The Breast Feeding Support Thread

tinkerbell · 28-02-2015 10:21am

Soooky wrote: »

Just been reading this weeks Closer magazine and in an interview with the singer Kelly Clarkson she says that she breastfed her baby until she was 3 months old and that her baby slept for 12 hour stretches from 2 weeks old!!
WTF :eek:- is this even possible? Surely a 2 week old breastfed baby needs to be fed at least every 3 hours even during the night? What about the cluster feeding and growth spurts?

Surely this gives a very unrealistic view to new mamas reading it, make them feel like they are doing something wrong!

It was since her baby was 2 MONTHS, not 2 weeks! I just googled the story there - it's on People magazine's website.

FurBabyMomma · 28-02-2015 11:20am

tinkerbell wrote: »

It was since her baby was 2 MONTHS, not 2 weeks! I just googled the story there - it's on People magazine's website.

Ok phew, that makes more sense. Lucky her

madeinamerica · 28-02-2015 1:27pm

tinkerbell wrote: »

It was since her baby was 2 MONTHS, not 2 weeks! I just googled the story there - it's on People magazine's website.

Ah in fairness, a 2 month old sleeping a full night is a bit unusual too.

Sligo1 · 28-02-2015 1:37pm

2 months isn't so bad then. My LO was exclusively breastfed and was sleeping 10-11pm till 6am at 6 weeks. U fortunately tho that didn't last as long as I would have liked.

Soooky · 28-02-2015 3:08pm

tinkerbell wrote: »

It was since her baby was 2 MONTHS, not 2 weeks! I just googled the story there - it's on People magazine's website.

Jesus, I feel like contacting Closer magazine to get them to correct their typo :mad: Even at 2 months though, I think its bizarre that a breastfed baby would sleep a 12 hour stretch but hey good for them!

I definitely think it gives such an unrealistic view though - my LO didn't start sleeping 12 hours stretch until she was 1 :pac: I know if I had read that in the early days I would feel like I was doing something wrong or that there was something wrong with my baby!

I always tried to be honest - when people asked me if my baby was sleeping through the night I always said "no she wakes several times!!" but I do know others who fib and say "oh yeah she's a great sleeper". Sad that people feel they have to say that, put so much pressure on parents

Sligo1 · 28-02-2015 3:22pm

O stop! It's so annoying. Fil and mil were always going On about sleep. My SILs baby is 8 weeks and sleeping through and they are always going on about how she's such a great sleeper. And SIL was saying that she doesn't sleep well at 2 weeks as she was waking at 3 or 4am. She was bottle fed and I was thinking that's so brilliant she's Only waking once at 2 weeks old! While at the time my 8-9 month old would still sometimes wake at 3 or 4 am!

kandr10 · 28-02-2015 6:34pm

Soooky wrote: »

Jesus, I feel like contacting Closer magazine to get them to correct their typo :mad: Even at 2 months though, I think its bizarre that a breastfed baby would sleep a 12 hour stretch but hey good for them!

I definitely think it gives such an unrealistic view though - my LO didn't start sleeping 12 hours stretch until she was 1 :pac: I know if I had read that in the early days I would feel like I was doing something wrong or that there was something wrong with my baby!

I always tried to be honest - when people asked me if my baby was sleeping through the night I always said "no she wakes several times!!" but I do know others who fib and say "oh yeah she's a great sleeper". Sad that people feel they have to say that, put so much pressure on parents

To be fair though she was reporting her own experience. While it might not be the norm she can't help that that's what happened! Whether it gives people unrealistic expectations is not her fault.

Sligo1 · 28-02-2015 7:56pm

kandr10 wrote: »

To be fair though she was reporting her own experience. While it might not be the norm she can't help that that's what happened! Whether it gives people unrealistic expectations is not her fault.

This is true. But I have to say ud kinda wonder if she was telling the truth or not. Lol

cyning · 28-02-2015 8:08pm

My nipples are on fire and so bloody sore

Vasospasms are back in my left nipple, which isn't helping matters and I have two bite marks on my boobs too. Think I'm going to have to wean slightly sooner than I intended, because I literally can't hack it much more. I wanted to do until she was 15 months like her sister, but don't think I can manage another 4 months of this.

