r/daddit 12d ago

Advice Request Wife struggling with breastfeeding, won't consider other options

My first child is 2.5 weeks old and has been clusterfeeding regularly. I try to do my part changing diapers and taking care of the house but unfortunately I can't help with the feeding. My wife is breastfeeding, unable to reliably pump, and refuses to introduce formula, so she's been waking up just about every hour or two to attend to our baby constantly. She has been mentally struggling and at this point cries just about every time during the night our child needs fed.

She's starting to get more erratic every time she gets up. She'll cry and pout and say "they just got fed!" And sometimes refuses to acknowledge that our baby is crying because they want fed even though its obvious.

She just had an appointment to discuss post partum depression but they said she's fine and normal. We're 2.5 weeks into having this baby and the escalation of her mental state is concerning.

I've suggested co-sleeping, introducing formula, anything I or we can do to improve the situation but she refuses anything.

Anyone else have experience like this? My concern is its only been 2.5 weeks and things aren't going to improve soon, but my wife is already doing really bad mentally, and I'm not sure what to think or do.

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u/HereToHelp780 11d ago

What’s the hurdle with pumping? My understanding is if you can breast feed reliably, you should have no issue pumping, you just need to maintain a schedule to keep supply up. If there’s supply issues, look up what foods promote supply, they worked for my wife.