I’m only 18 but seriously, I want to be like you when I’m a Mum. I know you wouldn’t agree with this because you are a very humble person but you are such a perfect mum to little Grayson and Roo xx I’ve learnt so much about adult life off of your family ❤️ thank you Hannah x
It bothers me when people say it shouldn’t hurt because it DOES hurt for the first couple weeks! Everyone I have listened to or talked to has had a similar experience where it takes time for your nipples to toughen up. I had that experience too. Breastfeeding isn’t easy at first! I wish it would be talked about that it takes time and lots of patience and I think more women wouldn’t feel so alone and frustrated. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Kirky Yes! It was hands-down the hardest thing I’ve ever done. BUT, it was also the most rewarding and amazing thing ever. SO hard. So painful but so worth it.
I so agree! If everyone says it should not hurt, you think you're doing something wrong. But I wasn't. It only took a few weeks and then everything went fine!
Actually for me it was THAT easy. I'm not saying that to be mean and to tell all of you super-mums that you did anything wrong. I just want people (new first-time mums especially) that for some of us it really is super easy. Up until my first son was born I wasn't even sure if I wanted to breastfeed, because the thought of someone sucking on my nipple and liquid coming out kind of grossed me out. But I was willing to give it a try, just because it's so much cheaper than formula. And because it came so easy to us I just kept going and nursed him for a full year. Same with my second boy. I guess some of us are just genetically blessed in that area. Some mums don't get stretchmarks, others get that pregnancy glow and the full hair and my mum-superpower is breastfeeding :D For any new mum: There IS hope. There IS a possibility that it will not ruin your nipples and cause you weeks of initial pain. But MAKE SURE your baby latches on properly, because a wrong latch WILL kill your nipples in no time.
Hi Hannah, I’m a student midwife and have seen the Medela Calma bottle recommended to women who want to continue breastfeeding because babies still have to suck and ‘work’ for the milk, whereas a lot of bottles leak milk when tipped upside down (hope that makes sense)! They’re a little bit pricier but worth it if it helps you continue breastfeeding for however long you wish to 😊 love that you revisited this topic second time round, good luck with trying to find a bottle you get along with! Xx
I think support makes a huge difference. I have found the only way my little niece will take a bottle is if she is facing away and has no distractions. The ready made formula also seems to help rather than using the powder. I’m so happy for you that breastfeeding is going well, it’s so lovely to hear a positive story. x
Great info Hannah! I struggled with my first daughter but found it so much easier the second time around. It’s so wonderful when women support women and share their stories.
thank you. I love your channel After losing my pregnancy, I was very depressed and the only thing that got me out of that state of depression, was to start making baby accessories with my own hands, it made me feel more connected to my son, wherever he is.
I am currently breastfeeding my 4 week old and it has been a real rollercoaster. My baby has a slight tongue tie so getting him to latch (especially on my one inverted nipple) has been tricky. We are now almost getting to a point where it is "natural" but this concept that it easy is ludicrous. It has been really hard work! More needs to be done to support women in doing it (if they so choose!) and speaking about the struggles so that mums don't feel so alone (during an already overwhelming stage of their lives). Well done for achieving 5 months and thanks for sharing your story.x
Natalie Joelle if you’re still sore try aloe Vera gelly my sister in law got me some. I kept it in the fridge and the first time I put that on my nipples... omg! It was the best relief! It cools, soothes and helps heal.
Hannah, you look really happy! It is so cool that you don't judge either way. Many people seem very quick to judge, without knowing the full story. As females, we should be supporting each other and showing kindness and solidarity. From all the comments it looks as though vidoes like this, open up a community of advice, support and sharing of experiences. It gives you that feeling of other people have felt the same way, or have been there before. Be proud of yourself!!! ♡
You are SO beautiful. I love how you always look super natural and fresh even though I’m sure you’re knackered working full time as well as having two kids, running a business...everything! I have no kids and no job and I’m a hot mess. You have inspired me to make an effort on skincare 😋
Had a very similar bf experience to you Hannah with my 1st son. This time around I pushed past the initial problems feeding & can't believe we're now 10 months into our bf journey. One of the best things i've ever done xx
Every baby is most definitely different. You’re correct about “fed is best”. I breastfed my oldest for nearly a year and a half. Right around the 5 month mark I was doing what you are and trying to find a way to get a break should I need or want one. The only way she would take a bottle was with formula. Much to my chagrin as I pumped like hell and had frozen more Milk than I ever needed as she wouldn’t take a bottle of breast milk. I broke down and gave her formula in a bottle out of necessity once and she took it with no problems. Tried the breast milk bottle shortly after and it was a no-go. Her doctor said that some babies will only take breast milk from a boob, but because formula obviously tastes different, they associate the bottle with the formula and are fine with that. Luckily, after about a month or two she began taking breast milk in a bottle as well. My youngest?? She doesnt care where her breast milk comes from as long as it’s breast milk. She refuses formula up to this point, she’s seven months. But I do keep trying to sneak in the odd bottle of formula now and then just to see. Thank god for that surplus of pumped milk. You’re doing great! The difference in you now and when you had Grayson is massive. You seem happier and more content and confident. Proud of you and the relationships your building with those beautiful boys.
Breast feeding used to make my toes curl with pain - then I used nipple shields! OMG they saved the day! Let my nipples heal and let me continue breast feeding! Highly recommend!
I had the same experience with my first child and I’m now pregnant again. I loved hearing your experience and it gives me hope that I can have a better experience with this new baby
I absolutely loved breastfeeding Jack! I struggled at the start too but we managed 16 months! It's amazing that we can keep our babies alive from us! Xx
Hi Hanna! First of all let me just say I love your videos! I’m a new mom and also breastfeeding my baby boy and the beginning was so hard. Made it through and I’ve been breastfeeding for almost 3 months. It really is the best feeling in the world. Lots of love from Israel ♥️
100% agree with the tip of giving you're nipples a break in the first two weeks. I used to cry sometimes feeding my son at the beginning because it was so painful but when the midwife said just pump and give him a bottle if its too much it made such a difference and we finally got through it. Also I would say another tip for the situation you're finding yourself in now...for other mums as its probably a bit late now :) ... Even though I didnt like to give him a bottle as I hated pumping and just found it messed up my rhythm (if that makes sense) we decided to let his dad give him 1 bottle a day, or every other day, just to keep him used to a bottle if I did need some time off and also to let his dad have that bonding time. It really helped make things that much easier when we decided it was time to switch over.
We gave both of our kids a bottle once a day from the very beginning and it was the best thing I ever did. It started off being expressed milk but when it got to the point where I couldn’t express the amount they needed then I just expressed what I could and topped up with formula. It was so great to have the freedom if I needed it.
So glad to hear your experience. I’m due with baby #2 in 2 months. I had a similar experience with my first. Basically he ruined my nipples! I ended up pumping/feeding until he was 14 months. It was hard but I was stubborn! I am hopeful that this time around this one will be easier on me and like you said I don’t stress out as much!
Well done Hannah 🌟 You're doing an amazing job!! I've just finished breastfeeding after 4 years (2 with my son followed by 2 with my daughter) and have loved every minute of it despite it sometimes being painful and often very hard work... Both my children have refused bottles & formula so the responsibility has always fallen on me but looking back on it all now I wouldn't change a thing xx
Your Grayson breastfeeding journey is EXACTLY what I went through. Was so difficult but you're absolutely right, fed is best. And eventually the guilt left me when I bonded beautifully with my daughter when the stress of feeding left us. Good for you with your breastfeeding this time around. I'm due my next baby next month and will try breastfeeding, BUT if it doesn't work out I know bottle fed is fine
Congratulations for getting to 5 months! 💕 at this point you don't have to use a bottle. You can offer the milk in a sippy cup. Also he most likely won't take it from you or even if you're home. Babies are clever! They know when mummy is around. Once he's a little better at solids you might even find that if you need to pop out for a few hours he'll be just fine with food and will wait for you to get back ❤
So glad it’s gone easier for you this time and you had better support! When my daughter was born they gave her to me and I noticed right away that she had a tongue tie, the nurses gave me the strangest look but the doctor was able to clip it right away. We had our struggles for sure but I’m so glad we didn’t have a tongue tie to contend with. Thanks for sharing your perspective ❤️
I loved hearing about your experience! Two tips I learned from some breastfeeding books on getting him to take a bottle is 1. Make sure he gets good and hungry first and 2. You can’t be anywhere near him, assign the bottle feeding to someone else like your hubby. “Breastfeeding for Dummies” was a great resource for me and two books by La Leche League “The Womanly Art or Breastfeeding” And “Sweet Sleep”, all can be found on amazon and all have great tricks and tips on breastfeeding, weaning, and getting babies to take a bottle. Hope that helps! Thanks for making this video!
So glad breast feeding is going well. Was wondering if you were going to mention whether your breast implants affected/had an impact on feeding at all, as sometimes this can be the case.
