I asked for help with breast feeding as nipples are unbearably sore, cracked and bleeding and i am really struggling to manage feeds. Gabriel is content, has wet and dirty nappies but even though they said last night he was latching on i didn't think he was.
Well Gabriel had a breastfeed last night for 45 mins at 8pm, he slept more or less through the night with two or three waking periods (gurgling etc) and a couple of nappy changes until i finally woke him for a change and breastfeed at 07.30. He was totally disinterested and just kept falling back to sleep.
MW rang at 09.30 to book a time to see us tomorrow as part of follow up and i mentioned his lack of feeding and sleepiness to her. She recommended skin to skin and to try and get him to feed again. Which i did to no avail (he just cuddled up and went to sleep) - so on her advice i phoned the hospital so they could arange her to visit about lunchtime. Hospital told us to get him there within the hour as they had no-one who could come out.
Just as i changed him he grabbed at the breast and took a feed, so we called them back and i'm awaiting a visit as now they have found me a slot and feel he looks slightly jaundiced. He's had another feed an hour ago for 30 mins, but i cannot bear to offer him the other breast as i cry in pain when he is feeding.
I've already decided that i'm going to change to formula
I really do think it's best for me, the MW last night gave me lanolin and showed me how to manually express but i'm in so much pain doing even that.
I feel such a failure and have spent much of today in tears. i really wanted to breastfeed succesfully this time - but i cannot put up with the pain. The 'support' i was promised is not there, both MW's last night were not terribly helpful, the hospital were more interested in discharging me early than ensuring i was confident with breastfeeding - oh and the area bfeeding support counsellor is 'too busy' to vist me anytime soon
Am i a bad mummy giving in so early? I'm worried that Gabriel has jaundice as he is very sleepy and not taking feeds like he did in the first two days!!
Sorry to have to whinge and moan on here guys - (already lol)
Other than that he is more than perfect and none of us can stop looking at him / cuddling him,