i feel like a failure

I know this sounds stupid as its been only two days I've been breastfeeding but I feel like I've failed her. As of this past afternoon they have me just pumping my right breast because we were having serious issues latching so my nipple started to bruise and crack. So I was just breast feeding on my left breast. Well I've been working on her latch but I guess bc my boobs are HUGE (I'm a E cup and use a 33 or 36mm cup for my punp) and she has a tiny mouth her 'full mouth' and 'good latch' is not good for me. And I know babies lose weight the first few days but I feel like its my fault bc she is barely eating.


I'm thinking about switching over to formula at this point I just feel it may be better for her =/

Quoting Miss Ashley +2:" I know this sounds stupid as its been only two days I've been breastfeeding but I feel like I've failed ... [snip!] ... bc she is barely eating. I'm thinking about switching over to formula at this point I just feel it may be better for her =/"

Can you try a nipple shield?

Who is telling you this? I don't think having huge boobs has anything to do w/ the breastfeeding process, lol. & yes, babies do lose weight the first few days. Just keep BFing, if she is nursing frequently then that's a good sign. Pumping isn't as effective as BFing so I would at least attempt to BF your right breast a few times a day as well as pumping.

keep trying go to a breast feeding support group they help u get a latch or call the hospital lactation consultant see if they can help or keep pumping and put it in a bottle but only if the other options dont work she need ur anti bodies in ur milk

you can do both.. switch to formula.. and continue pumping.

Don't blame your self! I had the same problem one of my twins mouth was too small and it was painful for me. You just have to experiment I found that using nipple shields helped so unbelievably much it saves your nipple and it makes latching easier for the baby   I unfortunately could not produce enough for both babies but I really hope things get better try the shields!!

Quoting Jessie Gelyon:" you can do both.. switch to formula.. and continue pumping."

She can, but switching to formula will seriously affect her supply.

Some women.. can't breastfeed. Don't feel like a failure because of it.

Dont let having huge boobs discourage you. My moms boobs were so big she had to use bedsheets as there wasnt a bra big enough to fit her when her milk came in. She could still breastfeed.

I am def going to ask about the shields. If I am still cracked and such come Thursday its something I need to really consider. The pain is soooooo bad I've cried twice while latching her. I can't handle it I want to love feeding her but I'm dreading it every time

I had some problems at first also, and he would only nurse off of my right breast, the left one just didn't work for some reason. Keep trying and keep your head up! Good luck!

Oh and get nipple cream it is safe for breast feeding and won't hurt the baby and it heals cracked soar nipples so quickly!!

deep breaths mama!
You can do this, this is what your body was made to do!
I would try nipple cream, and a shield.
Switch off from the left to the right every other time she feed
She you are having a hard time with the right at least try for a little and try to get her to nurse there as long as you can handle it. (you make milk by having both breast empty, when one goes empty your body knows to start making more milk)
Patience will be your biggest help right now.
When I first learned to nurse I had my SO or a nurse partically put her on my boob.. And when we got home I was in such lost I have a complete middle of the night melt down because it was soo hard. But my SO told me I could do this (he flat out resfused to go get formula) Im so glad he did because once I had my meltdown I re grouped drank some water and tired again and I got her to latch all by myself! Dont offer formula steer clear of it, it will only hurt your milk supply and upset your babies tummy. Do they have a Lactation Consultant in your hospital if so have them come see you as soon as they can.

Don't blame yourself! Even just trying to breastfeed is GREAT! My son had a hard time latching as well and I got really frustrated but I kept at it as long as I could before my supply ran out. If you're pumping anyway buy some breastfeeding bottles. I taught my son how to latch with those and then continued breastfeeding without them once he learned. Walmart has them and I think Target does too. They're called Breastflow and they're the only reason I was able to BF! They're shaped like a boob and the nipple is designed to require the same suckling motion BFing is. They are a little on the pricey side but so very worth it. Even if it turns out you can't BF it doesn't make you a failure! When I had to quit BFing my son because I ran out of milk I bawled for days and my mom didn't get it because she never breastfed. It took me a few weeks but I finally got over it and realized it wasn't my fault. Trying is the best thing you can do!

Quoting Jessie Gelyon:" Some women.. can't breastfeed. Don't feel like a failure because of it. "

few women are actually incapable of BFing. & if she really wants to keep BFing, there are a lot of other things she can try before just jumping to formula. That is only going to lessen her supply.