Can’t breastfeed and it’s making me depressed

Lactation consultant asap! They should be able to help. They’re like literal angels and tbh I wouldn’t ever use them as a last resort I would use them as a first port of call. They are so knowledgeable and helpful (and just generally supportive of such difficult struggles!). Mother.shaheda on Instagram is also amazing and although not a LC she is super knowledgeable and I’ve seen she’s helped lots of people who have had difficulties with feeding and helped them get back on track (so maybe worth a convo with her and see if she’s worth your money/time).

Hope you manage to get it all sorted 💛

Also have you checked for tongue tie? It’s often a reason for babies not latching and midwives (in my experience) are pretty rubbish at picking it up or dealing with it. Again an LC should be able to identify and treat if found xx

Have you tried nipple shields? Lanisoh have one that’s meant to be really good

I tried it all and had legitimate suicidal depression about the loss of my breast feeding journey. At 16 months postpartum for a baby who bottle weaned at 12 m.o, I barely care anymore! I do think lactation consultants should be able to help, but occasionally they can’t and for your own sanity don’t lose your mind to this please. We had a terrible feeding journey top to bottom but once he weaned off bottles and was just on solids it was like the clouds parted. You can get donor milk if you don’t want to formula feed too.

I felt sad about struggling with breastfeeding and needing to supplement with formula as well and pumping every 3 hrs and all of the sterilizationcan feel relentless. I tried to really focus on fed is best and that helped me. One positive ive gotten from bottle feeding is focusing on getting to hold my baby and make eye contact with her and look at her face while she feeds from the bottle. It made me feel like I was getting more time to connect. I also bought a babybrezza bottle washer and sterilizer. It was pricy but ive found it worth it for my mental well being to cut down in the amount of time I was spending washing pump parts and bottles and sterilizing and get some time back for myself or to spend with my baby. They also sell just sterilization that are less expensive that I considered buying but I went with the washing one. Takes 5ma few minutes to load and fill up but less time overall ive found