Deflated about Breastfeeding

Please don't feel sad, this is similar to me, my baby is just so hungry breast isn't enough for him so I now combi feed both breast and bottle and it works great for us, he's full and sleeps well and is still getting breast too. I also express and give that to him in a bottle which gives my nipples a break! I understand the pressure and felt exactly the same but I was so exhausted and in so much pain that combi was the best bet. Your not letting him down at all, as long as he's fed, your doing perfectly xx

Fed is best, lovely. Any breast milk you can give him is a bonus and remember it can take 5 days or even slightly longer for your milk to come in so don't give up hope. If you have a pump, you could try power pumping to up your supply? Are you using nipple cream to help with the soreness? Have the midwives/ health visitors checked baby's latch? All these things might help with the discomfort. But please don't feel sad - you're doing a fabulous job, mumma. xx

Same exact situation with me. Baby seems to be feeding on the boob for a while but is still starving after and she’s having decent amount bottles. It does make you feel a bit defeated because you feel like your body is not providing for your baby so I do get you but you have to think, as long as baby is fed and happy that’s all that matters. It doesn’t make you a bad mum at all. You are doing what’s best for your baby and that is what makes you an amazing mum.

@Catherine yeah I've started the pumping tonight but it's slow which is what has made feel this way as it made me see how slow it is for him. Yeah I got nipple cream today and have nipple shields on the way too. Yeah midwives have checked lastch and said everything is fine. But I think it where he so hungry he's sucking really hard 😔 xx

Don't worry too much about what you get from pumping: I never pumped that much but had plenty for my son. Babies, once they've got the hang of it, are far more efficient at getting milk out! And your nipples will harden in time. My son had a strong suck and I remember those first days..ouch! xx

@Catherine honeslty the suck on this little guy bring tears to my eyes, I have to bite down on sumin then after a min or so it subsides. Just pumped tonight for about an hour, done both sides and only got roughly 40ml 😩

You don’t have to give up on breastfeeding just because you needed to give baby a little top up, that’s totally fine and you are doing great. Xx

I really hope the pain improves for you like it did for me. Keep applying the nipple cream (I swore by Lansinoh) and even though you won't feel like it, get baby on the boob as much as possible to increase supply. I offered boob literally every time he cried as a newborn 😂 but we made it to 2.5 years breastfeeding in the end and I loved it. xx

I'm combi feeding at the mo whilst my supply bumps up, it's super common I think! We're alternating formula and breast with me pumping to make up for the formula feed (as in, to trick my boobs) and it's hard going but every day there is progress! Keep going mama! You can do it!

They do cry to stimulate your supply as well, just remember. So he might be on the breast constantly and/or crying when he’s not because that’s what makes your supply increase. Do you have a lactation consultant that health visitors can put you in touch with to check his latch etc to try and help with the pain?

@Catherine yeah thats the cream i got today so hoping if I guve myself a slight break tonight and apply the cream I nay be in a better place tomorrow morning 🙏🏻

@Gaby we have our 4 days check up tomorrow so will defo chat with them then see if there anything more I can do xx

Pumping 40ml at 4 days is great! Remember their tummy’s are still so small. I think their feeds are 22-27ml at this stage. Could be worth seeing a lactation specialist. Your midwife should be able to refer you. Also as someone noted above baby’s are much more efficient at taking from the breast then any pump x

Silverette nipple cups helped me so much with nipple pain first time round, so they might be worth a try too

And it’s still very early days with feeding at the moment, it can take a while for supply to work itself out. I’m feeding my 5 day old almost constantly at the moment it feels like! But doing a combi approach can be a great way to get the best of both worlds.

Also someone told me that your milk is on a delay so if baby seems hungry it's telling your boobs to make more milk and it will start producing more. My boobs haven't felt "full" in ages but Winnie feeds for a while off them and comes off with milky mouth so she's getting something there!