Breastfeeding disaster

We're at day 5 and I'm afraid our breastfeeding journey is already ending 😔😔 My nipples are cracked and one has started to bleed... I've kept offering my baby the breast as much as possible since birth, but it seems that my colostrum was basically inexistent. She stayed in the breast literally for hours the first 2 days (hence the cracked nipples plus some shallow latches that didn't help) but nothing was coming out as I also tried to hand express in between feeds. I had to top up with formula as she was not having wet nappies and her poo wasn't changing colour 😔 I thought it would get better with my milk coming in but it has come in with miserable quantities, and now here we are with me bleeding and in so much pain 😢 I've currently started to give her formula as she was starving after each single time at the breast, but has anyone have any advice on how to keep on going? I know pumping would help, but I have a 2 year old around and limited time. Would a wearable breast pump help I've read online it can lower production, but mine is already nonexistent so maybe worth a try? Any help would really be appreciated

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Hi, I’m sorry you’re going through this. BFing is so rough especially at first. My baby is 16 days old now and we struggled big time at first I also had limited colostrum and baby did shallow latch only that caused intense agony and nipple damage. I could barely get any colostrum out myself. A midwife at hospital managed to get a 1ml out and we fed it to him but I couldn’t do it myself and it was so painful So he went onto forumla and I’ve worked hard since then to get back to breast What changed everything for me was nipple shields. I used them mainly as I have quite flat nipples so baby was shallow latching and not understanding at all. The nipple sheilds means he latches great and the second bonus is … no nipple pain!! Then I started pumping , first with a manual pump. Was slow going at first but with some dedication I increased my supply. I bought a hands free electric pump a few days ago but tbh I don’t find it very great , it often gets barely anything out ; but somet

But sometimes it’s ok.. at least I can do other things at the same time. Basically nipple shields , give your nipples a little time to recover , and try and pump as little and often as you can to balance getting some milk flowing and letting your nipples recover . The more milk you can get out, the more milk your boobs will make in future. Slowly but surely over the past 1.5 weeks I have increased my milk supply to the point that we are now down to only 1 forumla bottle every 24 hours. He has boob (with nipple sheilds) and expressed milk now and a tiny bit of forumla. It’s hard work though .. And if it doesn’t work out , & it’s all too difficult , that is okay! Fed is best and you’re doing absolutely amazing no matter what happens!!!🤍

Sorry mummy l also went through that l understand you my baby is 9 days old today. lt was hard first 4days nothing came l had no milk at all and baby was on formula. I didnt give up on him latching and my nipples would bleed but l applied the nipple cream it helped a lot.

Has your latch been checked? Sore nipples plus lack wet nappies suggests a poor latch to me? Your milk supply will only increase in proportion to how much baby is getting from you, so if she's not managing to get much (because of a poor latch), then your milk supply won't increase xx

Have you been to see a lactation specialist? It may be your latch and baby could have ties that are giving you these issues. Nipple silverettes for your nipples will help them massively I can’t recommend them enough

Several thoughts - does your baby have a tongue tie? My first did and the hospital didn’t pick it up and that started my breastfeeding journey issues. A lactation consultant picked it up and we got it sorted privately. Nipple shields were great but did contribute to my lower supply. Honestly, I pushed so hard for breastfeeding and after 9 months threw in the towel. Looking back, I wish I’d thrown it in earlier. It caused a lot of tension between me and my partner and stress for me. I had lactation appointments, medication, all types of pumps, etc. and battling low supply just never got better. Do what is right for you but don’t be afraid to end the journey for your own mental health.

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