great advice thaks for sharing it zzzz

Hi,

Breastfeeding is not all that a mother can do for her child.  Great job for trying so hard.  I have a friend who went threw problems breast feeding and she tried with every one of her 3 children.  It never quite worked out.  But she is a wonderful mother.

Hi, I just wanted to thank you SO much for this advice. I had problems with breastfeeding with both my sons, and in the end was told by my maternal child health nurse (with each child) to give my baby formula, as they both began loosing weight with exclusive breastfeeding. Both children had diagnosed gastro oestophogeal reflux, and they would vomit up 80% of feeds most days. With my first son, I breastfed successfully until 4 1/2 months, however the weight began to drop fall below 100g per week gain after 3 months, when I stopped feeding through the night, and also due to the reflux. When he was 4.5 months old I got gastro and vomited non-stop for 20 hours, during which time I couldn't feed and my husband fed him expressed breast milk from the freezer. After I stopped vomiting my breasts had shrunk significantly and there was practically no milk left. My son lost 55g in 2 weeks, and the health nurse told me to put him on formula urgently. I persisted though and expressed 6 times a day for the next six weeks, while combining with formula, until I was only getting a few drops out of each breast. So I finally gave up. With my second son, I was determined to feed for longer, so I fed 8 times a day and expressed 3 times a day for the first 8 weeks to ensure a good supply. However, again at 4 months my son began dropping weight, even though he was getting 7 feeds a day, and I was still doing night feeds. He was also throwing up huge amounts of milk and I could never seem to fill him up. At 5 months he lost 60g in 2 weeks, so again I was strongly advised to give him formula and put him on solids. The formula actually helped the reflux, and I continued to breastfeed until 7 months, until he was on 4 feeds a day, but my supply dropped to almost nothing. I am very happy I was able to breastfeed both children to at least 6 months, but still sometimes feel guilty for not being able to do it for longer. Thankfully though, both boys are extremely healthy and hardly ever get sick, something I attribute to the early months of breastfeeding. Thanks for your article. It was very encouraging.

I have breastfeeded my child for 6 months and now after my doctor has adviced me use breat pumps, I am using Ameda breast pump to feed my child. I did'nt want to do it but after learning about the health problems that i might be facing, I had to decide against my will!

Hi,

Thanks for this advice.

I breast fed my first born for 10 months and when i got pregnant the 2nd time i was really looking forward to doing it all again. I knew i was in for the cracked nipples, the 4am feeds and the really full breast when they didn't wake for the 4am feed. But when my 2nd was born everything didn't turn out that way. I didn't produce enough milk to start with due to low iron, i tried everything to get my milk supply up but at week 2 i woke up in the morning and asked hubby to turn on the heating because i was freezing but once i sat up i knew it wasn't cold and that i actually had mastitus. I almost ended up back in hospital because it was so bad and wasn't clearing up with antibiotics and daily injections. Putting my baby on formula was one of the most depressing things i ever had to do. I felt so guilty and it didn't help when i had complete strangers making comments while i was heating up a formula bottle for my daughter.

Hopefully by writing this advice people may think before thay speak and realize not everyone can breast feed.

Juzzy xoxoxo

I knew a girl who was burned at the age of 2 and until 15 her breasts were actually stuck to her chest so as a result of this she now has breasts but no nipples. When her first son was born the nurse came in with him nad bullied the poor girl to feed him "at least let him have the colostrum" she said. The poor mother kept telling her "I cant" but the silly Nurse wouldnt listen. In the end the mother pulled her nighty down and showed her the damage and said" I would love nothing more than to feed my son but I'm burned." The Nurse quickly whisked the child away while the mother was left to cry her heart out at the the womans callousness. If she has bothered to read the poor girls file it clearly stated her situation. When her second son was born in another state she had the same thing happen.

Many people condemn those who dont breast feed and I am also guilty of it but for this poor girl, formula was the only thing she had and so with the Doctors help they decided on the best one for her babies.  Formula is a godsend for those who cannot breast feed and it helps those who dont want to but without it a wet nurse would be needed like olden days.

hi, thank you so much for sharing your experiance! 

thinking back to when Jaimyn was born and I was attempting to breast feed, Everyone said that everything was fine and I was discharged from hospital.  I remember sitting on the couch tring to breastfeed with my toes curled, hunched over my newborn in excruciating pain and my mother in law saing "relax"?!!? anyway one month later I was admitted to hospital with a really high fever, it turned out that I had mastitis really bad.  after that was under control (morphine and antibiotics) consultants tried to figure out what was wrong. A lovely consultant told me I had flat nipples But regardless Jai still had a good latch but his technique was wrong, then they started saying that the connection under his tounge needed to be cut so he could suck properly. (luckily that got sorted out quickly sounded barbaric to me) anyway they watched Jai feed and after he was finished they  noticed my nipple was all munched up so concluded that he was biting rather than sucking.But  to persevere, I spent a week in hospital with all this tring to get it right. In the end I was so sleep deprived, exausted and in pain, half the time I was hooked up to this industrial looking milking machine. I was so past it that I was phisicly pushing Jaimyn away because I was dreading the agony. So I reluctantly decided to bottle feed jai. I would rather cuddle my baby than resent him. So Jai had about a month and a bit breast milk.

