Formula/Breast Feeding

Hi S.,

For a first time mom,it is normal for milk not to come in until day 4 or 5 after birth. Babies do just fine nursing (and not being supplemented) for those days as they get colostrum to keep them going.

If you want to stop bottle feeding at this point, I would suggest a few things. First, spend a lot of time with your baby on you - skin to skin or as close as you can be. Wear a sling or carry her, nap with her next to you and consider co-sleeping at night. Also offer her your breast anytime she shows feeding cues - sucking on her hands, turning her head, sticking out her tounge. Nurse her often and for as long as she wants to - timing feedings (15 minutes) will only create supply issues and frustrate your baby.

You may consider contacting a lactation consultant from a local hospital, going to a La Leche League meeting or calling Breastfeeding Resources in Stratford (a pediatrician who specializes in breastfeeding). Breastfeeding takes an effort in the beginning but gets easier. Your boyfirend can help by changing diapers, washing dishes and laundry, making sure you've eaten and are drinking lots of water. It is a wonderful investment for you and your baby. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

S.,

I'll tell you straight off, I'm a breastfeeder. I bf my son till he refused to take any more, and will breastfeed the one I have on the way. I am too lazy to wash bottles, mix formula, sterilize stuff, etc. It's a pain in the neck, and it's too expensive.

That said, YOU make the decision that is best for you and your family. DO NOT let anyone on here, or in your family, or in your circle of girlfriends pressure or guilt you into anything either way. Formula is not poisonous. A bottle given with love, with a warm and open heart, beats a breast offered grudgingly, or with resentment. Your little girl will know if you feel badly about nursing, and it will cause feeding issues and a difficulty in bonding.

Now, the first few days of nursing is often difficult. They made me supplement in the hospital with my son, too, and it wasn't until I got home and took the bottle away that he really did well nursing. It's easier to drink from a bottle, and he was lazy. Within 24 hours of exclusive breastfeeding he was a champ. Not all babies work that way, though. Some need to be taught how to latch on properly. That is the number one cause of nipple soreness. An improper latch can get you every time. There are extensive resources on the internet for pictures and descriptions of how to latch the baby. If that doesn't help, call your pediatrician's office or La Leche League, and arrange for a lactation consultant. She will come to your home, and watch you nurse. (Don't be embarassed, she's far from the last person who will see you do it!) She'll show you what might be going wrong, and help you re-position her so she can eat properly, show you howto teach her to open her mouth wide enough, and anything else that may help you out.

A breast pump would be a wonderful item for you right now. It will help to relieve engorgement, and your boyfriend can give her a supplemental bottle of your milk, instead of the formula. Pumping regularly in addition to nursing will help you build your milk supply, so you'll know she's getting enough to eat. I bought a one-side electric model at Wal-Mart for like $35 when my son was born, and it was great for me.

If you decide that you would prefer to bottle feed instead, it won't be difficult to wean her. You may have to try a few different brands of bottles until you find what she's comfortable with. All babies are different and their nipple preference on a bottle varies with the size and shape of their mouth, how often they breastfeed, and how like mommy the bottle nipple is. That's just trial and error. The bigger deal will be drying up your breasts, and that's incredibly painful to do all at once. Don't pump to relieve the pressure, because that just stimulates your body to make more milk. It's gonna hurt, a lot. Cold compresses help, some women even put cold cabbage leaves inside their bra. You're going to leak like mad if you do this, so good nursing pads will be a must.

Good luck S., and make the decision that feels best for you and your family. Throw the parenting books away, and raise your daughter with love and joy!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.,
Stick with it, stick with it, stick with it. Believe me, I now it's hard, but it'll get easier. after about two weeks, both you and baby Amber will get used to the schedule and routine. Your nipples will stop hurting, and you'll actually want ot breastfeed b/c you'll get full and want some relief. YOU CAN DO IT! If you can carry her and give birth to her, you can feed her too! :)
Your boyfriend can help by doing other things around the house and by rocking her to sleep, bathing her, etc. Breastfeeding her is a once and a lifetime opportunity that you and your daughter will share. Once the milk is gone, it's over, so take advantage. Once you get the routine down, she'll fill up with each feeding and (hopefully) sleep for longer periods, so you can get some much needed rest as well! Don't feel guilty about bottle feeding. Every mother does the best she can in her situation. But, if you can possibly make breastfeeding work, you'll be glad you did!

