Breastfeeding First of all I've never breastfed before and I love that she's getting my milk and all…

You're far from a let down. My sister is in the same boat and tbh i admire you. Expressing isn't easy. She's getting all your milk and that's what is important.

Keep up with what you're doing it's working for both of you. Happy baby = happy mum. Xx

Mine were painful and one side was particularly bad I did express until it got better n fed from the other. I do hope u heal soon Hun and it will just be another hurdle u overcame looking back. I was a ftm and I thought breastfeeding was easy, but first few weeks are so tough! Worth it in the end x there's a breastfeeding group on here really helped are u on that? Ur doing great and ur definitely not letting ur baby down xx

I don't get on with breastfeeding at all, and express too (currently doing it now lol) it's whatever works for you + baby, so long as baby is being fed it doesn't matter xx

Your not letting your baby down at all! Expressing is hard work and in my opinion harder than breastfeeding! I'm breast feeding my 7.5 month old and on the few occasions I have expressed for evenings out etc I have been sick of my life! Well done for working so hard for your little one and try taking some time out for ourself each day! As for the painful nipples, is the flange on your breast pump wide enough? Your nipple may be rubbing in the sides when your pumping causing pain and friction? Maybe try the next size up?

I was in the same boat as you, feeding my son wrong for the first few days and then couldn't get him to latch on the way he was meant to when the midwife showed me how. I had to express for 5 weeks and then tried again with the nipple shields and that worked for us and I'm so glad I didn't give up. Good luck ? xxx

And I agree with the previous post, exclusively expressing is much harder than breastfeeding when you finally get there with it! I found it really hard work and stressful xx

Have you had somebody check for tongue or lip tie?

My little girl looked like she was latched perfectly but I was in so much pain. Even the midwife on the post natal ward was shocked at the sight of my nipple after the first feed down in delivery. It just took one lactation consultant who checked and found a posterior tongue tie to work out what was wrong (even though I'd been seen by several). I took my lo to have it snipped and everything improved. It still took 7-8 weeks before I wasn't in pain anymore. Managed to keep going for 12 months.

There's nothing wrong with expressing or formula feeding but you if you're set on breastfeeding I would investigate x

Hun honestly don't et yourself down over it, you feed her the most comfortable way for you, wether that's breast, pumped, formula, whatever! Those first 48 hours trying to feed Jace were horrendous because I got sore so quick, every suck on my nipple made me shout in pain because he just couldn't do it properly, it ruined my first few days with him because that's all I thought about, then I got really down on myself because I was so determined to breast feed!

A fed baby is a happy baby, it makes no difference to them, you just do you ? xx

Do what makes you happy. I ended up expressing due to similar issues and did so for 8 weeks. It's a hard slog, and you need to dedicate a lot of time to it, but it's worth it. I'm glad he got 8 weeks of my milk before I dried up (lack of time to pump) xx

Omg thankyou so much everyone made me feel 100 million times better, I'm just being silly I know! I know what ever milk she has she will be happy just was soooo set on breastfeeding and then couldn't do it I felt like a let down but feel better now thanks ladies your all just amazing????

? she's a beauty Hun xx

Thankyou sass?