Breastfeeding struggles

In a similarly boat, it’s hard and exhausting breastfeeding but I’m still in the determined to make it work camp…my baby is 3 weeks old now. I struggled with supply initially and he lost too much weight so had to combi feed him. It’s not what I wanted but it has been a blessing when he needed to fill up and sleeps a bit better as a result. However his latch has changed as babies latch to bottles differently, causing another couple issues with breastfeeding. I’m unsure what the right official thing is but I’m just having to go my own way with it, and take the pressure off myself, that’s my only tip is to take the pressure off x

I was breast feeding but struggling to give her the right amount and getting sore nipples so decided to bottle feed instead and she so much happier and alot of stress lifted from me.

My baby had a severe tongue tie and never watched properly so I'm pumping and combi feeding all from a bottle, would that be an option? It's a pain having to pump 8x a day but it means she gets my milk and we can use formula when needed too

thank you, I do wonder if we would both be happier with a bottle..! I don't want him to wake up at the moment as then he will want feeding and that's not good for our bond at all 🥺

No I know I had that dread too. But you have to do what's you think works for you. I was left with no help from midwives etc had to decide on my own what was best 😕

I have been thinking of either pumping or combi feeding but keep putting it off as I'm a bit overwhelmed by the options! I think I'm going to get out our steriliser and pump today to work out how to use them just so I'm one step closer to having the option if I need it!

I'm sorry that you didn't get any support from your midwives! 😔 But it sounds like you made the right decision for you and baby 💖

Have you tried a nipple shield mam do them and they helped so much with my first and I was able to feed comfortably. Also with the de latching it could be wind. I hope this helps. X

I literally could have written this myself! I also saw a lactation consultant and things seemed to be getting better but we really struggle particularly in the evening! He gets agitated, fighting me, throwing himself on and off. Starting off with a good latch then pulling off to a shallower latch. It’s making me really not enjoy BF and currently my partner steps in in the evening and covers the late evening - 2am with EBM as I get too stressed, but I can’t help but feel guilty as if I should just be powering through. It’s really tough! And I’m unsure wether to continue as well.

If it is a fast let down my lactation consultant said to try laid back, natural feeding as they can control the flow better, which I do think is true. I just find those positions a bit harder when he’s really squirming but maybe worth a shot?

My first child had a posterior tongue tie that went undetected for a month!!! My breastfeeding journey was really mentally challenging. Once it was finally spotted as some can be hard for them to noticed (i had atleast 6 people check) i got it snipped and instantly our breastfeeding journey changed.

Baby boy (born 2 weeks ago) was born with one too. Spotted instantly this time. In 3 days i had it snipped. Prior to that my mental health was eroding. Nipples bleeding, sore and latch made me want to scream. Now everything is feeling better.


Hope this helps xxx

I completely understand the strain it can put on your mental health. My baby is 3 weeks old, and while I have a strong milk supply, he often fusses before latching properly (puts his hand in front of his mouth, my husband has to help me sometimes and he cries), and his crying can be really distressing at times. Babies crying are designed to stress us so we know we need to react, and it works 🙈. I'm planning on starting to pump soon so my husband can feed him at least once a day. All of this is to say, do what feels right for you, mama, but know you're not alone ❤️🙋🏻‍♀️

I was like this. My baby had a severe tongue tie so was struggling to latch. But at 3 weeks my midwife said they are having a growth spurt too which makes them like that. I was just like you in tears every evening. I’ve started pumping in the morning so I have a bottle for the evenings when he wants to cluster feed.
Nobody ever talks about how hard breastfeeding is especially the first month x

Have you tried nipple shields? I found this helped with latch and giving my nipples a break at this stage. My LO is now 6 weeks old and I’m so glad I stuck at it because we have no issues now and no pain for me but appreciate this doesn’t work for everyone. Best of luck x

I should also say we haven’t used the nipple shields for 2 weeks now x

I had a similar situation with my little one since birth, I saw a specialist and found that she had a tongue tie which was affecting her latch making it extremely painful. After getting it cut she still struggled and I was very close to giving up, I felt physically and mentally drained. However, after pushing through, we finally saw a change at 4 weeks old. I’m so glad that I stuck with it as now she feeds perfectly, she still sometimes struggles to latch at first but is 7 weeks old and gaining a perfect amount of weight. Stick with it for as long as you can ! X

sorry to jump in . I would also like to pump few times to feed my Lo. But Im fed up with washing all the pump stuff and keeping them in boiled water . I suppose we need to do this each time we use the pump but is there any easier process for sterilization or may I ask how you sterilise 8 x? Which is incredible

Hey , I'll be honest it is a slog to pump 8x a day but I've tried dropping to 6 and my supply started to tail off so had to up it to 8x again. I have a spectra S1 pump and to ease the number of times I have to sterilise everything, I bought an additional set of flanges, valves and bottles on Amazon so I have 2 sets to cycle through. I also pump back to back 2-3 times once a day when baby is sleeping in a morning and don't have to sterilise each time then which really helps make it more manageable. So I might pump for 20, leave it 20 mins then pump again, then pump again then sterilise and it still counts as 3 separate pumps out of the 8 I do a day. I pump once in the night every night too. Hope that helps xx

most pump you just need to wash in warm soapy water rather than sterilise each time. I wash each time and put it in the steriliser once a day

thanks for the info.this is something I need to work on pumping.

this sounds easier. I use lulia breast pump.

check the instructions but most are this way I believe