BFing was a disaster for us. I definitely would've continued to BF if I'd had the support and advice of someone.
I have big boobs to start with but when my milk came in I went from an F cup to a JJ overnight and they were hard and lumpy and agonisingly painful.
I couldn't get Jake to latch and none of the staff at the hospital would help me other than trying to stuff my extremely tender boob into my hysterical babys mouth which as you can imagine only sent our stress levels through the roof and made things that bit worse each time it happened. I had one visit with a LC which involved her settting me up on an electric expressing machine (what are they called? I've had a total mindblank!) then leaving the room for 45 minutes before unplugging me, saying good luck you'll sort it out and leaving.
It was a miserable time coz I was asking and asking for help and nobody listened to me or anything!
My cousin was over from Aussie and was at the maternity ward with me (I was there for a week coz I couldn't get him feeding) and shes was the one that actually got things rolling. I didn't have anybody else around, all my family went back to their own lives and my babys dad had refused to take paternal leave or whatever its called from work. After watching me cry and struggle and feel like a total failure for 3 days my wonderful cousin walked into town to the pharmacy where they suggested nipple shields. We found out later the LC at the hospital provides them for free but since she never bothered to check on us again my cousin spent $28 on this set. It made a huge difference but ultimately I got mastitis and just gave up.
Remembering how useless all the medical staff involved were still makes my blood boil and now I'm pregnant again it makes me almost cry at having to go through it all again. I didn't have a problem with FFing - its a perfectly acceptable form of nourishment as far as I'm concerned. What really gets me is the total lack of compassion and time, advice and just kindness from the medical staff in TWO maternity wards! I got transferred halfway through my week and NEITHER set of staff did jack!! In fact Jake was born at 11.55pm and it was after 9 the next morning when I had to beg a nurse to help me feed him. He'd been pretty much non-stop crying the whole time and they couldn't be f***ed getting off their lazy asses to see what the problem was then refused to provide me a bottle to get him fed when I asked. They said that as I'd made it clear I wanted to BF and since breast was best they would not encourage the use of a bottle. I had to provide my own FF gear!!
Obviously I'm still a tad sensitive about this. I ranted in the other thread too before I read this one
Anyway I would've def continued to BF if I'd had support and I'll be looking up whoever it was someone suggested this time round. If it doesn't work then fine but atleast I'll feel like someone took the time to listen and give me some ideas!
breastfeeding support
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