Kate1985
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I just wanted to share my bf experience incase it can help anyone else. I know most of the regular ladies are aware of my experiences and have supported me greatly in my journey which I'm truly grateful for. If it encourages just one person to persevere or not worry then it will be worth my writing.
- I had wanted to bf from at one. Formula feeding was just not considered. Not because I am against formula as you will realise later in the story.y mum bf both my brother and me and I just really wanted to bind with my baby in ths way. I never even considered in my head that it wouldn't work or that it sucked be difficult.
That's until I went into labour at 32 weeks and had Harry. Obviously first barrier was that he was taken straight away to get oxygen so I had no skin to skin contact immediately and I old not try to latch him on. From ths Harry spent 3 weeks in scbu. In th first week due to wires etc i was told to express my milk for him which I did. 8 times daily including 2 night times which is hard at the best of time let alone when your visiting hospital and getting up in the night with no baby there.
Week 2 Harry was off the wires and I was allowed skin to skin and to try bf. Harry was unable to latch on and I was assured that it was because he was premmie and would most likely not even show an interest until 36 weeks gestation as his mouth was too smal etc but I could keep trying. I carried on expressing and tried every time I was allowed skin to skin (not as often as I would ave liked because he struggled to maintain his temp) but he was not latching. I got support from he breast buddy team who diagnosed tongue tie. While in scbu his tongue tie was cut. I expected him to ,arch straight away......he didn't. Harry continued to be tube fed a d I soon realised that I was never going yo get my baby home until I old prove I was able to feed him so after many tears I allowed nurses to use bottles oft expressed milk to give him. Harry thrived after this and was doing brilliantly. I still tried to latch him but it wasn't working so I continued to express and thought I can work on the bfing st home when I have time to relax have kin to skin etc. finally after 3 weeks I brought my baby home, by which point he was 35 weeks gestation.
I continued to express and I think I thought as soon as we hit 36 weeks he wild latch on......I tried every day....he didn't. W had tears from both me and him. Bfing was stressful and he just anted a bottle....expressing continued. I went to another bf clinic where it turned ut his tongue tie had returned and ths is why e had latching issues. An appointment was booked for 2 weeks later to have it cut. By nw I was expressing still but couldn't meet his demands so having to give a formula top up to satisfy his needs.
The day of the tongue tie op came and I was so excited. I would have it done and would be bfing normally straight after......Wrong! Harry still struggled toltch, e got stressed and tears were no regular occupancy. I was beginning to dread feeding times and I felt like I wasn't enjoying my son. Many times I wanted to give up and ff but this time I was sure about it so I sted on here. A few of he girls suggested nipple shields......Godsend!
Harry latched on with them straight away no problems and fed from me!!! It was the best feeling ever. I topped him up regularly because my supply was poor and he was still hungry. I'm now 3 weeks in to using shields and he only has one formula top up at night. Mainly because he sleeps a little longer and my dh can feed him once. Nipple shields work for us and I don't think he will ever latch without although I still try but I now only express when Harry has that bottle or if he sleeps a little longer and I need to express some off. What I'm saying is that it took 7 weeks of tears, heartache and pain but I'm so glad that I stuck at it. However I also fully understand that sometimes people need to give up because I am more than aware that it can take away the enjoyment of your new baby...it did this for me and I really regret that.
I don't want a medal, or a pat in the back. I not amazing for doing this...Lin just a mum. Those ladies on ere who exclusively express for their little ones, they are the real heros because it is hard work!! All I wanted was to say that if its something you really want to do, whatever obstacles you may face, if you really want to do it...you can! And it's amazing. It's a bond that no one can share with your baby except you. I feel robbed of the first 3 weeks of his life as I wasn't the one caring for him.....bfing him is helping me to come to terms with this. Good luck all you ladies wanting to bf. I'm happy to chat to anyone who wants advise if I can help and thank you to all the ladies on here who continued to support me when I felt like giving up. I live you all xxxxxx special thanks to karate kid, sallybee, Andrea and tweety foo xxxxxxxxx and anyone else who I may have forgotten xxxxxxx
- I had wanted to bf from at one. Formula feeding was just not considered. Not because I am against formula as you will realise later in the story.y mum bf both my brother and me and I just really wanted to bind with my baby in ths way. I never even considered in my head that it wouldn't work or that it sucked be difficult.