Stick it out with breastfeeding! My son is 11 months and has never had a bottle. I know how tireing it is. Sometimes I would KILL for a break. However, keep in mind that if you breastfeed your child is likely to be healthier. Which means less nights up with a sick child. Breastfeeding gets easyier the more that you do it. Your nipples will get tougher, I promise. I remember HATEING breastfeeding at first but now its so easy and convient. Have you talked to the LLL? They are great. Good luck! You can do it!

Congrats on the new baby! Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things to stick with because it really means giving up your sleep for the first few weeks, at least. There really is no other way to put it, but it just sucks for a little while. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids...you should be drinking a glass of water or juice or milk whenever you feed to make sure you arent dehydrating yourself and slowing your milk supply. Also, in between feedings, you should try to pump milk as well. Its best to pump either right before or right after you have fed. Warm showers are your best friend. They feel great after youve fed the baby. The best thing that your boyfriend can do right now is just be supportive. Whenever you are not feeding the baby, try to take a nap. Have your boyfriend spend time with the baby while you nap or shower. If your nipples start to get too sore or cracked, its an indication that the baby may not be latching on correctly, and you may want to call the L&D at the hospital you delivered at and see if they have a lactation specialist that can help you out. It gets better, I promise. Try to stick it out if you can. I tried to do it for both of my girls, but I only lasted 5 weeks with my first and 9 weeks with my second. I dehydrate WAY too easy, and I couldnt keep up with the milk demand. But if you can wait it out and keep trying, then its better for your baby. If you find that what works best for you and the baby is breastfeeding and then supplimenting with formula, then dont let anyone make you feel guilty about it. As long as your daughter is growing and happy, thats all that matters.

Hi there - congratulations on your daughter! I did exclusively breastfeed my son, so I just wanted to lend an empathetic ear. It is very tiring in the beginning. It is normal for your daughter to want to nurse every hour to two hours, however, I would not switch her between breasts at a timed interval. Doing this could mean that she is not getting the fatty hindmilk which helps fill her up. I would recommend feeding on one side per feeding. If she seem hungry when your first side is empty, offer the other side but remember to start with this second side at your next feeding.

When she is three weeks old, she will go through a growth spurt when we will want to nurse seemingly constantly for a couple of days and then she will have a sleepy day. She should be allowed this constant nursing as it is stimulating your milk supply to meet her demands. Supplementing with formula, which giving you a little break, is hurting your milk supply. You said your wish was to exclusively breastfeed, and so you should cut out the formula feeding in order to do this and to ensure your supply is there.

Please check out www.kellymom.com - it's a GREAT online resource for breastfeeding. I currently mentor four women who are breastfeeding and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

First and formost...NEVER watch the clock while you breast feed. My son could nurse from one side for 45 mins and if I tried to express milk from that side more would come out. A girl I work with was told to watch the clock and her daughter become dehydrated. It takes 10 mins of nursing before the baby even reaches the hind milk (where all the nutrients are). And she will let go when one side is empty and she's still hungry. Then burp her and switch sides. You will make more milk if you allow her to nurse until she's full. At night this is what saved me. Bring the baby into bed with you. Lay on your side with her, belly to belly. Let her latch on to the breast closest to her, and go back to sleep. She can nurse as long as she likes and you get more sleep. I would do this most nights especially after I went back to work. You may want to prop her up on her side so she can stay latched on.

I breastfed my daughter for 9 months and it wasn't easy. I have few tips that might make things a little easier. I pumped along with feeding, I would pump out an extra ounce each time and I froze it in ice cube trays (1 cube is one ounce). I kept this as a back up in case i wanted to get away for a few hours . This gave my boyfriend the chance to feed her too. I also used it a few times during the night when i was really exausted. One good thing about breast feeding is there is no bottle to warm up when you are half asleep.. My boyfriend would get my daughter up change her and bring her to me to be fed. This is a great help for you that way you don't have to get up out of bed. I loved breast feeding it gave me alot of freedom from bottles and lots of luggage to carry everytime i went out. If you need more tips feel fre to ask

A.

