i wish i would of breast fed :(

[leahtaba]

hi ladies didnt really know were to post this but thought here would be my best bet as i am formula feeding..i am currently devastated i didnt try to to breastfeed my five day old baby. i had a hard delivery and everything afterwards was a blur but my baby ended up on formula and as i was so sore after a nasty episiotomy i was more focused on getting myself better so i could tend to her.bi still cant hokd her properly to feed or change her and rely on OH for most almost everything.

now shes five days old and struggling to poo shes straining and passing little bits of hard stool and i feel so guilty thinking its because i havent breast fed

i offered her my breast last night and she took a bit but tbh i didnt have a clue what i was doing and she was getting frustrated as shes used to bottles and OH wasnt impressed saying we shouldnt dusturb her routine and confuse her and that i am far too sore to breast feed and should focus on getting better. hes right i am in a bit of a state but thats irrelivant when my poor babies in pain because she cant poo properly i dont know if the problem is her formula has anyone encouned the same problem?

feel so guilty and lost and just had to get that out quickly while lo is settled so sorry if its jumbled up x

 

[jen1604]

If you really really want to do it its absolutely not too late to start feeding her or even expressing for her

 

[MrsButterfly]

Agree with pp. totally not too late to start. My lo didn't get the hang of it, ended up in hospital with jaundice so I started pumping at 5days pp to get my milk in. He always had latching problems so I exclusively pumped for 4 weeks then moved to ff when I couldn't keep up with him.

Speak to a lactation nurse or breastfeeding counsellor if you want to give it a shot as they'll give you loads of support. Just make sure you do what you are happy with as happy mum = happy baby

 

[honey08]

have u not got a bf support wrker ?x

 

[leahtaba]

have u not got a bf support wrker ?x

no? .. in hospital they just gave me leaflets on hiw to bottle feed. i was unsure on how we were going to feed her and after the birth i was in such a state she had a bottle and thats the last time breast feeding was mentioned or thought about until a few days ago when i started feeling tremendous guilt

 

[jen1604]

If you really feel you want to give it a go (which it sounds like you do) give La Leche League's helpline a call https://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/about/helpline.htm
Let us know how you get on xxx

 

[dragonhawk]

honestly, ff is not the end of the world. however, i do understand. i expressed for 3 months, but had to supplement with formula.

if you want to try bf, i suggest you persevre.

 

[hollylooyah]

If you really want to breast feed, it's not too late. There's lots of support in the breastfeeding forum. Also, there is a sticky in the forum with lots of people that are pretty much experts at any problem. I'm sure there's someone there that can help you and coach you through what you're going through. There's plently of ladies that "relactate" after not feeding for weeks. So you should be able to feed after five days. Remember, if he's used to a bottle, you can still pump and give your baby breastmilk. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[flower01]

i FF my new baby from day 1 but then day yesterday, when my milk started to come in a suddenly decided i wanted to try BF. i have no idea what im doing either, i didnt BF my 1st at all.
iv been reserching and reading and Poppy has taken some milk, we have good tries and bad tries and im still topping her up with formula but the midwife is coming tomorrow so im hoping she can give me some tips!

i think i may have got there just in time on the day my milk came in but it may not be too late for you sweet

 

[CarliCareBear]

it's totally not too late for you to breastfeed!! if you really comit to it and be very patient i promise you can totally start bf. but i will warn you it is VERY HARD at first. it is so frustrating at the beginning but you have to remember that you and your baby are both learning something totally new. if you stick with it, you will both get the hang of it.

because of medications and surgery i recently had, i have come to a happy medium of formula feeding while breastfeeding a few times a day. you don't have to be a insanely producing milk factory for a little bit of your breast milk to benefit your baby. but, if it doesn't work out- it's okay!

however i have had a real heck of a time finding a formula that doesn't terribly bother my baby (she has the same problems with constipation and reflux ect. and i've tried 4 formulas already!) and so i am really thankful that i kept my breasts in business. whatever you do, don't guilt yourself! you are a great mum for being so concerned about her little tummy no matter what you choose.

 

[honeybee2]

Its not too late.

I'm also devastated I couldnt breastfeed.

I had a traumatic labour & an ECS and then a terrible uterine infection which needed strong anti b's to kill the bacteria so couldn't BF. I expressed BUT I wasnt eating or drinking, I was so ill and my supply decreased. He wasn't interested in the end and would get too frustrated trying to latch.

I feel ever so sad about it as its something I really wanted to do.

I really think traumatic labours need more support in this area as its easier when healing to rely on bottles.

For you though, its not too late! You will still produce breastmilk any day now if you're already not. Get expressing now, stimulate when you can, put bbay to boob before his formula feed.

You can top him up with formula until you have a good supply or you can combine feed!

Have you tried him on comfort milk at all?

Good luck!

 

[ravenmel]

What you can do is purchase a breast pump if your too sore to hold her and then OH can feed her from the bottle but its not to late. Also if your worried about the formula making her constipated switch to comfort formula. Not sure where you are but most brands do normal formula and then comfort for babies with colic or constipation.

I felt guilt too. My second baby is 2 months old and I stopped breast feeding her for 3 weeks because she's a horrible latcher and my nipples got all cut up, I couldn't take the pain anymore and my nipples wouldn't heal properly when I kept feeding her. I pumped one day and got blood because everytime my nipples tried to heal I'd feed her or pump, so I thought enough this is crazy and brought formula. I felt bad because I breast fed for 11 months with my 1st and it was soo easy I didn't except to have problems. I was doing o.k then one of my friends made a horrible comment about my 1st being smarter than my 2nd because of breast milk which made me feel even worse. I know there's more to having smart kids than just milk but seriously why say such a thing.
My milk dried up a lot but I've even feeding her 2 to 3 times a day on the breast and the rest of the time on formula and we're doing great. I want to build up enough milk to be able to pump again, I prefer the bottle this time around.