"Breastfeeding journey"

After having a delivery of forceps and an episiotomy with sepsis, my newborn barely fed the first 24/48 hours and slept what seemed like 24:7. I was very much worried about this and spoke with the staff on the ward and asked for help when feeding my baby as she wasn’t latching on for longer than 30 seconds and fussing at the breast and sleeping. I was told due to the labour I had baby was probably exhausted and At 24 hours old the infant feeding team advisor on call offered a bottle for top up. I was advised my baby was a lazy eater and needed to be held up when bottled fed. I advised I wanted to breast feed and needed support. The infant feeding team would come help me for 5 mins and be off again as they were so busy. One night I had 3 women crowded round my bed trying to help at 3am and was given a nipple shield and some positions to help. It helped a little bit however I was not convinced my baby was feeding properly.

The day I was due to be discharged, I was offered to stay longer for support on breastfeeding however I told the midwife I did not feel I was getting enough with the infant feeding team anyways and I was told as it was on my record for breastfeeding I would have the breastfeeding team come to my house and help the day after I was discharged so I agreed to go home on this basis as my stats were looking good and baby was well , the only thing to have kept me in was the feeding. I was thrilled with this one to one offer and the following day waited for a call or chap at the door. For 2-3 days nothing and I blamed the weekend , I chased it with my midwife who said she would chase this up. Eventually I found a number in my pack from the hospital and phoned and was told my address, although Dundee and a DD5 postcode, I was ‘out with the boundary’

and nobody was coming and I would be required to go to ninewells if I wanted a face to face. I thought this was shocking to be honest as if I had not have called, I would have kept hoping for someone to arrive! The worst part is ,i was left at home from Thursday night to now Monday when I called, this is not acceptable I feel for a new mum and newborn who could have easily starved or I could have given up. I did have a chat with the lady over the phone and was told that it sounded like I don’t need them and doing everything right. I kept going with breastfeeding and we did 1 bottle of formula a day.

Fast forward to the health visitor and 4 weeks later with the same struggled and using the nipple shield for every feed, my baby’s weight had stayed the same one week then a less that satisfactory amount the next and was told she was going to speak to the feeding team for advice! I was told to wean my baby off the nipple shield and practise feeding her straight on my nipple. My baby took to this thankfully but within a week the pain on my nipples was awful and although baby took to the nipple wasn’t staying on and latching for long. My nipples were bruised and cracked. The health visitor observed feeds and said baby doing everything right however was a shallow latch. My baby had bad milk tongue but was told no concern and checked also for tongue tie etc which she didn’t have. I had a couple calls with infant feeding team on the back of my HV referring me and even a trip to the hospital for suspected mastitis as I was so sore and unwell.

I was eventually offered face to face with infant feeding team perhaps around week 5-6 , this was how long it took! I was told it was just positional problems and to adjust how I held her etc and I was told I would get a call the next week to catch up. Fast forward a week - no call. My health visitor phoned them and was told there was annual leave etc (nearly 9 weeks on nobody ever got back in touch with me)

I kept trying and trying to the point I was crying every feed it was so sore. My nipples were cracked and bruised and even pumping was so sore. I spoke with my health visitor who thankfully came back every week and tried her best to help and provide advice and kept going back to the infant feeding team. It seemed nobody was actually able to help , it was just put down to positioning issues.

My baby was gaining weight each week and was ok thankfully but I was not ok.

Every week my health visitor was surprised I was still breast feeding and trying to keep going! She phoned again for help with infant feeding team who said they could not see me for a couple weeks! I think this is truly shocking, i appreciate lack of staff and holidays and pulled from one to another however if breast is best - where is this support from professionals? I think a 2 week wait is 100% not acceptable!

I reached out to breast buddies and thankfully someone came to my house and offered support and advice.

As my baby gets bigger, The better we are getting on but going on 9 weeks of struggles I am disappointed at how much the NHS has failed me for help. For being pro breast feeding I am shocked at the little support from day 1!