This is such a fab video, thank you! I really struggled with breastfeeding my son who is now 9 months. He was also tongue tied and it wasn’t found until 6 weeks either. I think we introduced a bottle at about 8 weeks after having his tie cut and at first I’d express like you to give my nipples a rest and then gradually introduced a bottle of formula once a day and then twice a day. The guilt is awful so I can totally relate!! I think by 6 weeks they’re already set in their ways of how they want to latch so trying to change that was really hard. I stopped breastfeeding at 5 months with just one morning feed a day. I’m really hoping that if we have another baby it will be a much more positive experience just as you have found! The tips and advice you have given are brilliant! A few of my friends exclusively breastfeed their babies and are really struggling to get them onto bottles too (also 9 months). I do think introducing the bottle early on makes a massive difference even if it’s just doing one or two expressed bottles a week. Sorry I’m no help with getting Rufus to take a bottle but I’m sure you will find a way, just stick at it! Every Mum needs time out even if it’s to go have a bath without worrying about having to hurry!! Well done on getting so far with breastfeeding this time, it’s amazing! X
The more videos or experiences of breastfeeding I hear, the more I realize how lucky I was with my two boys. They both were breastfeeding pros within the first minutes of being born, never cracked or painful nipples, always enough milk to feed half of the neighbourhood's babies etc etc. And I don't even love to breastfeed, but it comes so easily to me. I'm not writing this to brag (because, really, it's not like I had any control over this) I just want to leave it here to show any new mommas that there are also very, very positive breastfeeding experiences, that don't begin with a painful phase of sore nipples. For some mums it really CAN be super easy. So there's hope if you want to breastfeed your baby ;)
I swapped one feed a day for a bottle. It took my daughter about 6 weeks to get used to it. I used to think "why am I bothering? I might as well feed her myself rather than wasting over a hour trying to give a bottle" but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did as it did give me more freedom when other people were looking after her etc.
I had exactly the same with my first, bleeding cracked nipples excruciating pain, in tears every time I fed him. I was stressed Lucien was stressed this was all despite him having his tongue tie snipped at day 3 or 4! I ended up stopping at 3.5 months & switching to formula. I breastfed for 7.5 months with my second & 20 months with my 3rd! It does get easier with each baby.
My two would never take a bottle, it was quite difficult but once they were both having plenty of solid food, so maybe around a year, they would only feed first thing in the morning then last thing at night (and overnight sometimes!). This meant it was loads easier to leave them during the day. I ended up breastfeeding them both until around 18 Months. You’re doing great 🙂 x
I watched this video on the early grueling days of breastfeeding. It made me feel better as only then I realised I was giving myself too much pressure. I have made my own bf story video in case a fellow mum feels the same at the moment and is needing that extra push. 💪🏻🤱🏻Thanks Hannah! Lots of love from Newcastle. ❤️
Midwife and breastfeeding support is important, but it needs to be said that sometimes even with all the support in the world, it still may not work (for a number of reasons ie insufficient milk production, allergies etc). It's not always about incorrect latch and related issues. Many people struggle in the beginning and then support helps them to successfully breastfeed. Then those people often assume that because that helped them, and they've "been through it too", that it will get better for everyone else who does the same. Support is only a small part of the equation
I think breastfeeding is very personal in every single way for every single person. You found it painful and some people are saying it always is but I know first hand it isn't. I never had any problems whatsoever with my first but then with my second I had a few issues but painful, no. I know when I tried to wean my daughter she wouldn't have a bottle from me but when I sat her in her chair away from me, she took it! Worth a try. I don't think anyone should feel guilt about having managed it or not, for some it's clearly much easier just the same as being in labour, some breeze through and then others not so much. I think you've done a fabulous job persevering after what you've been through, I think I may have given up.
Felt totally guilty switching my boy to combination feeding. He had tongue tie (corrected after a few weeks, which was too late!) and it was pure agony, now I just pump like mad and still have to top up with formula. I definitely feel like I bonded less with him like you explained. I wish more people would discuss the emotional problems when you can’t breastfeed (or it doesn’t go well) rather than just saying “try harder” - yes, I could’ve tried harder, I also could’ve been hospitalised for PND, which is better?! I’m so glad you had better luck with Rufus, I hope if I ever have another I’ll have better success too!
Hi Hannah, I'm so pleased your breastfeeding experience has been better. I had many of the same problems of painful feeds when my daughter was born. My daughter is 14 months and has refused a bottle and dummy and we never conquered it 🙈 however some tips my friends and midwives suggested was having my other half give it. Wait until he's really hungry and try stef feeding him? And you leave the room. He knows you've 'got the goods' 😂 so very likely to refuse with you around or in sight. Saying that nothing worked for us and just ended up wasting milk and stressing, so at 14 months she's still never taken a bottle! She happily drinks water from a sippy cup but has never had any form of milk from a bottle 🤷🏻♀️ good luck 😘 xxx
Please share how you are able to put Rufus down for naps! My boy is also 5 months old, and I breastfeed him to sleep for all of his naps, but as soon as I put him down he cries. It’s one of those really sad heartbreaking cries too!
Have you tried cup feeding? Some mothers cup feed their breastfed babies for the break feeds rather than give them a bottle, Rufus might be more open to that.
I think it's so important to have these conversations. I had trouble at first and had to combi-feed, and felt so guilty, and I'll never forget, when I was crying to my midwife in the first week, her saying to me, "Is your baby being fed? As you were then!" I breastfed until 7 months (and then the teeth came in!!!) and I let my milk dry out, and she's 14 months now and I still think to myself, why didn't I pump? And I miss it so much some days. There's SO much that we feel guilty about and it's so easy to forget that the most important things are: happy baby, happy mummy and happy nipples!
I am currently formula feeding my 5 month old, but I have spoken to a few mums that are trying to introduce bottles and they've tried a brand called Minbie. Apparently the nipple of the bottle is very similar to the breast - worth a shot! Amazing work breastfeeding for 5 months, you should be really proud of yourself!!
Thankyou so much for this video. I had a similar experience with my first son being that he were tongue tied and feeding him was incredibly painful also the lack of support and nobody ever checking his latch etc we ended up formula feeding. I’m 35 weeks pregnant with my second now and praying so hard for a different experience as like you the momma guilt weighs heavy on my heart ❤️
Thanks for this video Hannah! I’m due with number 2 in a few weeks and I really struggled with breast feeding with my first. I really want to have a successful feeding journey this time around! I’m armed with more information this time and I’ll definitely pick up a feeding pillow. Thanks for the tips!
Well done Hannah! I had very similar issues with my first son Jack as you did with Grayson. Same thing, noone noticed a tongue tie until weeks later, so painful, always hungry, always asleep on the boob. First glug of formula was such an eye opener as to how hungry he was. It was very very stressful, but I'm pleased to report we are still breastfeeding now 13 months on! So glad to hear it's going so well with Rufus. Amazing! You're doing brilliantly and such good tips! Wish I had known all of this before breastfeeding too x
Thanks for this Hannah!! Really helpful - I’m due my second 🌈 baby in August and planning on breastfeeding him/her. I didn’t breastfeed my first son due to complications post delivery of him so I would really like to have a go this time around!! Really helpful and I’ll be purchasing everything you have recommended. Thanks, Anna xx
Hi Hannah, i totally feel i can relate to what you said because coincidentally i too currently have a 4 years old son and a 5 months old baby! I also had problems breastfeeding my first son but is breastfeeding my second son now. Let's cheers to all breastfeeding mum out there :)
Hello Hanna , thank you so much for uploading this video. My first baby is 6 months and I am still breastfeeding , people have told me that it will get easier with time . Yes I got used to it , but my baby has to bring some challenges for me every now and then . Now fo instance, he would get super distracted if someone is around or if there is music playing or sounds. I love breastfeeding and I am thinking to continue, but I think I pressured myself a lot .
Hi Hannah! Thank you for your amazing video!! I too had an amazing breastfeeding midwife that came to my house at day 4 of my breast feeding journey (I live in Cardiff) had I not been offered that support I would have felt like I was doing it all wrong as had the initial pain that I don’t think they tell you about. My daughter (nearly 5 months old) didn’t like the dummy however I ended up buying a ‘NUK’ one and it’s shaped differently, not sure if you have tried this one but it helped for her sleeping at night and she goes down on her own at 21:30. We use this for day time naps too. I am in love with breastfeeding too and don’t want to stop! The only downside is the freedom. I had a few night outs over Christmas and my daughter took the bottle but apart from that I’m happy not going out too regularly! She doesn’t particularly like the bottle and my partner has to struggle through.. he turns the tele on to distract her and she sits in the feeding pillow so she is upright, we use the Minbie (she didn’t take mam ones!) Not sure if any of what we do will help you :) Thank you again for the informative video! xxxx
Good information. Thanks. Even though I am passed the child bearing years, it is still fascinating to me. I had a midwife and a breast consultant program, La Leche available to me in Philadelphia, PA even back in the 70's when I had my daughter.