RentDayBlues · 28-02-2015 8:29pm

cyning wrote: »

My nipples are on fire and so bloody sore Vasospasms are back in my left nipple, which isn't helping matters and I have two bite marks on my boobs too. Think I'm going to have to wean slightly sooner than I intended, because I literally can't hack it much more. I wanted to do until she was 15 months like her sister, but don't think I can manage another 4 months of this.

Cyning look how far you've come, especially given all the obstacles, a year of feeding is phenomenal. Well done and don't worry about stopping before you did with your first, my second is quite quickly religating me to the sidelines, well before her sister did! She's now not really feeding at bedtime at all and I get my marching orders by her sitting up and pointing to her cot!!

You've given her a wonderful start, great job

FurBabyMomma · 03-03-2015 10:08am

Soooky wrote: »

Jesus, I feel like contacting Closer magazine to get them to correct their typo :mad: Even at 2 months though, I think its bizarre that a breastfed baby would sleep a 12 hour stretch but hey good for them!

I definitely think it gives such an unrealistic view though - my LO didn't start sleeping 12 hours stretch until she was 1 :pac: I know if I had read that in the early days I would feel like I was doing something wrong or that there was something wrong with my baby!

I always tried to be honest - when people asked me if my baby was sleeping through the night I always said "no she wakes several times!!" but I do know others who fib and say "oh yeah she's a great sleeper". Sad that people feel they have to say that, put so much pressure on parents

My lo had a couple of weeks of sleeping through but 4 month sleep regression hit and now she wakes once or twice a night. I'm always honest about it when asked and also the first to defend her from the sympathetic tuts as I genuinely think that's good for an ebf baby! And more importantly I'm prepared to do it so I'm fine with it.

73trix · 04-03-2015 10:44am

I have started to wean since last wend. Babe ways got one bottle before bed. Then I added a second for the during the night feed on Friday and yesterday (day 5) added a third. So 2 bottles by day now and one during the night. How fast will my supply drop? I bf this am. at 6am and when feeding again at 9am my lo was very fussy, kept coming off and having a little cry and I was wondering about supply. He usually feeds every 3 hrs. I didn't think it could drop that quickly. I have dropped one feed in four days. Now his teeth are really bugging him too and I've read that the sucking can irritate them more.

I'm hoping to continue with morning and evening bf feed ultimately. Starting with baby rice next week. Thanks.

Soooky · 04-03-2015 1:31pm

73trix wrote: »

I have started to wean since last wend. Babe ways got one bottle before bed. Then I added a second for the during the night feed on Friday and yesterday (day 5) added a third. So 2 bottles by day now and one during the night. How fast will my supply drop? I bf this am. at 6am and when feeding again at 9am my lo was very fussy, kept coming off and having a little cry and I was wondering about supply. He usually feeds every 3 hrs. I didn't think it could drop that quickly. I have dropped one feed in four days. Now his teeth are really bugging him too and I've read that the sucking can irritate them more.

I'm hoping to continue with morning and evening bf feed ultimately. Starting with baby rice next week. Thanks.

Hi 73trix! I think it really depends on the individual how quickly your supply adjusts - I found it to be quite a slow process but then again my LO was 14 months by the time we fully weaned and probably your little one is younger? The only real advice I can give you is to keep an eye out for any lumps/hard areas to make sure you don't develop any blocked ducts

Our bodies are very good at adjusting and baby will make sure he/she gets what they need

cbyrd · 04-03-2015 8:14pm

Hey all, just a quick update on Ailbhe, we were in the hospital with her today and we got the all clear to go on as we want. She's put on a whopping 22 ozs in the last 3 weeks! I'm only giving her 4-6 ozs of formula per day and reducing the amount so I will be pretty much feeding her myself from here on! She had no formula yesterday and was weighed at 1 pm at her 3 months check. This morning she had put on 35 grams! lol .
onwards and upwards!