For so long I felt guilty and not worthy and depressed because you do get BREAST IS BEST imbeded in your mind and it does bring up negative feelings if you wanted to do it but circumstances beyond your control stopped you. so thank you for your story and those who had commented because it has made me feel completely normal       

I'm so glad you shared this. I've never heard of such a situation, and I think it's important that ppl are made aware of as many scenarios as possible, so we can learn more and understand more... You are a legend!

i tried brestfeeding with both my boys but as in ally's case my milk didn't come in, i did feel really guilty when i put Zac on the bottle with everyone saying breast is best but when he settled easier and was happier i knew i had done the right thing.

When my milk didn't come in with jacob i didn't hesitate to put him on the bottle

No one should feel guilty about how they feed their baby.. I did in the first few weeks because with out fully knowing what was wrong I was starving him. I was told by my mother and others that I should give him the bottle formula, but I did not believe them because they were not doctors... Then I just was not making the milk so the doctors suggested formula but then feed him with a tube so he won't forget how to suck the breast if I went back.. Once again every one else was saying give him the bottle.... But again I did not listen they were not doctors...    My baby was still not happy, in the end I gave in to all those other mothers that said just give him the bottle, I actually handed my son over to these woman and said you do it, (I was getting depressed and needed to be away from all these other mothers that knew what was best for my child).   Turns out they were right. For the first time since he was born he was well fed because the other mothers gave him the formula and he was full....    I felt guilty as hell that I did not listen to them and not the doctor that for three weeks had I of listened to them in the first place I would not have starved my son.   I was able to start breast feeding again.

But regardless, no one should feel guilty how they feed their newborn, if your baby is happy and well fed that is what matters.

I tried to breast feed my daughter but my milk didn't come in. So I had to start giving her formula. I didnt feel like a bad mother though. Because I had to do what was best for my daughter since my milk hadn't come in yet.

  My little one was exactly the same.  I remember being so frustrated and sore that I would cry every time I had to feed her.  I wanted so desperately to do the right thing by her that I kept at it.  The pain did finally go away after 8 weeks when she finally figured it out, but I can't help feeling like I would have enjoyed my time with my new baby more if I wasn't  "dreading" her feedings.....

I got tired of people asking me if he's latched on properly and everything i read said "pain is due to baby not latching on properly". I had so many midwives and breast feeding councellors watch me breast feed i felt like the bearded woman at a carnival. All of which came to the same conclusion, i was doing everything fine and that the pain would go away. It didnt. I only had it on one side though but he was a hungry baby and had to have my whole supply every 3-4 hours. I'd started to dread feeding my own son so after 3 weeks to relieve some of the tension i started expressing from the one breast. It seemed like all i was doing was feeding, expressing, sterilising, soothing. After 4 weeks i was expressing from both breasts because he stopped feeding from the breast well and the process was taking longer. I had no idea that my breast milk was stimulated from the nipple so my breast milk started to dry up and he was having more and more formula. I almost broke down before i had to let it all go.

Your totally right when you say that there is no support for this, i'm so sick and resentful of the phrase 'breast is best'. I cryed for the longest time and reading that i wasnt alone has really helped. You build such a bond when you start breast feeding that you cant think of a worse thing that could happen than to stop.

Anyway i'm at 6 weeks now and its easier, he's even started sleepin through the night.

Thank you!

Sarah xxx

You know, I can't imagine anyone would criticise you - and you shouldn't feel bad either. You tried. You were ready to go, it just didn't work out. What annoys me a tad is those who don't want to breast feed because thier boobs might sag more afterwards. You did your best. What child could ever be unhappy with a mum who did her best? In the same way, you will no doubt be over the moon when Jack does his best, right? You won't be annoyed or disappointed with him for not succeeding when he did everything he could? Then give yourself a break and move on to your next challenge!

I've never heard of this before. I am so sorry breastfeeding didn't work out for you. Is pumping still working out ? In my experience some breastpump are better than others. There are also some out there that doesn't even stimulate a let down so you can barely express enough milk.