Try the medela calma teat, I have a 5month old and breastfeed and express. I feed my little one with the calma teat and switch between breast and expressed in a bottle with no problems now. I introduced her to the teat early on so she wouldn't refuse it as she was older. I only learnt this as my eldest daughter 3, would not take any bottles xx well done x
Great vid, hopefully it really helps some mums out there to push through the initial issues with breastfeeding! I too had to give my baby bottle for 2 weeks when I found out she had a dairy allergy and she wouldn’t feed off me because it gave her pain. However, your current issues sound like they can be solved once Rufus learns to self-settle. Have you tried any sleep training or self settling techniques? Works great on my EBF 4 month old.
Hey Hannah, I’m still breastfeeding my little boy at one years old but we had every issue under the sun when it came to breastfeeding in the beginning. My little boy didn’t pick up with his weight and kept dropping so I had to supplement but we got there in the end. When breastfeeding got food I stopped with the bottles and then when I tried to introduce it again it was a bit of a nightmare because like Rufus, he knew the difference. What I found really helped for me was keeping the number 1 teat. He still uses the number one teat because it’s the slowest flow of milk so more like the breast. I would start by breastfeeding especially at night and then once he was drowsy enough quickly stick the bottle in and after a few goes he would just carry on with the bottle. I even kept the bottle stuffed down my bra for a few minutes before hand so it smelt like me or you can even keep the teat in your bra for a little while so it kind of tastes like the breast too. Also when he refused the bottle outright I found that if I wasn’t the one giving the bottle he would take to it better. Let stef do a feed while you take a bath or something away from you so he doesn’t know mummy is nearby and so you can’t the screams if there are any. And if all else fails know that you’re an amazing mum doing an amazing job for your little boy and as you said. Your body is sustaining his, as tiring as it can be you have a job that nobody else can replace. Once my little boy started taking bottles from my husband I always felt a pang of sadness that he wasn’t solely reliant on me anymore. Hope that helped even just a little xxx
My sister is breast feeding my niece and she only takes a bottle if they are the closer to nature Tommee tippee ones and if the milk of hipp organic because it is the closest taste to breast milks so maybe try that with Rufus. She also doesn’t take it for her mum only for me because I obviously don’t smell like breast milk lol xx
Well done with your breastfeeding journey! Our babies are the same, won't take a dummy or the bottle. But just keep persevering! He will take it eventually. Another option would be 'cupfeeding'. In the Philippines, they promote this as an alternative to breastfeeding instead of using the bottle as there's no risk of nipple confusion. It does take practice and patience. There are videos as well as to how it's done :)
Lovely honest video. My (now 9 month old) baby wouldn’t take a bottle. I waited til 6 months then put water in the bottle at mealtimes til he got used to it, then snuck in a bottle of milk at feed time after about a week. And yes, to anyone who wants to slate me, he does still have a bottle (but now has his water in a sippy cup) but honestly, who wants to sit in the dark at bedtime trying to get a baby to drink neatly from a cup???
As much as the stretchy bras are great for lounging around the house and bed I found that they just didn’t have enough support if I wanted to go out or even sometimes if I was in the house and had visitors. But you’re so right don’t get bras fitted, I just bought some super cheap ones from Amazon and then got by until my boobs had settled down!
I'm currently breastfeeding with my second he is 3 months and I am fully enjoying it , not had any issues what so ever apart from posteriors tongue tie at the beginning. I tried breastfeeding with my first and had multiple issues sore nipples babies weight was going down and up but not as she should be and it was quite painful every feed and I just gave in and turned to the bottle. I am in a lovely breastfeeding support group on face book "breastfeeding together" and we all give each other advise and tips when we have any issues or problems. I love the bond feeding my baby and I am just amazed that l have helped my baby grow. It is much easier going out because your milk supply is right for the baby there and then, I have also saved a lot of penny's . I am all for fed is best as I have done both we all know what's best for our babies 😊
Well done Hannah! My little boy is 10 Months Old and won’t take a dummy or a bottle either! It is hard at times because I feel like I don’t get a break but on the whole I love breastfeeding! Louie also will only fall asleep for me at bedtime so it does confine you to the house quite a bit but I love the fact that he just wants his mumma. I tried so many different brands of bottles and so many different people tried to give him a bottle both with and without me in the vicinity and he point blank refuses! A last resort was giving him formula through a syringe! Haha! Eventually I gave up on bottles and went straight to a sippy cup and that works... but he refuses formula so he just has a little drop of squash in some cool boiled water in his sippy cup which he loves but he’s still mainly breastfed. So glad you’ve had a positive experience this time around. I’ve followed you for years so it’s lovely to see you so happy and content. Lots of love, Kayley xx
Hi Hannah! I love your videos. I brought one of your prints a while ago and got the pink flowery makeup bag for Christmas. I honestly love them both so much!
Love the video! However very frustrating for me that you kept saying Breast feeding v bottle feeding when you were referring to formula feeding! My baby was born with cleft lip and palate so no suction therefore I BREAST FED him by expressing and placing it in a specialist bottle but I would never say I bottle fed him because I’m proud that I Breast fed him even if it was through expression. He switched to formula at 4 months and then I said he was formula fed. Breast feeding happens in lots of ways via the breast, via expression, via an SNS kit, via donation it isn’t defined by only coming from breast.
Very intresting, thank you. Our girl (3.5months) is breastfed and the initial pain wasen't that bad..I did lots of prevention, maybe thats why. And my nipples were braless for 10 years prior so they might be tougher from that. She also took the Avent (glass) bottle immediatly whitout fussing for the occasional outing so my husband can feed her.
Well done for sharing I wish I’d watched something like this before my girl was born. I breastfed her for a year and I loved it but those first two weeks were a shock!! But I’ll always remember that uncontrollable rush of love every time I fed her in those early days good - old oxytocin :) she never took to bottles either so we gave up. We have another baby due this summer and interested to see if those first 2 weeks of feeding will be just as hard? I want to try to introduce a bottle a day from earlier on this time too but that’s probably easier said than done when you’re tired and pumping is a faff! X
Well done for persevering, I too had all the pain at the start and 2 bouts of mastitis (plus even now blocked milk ducts!) but it has been so worth it. I love the ease like you say when you go out not to have to worry about bottles! I’m even back at work now my baby is 10 months and carrying on expressing hidden away in the office! My dilemma now is when to stop...!! Xxx
My first refused a bottle too. I ended up just breast feeding him for the full year because I couldn’t face the battle. Second time round I just wanted to do it because I loved it. It was easier to have that mindset of just keep going until it doesn’t work for you anymore.
I actually discovered you in 2015 when I gave birth to my first son and that breastfeeding video helped me so much at the time because I formula fed 💔 I just remember watching it over and over to ease me and lessen the guilt 😞 oh the power of sharing your story I had my second in 2016 and learned so much and ended up breastfeeding him for a year ...I felt guilty (still creeps up) for not trying with my first but man so much I learned like not giving up I had a midwife the second time as well and it was so helpful anyway thanks for sharing your stories 💙 both my boys are equally healthy so all I could ever ask for haha so yes FED IS BEST.
Hi Hannah! Thank you for making this video! I can definitely relate, and also found some of your tips really helpful! I am currently breastfeeding my son and he just turned 5 weeks today. I struggled at the start too, cracked sore nipples that bled and I used to cry a lot cause I felt so guilty I couldn’t do it! I still feel like that sometimes to be honest. Felix is my first so I have been determined to try hard with breastfeeding, but I admit he also has a bottle about 30% of the time with formula when my nipples need a break! I also find those moments where we do give him formula, it gives my partner the opportunity to also feed him so he can enjoy the feeding experience too, just in a different way :) How did you feel breastfeeding changed for you after Grayson got his tongue tie snipped? And were you scared to get it done? We just got Felix’s snipped a few days ago! I am so relived we got it done (even though I was so scared and cried whilst it happened) I haven’t noticed too much difference yet with breastfeeding, hopefully it just takes a few days to get better or something! I am so glad to hear I am not the only one who has struggled with breastfeeding, I sometimes still think I won’t be able to make my goal of 6 months, but I keep pushing myself to do better and stay strong for my boy. But you are right about formula feeding, absolutely nothing wrong with it, as long as the child is fed and happy, that’s all that matters! (Still doesn’t help the mummy guilt though!) oh I have that cream, it’s so fantastic! I know it’s expensive and need to use sparingly but I lather my nipples in it! I feel like I have too cause I’ve had bruises on my boobs sometimes so I want to heal them as much as I can after every feed! Hopefully Rufus will take to a bottle soon for you, I bet you would love a girly night with a few drinks without being attached to a little baby 😂😂xxx
I would love to hear your thoughts/experience with introducing a first born to a new addition - my second little boy is due in 6 weeks and any tips or advice to ease the transition would be great Xx
Hannah you must be my kinda twinning mom or something ... Beside me having two girls everything you have shared about motherhood is exactely the same over here. I made the same experiences, and I have the same emotions and feelings. Plus both of my girls are the exact same age like your boys. I find myself thinking that it could be helpful to have a bottle feed option but lets be real: they KNOW that they don't have to take it :-D Well I think, and I suppose you will agree, this whole thing with mom guilt, I had my first one exclusively to myself her first years but I can now really enjoy this whole motherhood thing with my second one. Love from Germany
My little girl is 12wks and I’m breastfeeding. The first 3wks were horrendous but like you I’m so glad I pushed through! It was the Mum guilt that speared me on! I had to give Harriet bottles for a night when she was 13 days old because she got bronchiolitis and we had to spend the night in hospital. I cried the hole night with quilt even though the choice had been taken out of my hands I still felt I’d let her down or something! Silly when all that mattered was getting fluids into her. Now though I can’t imagine having to sterilise bottles and make sure you’ve got formula etc when leaving the house! I’m trying to get Harriet to take a bottle atm so I can leave her with my husband for a few hours occasionally but she will only take it from me which completely defeats the purpose! Also I’ve found she will only take formula from the bottle, not breast milk! They are smart little cookies!! Hope you get it cracked soon!!