cyning · 10-03-2015 8:46pm

I'm still hanging on in here: I think my nipples have turned to steel because everytime I feed her I have teeth indentations on either side of my nipple... Vaccinations next week, then 13 month vaccinations in a month and then going to wean her. Fingers crossed anyway

veggie newbie · 19-03-2015 7:03pm

I am a very happy breastfeeding mammy to a beautiful 5.5 week old girl. I know it's very early days to be thinking about routines but.... Currently she relies on my boob to fall asleep, unless we're in the car or out walking. Indoors, she won't nod off unless she's on the breast. I'd like to try establish a pattern of feed, activity, sleep rather than her ladyship relying on the boob to fall asleep. I'm worried about it becoming more difficult to break this cycle the longer we continue with the current pattern. Has anyone tried to do this and if yes, how did you break the reliance on boob=sleep? TIA.

kandr10 · 19-03-2015 8:17pm

veggie newbie wrote: »

I am a very happy breastfeeding mammy to a beautiful 5.5 week old girl. I know it's very early days to be thinking about routines but.... Currently she relies on my boob to fall asleep, unless we're in the car or out walking. Indoors, she won't nod off unless she's on the breast. I'd like to try establish a pattern of feed, activity, sleep rather than her ladyship relying on the boob to fall asleep. I'm worried about it becoming more difficult to break this cycle the longer we continue with the current pattern. Has anyone tried to do this and if yes, how did you break the reliance on boob=sleep? TIA.

Congrats on the new arrival!
I had the same experience and I think it's quite common really. I think you're nuts to be thinking about a routine now. Go with what the bany wants and you'll bd much more relaxed. What you're suggesting might not be what suits her. There's no such thing as bad habits either. When she's good and ready she'll fall asleep on her own (for my daughter that was somewhere between 9-12 months though there are nights here and there when she has to be held). congrats on such success with the breastfeeding:)

tinkerbell · 19-03-2015 9:41pm

veggie newbie wrote: »

I am a very happy breastfeeding mammy to a beautiful 5.5 week old girl. I know it's very early days to be thinking about routines but.... Currently she relies on my boob to fall asleep, unless we're in the car or out walking. Indoors, she won't nod off unless she's on the breast. I'd like to try establish a pattern of feed, activity, sleep rather than her ladyship relying on the boob to fall asleep. I'm worried about it becoming more difficult to break this cycle the longer we continue with the current pattern. Has anyone tried to do this and if yes, how did you break the reliance on boob=sleep? TIA.

Routines? Don't bother. Seriously. I wish someone had told me this beforehand but do not attempt to try and make a routine when you're breastfeeding this early. You'll only hurt your supply. For the first couple of months, I was made feel like a terrible mother because of my failure to get a routine going because friends of mine were giving me lectures on routines and "don't you let baby feed to sleep" and you need to do this and that. :rolleyes: Of course this was coming from friends who formula fed. If I knew then what I knew now, I'd have told them to STFU. Formula babies can be on routines. Breastfed babies cannot.

Going through a growth spurt, they feed more to boost your supply (what does a formula feeding parent do for a growth spurt? Just pour out some extra formula in the bottle). It's not the same. Babies don't just feed at the breast, they also find comfort from it. You may not realise yet but your baby is not always feeding when on the breast.

And breastmilk makes babies sleepy, particularly in the evening because of the hormones in the milk. Your milk is designed to help your baby sleep - don't fight it! I sure as heck don't. I figure when my baby wants to, the falling asleep independently will happen when they are ready.

I just always went with the flow and we're in a loose routine but I just follow my baby's lead. I have friends who have strict hour by hour routines so I just don't give them any specifics anymore as I couldn't be dealing with their lectures! I spent far too much energy worrying about stupid routines in the early months and it was a waste of time. So don't bother!

Oh and you're at week 5 - fantastic accomplishment! It does get easier as the weeks go on but at the moment your baby will be feeding fairly regularly. It gets easier I promise

FurBabyMomma · 19-03-2015 10:06pm

veggie newbie wrote: »

I am a very happy breastfeeding mammy to a beautiful 5.5 week old girl. I know it's very early days to be thinking about routines but.... Currently she relies on my boob to fall asleep, unless we're in the car or out walking. Indoors, she won't nod off unless she's on the breast. I'd like to try establish a pattern of feed, activity, sleep rather than her ladyship relying on the boob to fall asleep. I'm worried about it becoming more difficult to break this cycle the longer we continue with the current pattern. Has anyone tried to do this and if yes, how did you break the reliance on boob=sleep? TIA.

