I don't know what to do. *updated bottom of page*

[nickilubs]

I have always expressed milk for Ivy because she wouldn't latch believe me I have tried so hard so have all the HVs and Midwives but she doesn't want to know and neither do my nipples!!! She latched about 3times in total once when she was very first born and the others have been after near starving the poor girl till shes so hungry she would suck anything! I have always had enough there to fill her with EBM alone. But the past 2weeks TBH have been really hard going I have managed to get mastitis in both breasts that kept on shifting from one part to another no matter how often I pumped and massaged so I had to get antibiotic's for that. Which I have taken a full course of and they are still inflamed also the last couple of days she has been really feeding loads and I just cant keep up with her demand for food. So not only am I pumping every hour to try and keep up, it hurts like you will not believe! Nobody ever told me labour was the easy part of becoming a mother this is far more painful!

Anyway today my breasts are not so swollen but my milk supply has really dwindled (I know it because I have expressed and blah blah blah I have heard this many times but expressing some milk for 8weeks is better than doing none at all) and I really don't know if I could stick another few months of having mastitis. TBH the expressing and sterilizing and stuff doesn't faze me but its the mastitis that is really getting to me. And because at the moment my milk supply is really low I don't know whether this is a good time to give up and start using formula or not. Please nobody suggest that I just breast feed her because If I could do that then I would of a long time ago.

I don't want to give up but I also really don't want this pain again. If I do give up whats the best way to go about it will I get the mastitis again? I just feel really low about this now

 

[NickyB]

You've done a sterling job expressing for eight weeks, I hope you know that. I certainly couldn't have been arsed, because you get the bad bits of both - the sterilising AND the engorgement (mastitis even in your case) and wet sheets etc. Your booby milk has been fantastic for her for so long, so I wouldn't worry if you had to start giving her a formula feed or two each day.

 

[daftscotslass]

Kalia expresses for her LO so she might be able to give you the best advice. I can't help you much except to say remember to do what you feel is right for the both of you and have lots of these

 

[charlie84]

You have done so well hun expressing, i certainly dont think i would have been able to do that

I think the best thing for you to do is to get back to the docs for another course of antibiotics to sort out the mastitis. It took two courses to get rid of mine. Definatley get this sorted first. Once it has gone away you may feel a bit more up for the challenge of continuing just expressing.

If you are looking to stop expressing for her i would take it slowly by expressing less and less but take your time with it or you could have issues with engorgement and mastitis again.

You may find say if you start topping up with formula that your milk supply will drop anyway.

Just make sure you get the mastitis sorted as it can be nasty if left untreated.

xx

 

[LisaJ1986]

You need to do what's right by you two. You have done an amazing job! I can't express as a 1 off so i have no idea how you've done it this long!
If you will be happier and more comfortable giving her formula then go for it. As long as baby is healthy and gaining weight.

 

[claireyfairey]

First of all, bigs hugs to you Nikki

Isla and I had the same problem regarding breastfeeding - it just wasn't working for us, so I expressed milk for Isla for two weeks. By the end of those two weeks I was going out of my mind so I cannot even begin to imagine how you must be feeling after 8 weeks. Pumping is so time consuming, and bloody painful at times too. My nipples were bleeding but I can't imagine what mastitis in both boobies would feel like.

I can understand why you feel like giving up. I think you need to do whatever feels right for you. I felt immensely guilty when I gave up expressing, but 3 weeks later I am happy with my decision. I actually feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I know Isla is being fed, and so far, is gaining weight and is healthy and happy. I (and you) should feed your baby the best way you know how and you should not feel guilty about any decision you make.

Like the others have said, you've done a sterling job expressing for 8 weeks. I admire you SO much for your determination. I hope you feel comfortable with whatever decision you make - whatever decision that is, it is the right one for you.

Lots of love and cuddles!

C xxx

 

[aramintalovegrove]

You are a fooking amazing woman for expressing thus far

I need to start doing it as we are going out on the 16th and I find it so hard to get motivated and actually produce what looks like a decent amount, I applaud you for doing this for pip full time, you have been really dedicated to Ivy and dont forget that!

I have had mastitis once and managed to clear it with lots of feeding and creative placement of Esme to clear the blockages, but its going to be harder for you so make sure you get some help if you do continue as its a nightmare.

Do what you feel is best for you and Ivy, as long as you are happy it doesnt matter how you feed her

 

[nickilubs]

I just don't know WHY I feel so bad about it. I think as long as your baby's fed it doesn't matter how so I don't know why its upsetting me so much. I felt so happy when OH came back with formula last night it was such a relief even though we haven't used it. I just suppose I always had it in mind that I would feed her my milk till she was old enough to start on proper food then it would all be good because it would be different anyway. Also I like it how her nappys are not really stinky!!!! And the fact boobie milk is free. I never thought this would be such a hard choice.

 

[claireyfairey]

I just don't know WHY I feel so bad about it. I think as long as your baby's fed it doesn't matter how so I don't know why its upsetting me so much. I felt so happy when OH came back with formula last night it was such a relief even though we haven't used it. I just suppose I always had it in mind that I would feed her my milk till she was old enough to start on proper food then it would all be good because it would be different anyway. Also I like it how her nappys are not really stinky!!!! And the fact boobie milk is free. I never thought this would be such a hard choice.

You sound exactly like I did when I made the decision to switch to formula I felt so guilty because I felt I had failed to do the natural thing. It's worth bearing in mind that scientists have been working for years to make formula milk. Yes, it will never be as perfect as breast milk but it's a damn good substitute and will meet your daughters nutritional demands should you decide to use it. You would not be harming her in any way and you certainly wouldn't be letting her down.