Breastfeeding definitely a challenge but well worth it. I have 2 children & breastfed both of them--sometimes it's not that they're hungry it's the comfort. If you could stick it out a bit longer it'll be well worth it. Just think, in the middle of the nite there's no waiting to heat up a bottle & make sure it's the right temp w/a baby wailing in the background. Yours is perfect temp all the time.LOL
Congratulations & Good Luck
E.

okay i dont konw what doctor you go to but my pediatricians all said that you cannot over feed a baby.. toddlers yes.. babies no... no way.. they stop when they are full.. we tried breast feeding my daughter but she sucked so hard i was bleeding on both sides.. my husband made me stop.. we did bottles and when i talked to them she was 5 days old and she was taking about the same amount of formula as your daughter.. try pumping.. you might be surprised how much milk you can get out in fifteen minutes... she might have just wanted a little more... babies are like gas gauges... once they are full they are full... you might find she sleeps better too.. full bellys equals quiet nights.. my daugther was taking alot of formula but i gotta tell ya she slept thru the night at six weeks.. and was sleeping 12 hours (7 to 7) at eight weeks... so i am one to agree with my peds on this... dont worry about over feeding... this is your baby and its got to be your choice... you arent going to harm her by feeding her!

Hey S., just want to say congrats on the new baby and on breastfeeding. You are making the best choice by breast feeding. like they say the right thing to do is usually the most difficult. You've already gotten plenty of advice so I'll just say get the lansinoh first, get in touch with a lactation consultant (call your physician for a reference), and just know that you are doing a great job. as you can see we have all been through it (I bf all three of mine 15 mo.) and what you are feeling is so normal. so take comfort in that and keep trying. Ideally you want to breastfeed solely for the first month and then introduce the bottle and you can make a schedule to do both. pumping is a great way to do both and still keep up your supply. great job again, and I hope everything works out great!

Hi and congrats!!!! I breastfeed all my kids if you need any questions answered you can e-mail me @ ____@____.com hope to here from you soon.

Try Nipple Shields. They are awesome and not that expensive and can be found at your local babystore.....

Ugh! My heart goes out to you, really. I breast fed my two daughters for a little over a year. Thinking back on the experience, the first few months were awful. Sore nipples, blocked ducts, engorgement, all the fun stuff. I stopped nursing my younger daughter a little over a month ago and it is great! It's only now that I feel good about stucking it out but there were times I just wanted to give up. The only thing that stopped me is the prospect of dealing with bottles, the fear of bad reactions to formula and the expense.

I've read some of the other responses and believe that a lactation consultant and lanolin (Lansinoh makes a good one) would be helpful. Fortunately, I never had any problems with milk production, but a lot of my mom friends met through a lactation consultant in Stratford, CT named Christina Smiley. Even if she can't help you, you'll probably meet other moms in similar situations. Support goes a long way. Hang in there mama bear...you can do it.

Another up side to breast feeding: my kids were never sick. They were never constipated and their spit up didn't stain or smell (well, not too bad, I mean, it is spit up after all). Also, no periods for a year!

Like someone else said, it is ultimately your decision and you have to feel right about what you are doing. Plenty of healthy adults were brought up on formula.

Gotta go, my older one's in the cat food. Good luck.

Hi S.,

Hang in there! The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding are the hardest. During the first few weeks, do what works, but remember you won't be as exhausted after the first weeks. Your milk supply will start to balance out a little bit. As for the sore nipples, they are just training for feeding your child, you and your baby are learning how to do this together and it will take some time to break things in, but after that things will get much better.

Hope this helps and best wishes! Enjoy her.

J.