I echo what the other ladies have said, at this point you really need to go with the flow. I never bothered trying to establish a routine and now at 5.5 months we kind of naturally just fell into one but I still feed baby on demand. Also the only time she feeds to sleep now is at night. Hang in there, it gets easier!

Ps: Hi from another breastfeeding veggie

bobskii · 19-03-2015 10:26pm

I've done this, no routine just feeding whenever she wanted and 11 weeks in she's settling into her own little routine at night . down at 9.30 sleeping through to 6, not every night tho . We have no routine as such during the day just take everyday as it comes.

cbyrd · 20-03-2015 12:36pm

Same as above, my little one is 4 months today and still happily breastfeeding after a very tough start. She's cluster feeding in the evening from about 8 til 10 pm and then it's like someone switches her off till 3 am. She does have 1 bottle in the day, of lactose free, after coming off the high calorie stuff it was hard to get her back exclusively feeding without her weight dropping off a bit.
I stopped pumping last week, I was pumping and feeding and looking after 4 older kids.. tiring day. The one bottle in the afternoon gives me a chance to get some rest or housework done..!
I can't believe she's 4 months. It's flown by.

bobskii · 20-03-2015 1:22pm

I cannot get my lo to take a bottle . age just refuses . I've tried formula pumped milk and all manner of different bottles and teats but to no avail . She just plays with the teat in her mouth then spits the milk out .

veggie newbie · 20-03-2015 4:40pm

Thanks for the advice & well wishes folks. I'm not at all concerned about having a routine in terms of sleep/nap times, it's more the process of falling asleep that I am thinking about. I'm also thinking more long term, will it be difficult (or nigh on impossible?!) for dad to settle her if she's reliant on the breast to fall asleep? From your feedback it sounds like she might grow out if this which is reassuring. I haven't tried pumping yet but will eventually. So if (and I know it's a big IF) she takes the expressed milk from a bottle, hopefully he'll be able to get her to sleep at night. It's very early days yet so I'll keep going with things as they are now, feeding on demand & falling asleep on the breast, and lots more snuggles of course.

kandr10 · 20-03-2015 7:39pm

veggie newbie wrote: »

Thanks for the advice & well wishes folks. I'm not at all concerned about having a routine in terms of sleep/nap times, it's more the process of falling asleep that I am thinking about. I'm also thinking more long term, will it be difficult (or nigh on impossible?!) for dad to settle her if she's reliant on the breast to fall asleep? From your feedback it sounds like she might grow out if this which is reassuring. I haven't tried pumping yet but will eventually. So if (and I know it's a big IF) she takes the expressed milk from a bottle, hopefully he'll be able to get her to sleep at night. It's very early days yet so I'll keep going with things as they are now, feeding on demand & falling asleep on the breast, and lots more snuggles of course.

Yeah I lnow what you mean. You try now even if you're breastfeeding getting your partner to take her and wind/settle her after the feed. No harm to let him find his own ways of doing things. I think that's a big part of it really is letting go of the idea that that's the only way she'll go asleep. Other people will be able to settle her it'll just take time for them to figure out what works. Hope that makes sense. I do remember it being s big concern of mine a few months back. Then my mam managed to get her asleep on the living room floor so I stopped worrying

veggie newbie · 21-03-2015 11:48am

kandr10 wrote: »

Yeah I lnow what you mean. You try now even if you're breastfeeding getting your partner to take her and wind/settle her after the feed. No harm to let him find his own ways of doing things. I think that's a big part of it really is letting go of the idea that that's the only way she'll go asleep. Other people will be able to settle her it'll just take time for them to figure out what works. Hope that makes sense. I do remember it being s big concern of mine a few months back. Then my mam managed to get her asleep on the living room floor so I stopped worrying

Omg sooooo true, any time my other half takes her, I cant help butting in with 'try this, that and t'other.'.. Or, telling him what she does/doesn't like.... Then if he doesn't listrn, I just want to take her back to comfort her even though it was me who asked him to take her in the first place! I def need to let go & let him find his way, hard as it is. Good advice, thank you! Seems so obvious but sometimes I guess we just need to be told! Thank you!

Marz66 · 21-03-2015 7:41pm

Edited-wrong thread sorry!

