Hi all.
First let me say this is very early days for us, I know with persistence we will most likely have a break through.
My boy is 4 days old and just won't attach. He has BF a total of 4 times, all in hospital and after alot of boob slinging by the midwives.
I've been shown every trick and position nothing works.
He curls his tongue up in the way but even when I get it all in he won't latch. Yet he shows every sign of wanting to BF.

He got all my colostrum as I was very good at hand expressing and syringe feeding. Luckily my milk came in no probs and I could start using a pump on day 3. My supply is good and gets bigger every day to match his increasing hunger.

He loves to suck on my finger or a dummy so today I tried a nipple shield as I thought it might be easier to get up the back of his mouth.
First try he latched but didn't suck enough, just went to sleep. Still I considered it a successful start.
But from then he wouldn't take it, it just falls off and gets in the way as he fusses.

So tonight I decided to try the bottle direct rather than the ebm in a syringe as he now has alot more. And he loved it. Drank all 60mls I had. I have very mixed feelings about it, my heart felt so much relief to see him guzzle down some tucker, I can go back to bed knowing he isn't hungry. But it breaks a little because it makes me think we may end up doing full time ebm.

Every feed our routine is try both sides from the breast. Then the ebm when it is to the point where I just need him fed. Then I have to express for the next time. It all takes a couple of hours and is so draining.

I am going to phone the LC and try to get in today or tomoz.
At the moment we are living in a hotel in Brissy as we couldn't have bub in the country town where we live. I have faith when we get home and settle in things may change for us. And luckily there is good BFing support in the town where we live.

This was a little long winded but I guess I'm looking to vent and get some reassurance it's ok to bottle feed ebm for now. I don't understand why the hosiptal makes you leave with a problem and a bag full of guilt. They are so BF only. Is emb not considered BFing? Is it not the 2nd best option?
If the prob was pain or supply I'd be feeding through it and doin my best but how can I persist at feeding a child from the breast if he just won't latch?