That's until I went into labour at 32 weeks and had Harry. Obviously first barrier was that he was taken straight away to get oxygen so I had no skin to skin contact immediately and I old not try to latch him on. From ths Harry spent 3 weeks in scbu. In th first week due to wires etc i was told to express my milk for him which I did. 8 times daily including 2 night times which is hard at the best of time let alone when your visiting hospital and getting up in the night with no baby there.
Week 2 Harry was off the wires and I was allowed skin to skin and to try bf. Harry was unable to latch on and I was assured that it was because he was premmie and would most likely not even show an interest until 36 weeks gestation as his mouth was too smal etc but I could keep trying. I carried on expressing and tried every time I was allowed skin to skin (not as often as I would ave liked because he struggled to maintain his temp) but he was not latching. I got support from he breast buddy team who diagnosed tongue tie. While in scbu his tongue tie was cut. I expected him to ,arch straight away......he didn't. Harry continued to be tube fed a d I soon realised that I was never going yo get my baby home until I old prove I was able to feed him so after many tears I allowed nurses to use bottles oft expressed milk to give him. Harry thrived after this and was doing brilliantly. I still tried to latch him but it wasn't working so I continued to express and thought I can work on the bfing st home when I have time to relax have kin to skin etc. finally after 3 weeks I brought my baby home, by which point he was 35 weeks gestation.
I continued to express and I think I thought as soon as we hit 36 weeks he wild latch on......I tried every day....he didn't. W had tears from both me and him. Bfing was stressful and he just anted a bottle....expressing continued. I went to another bf clinic where it turned ut his tongue tie had returned and ths is why e had latching issues. An appointment was booked for 2 weeks later to have it cut. By nw I was expressing still but couldn't meet his demands so having to give a formula top up to satisfy his needs.
The day of the tongue tie op came and I was so excited. I would have it done and would be bfing normally straight after......Wrong! Harry still struggled toltch, e got stressed and tears were no regular occupancy. I was beginning to dread feeding times and I felt like I wasn't enjoying my son. Many times I wanted to give up and ff but this time I was sure about it so I sted on here. A few of he girls suggested nipple shields......Godsend!
Harry latched on with them straight away no problems and fed from me!!! It was the best feeling ever. I topped him up regularly because my supply was poor and he was still hungry. I'm now 3 weeks in to using shields and he only has one formula top up at night. Mainly because he sleeps a little longer and my dh can feed him once. Nipple shields work for us and I don't think he will ever latch without although I still try but I now only express when Harry has that bottle or if he sleeps a little longer and I need to express some off. What I'm saying is that it took 7 weeks of tears, heartache and pain but I'm so glad that I stuck at it. However I also fully understand that sometimes people need to give up because I am more than aware that it can take away the enjoyment of your new baby...it did this for me and I really regret that.
I don't want a medal, or a pat in the back. I not amazing for doing this...Lin just a mum. Those ladies on ere who exclusively express for their little ones, they are the real heros because it is hard work!! All I wanted was to say that if its something you really want to do, whatever obstacles you may face, if you really want to do it...you can! And it's amazing. It's a bond that no one can share with your baby except you. I feel robbed of the first 3 weeks of his life as I wasn't the one caring for him.....bfing him is helping me to come to terms with this. Good luck all you ladies wanting to bf. I'm happy to chat to anyone who wants advise if I can help and thank you to all the ladies on here who continued to support me when I felt like giving up. I live you all xxxxxx special thanks to karate kid, sallybee, Andrea and tweety foo xxxxxxxxx and anyone else who I may have forgotten xxxxxxx