While im here, I am the one who settles baby to sleep here. Do you wait until you need to be away before dad learns his own way to settle, or do you let dad figure out his own way now so you are prepared and can share bedtime routine?

I don't feed to sleep (cos baby is still awake now after feeds) but BF still comes into the routine when bubs looks for it.

Fagashlil · 21-03-2015 8:13pm

Daddy's always done the settling here! I'd a section and burst my stitches after a week, so I used to just feed and he'd do everything else, now he only sees baba for an hour in the evening so bedtime is their thing, I left them to figure it out.

Marz66 · 21-03-2015 11:46pm

That sounds like a nice way of doing things fagashlil!

Fagashlil · 22-03-2015 9:44pm

Have started pumping again, pud is 22 weeks tomorrow so want to start a stash for mixing with his food. Pumped 3oz yesterday evening after his bedtime feed, asked hubby to put it in the fridge, and he left it in the fridge door, I only realised this morning when I went to add to it and freeze it. Is it still ok to freeze milk that's been stored in the door?

cyning · 06-04-2015 11:26am

I've day weaned S: and I'm finding it so difficult! I know that sounds ridiculous but she's pulling at my top and gets so upset... It's not helped by the fact she won't drink milk only water, so can't get comfort from say a cup of milk or anything. I know I had to wean her before she bit my nipples off, or I lost the plot from pain from those Vasospasms every time she gets a new tooth, but still... I'll get her through her 13 month vax in a fortnight and fully wean her then. Just sad about it all.

How Strange · 08-04-2015 8:00am

It's hard to see them so distressed. A went crazy for 2-3 nights when I was night weaning her. She was screeching and head butting and thumping my chest. However within a week she was happy to have a little cuddle with me whenever she woke up.

I hope it's gotten a little easier for you since. It was amazing that you continued to breastfeed for so long considering all the obstacles along the way.

Elliottsmum79 · 15-04-2015 2:54pm

cyning wrote: »

I've day weaned S: and I'm finding it so difficult! I know that sounds ridiculous but she's pulling at my top and gets so upset... It's not helped by the fact she won't drink milk only water, so can't get comfort from say a cup of milk or anything. I know I had to wean her before she bit my nipples off, or I lost the plot from pain from those Vasospasms every time she gets a new tooth, but still... I'll get her through her 13 month vax in a fortnight and fully wean her then. Just sad about it all.

No one really tells you how hard this phase is and how hard it is, depite wanting to wean, when its actually over. Such a comfort to them but 13 months is amazing....think of the great start this has given her.

tinkerbell · 17-04-2015 1:22am

Still going strong here. I really love breastfeeding. Tis great

I'm well on track to meeting goal of 1 year and I'm gonna keep going for longer hopefully! I keep forgetting that it's a huge accomplishment to have gotten this far, I just kind of think of it as normal and just get on with it. Hubby has to keep telling me how great I'm doing because I kinda just forget that a lot of women unfortunately don't get this far. It was such hard work at the start but it's well worth it now.

lazygal · 17-04-2015 9:01pm

I can relate. I'm counting down to two years of feeding my son. It was incredibly difficult and emotionally draining at the start but now it's so simple. I don't know how people sooth their children without boobs! I'm going to wean him when he's two because at that stage I know I'll be ready for a break and normal tops again. But if you'd asked me at a week or month old I'd have said no way will I feeding this long. So my long winded message is that it does get easier and less irritating!

Fagashlil · 17-04-2015 9:07pm

I'm hitting 6 months on Monday and no plans to stop anytime soon. Had a rough start, but with some great advice here and The BF group on FB, and support from my mam and best friend, it all fell into place and my monkey is a complete boob monster!

livinsane · 18-04-2015 10:11pm

Breastfeeding 18 months this week. I'm still not sure if feeding a toddler is genius or madness. Far more demanding than a newborn but lots more fun!

