I need some advice. I’m solely breastfeeding and it’s kicking my butt. I almost hit a breaking point…

I only breast fed my first for 2 weeks. I wasn't producing enough and my nipples were bleeding.. I felt so guilty for a week or 2 after I started giving formula but after that I felt it was what was best for us. I started with supplementing formula due to not producing enough but it was a lot easier and less painful to formula feed. Not trying to talk you into quitting breast feeding because I think breast milk is awesome just letting you know my experience and that breast feeding is just not for every one.

@hazelnautumnsmomma125, thank you for that. It is hurting a lot and I’m getting bruises on my nipples even while constantly changing positions and I figure it’s because he is taking so long to eat and maybe it’s because I’m not making enough either I’m not sure. It’s just taking a toll on my mind feeling like I’m not good enough because the whole pregnancy I’m thinking I have boobs breastfeeding should come so naturally, easy even. :/

@mamaprince, he won’t latch to my nipple so I have to use a nipple shield every time. Which I feel like only adds to the stress because I have to find it and if he flails his arms while feeding he’ll knock it off and then it gets all over both of us. Like I mentioned later, I thought the whole pregnancy that I have boobs so breastfeeding should be easy which is clearly not the case and it’s just overall upsetting. I am going to try and keep going but every night is just getting more tough

@graysonsmommy09 I thought the same way and I cried a lot telling my hubby how I'm supposed to be able to breast feed and since I can't I'm not a good mom but I've figured out that how you feed your baby doesn't define you as a good or bad mom as long as baby is fed and happy thats all that matters. Its your body and your decision but don't be too hard on yourself either way. I have heard it gets easier but I couldn't hold out that long. I was bleeding while feeding her and it hurt to even wear a shirt. I'm already planning on formula feeding my second baby and im not gonna feel guilty. It took a while to not feel guilty but I'm happy with my decision now.

Have you tried pumping a little bit during to day so you can give him the bottle at night and see if he's actually eating that much or if he's just using you as a pacifier? Then when he's asleep you pump the milk out at night? My daughter would stay on me for 2 hour at night. Also I used the nipple shield as well.. to help keep from your nipples hurting so much, rub your breastmilk on your nipples and do not wipe them off. That will help them not crack and bleed. With the bruising, that might be due to your son sucking for so long. Also make sure you drink at least 8oz of water every time you feed him. Technically you need to drink at least 1 full gallon of water every day when you breastfeed. That helps keeps your milk supply coming.

I attempted to EBF for a few months but my daughter just wasn't gaining. At a month and a half-ish old she had JUST gone a few ounces over her birth weight. I supplemented for about 4-5 months, discovered I was pregnant again and then a week or so after I found out I was expecting, she took herself off the boob and went right to formula bottle. I had a really hard time producing anyway. And she liked the formula better. I'm glad she transitioned so well. I'm with @hazelnautumnsmomma125, I don't regret my decision either.

I'm glad you found what worked! And I found out I was preg again when my first was 9 months old so I was glad she was already used to formula😊@mississippi.mama

@hazelnautumnsmomma125 we found out right after Caroline hit 4 months.. lol her brother is due any day now! And her first birthday is tomorrow!

@mississippi.mama omg happy birthday and congratulations!! Autumn was due July 17th and came on July 4th lol she's my little fire cracker. And now I'm due December 17th and I'm hoping hazel comes December 4th. I think it'd be cute for them to both be born on the 4th of their month lol

@kaytibug2009, so I pump just enough for one bottle every night and that’s what his daddy uses to let me try and get some sleep between feedings since I’m alone with Grayson everyday while he’s at work. I talked to a lactation coach and she told me he’s too young to use me as a pacifier, that I need to just put him on my boob on demand. Which I don’t entirely believe because he’ll eat, fall asleep, and wake up when I put him down while smacking his lips again like he’s starving but just fall asleep on the boob right after a few sucks. I feel like a pacifier that can’t be put down

@mamaprince, he gets really uncomfortably gassy too! I had no idea that could be cause by the breast shield!? I’ve only tried a few times without it but he’ll get so hungry and frantic after not latching that I get frustrated cause I feel like I’m doing something wrong, that I just grab the shield again.

@hazelnautumnsmomma125 Awee!!! That would be cute!

@graysonsmommy09 she is right though. He's really tiny, and needs momma. Even if he's just comfort feeding, your touch helps him to go to sleep. That's just the newborn life. He's growing daily so he needs all the snuggle loves and milk he can get.

Do not feel guilty first off, you’ll have to find a way to “Let that go.” I have to do a lot of meditation like with the breath+ app and headspace app to get to a point where I can let my guilt go with my child, Cause I’m doing everything I can always of course we all do we love our children more than ourselves or anything ever but- practically depriving myself is only going to hurt the both of us! Looking back I wish I invested in a night nurse for a few days or even just one day just so I could find my mindfulness again to be a semi rested mother. I was always too paranoid, scared and showered with guilt- may have been the hormones surging as well. Every baby is different- do what works for you.

Also- it took me 4-6 weeks to get breast feeding right, I ended up going almost two years, LOTS of nights with out sleep. I ended up cosleeping with my daughter practically the whole time cause I was always too warn down to make her 1500$ crib work lol 😂