Do what you feel is best Nikki

 

[Steelgoddess]

I just don't know WHY I feel so bad about it. I think as long as your baby's fed it doesn't matter how so I don't know why its upsetting me so much. I felt so happy when OH came back with formula last night it was such a relief even though we haven't used it. I just suppose I always had it in mind that I would feed her my milk till she was old enough to start on proper food then it would all be good because it would be different anyway. Also I like it how her nappys are not really stinky!!!! And the fact boobie milk is free. I never thought this would be such a hard choice.

You sound exactly like I did when I made the decision to switch to formula I felt so guilty because I felt I had failed to do the natural thing. It's worth bearing in mind that scientists have been working for years to make formula milk. Yes, it will never be as perfect as breast milk but it's a damn good substitute and will meet your daughters nutritional demands should you decide to use it. You would not be harming her in any way and you certainly wouldn't be letting her down.

Do what you feel is best Nikki

It's really natural to feel this way because you are trying to do the best for baby so it is very hard when you make the decision to change over, That decision really is yours and yours alone Niks and hello how fantastic is 8weeks?!! better then my 2.5 or so days lmao!!!

Either way best of luck
xx

 

[flowergirl]

First of all can I say for how long you have been expressing for- amazing!

I am very pro breast feeding and I try to encourage people to carry on with it where I can, but only if it is in their best interest, and their baby's. It sounds to me as if you are trying to follow all advice about uring mastitis whilst breast feeding so I will refrain from telling you what you already know!

What I will say is that I am certain that I would not have lasted 8 weeks exclusively expressing and I certainly wouldn't have coped with mastitis- I am fortunate that the worst I have had is 1 day with a blocked duct and that was bad enough!

I really believe that you have to be happy to have a happy baby and if bringing a tub of formula into the house made you feel so relieved then I think you really have your answer. I think Charlie gave you the best advice- get to the doctor's to get more anti biotics and then make your mind up about continuing breast feeding. If you manage to express enough in the time between then great, if you feel you need to supplement with formula then do it.

Being a mum is draining and exhausting enough without missing all of the wonderful bits because you are expressing non stop.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[nickilubs]

Righto its been done. Formula has been fed for the first time. And she seems to like it lol! I was expecting her to fuss a bit and to refuse it but nope gulped it down .

Well now thats done what changes will there be in her. will she poo more, need burping more/less, be sick more/less? What should I expect to change?

Thankyou all of you xx

 

[fran_23]

Erm she might poo less or be a bit constipated and now try offering cooled boiled water between feeds too, brestfed babies dont need it but bottlefed babies do..will help with constipation too! apart from that there shouldnt be much difference!

 

[claireyfairey]

Are you just topping up with formula? Cos most likely not a lot will change; I mixed fed Isla for 2 weeks and her poos were yellow and runny. She's never been a big burper, hence the colic

Now she's been on formula for a while she poos a lot less - once every two days perhaps, and it's darker, smellier and more solid; they're not like formed poos like the kind you or I would do, but they're certainly less liquid than breastmilk poos!

I don't know what else to tell you really....I will give you some of these You're doing a great job Nik

 

[Squiglet]

Her poop will smell Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Also the consistency of her poop will change. She might be a bit sicklier than normal too due to the change in diet and the fact she is getting water... I know some grown ups who have poorly tummies if they change their water... It may not happen... but it might

If you feel like you can't mess around with the whole expressing thing anymore, then don't. I express for work and thats just for the time I am not around, and its a pain in the arse if I'm honest. Don't think I'd be able to do it if I had to do it all the time, although I am a terrible expresser.

8 weeks is better than most mothers manage when their babies CAN latch on, so I think you should feel ever so proud of yourself.

 

[Mildly]

Well done for expressing for this long

I mix feed Oscar, in that he has one formula feed a night, breastfed the rest if the time and we only noticed a difference in poo consistency only when we temporarily upped his formula feeds to two a day - he did get a bit constipated. We are back down to one a day now and they are back to normal.

I'm sure you've already had these suggested but have you tried nipple shields? Oscar won't latch onto my nipple but will with the shields. Anyway something to think of if you do decide to carry on with breastfeeding. Hope you get your mastitis cleared up

 

[keli]

Well done for getting so far with the expressing.. i think you should be really proud of yourself xxx

 

[KJ]

what kind of pump are you using hun?

My friend had a similar problem in that her DD wouldn't latch from the word go. So she hired a double breast pump and expressed exclusively and fed her DD breast milk until about 10 months I think. But she stressed that she couldn't have done it without the special pump. The other ones aren't really made for mothers who have to express exclusively. They're just not up to it. Ok if you're just giving LO expressed milk now and again, but if you can't boob feed directly from the breast you need a pump that can handle it.

K.xx

 

[nickilubs]

I was using Avent hand pump lol and yes I do have arms like tarzan after 8weeks of pumping!!!!!!!!

 

[MaryLouise]

I found myself in a kind of similar situation and I found that it is very emotional and hard to give up breast feeding and I'm sure that your amazing expressing is the same. You have done such a good job, I hand expressed a few times and it really is hard going, well done. I knew from the start that I would only be able to BF for a short while as I have to take medication that could cause problems if taken whilst BFing but when it came to giving up it was so hard, I felt guilty and kept telling myself that I could keep doing it for a little bit longer, it took me nearly 3 weeks to stop completely, it is only since Friday that I have managed to do it! I decided that dropping feeds slowly was the best way for me to prevent getting too uncomfortable, I could still have my little moments with him whilst he had his breast milk and I slowly grew used to the idea of stopping. If I could I would still be giving him breast milk but for many of us its just not feesible and we shouldnt feel bad about it. The transition between breast and formula has caused some constipation but Freddie is now having lactulose to help loosen his poop, hopefully that will do the trick! I hope that you manage to get the mastitis sorted I cant imagine how painful that must be.