Losing My Mind

[happyfamily123]

I came onto this board tonight and just reading some of the posts I fill so lost with breastfeeding! I don't ever feel full and don't know when the breast is empty. There is no rhythm to it and baby Julian doesn't seem happy when breastfeeding so I am constantly switching positions and sides. If something goes wrong I'll just make a formula bottle, I wish I had never done any formula! I want it to work so badly but am getting so frustrated!

 

[Hope22]

Hang in there. BFing doesn't come naturally to many of us, me included, and it's HARD at the beginning IME.

I'm having supply problems and I've started taking Fenugreek, it's an herb you can buy at health food stores. It seems to be helping so far, though not as dramatically as it seems to work for some people - it's supposed to work best at the start of BFing, but I only started taking it around six months so that's part of the reason I'm sure.

I found at the start that I was frustrated just like you - I didn't know if he was getting enough, there was no rhythm, I couldn't find good positions... all I can say is IT GETS BETTER as they grow. I ended up surrendering myself to my LO - I cancelled all visitors, ignored the phone, didn't go anywhere for a week. I put on comfy clothes, turned on the TV and spent a week in my nursing rocker - whenever he wanted to nurse, I let him feed for as long as he wanted, as many times as he wanted in a day. Eventually things started to even out and I began to see a pattern emerging, but it was still a bit rocky until about three months when things got WAY better.

My best advice is to take deep breaths, give yourself time and space and make your baby your priority. It will get better and better as time goes on and pretty soon you'll be a much more efficient team and you'll find your lost mind

 

[Mervs Mum]

I replied to your other thread. IT's still very early days for you honey. You are still learning. I do think the top ups are causing you supply problems

 

[asacia]

There is a great page on weaning from top-up feeds here:
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html

Perhaps have a read through, it is possible to get from top ups to exclusive breastfeeding, and it might be something that would make you feel better.

 

[emma_27]

I struggled abit with Ellie at the start to my supply never felt very good i swear by porridge and plenty of fluids. Like said before it is early days give yourself a few more weeks and it'll seem loads easier! Your doing great

 

[k8y]

I found it hard at the beginning, felt like I was constantly feeding him and that he was never happy! I think that the health visitor suggested not swapping all the time during feeding, because the hind milk (the food) which is what fills the baby up comes in a few minutes into the feed and if you keep swapping then the baby will be getting lots of the fore milk(the drink). I found that writing down when James fed, made me realise that he wasnt actually feeding as often as I thought and a pattern began to form from what I was writing. Do you have a v shaped feeding pillow. I dont know what I would do without mine, James is feeding now as I type with both hands, he is led on the pillow ! Also my boobs didnt use to feel full, they really only do now because James is sleeping through so in the morning they are like big rocks !! also I cant tell when mine are 'empty' I just go on the fact that I cant hear any swallowing sounds from him anymore, but sometimes that happens and then two seconds later I can hear him gulping down again. As long as he is gaining weight and getting wet and pooey nappies then I'd say your doing great. I think at the start I must have been feeding him every hour. Now its every 2-3 hours. If he's just had a feed then ten minutes later he seems hungry, I just whap one out and stick him back on !

 

[Samantha675]

I never had that massive engorded feeling either. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started out, I just kept my son on the boob and figured if he was hungry he would eat and he sure did. If he cried, and he didn't have a dirty diaper, I would offer the breast in those early days. The first weeks of BFing are soo freaking hard. You are not alone in feeling confused and frustrated.