Hiya,
I've arrived here after being on third tri, having my baby boy on Saturday after failing second stage labour, failing ventouse and forceps and ending up with an emergency c-section. Got home yesterday with LO and had a rubbish night, even though it's only night 1!
I'm determined to BF.
I was feeding regularly in hospital although he did go very long spells without feeding (up to 8 hours), the pain is killing me, but I'm slapping on the lansinoh and gritting my teeth through it.
However, last night I was awake feeding at 11pm, 12am, 2am, 5am and then 7am. All for over 30 mins. I'm pretty sure my milk hasn't come in yet, although when he's feeding I occasionally get hard spots which go again, so hopefully it's on the way.
I know it's very early days but my OH ended up making a bottle of formula last night about 2.30am after LO detached from the breast and then started sucking his fist violently but we didn't use it. He's been feeding for long times each time, but now I worry that he's just sucking empty boobs.
It seems that he just wanted constant feeding throughout the night, but I can't do it.
I've not had more than one-two hours solid sleep since Thursday night, before my induction and am losing it.
Tried to express earlier to see if I could get OH to do a little bottle during the night if necessary, but nothing came out after a teeny initial spurt.
Community midwife is coming today but wanted to seek advice here first in case she's a rotter!
Can anyone please help with anything I've mentioned?

Firstly, congratulations and well done with persisting this far! The first few weeks can be tough going - milk taking a few days to come in; sore nips; engorgement; latching probs; baby feeding constantly with only an hour or two in between; baby blues; exhaustion. BUT it's all normal and it DOES get better!!

Baby's feeding constantly to signal your body to produce enough milk to satisfy him and this may carry on for a few weeks yet. If you give formula, your brain won't be getting the signals to produce milk which can end up being a slippery slope so my advice would be to BF exclusively if possible.

Don't judge your supply on expressing as babies are far more effective at getting milk than a pump is and giving baby a bottle this early isn't generally recommended as he may get confused and prefer the teat to the nipple, again ending up on a slippery slope.

Sorry you're feeling so knackered and fragile, these early days are hard but I promise it gets better and will all be worth it! Take help and support where you can get it... get parents/friends to cook meals you can stick in the freezer; eat well and drink plenty; get your favourite series on dvd to watch during feeding marathons; have a good cry; let someone else do the housework etc..

Thanks elski. It's frustrating when I feel I failed at labour (although that's taken out of my hands) and am starting to fail at bfing. It's good to know it gets better!
I suppose he must be getting something out judging by how full his nappies are, I was just gutted to see the empty pump yanking on the 'mini milk lolly' as OH put it!

Ahh you didn't fail at labour hun, like you say it was out of your control - I had a homebirth planned and it ended up induction/failure to progress/forceps. Don't beat yourself up about it, you have a lovely healthy baby that you cleverley made - that's not failure

Think positively, you're doing really well with BFing, just take it a day at a time and little things will start changing... milk will come in, time between feeds will gradually get longer etc and you'll feel you've made progress.

"Mini milk lolly", haha!

Ah.. Bless! Don't worry about the pump hun! Baby does a way better job. The bonding between you both helps it out. When I'm feeding baby it pours out the other nipple but when I put on the pump it's like getting blood out a stone. Lol.
I know it takes it out of you at first. I was stuck on the ward for 8days, was feeding my lo almost constantly and when she wasn't awake the other babies would wake me. Exhaustion is not the word. Lol. But as hard as it was I stuck with it and am soooo glad I did. She puts on weight like a trooper!!!
As long as you are getting plenty of wet (and after a few days dirty) nappies then your lo is getting enough.
You are doing brilliantly!! Keep up the good work! You'l soon be rewarded by a big smile!! x x

Have a look at this, may be useful? x
http://postpartum-health.suite101.co...eding_problems

It is hard but does get better, google cluster feeding, i was unaware of this and thought something was wrong, this reassures you all new babies go through it x

My baby did the same thing and at the beginning I freaked out thinking I was failing but then the midwife reminded me that constant suckling was baby's way of telling my body that it was time to bring the milk in. A couple days later my breasts swelled up and poof! MILK! Now it's much much better. (other than my super fun nipple crack on one side- they don't tell you how hard breastfeeding actually is do they!)

Good luck!!!

Congrats on your LO!

This is all completely normal and while absolutely knackering it does get better I promise!

Don't do anything else apart from resting and feeding your LO. Get others to help and make you food and drinks etc etc.

I felt I'd failed with my labour, too (had wanted a home birth with pool, ended up in hospital being induced and one push from an episiotomy, and it took days). BFing was so important to me (still is!)

What you're describing is so normal, and it will pass, I promise. I had Ilana attached to the boob from 5pm-3am on day 2 and I called the midwife sobbing because she'd fall asleep on the boob but wake and scream when I put her down. Tired does not begin to describe it! It did pass though, and my milk cam in on day 3 as she'd sucked so hard, and it got much easier.

Keep at it and rest rest rest in the day - visitors can wait!