Ali. It's really not good enough is it? I don't think you should feel bad at all. You did well to function after being awake that long!
I had a similar experience - although our first feed happened within an hour or so of Js birth, later that night the mws were telling me I didn't need to feed him (I did insist and needed their help as I was flat on my back and unable to lift him) and the next day they were telling me it was my fault he was unsettled because my milk hadn't come in and "we'll take him for a while so you can rest - you don't have any milk for him". To my eternal shame I let them take him for a couple of hours. I wasn't thinking straight either after a difficult birth and heavy PPH. When they brought him back and I asked if he'd slept, they said he'd been awake and screaming/crying the whole time. I was mortified and kept him with me after that and fed him whenever he woke up which was often. The advice for me to not feed him as often could have been devastating, because of my blood loss, I actually needed all the help I could get to ensure my milk came in. I didn't even see a LC at all and only had a handful of feeds observed. They told me he had "textbook attachment" but he was pulling back regularly on my nipple (frustrated at slow let downs I think) and he managed to do a lot of damage that way. I was annoyed too. I'd done a lot of reading but you don't know what you don't know.
I have a mate who has a one week old girl - she ended up cracking it at her mw's because of all the conflicting advice she got every single shift. It's so common.
Anyway, that's a bit of a ramble, but I wanted to put my 2 cents worth in to say you're definitely not alone. Put in a complaint if it will make you feel better darl. If enough women complain, they will have to start training their staff more.
I am so sorry that so many of us had bad experiences at hospital. With all the publicity about breastfeeding being so important to start babies off on, they are letting women and babies down by not giving the correct advice to begin with.
So many of you have had such great points.
Miss E- thanks hun It took me 9months to get it out but am kind of comforted IYKWIM that I am not alone although it shouldnt happen to anyone, I just dont feel like it was my fault as much.
Kaz- that is terrible. I am so sorry you had that experience.
Shanti- I know you had a really tough time to start out with bf DD and you have done such a wonderful job to get through all that. It was great that you were so determined as that rough start could have easily made you give up had you not been. It would be great if every new mum saw a LC on day 1, just like a doctor comes round to check the baby and mum, a LC should come and check out the bf and help, explain and answer questions.
MR- It is scary to know how many women like me were given incorrect information and advice from trained hospital staff who you would think would know.
Gigi- I have been told by some people it is time to wean so I can have a life! I mean WTF kind of comment is that! I like you had just got to the stage where DD's and my breastfeeding realtionship was going great and I havent felt like my life is restricted at all!. I told them I have a great life thanks!
fourthontheway- Couldnt agree more! They are sending the wrong message and so many women like some ho have posted in this thread have then as a consequence had to go to formula.
Shell- after reading all of this I might just put in a complaint. I would like to have future children at the same hospital as apart from the breastfeeding I had a wonderful experience so it cant hurt to tell them how they could improve their care.
Raven- I really thought they would have said something since they were checking my charts why nothing was said.
Wish I could respond to everyone as you have all said such valid things and I really do thank you for sharing your experiences with me. It has taken a massive weight off my shoulders.
hun, thanks for sharing your story. It's really important that mums-to-be are aware that they need to be proactive in getting bfing help before and after birth, because unfortunately, not only is your situation common, it's the NORM!
I did the bfing class at the hospital and I had BB to educate me before birth. I was very focused on getting bfing right - it was my main concern since I was having a c/s due to placenta praevia. I didn't get skin-to-skin straight away and I was away from DD for half an hour (or more) while in recovery. DP brought her in to me as soon as I got back to my room and asked. I got her out and put her to the bb straight away. I did all the things I learned/read about, without any MW or LC there. I wasn't prepared to wait, I was hell bent on having DD on the bb within the first two hours of her birth. She bf beautifully.
A very shocked MW came in as we were bfing and told me I should have waited, but took one look at her and left me to it. They did come and pay attention to me when I bf for the next few hours, but she was taken to the nursery until early am when I could get up and walk about. (They did bring her into me when she woke up, but I really wish I hadn't been pushed out to the last c/s of the day so I couldn't just keep her with me.)
Despite our relatively good start to bfing, the one thing I really didn't like was the MW the following night. DD and I were doing really well and she 'expressed' my colostrum for me to syringe feed DD. There really wasn't any need and I don't appreciate the way I was manhandled. Even though I'd been so proactive and confident in my advice and ability to bf, I still got 'bullied' into doing something completely unnecessary and quite confronting. Next time, (if I don't get my home birth!) I'll put my foot down even harder.
i count myself 'lucky' that the midwife who attended my birth was pretty savvy with the whole b/f thang, so DD and i got off to a good start...
BUT on the 2nd night i was harangued by an over zealous LC who yelled at me because i was 'evidently' dehydrating my baby by not feeding her enough. she failed to read the notes on myself and DD that we were on a fairly strict feed schedule because DD was low birth weight and had respitory issues. she demanded then and there (waking my baby up!!) that she needed to get on the boob and not stop. ANYWAY, DD began to feed again (after only having had a full feed 10 mins prior). what resulted was that she became sooo full of milk (mine came in early) that her belly just couldnt cope (when bubbas are born their bellies are the size of a marble so imagine!). after almost 4 hours of solid feeding (and screaming from DD and tears from me) i walked out of the room hysterical with DD in my arms and searched out another midwife (i had buzzed previously only to get the LC back in the room yelling at me, and telling me not to annoy anyone and keep quiet and keep feeding). the midwife that saw me immediately saw teh agony that DD was going through and she had to be taken to SCN for 24 hours (and put on oxygen all over again). i felt like a monster having done that to my baby. up until that point i felt really cool and comfy with the b/f...after that i would experience moments of panic if DD coughed or guzzled on the boob as it brought back that horrendous night.
Ali. It's really not good enough is it? I don't think you should feel bad at all. You did well to function after being awake that long!
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I like you had just got to the stage where DD's and my breastfeeding realtionship was going great and I havent felt like my life is restricted at all!. I told them I have a great life thanks! 
why nothing was said. 
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