Baby4 · 27-04-2015 7:32am

This post has been deleted.

cyning · 27-04-2015 9:12am

You definitely are... Has your hospital a lactation consultant? Look to see them if they do: most do but you need to request to see them. Colostrum is perfect for baby: they call it liquid gold for a reason. Just feed as much as possible... Massive congratulations too

bovril · 27-04-2015 9:15am

Baby4 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Congratulations. If you want to breastfeed then you are doing the right thing. Try to get the baby to feed as much as you can over the next few days. Even if you think the baby is not getting anything try keep them latched on as much as they will stay. I had a section and this close contact and latching I think helped my milk come in quicker. I would insist that formula feeds are stopped and take the baby in beside you. I used to feed side by side for the first few days. My milk came in on day 3. It might take longer for some people. Ring the bell for help from the midwives whenever you need it. I woke the baby too in the early few days every 2-3 hours during the day to feed. Sometimes she feed more frequently than this. During the second day she petty much fed all day. This is normal.

You could try see if your hospital has a lactation consultant.

Post here too and you'll get lots of help and support. Best of luck with it.

madeinamerica · 27-04-2015 8:28pm

Congrats on your little one, Baby4! I can only second what, Bovril and cyng said above. Also, fair play for standing your ground.

Soooky · 27-04-2015 10:09pm

Congrats Baby4 and well done! Same thing here, I had C-section under general anaesthetic and they fed her formula at the start as I was so out of it! I was adamant that I wanted to bf so I persevered

I won't lie, I did find the first few days in hospital stressful as I got so much contradicting info from the midwives and baby cried a lot but once I got home we flew it and ended up bfeeding for 13 months

As said previously, lots of skin on skin and try keep baby latched on a much as possible! Also, a nice midwife showed me how to hand express while baby was sleeping to help bring my milk in so maybe see if you can get someone to advise you on this!

Best of luck to you, you'll be grand

:):)

spottybananas · 28-04-2015 5:16pm

Congrats Baby4. I had a section too and didn't get to attempt feeding or seeing baby until he was 30+ hours old, so they gave him formula for his first feed, after I had managed colostrum the night he was born. He was in special care and they were so helpful to me with feeding him, only giving him formula when I couldn't come to feed him (but would always mix it with anything I had expressed) or when he needed jaundice treatment. Stand your ground and look for positive advice/help there and you'll fly it if your baby is already latching well and everything

After a great start with feeding last week gp weighed my baby and said she was concerned he wasn't back to his birth weight after 2 weeks (but as above we had a shaky start with feeding and it wasn't consistent until he was released from scbu at 5 days old). He's to be weighed again this week and she said if he isn't back to his birth weight I have to supplement with formula, which I really don't want to do as this will then reduce my milk production etc. He's been feeding like crazy the last couple of days, and while he has a great latch the constant use/abuse has left my nipples stinging, no cuts or anything just sore from so much sucking.

Any advice on how I can help myself to keep up feeding at the rate he now wants? I have Lanolin cream and use milk on them but they sting like crazy now. And any tips for what to say to gp if she says I have to use formula? I really want to give it just another week even, he's definitely feeding enough for him (he lets me know in puking style if I try to feed him for longer than he wants), but obviously I don't want to come across as not wanting my baby to progress and put on weight.

bovril · 28-04-2015 7:22pm

spottybananas wrote:

Any advice on how I can help myself to keep up feeding at the rate he now wants? I have Lanolin cream and use milk on them but they sting like crazy now. And any tips for what to say to gp if she says I have to use formula? I really want to give it just another week even, he's definitely feeding enough for him (he lets me know in puking style if I try to feed him for longer than he wants), but obviously I don't want to come across as not wanting my baby to progress and put on weight.

Hi, I found the multimam compresses so much relief. Cut them in half and you can use one on each nipple. Also always check the latch is correct at every feed so no more damage is done.

They say it can take 3 weeks for a bf baby to get up to birth weight. I don't know how you'd go about telling your gp that though. I had to get my baby weighed every couple of days at the start until they could see an increase in the weight and then they left me alone. I went along to the local bf support group run by phns who are training to be lactation consultants. Can you get along to a local group run by one of the bf orgs and tell the gp that you are seeking support and to let you have another week? Keep up the good work. Sounds like you're doing a great job after a hard start.

spottybananas · 28-04-2015 8:27pm

His latch is definitely perfect every time, they made sure I got used to checking it in special care, but he just has a really strong suck so he sucks it way into his mouth and sucks so hard that eventually it just gets sore especially when he feeds often. Thanks, will try that.

