N wont BF!!!!!

[ladybug]

Have got more time now.... and am on messenger if ya need me.... how goes it???

You need to do skin to skin to teach your baby. The bath kind of replicates the birth - warmth and wet then against mummy's abdomen - that's the first learning time for them iykwim. If you have your baby resting against your body it will help stimulate the milk...

How are you getting on hon???

[wagonmonkey]

Originally Posted by matilda s mum

Hi honey.
I hope LB is able to help you - but please, please, please don't beat yourself up if it does not work out. That is the worst things you can do for yourself and for nicole too. I had the onset of PND because I was so distressed by not being able to BF Tilly, but we have developed a fantastic bond anyway. It took a long time but I have now forgiven myself and learned to believe I am a good mother, despite this short falling. I could cry to hear how hard you are being on yourself - Nicole needs you happy and healthy, and if that means formula then I say go for it - you will still be a fab mummy - it takes more than BF to make a great mummy. MASSIVE HUGS coming your way now... xoxoxox

Well said MM!

However, just try to be calm about it and take what ever help you can get!

Best of luck and big hugs!

[cathyg]

you could try the nipple shields, this i guess feels more like a teat (if she's ok with them) & the milk inside will be breast milk. they worked well for me & gave my nipples time to heal up too. good luckx

[ladybug]

Try the other options first though. Nipple sheilds may well be a step forward, but it can be difficult getting baby 'off' them iykwim, and they reduce the amount of milk you produce...

[Debbiemeep]

Not sure where abouts in NI you are but if there is a Surestart in your area its worth giving them a call to see if they have a breastfeeding group as some of the volunteers are always willing to come and chat if you need them to.
I'm a BF peer support volunteer for our Surestart in Newtownabbey and we're always happy to chat on the phone or come out and visit in person if mums just want someone to talk to about breastfeeding.

Have you tried starting her off with the bottle but then once she has the initial hunger satisfied swopping her back to breast? That way she won't be as hungry and might be able to take her time to figure it out. If she would drink it from a spoon or one of those doidy cups it would be worth trying that to help avoid confusing bottle teat and nipple.

I hope she takes to it for you soon, but just remember you're not superwoman and its bound to be harder when you have an older child to look after too. Keep trying as long as you can, but don't let it get to a stage where you're completely exhausted with trying and trying and worrying about it.

Hope it gets better for you soon.
Debs xx

[ladybug]

Originally Posted by Debbiemeep

I'm a BF peer support volunteer

huzzaaaah that's great People keep getting bf advice from me on this site tis nice to have someone with experience around Where have you been missus??

[LittleMissMe]

Originally Posted by cathyg

you could try the nipple shields, this i guess feels more like a teat (if she's ok with them) & the milk inside will be breast milk. they worked well for me & gave my nipples time to heal up too. good luckx

This worked for me also. My lo was tube fed initially in SCBU then onto little bottles of breastmilk. The only way I could get her to bf was with the nipple shields. After a couple of weeks of this I just stopped using them and she didn't seem to notice any difference or she just wasn't bothered by it.

I managed to bf her for 5 months even after that rocky start so don't be disheartened you may still be able to bf. Good luck and hope she sleeps better!xxx

[rachaelmae]

hows things sweetie?xxxxxxx

[ladybug]

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