Opinions: Give breastfeeding another go?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: Opinions: Give breastfeeding another go?
Posted By: mamawendz
Subject: Opinions: Give breastfeeding another go?
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 11:47am
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Hi ladies,
Please note - This is not a post to debate the whole 'breastfeeding or bottlefeeding - which is better.' With DD#1 I was a young mum and decided not to breastfeed and returned to complete my studies. So she was bottle fed from day one. With DD#2 I was prepared to breastfeed but hit a bit of a wall at the hosptial. I was told I have one "great nippple" and one "slightly flat nipple". This caused quite a bit of problems that we had to stop at the supermarket on the way home from hospital just to pick up bottles and formula! Grrft! I continued to try and try and try breastfeeding with the help of my midwife and a consultant. After a week of mostly only being able to use the breast pump, we all agreed it would be best to let one breasts milk 'dry up' and try half bottle/half breast. Unfortunately this only lasted a few more weeks as I seemed to have very sensitive nipples and after only one feed they would crack/bleed and I would have to wait until the next day to try again. The whole experience was very painful for me, physically, but more so emotionally. I don't remember crying so much within such a short period. I think I felt more of a failure to my daughter than anything. Anyway, I just can't decide whether to give breastfeeding another go and trying half breast/half bottle or just enter motherhood for the third time on a stress-less & happy note by bottle feeding from day one? I need your opinions please!! ------------- mama_wendz  My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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Replies:
Posted By: EthansMummy
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 12:05pm
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I would give breastfeeding a go - it may be different with this one.
But if it comes to the point and it is painful in any way for you I would switch to bottle. I managed to breastfeed Ethan for 5 months but during that time battled with thrush, cracked nipples and anything else that comes along with it. So to finish - I would just wait and see what happens - this baby may be completely different and may take straight to the breat with no trouble or may be a bottle baby. Good Luck  ------------- ** MUM TO ** Ethan 29/08/2006 Brooke 22/09/2008 |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 12:09pm
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yep, do it, you will never know if you don't try! Good luck! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 12:11pm
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I also agree, give it a go and if it doesn't work, well at least you tried! But if you don't try, you will never know....!
Good luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 12:11pm
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i have a 'slightly flat nipple' and the lactation lady gave me a syringe..we cut off one end and used it to bring the nipple out(at each feed)..that and persistance made it work but its still a a struggle on the left side(and i still dont find it easy or say when i will stop feeding)..so i know what you mean..fortunately i used the purple tube cream stuff and that stopped cracked nipples etc...but anyway i would give it a go..but be prepared(mentally ) for it to go either way.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 12:40pm
Sounds like you are kinda tempted to give it another go so why not! I know it was bloody minded determination that got most of us through and I imagine thrid time round you might be even more determined At least you know how to bottlefeed if it all goes belly up....far less stressful than as a new mum!
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Posted By: NikkiB
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 1:14pm
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I say, give it a go
I also had a flat/slightly inverted nipple and my midwife suggested I wear a breast shell (its got a hole in the middle of it that your nipply sits in) a few hours every night while I was still pregnant. This certainly helped and when Rex came along, he managed it suck it out. The very best of luck!  ------------- A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys: RB 3/10/2008 JB 29/12/2009 |
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 1:27pm
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I'm a bit divided. I personally would give it another go. I had some minor issues with my BF early on (nothing like what you've described though) and I actually went on to feed until DD was 15 months. I cherished that time. You could look into using a breast shield for the inverted nipple and some lansinoh (purple tube stuff) for the cracked nipples.
On the other hand a friend of mine who had BF issues with her first and ended up using the bottle for him went straight to the bottle with her second and didn't regret it at all, the stress, upset, angst and feeling of unworthiness wasn't there this time around and she new that bottle feeding hadn't harmed the older child one bit. So this reply probably doesn't really help but I would suggest if you are seriously considering starting with breast feeding you talk to your midwife about it and maybe see a lactation consultant asap . ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mamawendz
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 2:15pm
Hmm well I can see everyone is leaning towards one answer!  Try Again.
