Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my situation and hopefully gain some advice.

I have just had my first baby, Ari, 3 wks and 3 days ago. in this turbulent time I have had problems with Ari's attachment. Many lactation consultants have assisted me with the latching and positioning and all agree this is correct, however it still hurt and my nipple would be flattened! this lead to me suffering cracked, bruised, bleeding nipples and thus a bout of mastitis early on. I resorted to using nipple shields as I was in so much pain with my feeds. shortly after the first lot of mastitis, whereby I thought I had Dracula for a baby at one of our nights feeds as all that was coming out was blood!, I rushed out and bought some formula to comp him whilst I recovered. soon after Ari began refusing the breast. there could be a number of reasons for this, I had a fairly traumatic birth and have not been emotionally sound, Ari was 10.1 pounds and is a hungry boy and the bottle was nice and easy also he has a little tongue tie which I?m told may make things difficult.
I attempted many times to have him continue feeding but it appears that he is more stubborn than I! so I bought myself a breast pump to express. I was (admittedly) only expressing when my breasts felt heavy, this may have only been 3 times in a day as Ari is mainly having formula for every feed. which brings me up to now, on my second course of antibiotics for Mastitis. this second bout has been not as painful in the breast but horrible with fever and achiness. the infection has both times been in my right breast and for the past 2 days I have been expressing out of one particular duct a long sticky thread (obviously what is blocking it!)

my problem is that for mine and Ari's emotional well being I am not offering the breast anymore, will I continue to get mastitis with just expressing? can I avoid it? should I be using an electric pump? are there any remedies anyone knows of that may assist?

This is all so new and upsetting any advice would be so appreciated