with the breast feeding....

I'm totally exhausted with it all to be honest. I have been up throughout the night for the past couple of weeks every half hour. I feel like its a massive restriction as I am the only one who can feed her. I tried expressing, but could only get 1oz, I mean whats that all about!

Secondly the rash on her face has got worse, and I hate to talk about my precious bubs like this but its horrendous. It gets worse day by day and I've had her to the Dr and they refused to give me cream as they say its not infected, its just looks bad. She actually looks terrible.

I feel with breast feeding she is not getting enough, and with her only going on for short periods each time then wanting on 10mins later I have no time to deal with Rebecca, as it feels like Lucy is constantly on me.

My last hope was expressing some feeds as that way Dale could take his turn throughout the night but it didn't work.

I feel slightly gutted to be honest as I feel I have over come some bad moments with the mastitis and abcesses and to give up now is a bit lame, but believe me I have thought long and hard.

I will combination feed for the next few days til she is fully on the bottle.

Ha I am actually sad writing this, but I am a strong believer you should never punish yourself if you have tried and failed.

Anyway I will stop rambling but I admire all you women who have done it, it is so difficult, especially with a hungry baby.

xxx

I think you've been strong and if you feel its the best thing to do then you should neither feel bad or sad that you have decided to try the bottle that benefits you all. You sound exhausted and both lil ones need you and Mummy needs her rest.

Good on you I say

x

KX you haven't failed. I'm in admiration that you managed to get through all the problems that you had in the beginning, and if breastfeeding isn't for you then it doesn't matter. You've gone through a lot with it and hung on when a lot of people would have given up. Well done for getting to the stage you have. Lucy's rash sounds really horrible
I hope that everything settles down soon and you can get some rest ((hugs))

Edited to say that you could always introduce a bottle of formula a day and don't have to give up completely, having read back through my post I don't sound very encouraging of you continuing when the title of the thread suggest you aren't 100% certain on your decision lol.

But whatever you decide good luck with it

I don't even know myself what the right thing to do is. I just know I am getting to the point of dreading feeds.

Thanx for the support tho ladies xx

you have done fantastic K, dont feel bad or put yourself down, you have to do what is right for you and Lucy so you can both be happy

x

I've been there, especially when it feels like you just need your body back for yourself for a while. The amount you express isn't an indication of how much you're producing, some women manage to express loads, some only a dribble but both can breastfeed fine.
I know that I'd get to a point where I just wanted to throw in the towel, it tended to be towards the end of the day, then after they'd gone to bed and I'd had a bit of rest I'd feel a bit better. It always seemed to get a better after I reached my absolute low if that makes sense?
Have you spoken to a breastfeeding counsellor, or had your latch checked? She does seem to be feeding a lot in a short space of time, but this should calm down soon (no help to you now!). What happens if you don't feed her? Has she had any formula yet?

Oh hun, if you do decide to stop bf-ing, don't feel like a failure, you've done fantastic.

I gave up with Kayleigh at 6 weeks for the same reason, I was absolutely exhausted. She was feeding every 90 minutes day and night, for 30 minutes at a time. I had none of the other problems that you have had either. The first night we gave her formula, she slept from 11.30pm to 9.10am! 14 years ago and I can still remember the times and that night that I got almost 10 hours sleep!

Well Karrina, I for one think you have done so well!
Maybe you dont have to give up completely? How is Lucy with formula?
I didnt get much from expressing at first, but after a few more goes I managed to get more.
What ever you decide, you should be proud of your achievemnet. Well done to you x

well done hun for going this long, like the other girls have said how is lucy with a formula feed say last feed at night at maybe 10-11

hey hun i can imagine how drained you feel! is hard enough as it is breastfeeding, without having a lil madam to cope with too!

you are not a failure, you have done fantastic xxx