I had the same problems with 3 out of 4 of our children. I'm hoping our baby due in february will be as easy as our last thgough. she went from breast to bottle so easily. have you tried expressing milf and giving it to him in a bottle? The first few weeks or months really are the hardest when your breastfeeding but it does get easier-- you just feel sleep deprived for the firt three months!! Havre you tried using different bottles? i only used advent bottles with success but i know every baby is different. With our second, the only way i could get seom rest would be to pump a bottle then leave the room they were in so she couldnt smell me. she cried for the first week or so but did get used to the idea of a bottle. I hope some of this advise will help and good luck and congrats as well!
-marie

My daughter is 6 weeks old. I am a first time mom and decided to breast feed for the simple fact that formmula is too expensive and I didn't want to deal with the bottles and all the work taht comes with them. I am glad I decided to breast feed even though the first few weeks were difficult. When I finally started pumping is when my life became easier. I pump a bottle a day ( I started at 2 oz and now am up to 4-5) and my husband feeds her the bottle at night. This allows me to go to bed early and sleep for at least 4 consecutive hours. It doesn't work out perfectly every night and on the nights that she just won't stop eating ( an I mean that literally, she will eat every hour all evening) I bring her in bed with me and fall asleep while she is eating. I wake up a few hours later and put her in her crib. I don't agree with cosleeping for fear of suffocating my daughter but sometimes you haave to do what is necessary to get some sleep. Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Breastfeeding is very challenging in the beginning. My third child is four months old, and even though I breastfed my other two for six months each, I was about ready to give up with this one after a week. My nipples were sore and cracked, she had trouble latching on, and I was up all the time. It was so painful I dreaded feeding her. My husband encouraged me to stick with it, and I did, and after about two weeks the soreness went away and the latching on got easier. So it does get easier if you can work through the hard parts--and I think breastfeeding is more convenient in many ways. But it is tough and a big commitment. To wean her off you, just skip one nursing session and subsitute bottle only, wait a few days and skip another. I did it that way and had no trouble with getting engorged. Good luck to you!

I totally belive nursing is a mindset. If you say to yourself "I will do this" , then low and behold 5 mos from now you are still loving it. I nursed exslusively from the day our little guy was born untill he was 8 mos. There were some really difficult nights because of my section in the beggining. Our pedi even suggested supplimenting, he was born at 35.3 wks and with that he was quite jaundiced. I refused. I have been told that it messes with the bb's digestion, causes a bit of nipple confusion, and might even affect your milk supply. Your hunny can always do the other things....dipers,bathtime, bringing the bb to you in bed. I nursed laying down at nighttime feedings so as not to wake myself up to much. My advise is pick a road and stick to it. there is no better time than that close with you rlittle one, and it all changes so fast.......

I'm not going to lie, breast feeding is hard but if you can keep up with it you will be so happy you did! the first 3 weeks is the hardest but after that its a piece of cake! my first suggestion is, get a breast pump! this way you can take a break and your boyfriend can help as well. there is a few things you can do for sore nipples. one thing i used alot of was lan. it realy helps alot. also warm compresses. just go to target and go up the baby aisle, there are alot of remedies you can find to help! make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating as well. the more you do that and the more you pump the more milk you will produce. i wish you the best of luck and i realy hope you keep with it! any questions please feel free to email me at ____@____.com

try pumping... i could never breast feed my son... but i've heard pumping really helps. it gives you a rest and your bf can help too becuz the milk will be in a bottle. also you can try mixing breast milk & formula. i'm hoping that after i have this baby, i can try and breast feed.... but i have a big chest so that doesn't help much... that could also be the problem too, she may also be having trouble latching on... with my son, he just couldn't becuz my chest got bigger and there wasn't anything for him to latch on too... good luck

I wouldn't feed her 15 minutes per side... I would feed her from one breast and switch off every feeding. She's not getting the fatty hindmilk that could help fill her up. At this age, it's normal for her to need to eat every hour or two. That said, she's also at a prime age for a growth spurt, so if she seems to want to eat all the time, it's because she's cluster feeding. That may mean she wants to eat much more often than normal.

I had to supplement my 3rd daughter with formula at night for a while because I wasn't producing at night... occasionally she'd get a bottle during the day if it wasn't convenient to BF or if I needed my DH to do it for me... but I can tell you that using formula will affect your breastmilk supply negatively. The more often you use formula means that your breasts don't know to produce as much milk as the baby needs, and when she breastfeeds she won't get enough from you. Thus needing more formula and further negatively affecting your milk supply. If it's at all possible (and it wasn't for me) try pumping milk so that your DH can help you out with bottle feedings.