Random question. How did you find the medela pump, would you recommend double pump over single? Or have you not had to use it much if Rufus doesn’t take a bottle?
He might like a b.box sappy cup. The one with the straw. They are really great for breastfeed babies 💕 that's what my son used and he wouldn't take a bottle either
Great video Hannah! I am having the same struggles with my 5 1/2 month old when it comes to taking the bottle. Saw a health visitor this morning, she suggested feeding her breastmilk from a cup. Apparently it’s a common practice used with prem babies in hospital. Going to give that a try tonight. I currently have a bottle graveyard drawer with all kinds of different brands of bottles that my little one refuses to take! Finding it very frustrating as like you say it would be nice to have a little bit more freedom especially almost 6 months in. New ground for me too, my first took a bottle no problems at all! Good luck with it and let me know if you come across a miracle solution! Xx
My little boy refused a bottle from 12 weeks having taken a few before then. Once he was over 4 months we switched to using a sippy cup with more success but he’s never been keen on breastmilk from anywhere but the source - will drink cows milk from anything though! I gave up trying in the end. I have often seen cup feeding and paced bottle feeding advised though- the idea being that it’s not the bottle that matters it’s how you feed with it.
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing and being so open. Also with your continued breastfeeding in current videos. Any chance you can do an update? Introducing food and combining with breastfeeding and or formula? Plans to continue? Etc. Thanks ☺️
My daughter was and still is very attached to the breast milk and I know your struggles.. I think I spend a lot of time in bed the first 9-10 months because she slept only on me after a feed. She did not take a pacifier or a bottle, for us the only thing that worked was drinking from a cup - very slowly and gently and with very small amounts at first. At around 7-8 months I stopped pumping because she would get sad if she got breast milk and I was not there...
Have you tried the Lansinoh bottle teats? They're shaped like a nipple so are more tempting for breastfed babies, and I think they will send some for you to try out if you ask them. Great video, and totally share your pain with the bedtime feed! 23 months in and I'm yet to feel I can have an evening out without causing upset x
I nursed both my children and it was painful for me way longer than most, but we got through it (both kids had a posterior tongue tie that was clipped within days or their birth). I never really gave my kids a bottle, because I hated pumping and formula never really crossed my mind. We got married when our son was 9 months old, and I pumped every night for weeks and weeks to build up a stash, but because I had only given him a bottle a few times before, it was a disaster (the bottle feeding was a disaster, not the wedding!). There's a picture of me somewhere nursing him in my wedding dress! I've heard that it's sometimes good to get another person to try and bottle feed the baby, and mum should even be in a another room. Perhaps you could try getting him used to a bottle by having your husband or anther person feed him while you are showering or otherwise occupied. Good luck!
I've been breastfeeding my son who is now 4 months old. I told myself before he was born "lets give it ago and see what happens" and luckily we've both taken to it really well. We tried introducing a bottle when he was 10 weeks. As I was going back to work when he was 13 weeks. My husband tried to give him a bottle first and he screamed the house down. He kept trying for a couple of days and we were all so stressed out. I thought to myself, bubba see's me as food. Why don't I try giving him a bottle. With lots of encouragement from me he drank and then realised it was breast milk he started gulping it down. Half way though the bottle I gave bubba to hubby and he finished the feed off. I know my experience won't work for everyone but it might work for someone. Xxx
A company called Minbie advertises on my Facebook a lot. They offer teets that are much more similar to breast feeding for babies refusing the bottle - may be worth a try!
Thanks for doing this video. I am really gutted I wasn't successfull in breastfeeding my son and am expecting again. Glad to know it can be totally different second time round :) xx
I agree that midwife support makes all the difference! My first baby is now 10 weeks and breastfeeding is a breeze! I love it! One midwife gave me the life saving tip of tummy to mummy and knees to nose to help with positioning as I really struggled to hold him properly and the pain was shocking! I wish I had some tips for you for bottles! Oli has been taking bottles of expressed milk a few times a week since he was born because I wanted my partner to feed and bond too, so he’s not fussy at all! He absolutely hates dummies though 😂
I loved this video! I've been curious how the breastfeeding was going for you with roo, i remember when you struggled with Grayson and I felt so bad. I know how it feels, I've breastfed exclusively both my boys. My first was so incredibly painful in the beginning. I was getting a lot of mixed information from my lactation counselors and I think I was just unsure of myself and didn't feel relaxed. But after those first few weeks we found our place and it was smooth sailing until I weaned him at 1. And he was ready. He loved cows milk and gladly took that and a binkie! Then my second boy was born with a tongue tie and he actually preferred a bottle. It set us way back and I was crushed because I so badly didn't want to give up nursing, but again after lots of tears we made it through and I successfully nursed him! Although with this little guy it took me 2 and a half years to wean him!!! Not expected at all. But he refused a binkie and wouldn't bottle feed regardless of what was inside. It was emotionally hard on me at times to be there for him 24/7 during those years. I so badly needed a break from being on call around the clock and I also suffered postpartum depression with him. My best advice to you on that is pick one feeding where you think he will take a bottle (like after bath) and just stick with it everyday. Make it a routine and eventually he might give in and you have at least a little gap in your day where you can sit to yourself, or go out to dinner. It's just nice to know you have the option. But i loved nursing, and of course now I miss it so much. My boys are both healthy and happy and I feel with both we have always had a very close bond. Congratulations to you Hannah for being able to nurse this time around and for bringing another beautiful boy into this world. ❤
I had a nightmare getting my son to take a bottle we eventually got him to take the nuk latex teat (same with dummy the latex one was the only option! ) also if you are giving milk that has been frozen/stored in the fridge check how it smells and if it smells sour or soapy read up on high lipase x
also Rufus seems like my son Frank from the lying in bed to get him to sleep to not taking a bottle. we had the most success with the Nuk bottle with a latex teat. Minchin latch are also supposed to be amazing for bottle refused also sneaking the bottle to him from behind helped too. if all else fails a doidy cup is a good bet. just keep going with the gentle parenting I co slept with my son until he was 16 months then he went into a single bed with a bed guard as he wouldn't sleep in a cot and he loves his bed.
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i am not married. not pregnant. do not have any children. but still watching and enjoying the video 😂 ❤❤
I'm pregnant and love this video!!! Used to watch them before I was pregnant XD
Same lol
I’m only 18 but seriously, I want to be like you when I’m a Mum. I know you wouldn’t agree with this because you are a very humble person but you are such a perfect mum to little Grayson and Roo xx I’ve learnt so much about adult life off of your family ❤️ thank you Hannah x
It bothers me when people say it shouldn’t hurt because it DOES hurt for the first couple weeks! Everyone I have listened to or talked to has had a similar experience where it takes time for your nipples to toughen up. I had that experience too. Breastfeeding isn’t easy at first! I wish it would be talked about that it takes time and lots of patience and I think more women wouldn’t feel so alone and frustrated. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Kirky Yes! It was hands-down the hardest thing I’ve ever done. BUT, it was also the most rewarding and amazing thing ever. SO hard. So painful but so worth it.
I so agree! If everyone says it should not hurt, you think you're doing something wrong. But I wasn't. It only took a few weeks and then everything went fine!
Kirky totally agree its not easy u definitely have to push through the pain.
I'm pregnant at the moment and I'm planning on breastfeeding. Just hoping I can!
Actually for me it was THAT easy. I'm not saying that to be mean and to tell all of you super-mums that you did anything wrong. I just want people (new first-time mums especially) that for some of us it really is super easy.
Up until my first son was born I wasn't even sure if I wanted to breastfeed, because the thought of someone sucking on my nipple and liquid coming out kind of grossed me out. But I was willing to give it a try, just because it's so much cheaper than formula. And because it came so easy to us I just kept going and nursed him for a full year. Same with my second boy.
