Breastfeeding not going well-feeling guilty!!!

Didnt read all the reply's but do yourself and get Lansinoh, its great. And try bf with a nipple shield, atleast till your nipples are healed. My baby didnt want to latch and i used nipple shields for the whole duration i bf her!!

Hi there Dee,
Please do not feel guilty. I had the same thoughts at first. Cracked and bleeding nipples are no joke at all. it's probably cos baby is not latching on properly as well. Try taking Lo of from the breast and get baby to latch on again.
Personally, i didn't like to use the nipple creams as it made it worse for baby to latch on.

Good luck mom, and u are a great mommy!

Here is a link to the la leche league sa, breastfeeding consultants. They will help you for free, or you can join for a year.
www.llli.org/SouthAfrica.html
I would also recomend lansinoh nipple cream.

When my baby was hospitalised at 6 weeks, I got a stomach bug at the same time, and my milk supply took a serious plunge in just a couple of days, I was adimant to continue breastfeeding, so dr. prescribed "Eglynol", which is a mild anti-depressant with the side-effect of increasing your milk supply. It really saved us, as I was more relaxed, and I didn't worry that there wasn't enough milk. It starts working the same day. I was also a bit stressed and having some serious baby blues, so the eglynol was magic, since it calmed me a bit so the breastfeeding starting going better almost instantly. I am glad I really tried to carrry on breastfeeding, but If you are really not coming right, don't let any one tell you you are a bad mother for not breastfeeding. I believe a calm and content mom is a better mom than one that is constantly in pain/worry about breastfeeding.
best of luck xx

Don't feel guilty.

When Mia was born I had such cracked nipples that they bled a bit and I used to start crying when it was time for her fed before she even latched because I just knew how sore it was going to be when she did latch on!! Really, the tears used to roll down my cheeks.

It lasted until about 6 weeks or so and then everything went so much smoother. I didn't give in and give her a bottle, I just was so adamant on breastfeeding.

I breastfed her for a year and 3 weeks until she weaned herself.

You can use Bepanthen cream on your nipples. It really works, plus you don't have to wash it off before baby feeds. It's the best thing for nipples that are already cracked.

I also went to a lactation consultant and they really do help.

Just do your best! Remember that if you express you won't get out as much as what your baby does if she drinks directly from you, so if you don't express a lot, then don't necessarily take it as a sign of low milk supply. Do you use a pump or express by hand? At first I found with Mia that my pump hurt my nipples aswell.

Oh yes, another thing is that some physio's can do laser on your nipples which is also a great help with the cracking and pain. They did that for me while I was in the hospital. It helps.

What area are you in? I'm in Pretoria and can give you the ladies name if you're also around here.

Shame Dee please don't feel guilty. You have done really well so far considering how sore you must be.

As the ladies say if you really want to bf see a consultant today if you can. They can help you. Chances are lo isn't latching well which is causing the sore nipples or the hold isn't quite right. Your milk production will improve if you lo feeds more.

Physio can help your breasts. Please consider cup feeding rather than bottle feeding as this will prevent nipple confusion. The consultant will help you with this. I wanted to give up many times as I had thrush and it was so sore.

If you can't contine, please pat yourself on the back and know that you did your best mommy.

Yip b/feeding is not easy. I remember sitting with Megan in my arms crying and said to my husband I can't understand why God is giving women such beautiful babies and then we have to go through all these emotions and painful b/feeding. I really struggled for over 5 weeks before I got it right (2nd baby) and I was admitted to hospital as well for breast infection and put on a drip - they wanted to cut to drain the ducts, but luckily the antibiotics helped. I kept on breastfeeding through all this. Just keep feeding if you really want to breastfeed, but at the end of the day if you choose to not breastfeed, you are still the best mom to your baby and your baby will be just fine! I also gave up with b/feeding at around 8 weeks with Kayla. I just felt it wasn't worth all the effort, soreness, no milk, etc. etc. etc.

If you are at home, take 2 days and just stay in bed with your baby, feed whenever your baby is hungry etc. No bottle and get your supply back up. There's a tonic you can drink as well. Lansinoh cream is expensive but it works. Also try to spend time without breastpads etc.

Best of luck Dee!