S.,
Reading your email brought me back to those first few weeks at home with my son... You are exhausted, your hormones have your emotions in a roller coaster, you're sore and trying to recover from 9 months of pregnancy and the labor and delivery. Not to mention that if you're anything like me,you hardly got any sleep in the hospital... It's not easy!
Breastfeeding can be challenging. Especially in the beginning. I would say the first month or so is tough, so don't think your feelings are abnormal. Like others mentioned, seek out a lactation consultant, or even a friend/family member who has breastfed. Surround yourself with support - it really helps!
However, the decision to breastfeed is ultimately up to you and should you decide that you do not want to continue to do so, that is completely ok. Also, I know some people have strong opinions regarding exclusive breastfeeding, but it is also possible to combine bf and formula feeding. I did it and my son is 9 months old now and we are still successfully breastfeeding!
Your parenting style is completely your decision, and choosing feeding methods is part of that. As long as you provide the necessities and lots of love and cuddles, your new baby girl is going to do just fine! Enjoy your pumpkin!

Hi there. You've heard it all probably already, but just wanted to say...it is VERY HARD in the beginning, but I promise it does get easier...when it does it's a very sweet experience for you and your baby. She's only 5 days...you're probably still exhausted from the whole birth experience and just having a new baby is HUGE...
The reality is, either breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, you are going to be sleep deprived for a while and not feeling like you ever have a break. It's a huge life change. But it's wonderful and it gets easier and easier the older they get.
ONE THING...someone wrote that you get no periods for a year...NOT TRUE. Everyone is different. I had my period regularly while breastfeeding both of my sons. FYI Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones. Good luck with everything and congrats!!!!!!!!

Hi S.
Just wanted to echo what the other moms have already said- breastfeeding will get easier (soon even!). In my experience (3 children) it can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks for your breasts to sort of desensitize to the nursing experience. My eldest started on the bottle in the hospital (long story) and didn't start eating from the breast until he was 3 days old. The nipple confusion caused me so much discomfort. My nipples were cracked & bleeding, it was awful. But knowing even with the bad start we had it wasn't going to be long before it (the pain) stopped. Within about 2 weeks I was healed & the rest of our breastfeeding experience with him was wonderful. Talk to a lactation consultant & know that it will get better.
D.

S., I would suggest nursing on one side until it feels empty or she is full. If you are only nursing for 15 minutes she is not getting the hind milk. Which is richer and thicker. It will satisfy her longer. If you would like some profesional advise I'd call Carol Ponelle at Backus Hospital. She is a lactation consulant. I say go for the breastfeeding! I am a breastfeeding Mom. I breast fed my daughter for 2 years my daughter is almost 3 now. I know it is hard at night, it gets easier. Good Luck, S.

I had a lot of fussiness and looking back it seemed to be she was learning and we had to get in sync with each other. she would cry if it came to slow or too fast. i had to pump off the beginning milk to let her have less sugar and slower flow. eventually we clicked and have no problems other than she likes it tooo much. :) (1 year old)

Hi S. I breastfed both of my children. I would suggest that you hook up with a lactation consultant either from your local hospital or contact one through your pediatrician. They are excellent resources and are a huge help. I will tell you that it took a good 3 weeks for my son and I to get in sync with each other. Be patient and get some help if you want it. i just noticed your location. Women and Infants Hospital has a warm line that you can call. They are very helpful. They also have a staff of lactation consultants that you can make appointments with. Good luck!

I have nursed both of my children exclusively. It is the best thing for the child, adn it does wonderful things for you as well. (I didn't get my period for another year with both children, because I was nursing.) It builds a bond between you and your child. It is the most wonderful thing in the world,if you as me.

I suggest that if your boyfriend watns to help, try pumping durign the day. It will help increase your milk supply, and your boyfriend can feed the child the pumped milk. YOu can also get the freezer bags for the milk, and freeze it!

At night, just let the baby sleep with you. That is what I did, and it worked fine. The child will be able to eat whenever s/he wants, and you still sleep. You won't roll over on the baby or anything, don't worry about that. Parents have a sixth sense telling them exactly wehre their child is when they are sleeping in the same bed. My kids slept this way until they were sleeping through the night and moving around to much. When my son started to really roll and move around to the point where I worried about him falling off, I moved him to his own room. That was at about 6 months old or so.

