Breastfeeding Support Thread

[lauramumof2]

The only reason I wouldn't continue feeding her is because of what other people would have to say.

Sod the swines, you do what you want to do
I couldnt bf one never mind two so that would be such a major achievement for someone.

 

[beanie]

Seren seems to be dropping her feeds, she will take boobie if offered it but today we went 6 hours without her asking as she was happy enough with her solids. Should I keep on offering her it when I think she should have it (or when I am full as it is uncomfy) or should I let her tell me when she wants it

 

[Rosieroo]

I had this with Ella, can you remember back around the meet I was tearing my hair out? She feeds first thing, usually before her morning nap at around 9am then nothing til maybe 3-4pm then bedtime feed. In between she has water. She's just not bothered about boobie unless she's tired I would let her guide you hon, that's what I found least stressful in the end

 

[beanie]

cheers hun, I guess I got upset as I thought that this was the start of the end.

Have to share this with you, there are some great breastfeeding images on here, including tandem feeding Kina. I think the ones of the little girl feeding her dolly's are so cute, and the one where she is holding the toy drill as she feeds reminds me so much of Seren, we have to have a toy when we feed to now.

http://celebritybabies.typepad.com/phot ... stfeeding/

editied to add addy, as I forgot

 

[Rosieroo]

Awww there are some really cute pics there, the bubs look so contented. I want to get a nice b&w pic of me feeding next time, looks like it could be a tandem jobbie

 

[beanie]

I know they are great aren't they? I love my photos of Seren feeding, but can't take anymore as she has to unlatch and give a big milky smile to the camera

 

[Jadie]

Those Pictures were lovely!!!!

I started the peer surport course on friday, I learnt so much in two hours! it was brilliant. I have been boring every one with my new facts on breastfeeding!!
This week I have too pay 20 pound for a taxi to get there because my car is smashed but i would walk if i had too!

Jadie

 

[beanie]

Glad you are enjoying the course. I loved mine, wish it was still happening

 

[ToriElla]

sorry for gatecrashing but how sweet are some of those photos. i love this one

I really want to stick it out longer next time, I hope I can do it better.

Can I just ask - did all of you feel like giving up at first? when you were really tired etc? if so how did you manage to keep going?

I stopped because of tiredness and the stress of finding places to bf when i was out. It felt overwhelming at the time

 

[beanie]

I was looking back at old breastfeeding threads and found these

This is striking such a chord with me. I am currently experiencing difficulties and finding it really tough. Baby likes to latch on and has a good latch apparently but I am finding it so painful. Plus my milk has stillto come in (I know its early days) but she is still hungry after being on my boobs for 40 mins each. It was decided to top up on formula, and this was working, on my boobs for a while, top up then back on boob until asleep. However since I got home it seems to have gone down hill. I was feeding her and felt a really sharp pain, took her of the breast and found a blood blister thing hanging off my nipple. Freaked out completely. Tried her on the other breast and the same thing started to happen, I am in a lot of pain and decided just to give her formula of which she has had a bit but not a huge amount.

It feels like it has all gone wrong again. Had a bad day yesterday, was in a lot of pain and Seren had to be topped up with formula a couple of times. Today I have had a much better day pain wise and have been able to feed her but I think my milk just isn't happening. She woke at about 3.30pm and has only just settled. I have fed her for ages on both breasts and she is still hungrey, shoving her fists into her mouth and properly screaming. My boobs are empty at the moment, she just keeps suckling away but is never satisfied. To make matters worse she hasn't had a poo today (since midnight last night), just wet nappies which isn't like her, and I now think its because she was given so much formula and that I have messed up and made her ill. Trying to contact a midwife but no reply on the phone. I feel like I am such a failure with this, thought I was getting somewhere and now feel like I am back to square one.

