Pregnancy Info HOME

I am going through the same exact thing my baby was a week and a half early and when I was in the hospital I couldnt get her to latch on my nipples where gatting blistered and cracked to where they started to bleed so I started pumping until my nipples healed and then I attempted again and she took an hour plus, sooooo time consuming because I would have to pump also, I would cry and cry. I am also getting pressure from my family (who all had no problem at breastfeeding whatsoever) to keep at it but I feel that I am not enjoying the first weeks of my babys life and I think that is more important. Right now I am pumping still, but I think I will eventually go to formula only because what I am doing is so time consuming and a pain in the butt. My husband totally supports me and tells me all the people at his work tried to breastfeed and then gave up after a month or so. SO you arent the only one, I am so glad you posted this because I feel the same exact way! I dont think formula is bad idea, so dont feel guilty, just do what you can! Good luck!

I know a lot of people have very strong opinions on this matter, but I think bf is a personal choice. If you don't want to do it, no on should force you into it. That being said, if you want to try for a little longer, there are things you can do. My milk didn't come in quickly enough at first, and when it came it, there wasn't enough and my ds lost weight. To get my body to produce more, I would feed my ds 20 minutes on each side (my lactation consultant said that more is too long) and then pump within an hour of bf. At the next feeding, I would have him bf and then give him the milk I pumped. After a day of this, my milk supply greatly increased. That day was no fun at all, but it worked! Now, if I feel my supply is slowing, I just pump once in addition to the bf that day, and it comes back. You also have to make sure you are eating enough and staying hydrated. It helps me to drink juice about an hour before bf. Some medications affect milk supply as well (e.g. some allergy meds can dry your milk up). When you are feeding, also make sure your ds is staying stumulated and nursing for the 20 minutes on each side. Listen for the sucks and swallowing. If he is getting sleepy or not feeding well, try stroking his head, tickling his feet, or unwrapping him. My ds was sleepy at first, and this really helped. Hope this helps!

Well, I understand how you guys feel and this is just my story so take from it what you want. My baby was born 3 weeks early and had a very bad latch, I had blisters and craked nipples, well I breastfed her for the first day but on the second day I had to have surgery to have my gallbladder out so I had to pump my milk for them to give it to her. I decided then that it was just too hard and that I would just pump for her so I had the surgery and went home the next day and pumped and bottlefed her the expressed milk. Well, I had a ton of complications with the surgery and had to go back to the hospital and ended up being there for 2.5 more weeks. While I was in the hospital I was in a lot of pain so I was on all kinds of pain meds and other meds which were bad for my baby so i wasn't anle to give her my breastmilk. I kept pumping a couple times a day in hopes of one day switching her back to expressed breastmilk since I knew it was best, well when I got out of the hospital I decided to try to latch her even though it had been about 3 weeks since she had breastfed, she latched great and I started breastfeeding again. It was a little bit of a rocky road because my milk supply had gone way down and I had to supplement with formula, but by the time my baby was 3 months old she was being breastfed exclusively. Now she is 8 months old and we are still breastfeeding and it is the most amazing bond ever. I know it seems like it will never get easier but it does, nursing an older baby is nothing like nursing a newborn. With a newborn every hour and a half or so you have to spend an hour BFing You have to make sure they're positioned and latched right, that they stay awake while eating and that they're getting enough etc. But with an older baby, like now when Abby is crawling all over exploring and doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, every 4 hours when she crawls into my lap for 10 minutes and nurses and looks into my eyes and touches my face, it's like shes my little baby again. So, like I said, that's just my story, but hopefully it will encourage you to keep trying because even though formula is good and has produced many many healthy babies, breast really is best.

Ten years ago I gave up with my first for similar reasons. It was a very tough decision and I spent 5 days crying before finally deciding to stop. It broke my heart. I am now exclusively bf #3 (#2 I gave up after 3 weeks). I love the bond and the convenience on top of the nutritional benefits to the baby. If you can honestly say to yourself that you gave it your best...then you have nothing to question. Your bf mother should not be making you feel bad about a decision only you can make. Remember, in the end, a happy mother is best for baby!

I breastfeed for 3 months.....They say that after 15minutes on one breast to switch to the other.....that after 15 minutes there isn't any more milk in that breast...after switching to the other feed for 15 minutes and relax then switch back to the other..back in forth.....your milk should let down again if your lo needs it. I learned that you need to drink plently of water and be well rested. If you are stressing out about bf, it is effecting your let downs....your body feels the tension. Take deep breaths and make sure your in an area that you are comfrontable. You can also try other bf positions. My lo wanted to do the football hold on the left breast and the cradle on the right. After 3 months...my milk supply wouldn't come in like it was suppose to. I was okay until my lo demanded more milk...esp. during growth sprouts. I supplemented...It's better than letting my child go hungry because he wasn't getting enough to satisfy. Yes...bf is the best....but it's not bad to formula feed. Also I want to say that your milk supply usually doesn't come in right away...sometimes it takes 4-6 weeks for the supply to come in good....I would trying pumping and mixing it with formula. Pump every 2 hours and try feeding him every 3 hours on the breast. Pumping can stimulate the milk to come in. In the end if you want to stop bf.....there is nothing wrong with that. It can be very frustrating for you and your baby. If you think that bf is not for you....thats okay....and don't let anyone tell you different. Good Luck.