Anyway, I hope you try my suggetions. If you can manage to get past the beginning insecurities, you will have a truly rewarding, bonding experience, that you only will be able to have during this special time in your child's life. The bond it will build is incredable, the closeness of it is incredable, and the memories are some of the best you will have. Once you get used to nursing, it is a very relaxing experience, a chance to cuddle with your child, read, watch tv, listen to music, or just look at him/ her.

Good luck, and best wishes.
Liz

Hi S.,
I have an 8 week old daughter, and I can only tell you from my experience and of course what I have been told. At first I was having a real hard time breastfeeding. I was very sore and Brooke was just as fussy as you are describing with your newborn.
1st of all if you gonna introduce a bottle I've been told that you shouldn't do it until the 4th week of life (it will confuse your newborn). If you are both breastfeeding and bottle feeding you shouldn't do the bottle feeding you should have someone else do it, again it causes confusion. The reason they say to hold off on introducing a bottle this early on is because you want to try to establish a good eating habit first. So my suggestion to you is try to give her either a bottle only or breastfeed only. If you decide the you are gonna breastfeed only, wait a couple of weeks before giving her a bottle and do it gradually. My husband gave our daughter two bottles a day and I was breastfeeding the rest. This coming week I am gonna start weening her off the breast since I go back to work after the holidays. So we are gonna start with formula.
Now, the other reason she might be fussy, is because she might not be latching on correctly. I was having the same problems the 1st couple of weeks. I ended up going to see a lactation nurse at Elliot hospital. That was great because she showed me what I was doing wrong and also showed me how to do a couple of different positions for the baby. So I would give them a call and schedule an appointment, it's a free service that Elliot hospital offers.
I hope this helps and good luck.

A.

Hi my name is L., I'm 25 and I have two kids, a 4 year old boy and a 7 week old girl.
I breastfed my son until he was 11 months, I'm also breastfeeding my daughter and I have since the minute she was born. In my personal opinion breastfeeding is the best you can do for your kids, but not every body is up to the challenge.
If you really want to breastfeed and you feel like you really want to try you don't have to feed your baby formula just pump every three to four hours and bottle feed your baby. The more you breastfeed and pump the more milk you gonna produce or if you think you not producing enough ginger ale or malta works for me to help produce a little bet more milk when I feel like my baby is not getting enough.
It's also good that you pump because like this your boyfriend can help you with the feedings at night, so he doesn't feel so helpless and you can rest.
I totally understand what you are going trough but don't give up, breastfeeding is an amazing experience.
For your sore nipples let them air dry (if possible) after you breastfeed your baby and apply Lansinoh after each breastfeeding or pumping, you don't need to wipe off before you feed your baby again.
Lansinoh is a purple tube and you can find it at Walmart or Walgreens or CVS even Motherhood and you can also try to get a contact nipple shield and wear it every time you going to breastfeed the baby until your nipple heals, also try different possitions when you breastfeeding and maybe that will help.
I hope this can help you, don't give up and congratulations on your new baby.
I wish you the best.

Hi S.,
Unfortunately, there is a very big controversy over formula vs. breastfeeding. I have an eight year old whom I breast fed for sixteen months but my six month old I only breastfed for five and a half months as I had the same difficulty you are experiencing. If your child wants more than a half hour it is okay to feed longer, it is also okay to bottle feed with breast milk or formula. If your boyfriend will take a turn, absolutely let him so that you can catch a few winks. If you try pumping, it will increase your flow, but it takes time and patience as some people pump very slow in the beginning. Maybe you want to bottle feed during the day and breast feed at night or even the other way, you have to find your happy medium. Don't let people scare you, your concern is your baby and making sure she is getting enough to eat and she will let you know if she is not by crying and by the number of wet diapers she is giving you. When I fed my daughter, she ate all the time, and it seemed like I got nothing done. Relax and enjoy your child as you only have her like this once, you sound like you will do fine. As for sore nipples, try cabbage leaves, warm/hot showers, and lanolin cream. good luck, Judy

