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September 2015 Moms
aleecats
member
Not sure if breast is best for me....
aleecats
member
I know it's the best for my LO, and I know only three days into it shouldn't just give up but I'm worried for my health if I don't.
LO is three days old now and I want to do everything right for her, I was dead set on breast feeding her and right after she was born she latched great and it was perfect. But every time after hasn't been so good. She has trouble latching on the right side, all day yesterday I had to only feed her from the left and pump the right. It's caused a lot of pain and the left isn't enough to satisfy her. Since about 2 am yesterday morning she's taken the right better but emotionally I hate it. I hate breastfeeding I cry every time I do it and I'm not even sure I'm making enough for her. Today o had to nurse for almost 3 straight hours and still had to pump afterwards to saticfy her.
I want to switch to formula but I don't know how and I feel so guilty for it.
My question is do you think I should stick with it or keep going? Should I wait until her pedi appointment on Friday and ask him or what? I'm just worried because emotionally this is killing me in every way and I'm kind of starting to resent her when I feed....
LO is three days old now and I want to do everything right for her, I was dead set on breast feeding her and right after she was born she latched great and it was perfect. But every time after hasn't been so good. She has trouble latching on the right side, all day yesterday I had to only feed her from the left and pump the right. It's caused a lot of pain and the left isn't enough to satisfy her. Since about 2 am yesterday morning she's taken the right better but emotionally I hate it. I hate breastfeeding I cry every time I do it and I'm not even sure I'm making enough for her. Today o had to nurse for almost 3 straight hours and still had to pump afterwards to saticfy her.
I want to switch to formula but I don't know how and I feel so guilty for it.
My question is do you think I should stick with it or keep going? Should I wait until her pedi appointment on Friday and ask him or what? I'm just worried because emotionally this is killing me in every way and I'm kind of starting to resent her when I feed....
Re: Not sure if breast is best for me....
I know breast is best but over that, a happy mama is ever better!!
There is enough stresses going on right now, getting one out of the way, lowering my anxiety and becoming instantly happier with my baby and the feeding experience over rides everything else!!
Take care momma, you are amazing whatever you decide because you are caring for your LO and yourself!
I personally wanted to give up days 4-6 but by day 7 the engorgement went down and each day after got a little better. Im 13 days pp and everything is great! Days 4-10 were really bad for my nipples as they were severely cracked.
My milk didn't come in until day 4 or 5. Before that, baby was breastfeeding constantly and was dropping weight (he was 8 lbs 10
oz to start and got down to 7 lbs 12 oz). After my milk came in, baby started gaining 2 oz. a day, then gained 11 oz. in 3 days! He was back up to his birth weight by day 9. I was feeding him every 2 hours until he gained back his birth weight and for the first few weeks. Now at 4 weeks old he's only eating every 3 hours during the day and every 4-5 at night, and I'm pumping and giving one bottle of milk a day so I can get a break and my husband can help out. There were definitely times I questioned if I could do this, but it has gotten easier and better, and baby has gotten much more efficient already. Rather than him taking an hour to feed now, he takes maybe 15-20 minutes.
Just know that it does get easier! And if you decide that it's not for you, that's totally ok too! The important thing is that baby is being fed and has a mom who loves her, which you obviously do!
Ultimately please do what's right for you either way!
In that time it was hard to get him to latch because I didn't have positioning down or he was too upset to get a good latch. I had trouble with my left side and developed milk blisters.
By day 5 my milk was in and he slept more and was more satisfied. By day 6 my left nipple wasn't sore and I could tell the signs he wanted boob before he cried so latching got way easier.
I'm not saying do something that hurts you - I just want you to know that you aren't doing anything wrong!
The engorgement that came with stopping cold turkey sucked! But the 36 hrs of ugh was with it. Baby is happy and so is mommy!
Breast feeding might be natural but it's NOT easy. I have been struggling too. My problem is flat nipples, so the lactation consultant at my hospital got me nipple shields, which helped our initial latch and I still use when I'm overly engorged or baby is fussy but hungry. I also pump first thing in the morning too relieve engorgement. This becomes the bottle DH gives her when he gets home from work. I am also finding help from other mothers in my area, either breastfeeding in my ladies bible study group (many moms helped with good advice), and attending Le Leche League meetings. These have been amazing for my mental health and in keeping baby fed.
patience. Take a deep breath before feeding. If you decide to continue breastfeeding after looking up the resources in your area, best of luck. Support is out there though.
You're doing great!
If you want to keep trying, find a LC or local LLL for advice and support.
Breastfeeding is HARD FREAKING WORK and if you're starting to resent baby then go for formula! It's your baby and your choice you shouldn't feel guilty at all! I'm breastfeeding and pumping so he can get a bottle once a day also, so if you still want your baby to get your milk you can pump and feed him from the bottle. My milk didn't fully come in until about a week ago and it's been pretty much smoothe sailing ever since. I have a similar issue where it's harder for him to latch on the right for some reason so I just hold it up for him and he latches and I just hold it so it doesn't fall out or something. Always remember a happy momma means a happy baby! Make sure you are happy and getting what you need too!
It's hard no matter what, make whatever decision works for you and baby and there's no way it can be wrong. Good luck!!!
Also, it does not have to be black or white. My baby and my nipples do not go together so I pumped and her dad fed her formula (it was a plus because it allowed them to have a bonding moment. Now if she cries in my arms she has the option to go to her "2nd mommy" and she calms down)
Also formula keeps them fuller longer. A good option for bed time
Try out the nipple shield if you have not already. Do note that they come in different sizes so you have to experiment a little. LC would help you out with that as well. And if that does not work then oh well life goes on.
Or just step back for a few days and give yourself a break. Feed your LO with formula and maybe you will feel like you want to try again breast feeding (tho you have to pump and I recommend drinking mothers milk tea)
It's not black or white and it's a really hard (and unfair because we as women just pushed out a football out of our nether regions or went thought a major surgery and its painful and messy and definitely not pretty. And on top of that lack of sleep does not help) but it's a journey that we all take and have to find our own path. And no path is right or wrong.
Good luck and I'm sending you lost of hugs. Pass them on to your baby.
It's like dog food: as long as your dog is eating and healthy who cares what you feed it? Dog food is dog food.
As long as your baby is healthy and you are happy you're doing awesome!
I hope your doing ok!
:x
My little guy has done amazing on formula and is just two weeks old today. Now we were supplementing as I wasn't producing enough to satisfy his hunger (baby born at 10 lbs 3 ounces) so switching was easier.