I have a few questions...plz help

**Mummy2Amelia** · 11-12-2005 16:05

Hi all
I have just recently given birth to my daughter nearly 5 weeks ago (7/11/2005) When in hospital and at home she would not take to my breast, and I also got told that my nipple is "flat"

anyway, when in hospital on day 2 I got really upset because she would not take to my breast and she was crying hysterically because she was hungry (I never want to hear that cry again!!) So when we got home I started pumping for her but I could only get up to 100ml in the morning and then maybe 20-50ml in the evening...obviously that was not enough for her! so I was also bottlefeeding her. I was really upset when I stopped pumping and put her on full time bottlefeed. I tried again to latch her after seeing a lactation consultant but that was no help to us. She was getting really angry because she was so used to the flow of the teat on bottles. I'm just wondering if I am able to start back up TRYING to breastfeed her again or is it too late? how long does it take for the milk to dry up? I have noticed lately I don't have to wear a breast pad so I am assuming by that it has decreased dramatically

I feel like I have failed my daughter by not trying hard enough to breastfeed her but I want her to be happy and she seems happy with the formula now...have I left it too late?
Sorry I know most of that doesn't make alot of sence but I tried to describe my problem as easy as possible.

**tickle** · 11-12-2005 16:20

Hey, you can only try.
When you squeeze does anything come out?
I think some people can get it back even after it has completely dried up, it just depends on your body.
If it is any encouragement, I breastfed with extremely flat nipples. One was worse than the other so my DS favoured the other side. With a bit of help he eventually got used to it a bit more (although I did look rather lopsided for a while.

)

Sorry I can't help more, I'm sure there's someone around here with some great advice for you.
I hope it all works out for you, but just remember if it doesn't, bottlefeeding is always there and your bubs will be fine no matter what.

**sugar n spice** · 11-12-2005 20:56

Sorry i can't help much but due to having inverted nipples i could not breast feed. I bottlefed and i was fine with that as it was convenient being able to share the feeding. I did get a bit upset first time round till i discovered how much easier it was and no sore nipples.

**xkwzit** · 11-12-2005 20:58

If you really want to re-lactate (there is such a word

) firstly get a LC that you can work with. I also had very flat nipples (not any more though

) and expressed every feed for DD1 for about 5 weeks. You may not be able to fully bf her, but I'm sure that you could give her a couple of feeds a day with a LC advice / assistance. I exclusively bf DD1 until she was 4 months old and continued until she was 7 months old. I could still express something up to 6 months after I stopped feeding her - so it may not be too late.

As an encouragement, my LC was worth her weight in gold. DD1 also had nipple confusion, but eventually we tried nipple sheilds (after we had tried EVERYTHING else). Voila, enough like a bottle that she would feed happily. And eventually we weaned her off them too.

Best of luck.

**cosmic** · 11-12-2005 21:00

Do you feel better for that little vent, TanUch?? Because it seems that's all you wanted to do, as opposed to actually answering Tamara's question, which was is it too late to try breastfeeding again.

Tamara, I don't think it is too late and I would suggest that if you feel strongly about wanting to breastfeed, you should contact another lactation consultant or perhaps the ABA. As Happy Lady said, mothers CAN re-lactate and a lot of people don't know that even adoptive mothers can be 'trained' to breastfeed so I certainly don't think all hope is lost if you are prepared to get some help and make some effort.

If it doesn't work out, I also don't think you should feel guilty but lots of mums do feel guilty for not giving it a good go, and so if you feel you need to try again to have peace of mind, by all means try and you could surprise yourself!

Good luck.. and by the way, Amelia is gorgeous.

**Shazbutt** · 11-12-2005 21:32

I myself bottle fed both bubs.....i just didn't enjoy it plus had alot of trouble feeding DD1.

I think that if you want to try to BF again then go for it...surely it can't do any harm....and if you're willing to put in a bit of effort then why not? GOOD LUCK!

Referring to TanUch's post, just because YOU had 3 bottle-fed children who have no problems, DOES NOT mean that anyone else's children can't have problems resulting from being bottle-fed. It just seems to me that in all your posts that you say that because you did this and you did that, that you're way is right?

Sorry Tamara, for that little 'vent'......

**Chickadee** · 11-12-2005 21:42

Whooaaa. Tanuch and Cosmic. Stop going at each other. It's not helping anyone.

I agree with Tanuch, there is sometimes enormous pressure put on new mothers to bf. When there are physical issues such as flat nipples it just compounds the issue. Mummy2Amelia - if you had been able to get good appropriate advice and help on your first few days in hospital you may have been able to succeed in bf from nearly the start. Don't feel guilty that you didn't get that help - it's not at all your fault, and at the time ff was a much better decision than to listen to your child scream in hunger. You're a good mum, regardless how your bub is fed.

If you do want to pursue re-lactating, then as Cosmic suggests it may not be too late. There are drugs, and natural drugs/herbs, which can help boost milk supply even in adopting mothers who haven't given birth. But it's not an easy or stress-free path to rebuild your supply. As for nipple confusion, each bub is different and you won't know until you try. From what you have said your bub is obviously preferring the bottle to the nipple. This might be due to differences in the shape and feel, in which case a nipple shield could be useful. For my DD, it seemed to be that she wouldn't work and wait for the breastmilk let down after getting used to the immediate response from bottles. If you talk to the ABA or a good lactation consultant they can help with that too. There is a feed system where you basically tape a narrow tube to your boob with the end at your nipple and feed bub either expressed milk or formula through the tube while they are at your nipple. It is supposed to help stimulate your supply at the same time as getting bub used to the nipple again. But again, it's not going to be an easy route back to bf. It's up to you, but I'd say if you're determined enough and feel strongly about it, then it's never too late to try.

**wattle** · 12-12-2005 05:15

Hi Mummy2Amelia, I hope you're not feeling too overwhelmed by all the carry on in resonse to your question. It's obviously a topic that people feel pretty emotional about.

Please feel free to let us know what you think and how you're going. Some of us are just here to quietly support you.

Whether your bub is bottlefed, or breastfed, I know that you will be giving your little one the very best of care.