About to give up on breastfeeding please help!

Ok, so this will probably be pretty long, just a warning. I started breastfeeding my two week old son immediately in the hospital and things seemed to be going really well at first. He was a natural at it, and I was so happy because I didn't get to breastfeed my first son at all; it was all I ever wanted to do. When we came home from the hospital, I got extremely engorged and couldn't latch him on for about two days, so I pumped and fed it to him with a bottle (I know, first mistake right there.) After the swelling went down, I continued to breastfeed him the next couple of days and I noticed that it was REALLY starting to get painful and everytime he would get done nursing my nipple would be shaped like he was only sucking on the top part of it. It got so painful when he would BF that I would cry my eyes out, but I still wanted to do it so bad I didn't want to quit. We went to see the doctor the next week and he had lost over a pound and the doctor said that I need to give him some formula and that he just wasn't getting enough BM. So I got scared that he would lose even more weight if I continued BFing and I started pumping and I still am now, but I've been trying to latch him back on the past couple of days and I'm so upset because he doesn't want anything to do with it anymore. He has gotten lazy with nursing and screams like crazy when I try to latch him. My husband keeps telling me that it will get easier and to keep trying, but he screams and cries so much that I feel so bad and just give him a bottle because I hate seeing him so upset. I've tried the nipple shield already, but it seems like its too small for my nipples and I can't find a larger one!! I'm getting so frustrated and upset with the whole thing that I just feel like giving up...I've also tried talking to a counselor and she didn't really help much, all she really said was that "It looks like I'm doing it right." Has anyone had this problem or something similar and they could maybe give me some advice?  

I don't much about BF at all, but it makes me smile knowing your DH is encouraging you. Most men would say, "Just give them a bottle."

Have you tried contacting La Leche in your area? They offer free breastfeeding advice and support.

Quoting EmmaGrace:" Have you tried contacting La Leche in your area? They offer free breastfeeding advice and support."

   

Same problem. My daughter just wouldnt latch right from the beginning unless someone helped me. I just pumped and gave it to her through a bottle. I figured as long as she was getting breastmilk, it didnt really matter which way she got it. Just keep putting him at your breast as often as possible, even when he's not hungry. DD used to scream too, because she was hungry right then and was getting frustrated when she couldnt eat right away.
Good luck. :]

Quoting EmmaGrace:" Have you tried contacting La Leche in your area? They offer free breastfeeding advice and support."

I live in pretty much the middle of no where   There are literally no groups around my area and it really sucks.

Dont Give Up!!!!
This was my exact story, but i never gave up, if i got frustrated i would stop and take a break and give him a little bit of his bottle and try again. It gets easier, i promise.

Exactly what happened to me!

I kept up on offering her the boob every feed and one day she just magically took it and latched better than ever. She isn't getting enough milk yet though so I'm still supplementing with formula for now until my supply is up.

Quoting BabyJ'smomma  :" I live in pretty much the middle of no where   There are literally no groups around my area and it really sucks."

They would probably recommend a nursing supplementer.

Will he latch at all?

The first few weeks are the hardest, i remember the first few weeks after my son was born sitting there crying when he would latch because it was so damn painful! Just keep at it, it will get easier. Have you tried avent shields? they worked pretty well for me.

Quoting EmmaGrace:" They would probably recommend a nursing supplementer. Will he latch at all?"

He will for a second or two, then he'll stop sucking, pull away and start screaming.  

Quoting EmmaGrace:" Have you tried contacting La Leche in your area? They offer free breastfeeding advice and support."

Yes! Also, don't give up on yourself - MANY mothers that I know had a lot of difficulty (moth physically and emotionally) with BFing for the first 2-3 weeks and wound up having complete success in the long run. I myself got a blister on one nipple in the first couple of days from a bad latch, and even when I corrected it it hurt for a a few weeks until it healed. Use lanolin regularly and try to get very relaxed before BFing (dim lights, calm music, deep breathing, maybe some lavender oil on your temples). Good luck hun!

Also, if the latch just doesn't work for you guys, but pumping does work, feel blessed that you at least have the supply to (as you said) provide your LO with healthy mama's milk in a bottle! In some ways, you would be better off than I was - my DD would NOT take a bottle at all. We tried about 8 different kinds with my milk at different temperatures, fed by different people, and after about 4 months old she just completely refused. I'm sure if I had had to work full time she would have eventually caved, but since I am an SAHM, I just complied with her cries and never left her for longer than 5 hours until she weaned at 15 months!

I am having some problems too. My almost 6 week old still kills my nipples. Mine look the same way afterwards. My lactation lady said that may be because my nipples are so large and his mouth just isn't big enough. (They really are super big) . This is my best guess. I am going to be posting my own question cause I nursed my daughter for 7 1/2 months and never had a problem but that was a really long time ago. Hope it gets better for you!

Quoting BabyJ'smomma  :" He will for a second or two, then he'll stop sucking, pull away and start screaming.  "

are you close to Georgetown?

If so, try this lady:



Fetters Angela La Leche League


Georgetown, OH 45121 map
(937) 378-3945