Formula, is not BAD for your baby. Its not as good for them as bfing, but its not going to hurt him. In my opinion a sane mother is the most important thing. I do think everyone should try their hardest to breastfeed, but if you give it an honest shot, dont feel bad if you decide to quit. I absolutely hated bfing at first, i pumped exlusevly for a few weeks and then put her back to the breast. Good luck whatever you do, and do not ever let anyone make you feel bad for your feeding decisions!

I just wanted to address some things that Wellis10 said. I know that doctors often recommend only feeding for 15 minutes on each breast, but that's actually not a good way of doing it. The baby should dictate how long he/she stays on the breast. If you take him off before he gets enough hind milk (rich in fat) the baby will not be gaining weight as he should. After the baby is done with the first breast you can offer the second. Some babies will take it and some won't. Older babies can easily finish a meal in ten minutes but newborn are not that efficient yet and its not uncommon for them to nurse for an hour. Also, if you are supplementing with formula its better to give milk first and then formula. That way if there are any leftovers it will be of formula.

I also agree with you, Miriam. Newborns do take more time...but I found that switching every 15 mins it help with the let down of milk. Try it both ways and see what works for you, savy. Good Luck

My sister had her son two and a half months early and was only a little over two pounds. She was set on nursing even against the advice of doctors that said it is just too difficult and there is nothing wrong with formula. He was in the hospital for 6 weeks and she went every three hours around the clock to attempt to nurse. Her son is now over two years old and he breastfed until he was 20 months old. It is definitely your decision and no one should push you into it, but it is possible.

i had the same problem and i am not producing much milk, but i have been able to supplement. My little one just did not want to latch on. i have found that supplementing and 1 bottle of breast milk at night is working for us. i know it is time consuming to pump, but my dr said even 1 bottle of breast milk is better than none. there is nothing wrong with giving up, just do what is best for baby and you

I had trouble getting my son to latch on correctly at first too. I went to two different lactation consultants who really helped alot. One I found through a local lactation store and the other through the hospital I gave brith at. It's worth a try. Your ped may also give you a recommendation for a lactation consultant. Good luck with whatever you decide. I can understand how you feel. At first there were times I would just cry and cry, but it is better for me now. My son is 5 weeks old.

I understand how you're feeling. My dd could latch on, but would get fussy and take up to 2 hours to complete a feeding!!! Now she's 8 weeks old and she's done within 20 minutes. When we came home from the hospital I honestly felt like all I did was try to feed her. I wanted to give up too, but I kept saying one more day, one more day and now we're much better. Trust me, we still have our off days where she's fussy and stuff like that, but it does get easier. I'd say keep trying if you can, but don't feel guilty if you've given every effort.

One more thing, don't let your bf mom pressure you. It's YOUR baby and YOUR decision.

My inlaws were very upset that I didn't end up breastfeeding too (despite best efforts, I had insufficient milk supply). I just couldn't make enough for my son (one ounce a day was about the production at a few weeks post natal). I had no choice but to supplement, and eventually rely on formula. Eventually -- they got over it. But it drove me crazy when they'd ask me or DH if I was still trying... like my breasts are their business?? Seriously! Its like they think I just didn't want to! but i sobbed when we had to buy the formula! Do whatever you want to do -- add what you can to the bottle if you pump... don't beat yourself up over it!

I was in your shoes 6 months ago. He wouldn't lach, he was 2 weeks early and only 6lb.I wanted him to get nourishment and I wnated brest milk so I started pumping. It was a lot of work in the begining but after couple of weeks I got a hang of it and now 6 mo later I'm still pumping. Pumping doesn't work for all women. Still formula is just fine. I think it is more important for the baby to get nourishment rather than get brest milk and loose weight.

don't feel bad if you don't want to breast feed anymore, and don't let anyone else make you feel bad. just remember that this is new to you are your LO right now and it takes time. LIke some of the others have said, switch breasts after 15 minutes and if needed, swtich back to the one you started with......it shouldn't take an hour or more to breastfeed. I did that the first week and had enough. so now I feed her for 15 min. each breast and switch her back if I have too..and if she is still hungry after that I give her formula. If they are on your breast for too long, they aren't drinking any more, they are using you as a pacifier. There is nothing wrong with supplementing and my lactation consultant even said it is better than letting your LO go hungry, and it is better for you. If you are stressed, your milk supply won't come in as good. sometimes she is satisfied after a feeding and other times she wants more. The lactation consultant also told me to pump in between feedings to help increase my milk supply. I've only done it a few times though because it is so time consuming if I feed her, pump, then have to feed her again an hour later.