Have struggled from day 1
My baby is almost 5 months and we are both struggling. I guess I am looking for anything at this point…advice, encouragement, honesty. I tried breastfeeding my previous child but after a month, he refused it. I exclusively pumped for over a year. This baby I wanted it to go differently. I wanted to breastfeed. However, we pretty much have had issues from the start.
I was exclusively breastfeeding from the day she was born. Her latch has never been good, my gut was telling me she wasn’t removing milk effectively. And due to 2x bouts of mastitis, strep x2 and a UTI, I made the mistake of introducing a bottle. Since then, she clearly has a bottle preference. I usually can get her on the breast for 2-5 minutes 2x daily and usually one fairly good 10 minute session either in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning when I am engorged. She does better with those MOTN feedings. However, she absolutely refuses to nurse on the right side. We’ve seen lactation consultants and they’ve confirmed what I suspected, she is usually taking in about an ounce during a feeding (essentially staying for the letdown and popping off). She had lip tie and posterior tongue tie released over a month ago. To make it worse, I am veryyy large chested so I feel as though we are constantly trying to feel comfortable nursing and no matter what position we do, it’s always uncomfortable for her, myself or both of us.
I feel as though 70% of the time I offer her the breast, she refuses it or cries for the bottle. I very much do not want to give up breastfeeding. I feel like I have tried everything. Pace feeding, different positions, nipple shields, different bottles. I am lucky enough to have a great supply but as she is approaching 5 months, I feel like she’s becoming more and more used to the bottle. I fear she’ll wake up one day and refuse the breast all together. It would break my heart. I guess I’m hoping someone has been in my shoes and successfully got their baby back to breast after a bottle preference?