I guess some of us are just genetically blessed in that area. Some mums don't get stretchmarks, others get that pregnancy glow and the full hair and my mum-superpower is breastfeeding :D
For any new mum: There IS hope. There IS a possibility that it will not ruin your nipples and cause you weeks of initial pain.
But MAKE SURE your baby latches on properly, because a wrong latch WILL kill your nipples in no time.
Hi Hannah, I’m a student midwife and have seen the Medela Calma bottle recommended to women who want to continue breastfeeding because babies still have to suck and ‘work’ for the milk, whereas a lot of bottles leak milk when tipped upside down (hope that makes sense)! They’re a little bit pricier but worth it if it helps you continue breastfeeding for however long you wish to 😊 love that you revisited this topic second time round, good luck with trying to find a bottle you get along with! Xx
I think support makes a huge difference. I have found the only way my little niece will take a bottle is if she is facing away and has no distractions. The ready made formula also seems to help rather than using the powder.
I’m so happy for you that breastfeeding is going well, it’s so lovely to hear a positive story. x
Great info Hannah! I struggled with my first daughter but found it so much easier the second time around. It’s so wonderful when women support women and share their stories.
thank you. I love your channel After losing my pregnancy, I was very depressed and the only thing that got me out of that state of depression, was to start making baby accessories with my own hands, it made me feel more connected to my son, wherever he is.
I am currently breastfeeding my 4 week old and it has been a real rollercoaster. My baby has a slight tongue tie so getting him to latch (especially on my one inverted nipple) has been tricky. We are now almost getting to a point where it is "natural" but this concept that it easy is ludicrous. It has been really hard work! More needs to be done to support women in doing it (if they so choose!) and speaking about the struggles so that mums don't feel so alone (during an already overwhelming stage of their lives). Well done for achieving 5 months and thanks for sharing your story.x
Natalie Joelle if you’re still sore try aloe Vera gelly my sister in law got me some. I kept it in the fridge and the first time I put that on my nipples... omg! It was the best relief! It cools, soothes and helps heal.
Hannah, you look really happy! It is so cool that you don't judge either way. Many people seem very quick to judge, without knowing the full story. As females, we should be supporting each other and showing kindness and solidarity. From all the comments it looks as though vidoes like this, open up a community of advice, support and sharing of experiences. It gives you that feeling of other people have felt the same way, or have been there before.
Be proud of yourself!!! ♡
You are SO beautiful. I love how you always look super natural and fresh even though I’m sure you’re knackered working full time as well as having two kids, running a business...everything! I have no kids and no job and I’m a hot mess. You have inspired me to make an effort on skincare 😋
Had a very similar bf experience to you Hannah with my 1st son. This time around I pushed past the initial problems feeding & can't believe we're now 10 months into our bf journey. One of the best things i've ever done xx
I am 5 days postpartum with a tongue tied baby and really struggling... videos like this are keeping me going. Thank you so much
Every baby is most definitely different. You’re correct about “fed is best”. I breastfed my oldest for nearly a year and a half. Right around the 5 month mark I was doing what you are and trying to find a way to get a break should I need or want one. The only way she would take a bottle was with formula. Much to my chagrin as I pumped like hell and had frozen more
Milk than I ever needed as she wouldn’t take a bottle of breast milk. I broke down and gave her formula in a bottle out of necessity once and she took it with no problems. Tried the breast milk bottle shortly after and it was a no-go. Her doctor said that some babies will only take breast milk from a boob, but because formula obviously tastes different, they associate the bottle with the formula and are fine with that. Luckily, after about a month or two she began taking breast milk in a bottle as well. My youngest?? She doesnt care where her breast milk comes from as long as it’s breast milk. She refuses formula up to this point, she’s seven months. But I do keep trying to sneak in the odd bottle of formula now and then just to see. Thank god for that surplus of pumped milk. You’re doing great! The difference in you now and when you had Grayson is massive. You seem happier and more content and confident. Proud of you and the relationships your building with those beautiful boys.
Breast feeding used to make my toes curl with pain - then I used nipple shields! OMG they saved the day! Let my nipples heal and let me continue breast feeding! Highly recommend!
Karen Corscadden yes I completely agree! The problem I had was I have flat nipples and he wouldn't latch on properly, nipple shields helped sooo much!
Thanks for this, I'm going to look into this :)
I had the same experience with my first child and I’m now pregnant again. I loved hearing your experience and it gives me hope that I can have a better experience with this new baby
I absolutely loved breastfeeding Jack! I struggled at the start too but we managed 16 months! It's amazing that we can keep our babies alive from us! Xx
Hi Hanna!
First of all let me just say I love your videos!
I’m a new mom and also breastfeeding my baby boy and the beginning was so hard.
Made it through and I’ve been breastfeeding for almost 3 months.
It really is the best feeling in the world.
Lots of love from Israel ♥️
100% agree with the tip of giving you're nipples a break in the first two weeks. I used to cry sometimes feeding my son at the beginning because it was so painful but when the midwife said just pump and give him a bottle if its too much it made such a difference and we finally got through it. Also I would say another tip for the situation you're finding yourself in now...for other mums as its probably a bit late now :) ... Even though I didnt like to give him a bottle as I hated pumping and just found it messed up my rhythm (if that makes sense) we decided to let his dad give him 1 bottle a day, or every other day, just to keep him used to a bottle if I did need some time off and also to let his dad have that bonding time. It really helped make things that much easier when we decided it was time to switch over.
I'm pregnant and planning on breastfeeding, I quite like the idea of pumping and letting daddy feed once a day.
Totally agree with giving them a bottle early on, I really think it works! X
Heather Grundy it definitely worked well for us. Wish u the best of luck with everything and whatever you decide to do!
We gave both of our kids a bottle once a day from the very beginning and it was the best thing I ever did. It started off being expressed milk but when it got to the point where I couldn’t express the amount they needed then I just expressed what I could and topped up with formula. It was so great to have the freedom if I needed it.
So glad to hear your experience. I’m due with baby #2 in 2 months. I had a similar experience with my first. Basically he ruined my nipples! I ended up pumping/feeding until he was 14 months. It was hard but I was stubborn! I am hopeful that this time around this one will be easier on me and like you said I don’t stress out as much!
Well done Hannah 🌟 You're doing an amazing job!! I've just finished breastfeeding after 4 years (2 with my son followed by 2 with my daughter) and have loved every minute of it despite it sometimes being painful and often very hard work... Both my children have refused bottles & formula so the responsibility has always fallen on me but looking back on it all now I wouldn't change a thing xx
Your Grayson breastfeeding journey is EXACTLY what I went through. Was so difficult but you're absolutely right, fed is best. And eventually the guilt left me when I bonded beautifully with my daughter when the stress of feeding left us. Good for you with your breastfeeding this time around. I'm due my next baby next month and will try breastfeeding, BUT if it doesn't work out I know bottle fed is fine
Congratulations for getting to 5 months! 💕 at this point you don't have to use a bottle. You can offer the milk in a sippy cup. Also he most likely won't take it from you or even if you're home. Babies are clever! They know when mummy is around. Once he's a little better at solids you might even find that if you need to pop out for a few hours he'll be just fine with food and will wait for you to get back ❤
So glad it’s gone easier for you this time and you had better support! When my daughter was born they gave her to me and I noticed right away that she had a tongue tie, the nurses gave me the strangest look but the doctor was able to clip it right away. We had our struggles for sure but I’m so glad we didn’t have a tongue tie to contend with. Thanks for sharing your perspective ❤️
So Helpful! I’m due with my first little one this June and been really worried about breast feeding! So thank you for this 💕🤰
I'm due with my first in August this year! :)
I loved hearing about your experience! Two tips I learned from some breastfeeding books on getting him to take a bottle is 1. Make sure he gets good and hungry first and 2. You can’t be anywhere near him, assign the bottle feeding to someone else like your hubby. “Breastfeeding for Dummies” was a great resource for me and two books by La Leche League “The Womanly Art or Breastfeeding” And “Sweet Sleep”, all can be found on amazon and all have great tricks and tips on breastfeeding, weaning, and getting babies to take a bottle. Hope that helps! Thanks for making this video!
Thus proving - Mum always knows best.... Well done Hannah in making this video. The information & support to other new mums, cannot be measured..
So glad breast feeding is going well. Was wondering if you were going to mention whether your breast implants affected/had an impact on feeding at all, as sometimes this can be the case.
