Decided to give up

[Delamere19]

Hi ladies,

I had a really rough nite again with the little one wanting to feed all the time. After talking it through with my fiancé I decided I am gonna go to bottle.I have really low iron levels,so low they wanted to do a blood transfusion and I have had a pounding head for two days.I find the constant sucking really painful too. How can I rest when he wants feeding so much? My midwife is due today but I am bit worried bout her reaction cos they are so pro breastfeeding.

Guess I just need some reassurance I am doing the right thing.My labour was rough and I got an infection so didn't come out of hospital for three days and I'm still not feeling well.

 

[MelanieAnn]

Iron counts? Haemorrage? Those are often associated with really low milk supply. Sometimes with persistent low milk supply.

There are some ways forward. This site is amazing: https://www.mobimotherhood.org/MM/default.aspx

While breastfeeding is best to be exclusive.... many mums with very low iron levels struggle. Because breastmilk is made from blood, mums with low blood can have real issues establishing a full supply. It doesn't always prevent mums from breastfeeding altogether, but often means that mums stuggle to establish a full supply.

I hope that is in some measure helpful!

 

[Delamere19]

Ah thanks it really does. Might explain a lot. Gonna put him on formula today,just hope he takes to it.

 

[discoclare]

i too had a difficult time and they couldn't stop the bleeding. i heard them calling for cross matched blood but at the last minute they decided i could manage without the transfusion. i was on high dosage of iron for a month afterwards. my milk came in at day 4 but i was never engorged and have never been one of those women who has milk running out of them.

however i am still at 11 weeks exclusively bfing so it is possible to build the supply but difficult. bfing in general can be very hard work at the beginning even without supply issues. there are things you can do to help such as taking fenugreek (i didn't know about this) to help supply. your headache may be due to a bit of dehydration as well, try to drink lots of water when breastfeeding, i kept forgetting to drink enough at the start. have you been discharged with plenty of iron tablets?

it's normal for baby to want to feed all the time at first and completely exhausting so they do it as their tummies are tiny so they fill and empty again very fast, but this also helps to stimulate your breasts and build up your supply.

lansinoh cream is very good for repairing your sore nipples (i had terrible cracking and bleeding the first couple of days).

anyway just wanted to let you know you are not alone and that lots people encounter these types of problems and others. good luck with your decision and congratulations on your new baby.

 

[shortie1990]

I had very low iron too, i lost about 900mls of blood, but when i came home i just made sure i'd eat plenty, my mum got me some iron liquid (euurrghhh) and was on iron tablets, and yes the first few days were very difficult, but if you feel that you want to go to formula dont feel guilty or anything...just do what ever you are happy and comfortable with, and hope everythin goes okay x

 

[lynnikins]

i had very low iron and had a blood transfusion post delivery with EJ and was very ill under very close observation for 48 hours in hospital then they let me go home but only caus i pushed so hard and my DH was backing me up, i did end up with low supply for a couple of weeks then it went the otherway to oversupply lol im still on highdose iron supplements as my body has problems storing iron longterm.
have you tried nipple sheilds for the pain or thought about expressing to up your supply and using that for top-ups or just giving formula as top ups rather than full time or I actually at 3 1/2 wks swapped to full time expressing and did that for 5 weeks , my nipples healed and we started direct feeding again and are curently 60/40 as he still has 2 bottles in the evening as i find he sleeps better as he has a fuller tummy lol lazy sod wont BF for long enough to fill up properly in the evenings lol.

if you want to give up thats up to you but make sure you are certain about it as relactaion is a hard process, i would really encourage you to try expressing before just giving up,

 

[bubbles123]

That's interesting what you say about low iron and supply. I bled loads after delivery, passed out several times and wound up in hospital for 5 day with anaemia and needed 2 transfusions. I never got engorged or anything and could never express much. Still struggle with iron levels now. Think I will have to take my iron tablets if I have another baby!

 

[Hellodoris]

Wow this does explain a lot, I too lost a lot of blood during delivery and my iron count is so very very low... possibly why breastfeeding is not going so well! Suppose I am going to have to suffer with iron tablets...

 

[Delamere19]

I saw my midwife today and she just had the usual speal about keep going,it gets easier etc. I have decided however to go to bottle. I'm just not up to feeding constantly.I do still feel like a failure and I'm scared of how sore my breasts will get with the milk not going anywhere. Will try to express but as of yet I have found it hard doing that,I feel like I have one breast that doesn't produce as much. Went in the shower and massaged my breasts for a while which made them feel bit better. Like my mum said,he is my baby and I have to do what's right for me. He took his first bottle really well and has already settled off much easier like he is actually full for the first time. X

 

[hopeandpray]

You're his mum and you know best, as long as your baby isnt hungry you're doing a great job

 

[Delamere19]

Thanks Hun. It makes me angry that mums are made to feel so much pressure to breastfeed.

 

[maybebaby3]

your baby your choice. good luck!