I really struggled with breastfeeding and though about giving up every single day. First my milk didn't come in till day 7 which was a nightmare, then I had very painful nipples with blood blisters etc. Then thrush, mastitis which caused the thrush to return, mastitis again then another bout of thrush. Thinking about those early days made me shudder. On top of this I had a baby who fed for 40 mins every hour at one point and I felt so alone and crap. However I had some great advice from thsi forum and they really helped to encourage me to keep going. It was good to know that what Seren was doing was normal, that newborns don't naturally go into a routine and that frequent feeding is what they do. I also gave myself targets, one day, one week, two weeks, a month, three months, etc and before I knew it it was so easy. I am glad I persevered but I may not have done if I hadn't been so bloody headed about it all. Due to my PND I felt I couldn't do anyhting right and therefore breastfeeding became the only thing I felt I could do for her (I now know that is not the case), but I also thinked it helped me to bond as well.

 

[Rosieroo]

My supply is going

 

[Lucy]

Tor - yep I found it really hard in the beginning because of being so tired and suffering bleeding nipples then thrush in my boobs etc. I was also really sore from episiotomy and started to dread every feed.
Like Beanie I gave myself small targets but mine didn't sound so positive - I kept on saying "I'll give up on Saturday", then when it was Sunday I'd say "I'll give up on Saturday" etc. Just by giving myself a target of 1 more week it kept me going and before I knew it I wasn't as tired and my stitches and sore boobs had healed. Also, lying down to feed (easy to do on bed or sofa) really helps and lets you get some rest in the early days.

I felt much more comfortable feeding in public when I had clothes on that were easy to latch Olivia on with and I soon became good at sussing out which seat was best in a cafe or restaurant.

Kina - I remember you saying Ella was feeding less , do you think that's got anything to do with your supply or is it from pregnancy?

I was going to wean Olivia onto bottles about a month ago but in the end I didn't feel ready to do it yet. I went out on Friday night and she refused to take more than 1 ounce from the bottle so I think it's going to be a real struggle when the time comes

Lucy

 

[Rosieroo]

Ella's on 2 boobie feeds and 2 bottle feeds a day. One of the ff is around 3-4oz and the other is before she goes to bed.

 

[Urchin]

You've done SO well though Kina, if she does end up on formula now, she's got the best possible start from you, so don't feel bad about it, you've done GREAT.

 

[Rosieroo]

It was really bad Saturday night Urchin, I didn't take any formula with me and at the hotel Ella kept latching on and screaming at my hysterically because she wasn't getting anything out. I gave her some water and she guzzled a couple ozs then Matt had to go and get some milk from a nearby garage which she took another couple ozs of before she crashed out. On the Sunday when I got home I expressed in the afternoon and got less than half an ounce of both boobies

We've still got our big morning feed, which is nice when she comes in and snuggles up. I'm so not ready to give up, but if she needs the formula then she'll have to have it. It's hard!

 

[Lindsay]

Please can anyone recommend a good breast pump to buy? I haven't had to get one as I have had Jacob with me all the time but I am going back to work end of November and am going to have to start thinking about expressing milk for DH and MIL to give to him during the day. The HV I spoke to at the clinic on Monday said that it might be best to use a breastfeeding cup rather than a bottle so that he doesn't get confused with the teat and my nipple. They gave me one as a freebie, it's bright orange & plastic can you buy them as I would prefer something a bit more tasteful for him? thanks in advance.

Xxx

 

[Lindsay]

Kina I forgot to say that I think you have done a fantastic job breastfeeding for as long as you have hun

Xxx

 

[Rosieroo]

Lindsey I have the mini medula electric pump, it's £43 from Mothercare and definately did the job for me Ella never had a problem with a teat and the boob, so if he doesn't take to the cup don't worry about trying him with a teat. At his age there should be no probs with nipple confusion

 

[Lindsay]

Thanks hun, I know the HV are only doing their jobs but most of the time they make you worry about things unneccesarily!!

Xxx

 

[xSuzx]

Hi lindsey

As I don't express that often I use a avent manual breastpump ( used to have a tommee tippee but it wasn't very good)

Also I have a breastbottle for lily for if I go out without her.

you can see them here www.adiri.com there abit expensive but you can also get them brand new off ebay for a bit cheeper and you only really need 1 or 2.

xSuzx