This is such a fab video, thank you! I really struggled with breastfeeding my son who is now 9 months. He was also tongue tied and it wasn’t found until 6 weeks either. I think we introduced a bottle at about 8 weeks after having his tie cut and at first I’d express like you to give my nipples a rest and then gradually introduced a bottle of formula once a day and then twice a day. The guilt is awful so I can totally relate!! I think by 6 weeks they’re already set in their ways of how they want to latch so trying to change that was really hard. I stopped breastfeeding at 5 months with just one morning feed a day. I’m really hoping that if we have another baby it will be a much more positive experience just as you have found! The tips and advice you have given are brilliant! A few of my friends exclusively breastfeed their babies and are really struggling to get them onto bottles too (also 9 months). I do think introducing the bottle early on makes a massive difference even if it’s just doing one or two expressed bottles a week. Sorry I’m no help with getting Rufus to take a bottle but I’m sure you will find a way, just stick at it! Every Mum needs time out even if it’s to go have a bath without worrying about having to hurry!! Well done on getting so far with breastfeeding this time, it’s amazing! X
The more videos or experiences of breastfeeding I hear, the more I realize how lucky I was with my two boys. They both were breastfeeding pros within the first minutes of being born, never cracked or painful nipples, always enough milk to feed half of the neighbourhood's babies etc etc. And I don't even love to breastfeed, but it comes so easily to me.
I'm not writing this to brag (because, really, it's not like I had any control over this) I just want to leave it here to show any new mommas that there are also very, very positive breastfeeding experiences, that don't begin with a painful phase of sore nipples. For some mums it really CAN be super easy. So there's hope if you want to breastfeed your baby ;)
I swapped one feed a day for a bottle. It took my daughter about 6 weeks to get used to it. I used to think "why am I bothering? I might as well feed her myself rather than wasting over a hour trying to give a bottle" but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did as it did give me more freedom when other people were looking after her etc.
I had exactly the same with my first, bleeding cracked nipples excruciating pain, in tears every time I fed him. I was stressed Lucien was stressed this was all despite him having his tongue tie snipped at day 3 or 4! I ended up stopping at 3.5 months & switching to formula. I breastfed for 7.5 months with my second & 20 months with my 3rd! It does get easier with each baby.
My two would never take a bottle, it was quite difficult but once they were both having plenty of solid food, so maybe around a year, they would only feed first thing in the morning then last thing at night (and overnight sometimes!). This meant it was loads easier to leave them during the day. I ended up breastfeeding them both until around 18 Months. You’re doing great 🙂 x
Coincidence the breast feeding pillow Is called Widgey?! 😂🐈 xx
I watched this video on the early grueling days of breastfeeding. It made me feel better as only then I realised I was giving myself too much pressure. I have made my own bf story video in case a fellow mum feels the same at the moment and is needing that extra push. 💪🏻🤱🏻Thanks Hannah! Lots of love from Newcastle. ❤️
Midwife and breastfeeding support is important, but it needs to be said that sometimes even with all the support in the world, it still may not work (for a number of reasons ie insufficient milk production, allergies etc). It's not always about incorrect latch and related issues. Many people struggle in the beginning and then support helps them to successfully breastfeed. Then those people often assume that because that helped them, and they've "been through it too", that it will get better for everyone else who does the same. Support is only a small part of the equation
I think breastfeeding is very personal in every single way for every single person. You found it painful and some people are saying it always is but I know first hand it isn't. I never had any problems whatsoever with my first but then with my second I had a few issues but painful, no. I know when I tried to wean my daughter she wouldn't have a bottle from me but when I sat her in her chair away from me, she took it! Worth a try. I don't think anyone should feel guilt about having managed it or not, for some it's clearly much easier just the same as being in labour, some breeze through and then others not so much. I think you've done a fabulous job persevering after what you've been through, I think I may have given up.
Felt totally guilty switching my boy to combination feeding. He had tongue tie (corrected after a few weeks, which was too late!) and it was pure agony, now I just pump like mad and still have to top up with formula. I definitely feel like I bonded less with him like you explained. I wish more people would discuss the emotional problems when you can’t breastfeed (or it doesn’t go well) rather than just saying “try harder” - yes, I could’ve tried harder, I also could’ve been hospitalised for PND, which is better?! I’m so glad you had better luck with Rufus, I hope if I ever have another I’ll have better success too!
Hi Hannah, I'm so pleased your breastfeeding experience has been better. I had many of the same problems of painful feeds when my daughter was born. My daughter is 14 months and has refused a bottle and dummy and we never conquered it 🙈 however some tips my friends and midwives suggested was having my other half give it. Wait until he's really hungry and try stef feeding him? And you leave the room. He knows you've 'got the goods' 😂 so very likely to refuse with you around or in sight. Saying that nothing worked for us and just ended up wasting milk and stressing, so at 14 months she's still never taken a bottle! She happily drinks water from a sippy cup but has never had any form of milk from a bottle 🤷🏻♀️ good luck 😘 xxx
Please share how you are able to put Rufus down for naps! My boy is also 5 months old, and I breastfeed him to sleep for all of his naps, but as soon as I put him down he cries. It’s one of those really sad heartbreaking cries too!
Have you tried cup feeding? Some mothers cup feed their breastfed babies for the break feeds rather than give them a bottle, Rufus might be more open to that.
Love you're video Hannah !! This is very helpful for when i will have kids one day So Thank you !!💛 Hope you have an Amazing day 💗
I think it's so important to have these conversations. I had trouble at first and had to combi-feed, and felt so guilty, and I'll never forget, when I was crying to my midwife in the first week, her saying to me, "Is your baby being fed? As you were then!" I breastfed until 7 months (and then the teeth came in!!!) and I let my milk dry out, and she's 14 months now and I still think to myself, why didn't I pump? And I miss it so much some days. There's SO much that we feel guilty about and it's so easy to forget that the most important things are: happy baby, happy mummy and happy nipples!
I am currently formula feeding my 5 month old, but I have spoken to a few mums that are trying to introduce bottles and they've tried a brand called Minbie. Apparently the nipple of the bottle is very similar to the breast - worth a shot! Amazing work breastfeeding for 5 months, you should be really proud of yourself!!
Also,.I never felt the need for a breastfeeding pillow..It never hurt or bugged me to hold her while nursing. Am I the only one ever?
Thankyou so much for this video. I had a similar experience with my first son being that he were tongue tied and feeding him was incredibly painful also the lack of support and nobody ever checking his latch etc we ended up formula feeding. I’m 35 weeks pregnant with my second now and praying so hard for a different experience as like you the momma guilt weighs heavy on my heart ❤️
Thanks for this video Hannah! I’m due with number 2 in a few weeks and I really struggled with breast feeding with my first. I really want to have a successful feeding journey this time around! I’m armed with more information this time and I’ll definitely pick up a feeding pillow. Thanks for the tips!
Thank you for these tips! On week 31 now and keeping your tips in mind! ;) Ps. your video quality is amazing, what camera are you using?
Well done Hannah! I had very similar issues with my first son Jack as you did with Grayson. Same thing, noone noticed a tongue tie until weeks later, so painful, always hungry, always asleep on the boob. First glug of formula was such an eye opener as to how hungry he was. It was very very stressful, but I'm pleased to report we are still breastfeeding now 13 months on! So glad to hear it's going so well with Rufus. Amazing! You're doing brilliantly and such good tips! Wish I had known all of this before breastfeeding too x
Thanks for this Hannah!! Really helpful - I’m due my second 🌈 baby in August and planning on breastfeeding him/her. I didn’t breastfeed my first son due to complications post delivery of him so I would really like to have a go this time around!! Really helpful and I’ll be purchasing everything you have recommended. Thanks, Anna xx
Hi Hannah, i totally feel i can relate to what you said because coincidentally i too currently have a 4 years old son and a 5 months old baby! I also had problems breastfeeding my first son but is breastfeeding my second son now. Let's cheers to all breastfeeding mum out there :)
I’m 5 weeks away from my due date and this was so helpful! Thank you Hannah x
Hello Hanna , thank you so much for uploading this video. My first baby is 6 months and I am still breastfeeding , people have told me that it will get easier with time . Yes I got used to it , but my baby has to bring some challenges for me every now and then . Now fo instance, he would get super distracted if someone is around or if there is music playing or sounds. I love breastfeeding and I am thinking to continue, but I think I pressured myself a lot .
Hi Hannah! Thank you for your amazing video!! I too had an amazing breastfeeding midwife that came to my house at day 4 of my breast feeding journey (I live in Cardiff) had I not been offered that support I would have felt like I was doing it all wrong as had the initial pain that I don’t think they tell you about.
My daughter (nearly 5 months old) didn’t like the dummy however I ended up buying a ‘NUK’ one and it’s shaped differently, not sure if you have tried this one but it helped for her sleeping at night and she goes down on her own at 21:30. We use this for day time naps too.
I am in love with breastfeeding too and don’t want to stop! The only downside is the freedom. I had a few night outs over Christmas and my daughter took the bottle but apart from that I’m happy not going out too regularly! She doesn’t particularly like the bottle and my partner has to struggle through.. he turns the tele on to distract her and she sits in the feeding pillow so she is upright, we use the Minbie (she didn’t take mam ones!) Not sure if any of what we do will help you :)
Thank you again for the informative video! xxxx
Good information. Thanks. Even though I am passed the child bearing years, it is still fascinating to me. I had a midwife and a breast consultant program, La Leche available to me in Philadelphia, PA even back in the 70's when I had my daughter.
