Can I do this?

Question

I just had my baby boy & he is perfect. My husband is so excited. & so am I. I had to have him via csection so I am in some pain & discomfort. 
I am trying to exclusively breastfeed & have been for the past 3 days while in hospital. I am exhausted. He’s been going through cluster feedings at night & in three days I have slept for 40 minutes total. I’m nipples are killing me, I’ve seen the lactation consultant and taking the classes in hospital. But I am just so tired & I cannot stop crying, I feel like a failure for already wanting to turn to formula, but I am so defeated. I sound like a complainer & a whimp, but I am another level of exhausted & a bit sad. Am I cut out for this? Am I going to screw things up? Am I stupid for considering formula? So overwhelmed.

Answer

Being a momma is hard work! Being a nursing momma is even harder! I wimped out with my first but this time around I’m going to try with all my might to breastfeed. It’s a huge task and it takes so much effort but if you really want to, then you got this. You ARE cut out for it! And if you do want to give up and go the formula route, then so be it. It doesn’t make you any less of a mother. So long as you are happy and loving your baby and supplying them with a full tummy then you are excelling as a parent. Don’t ever feel any less so just because you may not stick with breastfeeding.

Answer

Formula is fine, and a happy mummy is a happy baby. Don’t beat your self up. X

Answer

If you feel you need to use formula, use it!! Mummys health matters too. Nothing to be ashamed of, youve at least tried 💜

Answer

If you feel formula will work better for you then go for it.. maybe try pumping some milk / colostrum and feeding baby this way some?? My baby has also been cluster feeding at night.. I plan on trying to pump when I'm home and saving the pumped for night time feedings...

Answer

Breast feeding is SO hard at first. Don’t give up. 
If you formula feed to get a break make sure you pump each time baby gets a bottle. You might need to see an IBCLC after you are discharged. That’s the gold standard. All lactation consultants are not equal. 
You CAN do this.

Answer

Breastfeeding is extremely difficult. It’s not just physically demanding but it is mentally demanding. A lot of people don’t realize just how hard it is to breastfeed. 
Also there are people that will try and convince to that it’s easy but it is not. It’s ok to feel the way you are feeling. 
If you want to go to formula that’s ok. You’re still an amazing mother. 
If you want to continue breastfeeding just know that as baby gets older it does get easier. When baby cluster feeds it is hard. Especially with sleep deprivation and the extra hormones. Once you get past the first cluster feed you will feel better and the doubts start to subside. 
Whichever you decide is best for YOU and your baby is all that matters. Only you know what is best for both of you.

Answer

You can do it!! I went through the same with my daughter 2 years ago. She was almost 9lbs and hungry! She cluster fed the entire time we were in the hospital...wanted to eat all day and night. Once we got home it got a little better but continued for a while in the evenings/night hours. It is exhausting but worth it if you can hang in there. After a week or two of the cluster feeding my supply increased to what she needed and she got on a regular schedule. Ended up nursing her for 13 months. If you want to stick with it you totally can!

Answer

You can do it, momma. I had my baby a week ago, very traumatic C-section birth experience and postpartum day 1. I lost so much blood they were concerned about my milk production but baby cluster fed to have my milk come in. It came in on day 4, by day 5 I was engorged and since then it has been easier. I supplemented on day 2 because I needed to recover both physically and mentally. Ask if they have an SNS formula system. It’s a little tube that you put alongside your nipple so baby still stimulates your breast while drinking formula. This helped keep my daughter content while my body caught up. Good luck! Whatever choice you make will be the right one for your family ☺️💕 I hope you heal fast.

Answer

Use lanolin cream religiously for your nipples, also a nipple shield might help. Don’t give up! Breastfeeding takes time to establish and feel normal.

Can I do this?

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