, the harder it will be.

Good luck.

My DS was struggling to latch on as I have big boobs & flat nipples so he just couldn't get enough nipple in his mouth. He'd get frustrated and cry so I'd give up & gave him bottles (expressed milk or formula).

In the end I bought some nipple shields and have been using these every feed now & been exclusively breast feeding now. It just gives him something to latch onto more easily.

I know some don't recommend long term use but it's either that or not breastfeeding at all.

Might be worth looking at?