Try the medela calma teat, I have a 5month old and breastfeed and express. I feed my little one with the calma teat and switch between breast and expressed in a bottle with no problems now. I introduced her to the teat early on so she wouldn't refuse it as she was older. I only learnt this as my eldest daughter 3, would not take any bottles xx well done x
Great vid, hopefully it really helps some mums out there to push through the initial issues with breastfeeding! I too had to give my baby bottle for 2 weeks when I found out she had a dairy allergy and she wouldn’t feed off me because it gave her pain. However, your current issues sound like they can be solved once Rufus learns to self-settle. Have you tried any sleep training or self settling techniques? Works great on my EBF 4 month old.
Hey Hannah, I’m still breastfeeding my little boy at one years old but we had every issue under the sun when it came to breastfeeding in the beginning. My little boy didn’t pick up with his weight and kept dropping so I had to supplement but we got there in the end. When breastfeeding got food I stopped with the bottles and then when I tried to introduce it again it was a bit of a nightmare because like Rufus, he knew the difference. What I found really helped for me was keeping the number 1 teat. He still uses the number one teat because it’s the slowest flow of milk so more like the breast. I would start by breastfeeding especially at night and then once he was drowsy enough quickly stick the bottle in and after a few goes he would just carry on with the bottle. I even kept the bottle stuffed down my bra for a few minutes before hand so it smelt like me or you can even keep the teat in your bra for a little while so it kind of tastes like the breast too. Also when he refused the bottle outright I found that if I wasn’t the one giving the bottle he would take to it better. Let stef do a feed while you take a bath or something away from you so he doesn’t know mummy is nearby and so you can’t the screams if there are any. And if all else fails know that you’re an amazing mum doing an amazing job for your little boy and as you said. Your body is sustaining his, as tiring as it can be you have a job that nobody else can replace. Once my little boy started taking bottles from my husband I always felt a pang of sadness that he wasn’t solely reliant on me anymore. Hope that helped even just a little xxx
I’m so glad i’ve watched this, i stopped bf’ing at 3 months for numerous reasons but cannot wait to bf my next baby whenever that may be!x
Lovely video. My little breastfed girl wouldn't take a bottle either. The only thing she would take was the Nuk First Choice cup Xx
My sister is breast feeding my niece and she only takes a bottle if they are the closer to nature Tommee tippee ones and if the milk of hipp organic because it is the closest taste to breast milks so maybe try that with Rufus. She also doesn’t take it for her mum only for me because I obviously don’t smell like breast milk lol xx
Well done with your breastfeeding journey! Our babies are the same, won't take a dummy or the bottle. But just keep persevering! He will take it eventually. Another option would be 'cupfeeding'. In the Philippines, they promote this as an alternative to breastfeeding instead of using the bottle as there's no risk of nipple confusion. It does take practice and patience. There are videos as well as to how it's done :)
Lovely honest video. My (now 9 month old) baby wouldn’t take a bottle. I waited til 6 months then put water in the bottle at mealtimes til he got used to it, then snuck in a bottle of milk at feed time after about a week. And yes, to anyone who wants to slate me, he does still have a bottle (but now has his water in a sippy cup) but honestly, who wants to sit in the dark at bedtime trying to get a baby to drink neatly from a cup???
I've waited for this video for sooooo long! Thank you for sharing your story :) love you!
Which breastfeeding bras do you recommend? I am 39 weeks pregnant and looking into getting my bras fitted soon 😊
As much as the stretchy bras are great for lounging around the house and bed I found that they just didn’t have enough support if I wanted to go out or even sometimes if I was in the house and had visitors. But you’re so right don’t get bras fitted, I just bought some super cheap ones from Amazon and then got by until my boobs had settled down!
I love the mothercare sleep bras and the jojo maman Bebe stretchy/sleep bras x
Love the fact that you're posting videos again! PS: Don't like the lighting tho, seems like an ad on TV
I'm currently breastfeeding with my second he is 3 months and I am fully enjoying it , not had any issues what so ever apart from posteriors tongue tie at the beginning. I tried breastfeeding with my first and had multiple issues sore nipples babies weight was going down and up but not as she should be and it was quite painful every feed and I just gave in and turned to the bottle. I am in a lovely breastfeeding support group on face book "breastfeeding together" and we all give each other advise and tips when we have any issues or problems. I love the bond feeding my baby and I am just amazed that l have helped my baby grow. It is much easier going out because your milk supply is right for the baby there and then, I have also saved a lot of penny's . I am all for fed is best as I have done both we all know what's best for our babies 😊
Thank you for making this video, it's wonderful and the advice is priceless!!
Well done Hannah! My little boy is 10 Months Old and won’t take a dummy or a bottle either! It is hard at times because I feel like I don’t get a break but on the whole I love breastfeeding! Louie also will only fall asleep for me at bedtime so it does confine you to the house quite a bit but I love the fact that he just wants his mumma. I tried so many different brands of bottles and so many different people tried to give him a bottle both with and without me in the vicinity and he point blank refuses! A last resort was giving him formula through a syringe! Haha! Eventually I gave up on bottles and went straight to a sippy cup and that works... but he refuses formula so he just has a little drop of squash in some cool boiled water in his sippy cup which he loves but he’s still mainly breastfed. So glad you’ve had a positive experience this time around. I’ve followed you for years so it’s lovely to see you so happy and content. Lots of love, Kayley xx
Hi Hannah! I love your videos. I brought one of your prints a while ago and got the pink flowery makeup bag for Christmas. I honestly love them both so much!
My son is tongue tied as well and it was so so painful at first 💔 totally feel your pain xx
Love the video! However very frustrating for me that you kept saying Breast feeding v bottle feeding when you were referring to formula feeding!
My baby was born with cleft lip and palate so no suction therefore I BREAST FED him by expressing and placing it in a specialist bottle but I would never say I bottle fed him because I’m proud that I Breast fed him even if it was through expression. He switched to formula at 4 months and then I said he was formula fed.
Breast feeding happens in lots of ways via the breast, via expression, via an SNS kit, via donation it isn’t defined by only coming from breast.
Very intresting, thank you. Our girl (3.5months) is breastfed and the initial pain wasen't that bad..I did lots of prevention, maybe thats why. And my nipples were braless for 10 years prior so they might be tougher from that. She also took the Avent (glass) bottle immediatly whitout fussing for the occasional outing so my husband can feed her.
Everybody is only talking about Tongue ties but there is also Lip ties which is a huge problem with BF too. And reflux and colic fallows both of these
Well done for sharing I wish I’d watched something like this before my girl was born. I breastfed her for a year and I loved it but those first two weeks were a shock!! But I’ll always remember that uncontrollable rush of love every time I fed her in those early days good - old oxytocin :) she never took to bottles either so we gave up. We have another baby due this summer and interested to see if those first 2 weeks of feeding will be just as hard? I want to try to introduce a bottle a day from earlier on this time too but that’s probably easier said than done when you’re tired and pumping is a faff! X
Well done for persevering, I too had all the pain at the start and 2 bouts of mastitis (plus even now blocked milk ducts!) but it has been so worth it. I love the ease like you say when you go out not to have to worry about bottles! I’m even back at work now my baby is 10 months and carrying on expressing hidden away in the office! My dilemma now is when to stop...!! Xxx
My first refused a bottle too. I ended up just breast feeding him for the full year because I couldn’t face the battle. Second time round I just wanted to do it because I loved it. It was easier to have that mindset of just keep going until it doesn’t work for you anymore.
I actually discovered you in 2015 when I gave birth to my first son and that breastfeeding video helped me so much at the time because I formula fed 💔 I just remember watching it over and over to ease me and lessen the guilt 😞 oh the power of sharing your story I had my second in 2016 and learned so much and ended up breastfeeding him for a year ...I felt guilty (still creeps up) for not trying with my first but man so much I learned like not giving up I had a midwife the second time as well and it was so helpful anyway thanks for sharing your stories 💙 both my boys are equally healthy so all I could ever ask for haha so yes FED IS BEST.
Hi Hannah! Thank you for making this video! I can definitely relate, and also found some of your tips really helpful! I am currently breastfeeding my son and he just turned 5 weeks today. I struggled at the start too, cracked sore nipples that bled and I used to cry a lot cause I felt so guilty I couldn’t do it! I still feel like that sometimes to be honest. Felix is my first so I have been determined to try hard with breastfeeding, but I admit he also has a bottle about 30% of the time with formula when my nipples need a break! I also find those moments where we do give him formula, it gives my partner the opportunity to also feed him so he can enjoy the feeding experience too, just in a different way :)
How did you feel breastfeeding changed for you after Grayson got his tongue tie snipped? And were you scared to get it done? We just got Felix’s snipped a few days ago! I am so relived we got it done (even though I was so scared and cried whilst it happened) I haven’t noticed too much difference yet with breastfeeding, hopefully it just takes a few days to get better or something!