Yeah I know myself that breastfed babies take longer to put on weight which is why it annoyed me that the gp was commenting on it, when just two days earlier the phn had weighed him and said he was fine. There's a local breastfeeding group (a few actually) but all really require driving and I can't drive for another 3 weeks. One might be close enough to walk to I just need to check when they are on if not I might see if my husband could nip out of work to drop me there or collect me, walking one way should be ok for me. I thought that might be the best plan alright if he is still under the gp's ideal weight, thanks again. It would be a shame to have it fall apart now when we did so well to beat the odds with c section, premature birth and not getting to feed him until the next day.

bovril · 28-04-2015 9:23pm

Be careful with the walking to in the early stages after a section too. Don't overdo it. I had a section myself and I used to have to get a lift with my dad to the local bf group. It is great being around people who know exactly what you're going through and who you can ask questions.

Edit: just thought of compressions. Look up jack Newman website for the video on compressions. This can give a little extra milk at the end of a feed which over the course of the day will help.

spottybananas · 28-04-2015 9:40pm

I've been walking a lot for my sanity and to lower my bp and I had to get moving fast after I had him to visit him in scbu, but yeah I dont overdo it. The one within walking distance isn't on until Thursday next week so no good really. Will concentrate on sorting the stinging for now.

tinkerbell · 28-04-2015 11:47pm

Spotty bananas, good work on getting started with the bf! However - what they told you is wrong. Your nipples should not hurt at all if the latch is correct so the latch is not. It's nothing to do with the suck being strong. Unfortunately the staff in hospitals seem to know sweet F all about correct latch, etc, and they advise so many women badly and the women end up feeding in pain for days / weeks on end. It is not supposed to be sore at all so you need to get it seen to by a professional lactation consultant.

Call one tomorrow morning and they'll come out to you probably the same day. I can't recommend calling in the pros more than enough - it's a completely new skill that you and baby are learning and a little bit of guidance goes a long way. I hadn't a clue what the feck I was doing at the start and God bless my LC, she got me sorted after a few visits. If I'd have listened to a certain few midwives in the post-natal ward, I wouldn't have lasted more than a few days bf'ing because they were so useless and pro-formula.

dekey · 29-04-2015 12:30am

The most discouraging advice I was given before and at the start of breastfeeding was 'if it hurts, you're doing it wrong'. I had one nipple a different shape to the other, over supply, fast let down, my baby fed every 2 hours for an hour and 45 mins each time, I got a 15 min break before starting again and she had an incredibly strong suck and it hurt. For me it took weeks for my nipples to toughen up and gradually, day by day, they did. I think everyone is different and for some there's a period of adjustment and for others there isn't. Now, 8 months in it's the easiest thing in the world and I love it. I didn't shed one tear during a drug free labour but bf had me in tears regularly during the first few weeks. Pure stubbornness and a fear of blocked ducts and mastitis prevented me from quitting and I'm so glad I stuck it out and now have no intention of giving it up any time soon.

madeinamerica · 29-04-2015 1:34am

I have to agree with dekey. It might not hurt for some, but for others the baby can be on right and it still hurts. It's a new thing happening to your nips, it's no wonder it might hurt the soft skin. It took my nips a while to toughen up, like you I'd a drug free birth but Jesus those first few weeks bf were worse. I spent a lot of time in tears and top less! Lovely! One thing that got me through was a couple of friends who had bf too told me that if would be tough but that it does get better. For me that is better to hear than it shouldn't hurt at all. And another friend who is a midwife said that before having her kids she would tell new mothers that it shouldn't hurt, but after bf her two she changed her advice! Where does it come from, the advice that it shouldn't hurt? Just out of interest.

I'm bf 8 months now and haven't looked back.

spottybananas · 29-04-2015 1:48am

Thanks, he's definitely latched correctly as I had no pain at all for the last three weeks and its just in the last two days with him wanting feeding every hour or so that they are stinging. I can see to look at them that they are fine, just spending too much time wet so to speak and aren't used to it and it's sore! As he was in special care I was watched for every feed 24/7 for nearly a week by so many nurses and midwives, and while they had different advice every one of them including the breastfeeding guidance one said it was perfect. It's only the last two days of such frequent feeding that this started. Anytime he latches on badly I immediately take him off and start again, theres never "pain" from the beginning, but this sting starts up after he's fed a while (for the millionth time that day).

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