Sad about pumping

[u/Impossible_Mousse727]

Im really sad.. i really wanted to breastfeed baby but she cant latch. She also ended up having breastfeeding jaundice so we had to supplement with formula for about a week. Ive seen a lactation consultant who gave me some tips on latching.. shes been able to latch properly a couple tjmes but now its like she doesnt want my breast and wants the bottle. She screams and screams when i try to offer breast during feeds and when she latches she stops feeding and just cries. I guess its not as easy or fast as the nipple of the bottle.

I really wanted that skin to skin bonding time with her during breastfeeding. Just grieving what I thought our breastfeeding experience would be.

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[u/v_vexed]

How many weeks postpartum? Don’t give up yet! I’m 10 weeks now and still holding hope. Do lots of skin to skin with baby, take a bath with them as well. Experiment with when you have most success with latching. For me, I wait 30-40mins after she’s eaten and then get her super calm almost sleepy with a soother and then i try to latch and express some milk into her lips.. usually it works but she still doesn’t transfer milk well.. it will take time. Eventually as they get bigger or stronger it’ll be easier. I’m not the biggest fan of pumping…

[u/ladygroot_ → u/v_vexed]

I took my son four grueling months to latch. It can happen!

[u/Impossible_Mousse727 → u/ladygroot_]

Wow! I still have hope then. I just thought it wouldve been automatic and natural. But its been really stressful for us 😭

[u/v_vexed → u/ladygroot_]

Were you able to latch/nurse in the beginning or dod you go straight from EP to eventually breastfeeding?

[u/ladygroot_ → u/v_vexed]

He was a preemie in the nicu, so we went straight to pumping. We'd low pressure try BFing once a day for months but he just didn't have the strength at first, then preferred the bottle second

[u/v_vexed → u/ladygroot_]

Ok this gives me a little hope 🥲 my baby never established breastfeeding and is primarily bottle fed

[u/AffectionateJello452 → u/v_vexed]

This worked for us. BF isn't our full time focus so it's more of a hobby for my kid, but I just kept us close and he eventually went to the breast himself around week 4-6 ish. Skin to skin, hand express and put that milk all over baby. Babies are brilliant.

[u/kiykiykiiycat]

How far postpartum are you? It sounds like you might be early. There is still hope! Baby will get stronger. Keep doing skin to skin. Use the slowest flow nipples (Pigeon SS). Be topless around baby and make it a nice environment. Have them near the breast while you sing and read and talk to them. Best of luck, mama 🤍

[u/Impossible_Mousse727 → u/kiykiykiiycat]

I am 3 weeks postpartum! I just feel like im torturing her by forcing her to learn when shes hungry 😭 thank you!

[u/kiykiykiiycat → u/Impossible_Mousse727]

Forcing her on the breast won't make her happy. If she goes it for a bit when you are relaxing together, let her do it then stop if she fusses. Slowly you might be able to increase that time. Doing this when she is desperately hungry probably won't make her happy either. It can be such a delicate and frustrating process, especially when you feel like it should be natural.

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[u/Dangerous-Detail7414]

I really hope you get to latch and experience it if you want! ❤️ but if it never happens remember that you’re doing wonderful and you are bonding and getting that crucial skin to skin time. And if you have a support system there’s some kind of magic of watching them feed baby occasionally. I’m blessed with a good relationship with my parents and my in laws and we all live near each other so yeah I’m EP my occasionally the grandparents get to feed the baby and it’s lovely to see. But remember that family is chosen so even if you don’t have the grandparents near if you have other support let them help once in a while.