I am so glad to hear I am not the only one who has struggled with breastfeeding, I sometimes still think I won’t be able to make my goal of 6 months, but I keep pushing myself to do better and stay strong for my boy. But you are right about formula feeding, absolutely nothing wrong with it, as long as the child is fed and happy, that’s all that matters! (Still doesn’t help the mummy guilt though!) oh I have that cream, it’s so fantastic! I know it’s expensive and need to use sparingly but I lather my nipples in it! I feel like I have too cause I’ve had bruises on my boobs sometimes so I want to heal them as much as I can after every feed!
Hopefully Rufus will take to a bottle soon for you, I bet you would love a girly night with a few drinks without being attached to a little baby 😂😂xxx
I would love to hear your thoughts/experience with introducing a first born to a new addition - my second little boy is due in 6 weeks and any tips or advice to ease the transition would be great Xx
Hannah you must be my kinda twinning mom or something ... Beside me having two girls everything you have shared about motherhood is exactely the same over here. I made the same experiences, and I have the same emotions and feelings. Plus both of my girls are the exact same age like your boys. I find myself thinking that it could be helpful to have a bottle feed option but lets be real: they KNOW that they don't have to take it :-D Well I think, and I suppose you will agree, this whole thing with mom guilt, I had my first one exclusively to myself her first years but I can now really enjoy this whole motherhood thing with my second one. Love from Germany
My little girl is 12wks and I’m breastfeeding. The first 3wks were horrendous but like you I’m so glad I pushed through! It was the Mum guilt that speared me on! I had to give Harriet bottles for a night when she was 13 days old because she got bronchiolitis and we had to spend the night in hospital. I cried the hole night with quilt even though the choice had been taken out of my hands I still felt I’d let her down or something! Silly when all that mattered was getting fluids into her. Now though I can’t imagine having to sterilise bottles and make sure you’ve got formula etc when leaving the house! I’m trying to get Harriet to take a bottle atm so I can leave her with my husband for a few hours occasionally but she will only take it from me which completely defeats the purpose! Also I’ve found she will only take formula from the bottle, not breast milk! They are smart little cookies!! Hope you get it cracked soon!!
Random question. How did you find the medela pump, would you recommend double pump over single? Or have you not had to use it much if Rufus doesn’t take a bottle?
He might like a b.box sappy cup. The one with the straw. They are really great for breastfeed babies 💕 that's what my son used and he wouldn't take a bottle either
Loved this!! You are the sweetest thing :)
Great video Hannah! I am having the same struggles with my 5 1/2 month old when it comes to taking the bottle. Saw a health visitor this morning, she suggested feeding her breastmilk from a cup. Apparently it’s a common practice used with prem babies in hospital. Going to give that a try tonight. I currently have a bottle graveyard drawer with all kinds of different brands of bottles that my little one refuses to take! Finding it very frustrating as like you say it would be nice to have a little bit more freedom especially almost 6 months in. New ground for me too, my first took a bottle no problems at all! Good luck with it and let me know if you come across a miracle solution! Xx
My little boy refused a bottle from 12 weeks having taken a few before then. Once he was over 4 months we switched to using a sippy cup with more success but he’s never been keen on breastmilk from anywhere but the source - will drink cows milk from anything though! I gave up trying in the end. I have often seen cup feeding and paced bottle feeding advised though- the idea being that it’s not the bottle that matters it’s how you feed with it.
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing and being so open. Also with your continued breastfeeding in current videos. Any chance you can do an update? Introducing food and combining with breastfeeding and or formula? Plans to continue? Etc. Thanks ☺️
My daughter was and still is very attached to the breast milk and I know your struggles.. I think I spend a lot of time in bed the first 9-10 months because she slept only on me after a feed. She did not take a pacifier or a bottle, for us the only thing that worked was drinking from a cup - very slowly and gently and with very small amounts at first. At around 7-8 months I stopped pumping because she would get sad if she got breast milk and I was not there...
Have you tried the Lansinoh bottle teats? They're shaped like a nipple so are more tempting for breastfed babies, and I think they will send some for you to try out if you ask them.
Great video, and totally share your pain with the bedtime feed! 23 months in and I'm yet to feel I can have an evening out without causing upset x
Thanks so much for your insight and encouragement on baby feeding!!
I nursed both my children and it was painful for me way longer than most, but we got through it (both kids had a posterior tongue tie that was clipped within days or their birth). I never really gave my kids a bottle, because I hated pumping and formula never really crossed my mind. We got married when our son was 9 months old, and I pumped every night for weeks and weeks to build up a stash, but because I had only given him a bottle a few times before, it was a disaster (the bottle feeding was a disaster, not the wedding!). There's a picture of me somewhere nursing him in my wedding dress! I've heard that it's sometimes good to get another person to try and bottle feed the baby, and mum should even be in a another room. Perhaps you could try getting him used to a bottle by having your husband or anther person feed him while you are showering or otherwise occupied. Good luck!
I've been breastfeeding my son who is now 4 months old. I told myself before he was born "lets give it ago and see what happens" and luckily we've both taken to it really well.
We tried introducing a bottle when he was 10 weeks. As I was going back to work when he was 13 weeks. My husband tried to give him a bottle first and he screamed the house down. He kept trying for a couple of days and we were all so stressed out. I thought to myself, bubba see's me as food. Why don't I try giving him a bottle. With lots of encouragement from me he drank and then realised it was breast milk he started gulping it down. Half way though the bottle I gave bubba to hubby and he finished the feed off.
I know my experience won't work for everyone but it might work for someone. Xxx
A company called Minbie advertises on my Facebook a lot. They offer teets that are much more similar to breast feeding for babies refusing the bottle - may be worth a try!
Thanks for doing this video. I am really gutted I wasn't successfull in breastfeeding my son and am expecting again. Glad to know it can be totally different second time round :) xx
I agree that midwife support makes all the difference! My first baby is now 10 weeks and breastfeeding is a breeze! I love it! One midwife gave me the life saving tip of tummy to mummy and knees to nose to help with positioning as I really struggled to hold him properly and the pain was shocking! I wish I had some tips for you for bottles! Oli has been taking bottles of expressed milk a few times a week since he was born because I wanted my partner to feed and bond too, so he’s not fussy at all! He absolutely hates dummies though 😂
HelloAnnabel knees to nose? X
I want to know what you mean about knees to nose too :)
I think you might mean nipple to nose?
She meant it as in his knees in line with his nose, so I would hold him straight across my chest, sorry to be confusing haha :)
Love this video this video has inspired me. Thanks for sharing x
I loved this video! I've been curious how the breastfeeding was going for you with roo, i remember when you struggled with Grayson and I felt so bad. I know how it feels, I've breastfed exclusively both my boys. My first was so incredibly painful in the beginning. I was getting a lot of mixed information from my lactation counselors and I think I was just unsure of myself and didn't feel relaxed. But after those first few weeks we found our place and it was smooth sailing until I weaned him at 1. And he was ready. He loved cows milk and gladly took that and a binkie! Then my second boy was born with a tongue tie and he actually preferred a bottle. It set us way back and I was crushed because I so badly didn't want to give up nursing, but again after lots of tears we made it through and I successfully nursed him! Although with this little guy it took me 2 and a half years to wean him!!! Not expected at all. But he refused a binkie and wouldn't bottle feed regardless of what was inside. It was emotionally hard on me at times to be there for him 24/7 during those years. I so badly needed a break from being on call around the clock and I also suffered postpartum depression with him. My best advice to you on that is pick one feeding where you think he will take a bottle (like after bath) and just stick with it everyday. Make it a routine and eventually he might give in and you have at least a little gap in your day where you can sit to yourself, or go out to dinner. It's just nice to know you have the option. But i loved nursing, and of course now I miss it so much. My boys are both healthy and happy and I feel with both we have always had a very close bond. Congratulations to you Hannah for being able to nurse this time around and for bringing another beautiful boy into this world. ❤
What if you tried nipple shields and then try a bottle? As the nipple shields are a similar feel to the bottle teats?
I had a nightmare getting my son to take a bottle we eventually got him to take the nuk latex teat (same with dummy the latex one was the only option! ) also if you are giving milk that has been frozen/stored in the fridge check how it smells and if it smells sour or soapy read up on high lipase x
Have you tried cup feeding with him Hannah. I'm EBF my 3 month old daughter and have heard a lot about the Doidy cup which I'm going to try. X
also Rufus seems like my son Frank from the lying in bed to get him to sleep to not taking a bottle. we had the most success with the Nuk bottle with a latex teat. Minchin latch are also supposed to be amazing for bottle refused also sneaking the bottle to him from behind helped too. if all else fails a doidy cup is a good bet. just keep going with the gentle parenting I co slept with my son until he was 16 months then he went into a single bed with a bed guard as he wouldn't sleep in a cot and he loves his bed.