Ok. I will talk to my midwife next week for her opinion on giving it another go. I just wanted to go in there with an idea of which way I wanted to go before I saw her. You are all right. I DO want to try again, even if it doesn't work. I think its just when I think of the pain and stress it caused me I think, 'why put yourself through that again?' But like a few of you said, this baby might take to my breast differently and find it easier perhaps? I did use those sheilds on my flat nipple last time but that just made it harder for me and I chucked those out as DD#2 could always pull my nipple out after a few sucks anyway. Well I will have my bottles and formula there ready incase they are needed... but I WILL try breastfeeding first.  ------------- mama_wendz My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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Posted By: pekemoemum
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 3:21pm
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good on you! what a great mum you are.. and you know what.. if it doesn't work.. DON"T FEEL BAD.. my experiences with breast feeding were like yours.. I cried through the pain of feeding both... had blistered cracked nipples.. babies with no weight gain.. it was horrendous.. and I got SOOOOOOO depressed about it because I didn't even contemplate bottle feeding pre-babies! my sister breastfed her babies soooooooooo easily and I thought that would be me too... With number one son I lasted 5wks.. then I was so determined with number two son that it WOULD work.. and within days my nipples were raw... even feeding with the nipple shields was excruciating.. and after that 2wks my baby still hdan't got up to his birth weight and the mw kind of freaked me out and said.. give him a bottle.. NOW... so that was the end of that. I have to say if (and that's a HUGE IF...) I ever had another baby, I would DEFINITELY try it again.. but I think I would get in touch with a lactation consultant BEFORE having the baby (and maybe la leche league). I would sit there trying to feed my baby and say how painful it was and my nipple would look shocking after baby let go, and the m/w would say, but the latch looks fine from here...!!!! ummmmm ... don't think that means it IS fine eh!!
I definitley say GO FOR IT... but just make yourself totally comfortable with the other option if it doesn't work!!!! :) hugs and all the best! ------------- Gina, Reef 15/6/03, Tyde 12/2/07 http://www.pekemoe.co.nz - Peke Moe - Unique NZ Made Baby Sleeping bags for babies who get out of swaddle/wrap |
Posted By: mamawendz
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 3:35pm
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Aww thanks Pekemoemum! I think you and I went through the exact same thing. Nothing would ease the pain, and I would have tears streaming down my face while I breastfed. I still remember it only took about 4 days until I broke down!!
I have to atleast try again. I know b/f isn't for everyone, and it wasn't for me last time, but I am going to try again.. and if it doesn't work, I won't get upset or stress about it, I will just deal with it. Thanks for all of your support. This site is the best! ------------- mama_wendz My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 6:28pm
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Hey Wendy I'd give a go again and if its not meant to be its not meant to be for you, and at least you gave it a go. Are you hospital birthing?? You can try and stay there a bit long to try and get feeding established??? Do they do that in Auckland??? ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 7:11pm
I would also recommend seeing a consultant or http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/ - La Leche League before baby is born as they may be able to help you so that bf starts off well. I plan to attend my first LLL meeting next week and the lady who runs it in our area sounds really lovely. Good luck! ------------- Lindsey 
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pekemoemum wrote:Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 8:27pm
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These are my comments and are not to be taken too much to heart ok?
If I were you, I'd give it another go. But here are some things I'd like you to know: 1) Breast feeding hurts like a mo' fo' for the first while. No two ways around it. And rightly so too, I mean a tiny little leech is stuck to your nipple!! Ouch! Anyway, while it does hurt, it also does get better, but you have to give it time. 2) Proper support is absolutely essential! I highly advise getting in touch with a lactation consultant/La Leche League before you give birth to ensure that you have someone that is able to give you help and enable you to get the best start, if you are sure about this. Apart from that, don't feel guilty if you decide not to breastfeed. It ain't good for ya. xox |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 8:29pm
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ha! Turns out I was just repeating what others have said. That'll teach me for not reading. Sorry!!
Oh, and I wanted to say that if you have any questions at all, then come ask here. We can do our very best to help ya. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 March 2008 at 8:32pm
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I'd set yourself a date, e.g. 6 or 8 weeks for you to be feeling 'okay' with bf... or switch to ff. I reckon it's worth a try, you have a better idea of what to expect. Let your mw know (if she doesn't already) about your difficulties before and ask her for help, as much as you need. I got cracked nipples with all three of my babies but my mw with #3 was able to figure out why and help me through it so that my experience was heaps more satisfactory! ------------- |
Posted By: mamawendz
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 12:35pm
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Yeah I agree with you all.
Thankfully I have the same midwife so she knows exactly how much difficulty I went through with DD#2 and maybe she could set me up with the same lactation consultant group as I had helping me last time? I am pretty certain (90%) that I am going to give it a go and as busymum suggested, maybe set myself a date to keep at it. I think now that I have had to deal with the emotions before and have had time to reason with my difficulties, I won't be so hard on myself this time. I will just accept what happens when it happens. ------------- mama_wendz My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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Posted By: pekemoemum
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 2:30pm
hugs chicky! all the best!!!  ------------- Gina, Reef 15/6/03, Tyde 12/2/07 http://www.pekemoe.co.nz - Peke Moe - Unique NZ Made Baby Sleeping bags for babies who get out of swaddle/wrap |