This is a decision that you have to make. If you choose not to breastfeed there is nothing wrong with that. I breastfed my son exclusively for a month and then did one bottle of formula a day for the next 5 weeks. I had to go back to work when my son was 10 weeks old and stopped breastfeeding by 11 weeks (too hard to pump at work). Your baby even getting a little amount of breastmilk will go a long way so feel good about that. When my son was 2 and a 1/2 weeks old I was ready to give up breastfeeding. Like you, I felt like I was the only doing this and extremely sleep deprived. My husband was feeling left out because he couldn't help. I did have very sore breasts also but the soreness went away by about 3-4 weeks. I am glad that I stuck with it for as long as I did and would have liked to have continued a lot longer but it just didn't work out with me having to go back to work. Good luck with your decision and don't let anyone make you feel guilty with what you choose ... whatever is best for you and your baby is what you should do.

S., first off take a deep breath..Ok, I had the same problem.. my son (and my daughter too) didn't get enough milk from me.. with my daughter, I went thru horrible guilt about wanting to give up bf... everyone forced me into it and it totally stressed me out because I was miserable.. after a week or so, I gave up and started formula and boy did we all become a much happier family! With my son, he didn't get enough because as we later found out, he has poor motor planning and physically can't suck hard enough to get what he needed. I'm not saying that's the problem, but what I am saying is supplimenting for a while while is OK!!!! He did the same thing, was hungry very fast after and once I switched to formula, again, much happier family. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but please please PLEASE don't let anyone (including yourself)make you feel guilty over the choice - because it's a CHOICE!!!! remember that! :) If you want to bf and can't do it exclusively, try pumping while you give the baby formula to keep your milk producing and try again in a few days... To wean her off you, you can always mixed some bm with the formula and slowly lessen the amount, but she will eventually accept the formula.

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that had a really hard time with breastfeeding. I eventually gave up because I was so frustrated. I am so happy I stopped because my son was able to sleep through the night much quicker. He is 4 1/2 month old now. Plus I love the fact that my husband can help with feedings.

Hi S. Congrats on the baby. I have been bfeeding for 15 mos. I know how you feel about getting a break it is eaisier to train the baby now the older they get the harder. My son did not take the bottle at all because he got used to the breast I could not go back to work and it has been only me feeding him. my son took only one breast at a time for a long time and my doctor said that was fine. Try to bf at night and formula during the day and see if that work..... My oldest when he came home he drank 8oz at 2 weeks old*-*..so you are not over feeding her *-*

I found breastfeeding to be challenging in the beginning too. It gets easier. I think its important for you to decide if you definately want to exclusively breastfeed. If you do, it makes it easier because you have no other options. The soreness goes away. Keep your bras clean and dry. I switched nursing pads which helped too. I used Lansinoh pads and ointment after she fed. Not long after my milk came in I switched to single side feeding. I wanted her to have all of the foremilk (the thirst quencher) and the hindmilk (the fatty stuff). It worked well for my baby and my boobs. You will also get used to not getting much sleep. I never thought I would ever say that! I loved breastfeeding my baby. I think it is amazing to feed her with the milk that only my body could provide. I loved holding her and watching her nurse.

If your nipples are getting sore try the following: get your baby to take more of your breast/nipple into her mouth when she latches on, a lot of times the problem arises when she is not properly latching on and has only your nipple to suckle on. Try expressing your milk for her and feeding her by bottle, since you have already had to introduce a bottle into the mix (don't worry it sometimes happens)just remember to cuddle her as you would if you were nursing her at the breast. The advantage to this method is it also allows for your boyfriend to cuddle and feed her as well. Try nursing her for shorter periods of time per side. I was advised to start off with 5-10 minutes per side and increase from there alternating breasts with feedings. My daughter who just had her first was coached to nurse " 'till the baby falls off". My grandbaby is now over 9# from a 6#15oz. start and is strictly a breast baby at 6 1/2 wks. Here is something else to concider.... try in the shower with or without your partner (for me it always worked better to have my partner with me things do get slippery when wet) I hope these words help some. Keep up the good fight and don't let it get you down. :)
Oh yeah, the weaning thing is easier on her than it is on mom.

hi there well i went through this too but i had to give formule after the brest for more caluries cause my son was a primme well when i just desided to give up i weaned him by in the morning brest next time to eat the bottle then at nite cause it is very hard at night cause they go to growth spers like evey 20 min after u just did half hour i just went to bottles for about a week or two it was hard then everything feel into place now my son is two and all over the place by 2 months he was done with brest milk and thats way he wasnt as sick as some children who never had there mothers milk

Hi S.
congratulations on your bundle of joy. first off i would continue with the breast feeding for as long as possible. the longer you do it the better it is for the baby plus the bond that you to share. i know that it can be frustrating breast feeding all the time and seems yu never get a break but this will pass. do you have a pump? if so you can pump milk out of your breast and that will relieve the tendernes in your breast form being full and you can use lanolin cream for the sore nipples. take war4m showers and express your milk. massage them as well while in the shower. your boyfriend can help you out by giving the baby a bottle of breast milk. by pumping that will icrease your milk supply too. women give up breadt feeding so easily bacause they don't give it time to work. if your stressed the baby senses that in you and that may be why she is fussy after being on the breast too. also are you sure she is latched on properly. if not thta can lead to her not getting enough and sore nipples for you. if you try these and nothing still works i would then still breast feed but also if she seems hungry still give her an ounce or so of formula. you know your baby better than anyone so do what you feel is right. take a deep breath relax and enjoy this beautiful moment with amber becuase ytou will never get this time back and it goes by in the blink of an eye. if you need further info or would like to chat e-mail me at ____@____.com i know this stuff works becuase i did it with my son who is now 3 months old and i breastfed him for the first 3 months and just recently stopped but he hasn't been sick or diaper rash or any ear infections yet so good luck and enjoy.

K.

I would suggest pumping your milk. Breast feeding really is the best source of nutrition for a baby. That way at least you know how much she is eating at one time. My youngest, Paige, ate alot more than my other two. I even had a doctor question my abilities to feed her. I explained this is my third child and I am not going to deny her eating. But I also knew that she was going to the bathroom reguraly and without problem and she was not spitting up or crying about an upset stomach, so I knew I was feeding her what she needed.

As for weaning her I wish I could help but I never received any milk I have scar tissue from burning my cheast on a heater at the age of 2 and that will not hold milk!

Good luck and don't worry your baby will be fine!! :0)

D.

Hi S.,
I am a big supporter of breast feeding and a Mom to my almost-3-year-old daughter, Ava. I know that what you are going through is a challenge, but I want to tell you about my experience and encourage you to work toward exclusive breast feeding-- it's the best gift a Mom can give, and your opportunity to give it is so brief.

When Ava was small, I went through a similar experience. I had to have a C-section, which often causes the milk to come in slowly. I gave supplementary goat's milk on the advice of my doctor (it is most like our breast milk) but only for a few days until my milk came in. Then the hard part came: your breasts are amazing because they respond to increased need with the perfect amount of milk needed. The only problem is that it takes 24 hours for the process to work. So if your baby needs an increase in milk production, the milk supply will increase to meet that need only after about 24 hours of your baby asking for it by nursing and not getting enough-- this is not cruel or neglectful: it is the way we were designed. It's the way it is supposed to work. It's amazing, isn't it?

With Ava, during her small babyhood, she went through I believe 3 growth spurts at which time she suddenly needed an increase of milk from me. Each time it happened, I just got a bunch of water and snacks ready for myself, I let her Dad and the rest of the world know that I wouldn't really be available for the next 24 hours or so, and I settled in for what I knew would be a sleepless night of frustrated nursing. The next day I was rewarded with a newly increased milk supply, a happy baby, the good feeling that comes from trusting my body and the knowledge that I was doing the best I could for Ava. Did I have sore nipples after almost 24 hours of nonstop nursing? you bet. But that's what warm washcloths and Lanisoh are for. It got better. A friend was willing to come over for an hour or two so I could nap, and presto-- I felt pretty normal again. Well, "New Mom Normal" anyway!!

I want to encourage you to contact your local chapter of La Leche League too. Look them up online. The group meetings are a lifesaver for a new nursing Mom, and they also have some great books out like "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding"-- a funny title, but it's really a classic that thousands of women look to for help.

I wish you the absolute best. Hang in there! 24 hours has an end. Yoiu are doing the right thing for your baby, and for that I think you are pretty amazng, Mama.

Jen and Ava