Has anyone ever been able to use a nipple shield for just a few feeds to get through recovery and then switch back? My left nipple hurts SO much. It kind of looks like it's blistering. I think his latch is too shallow, so I want to try to fix it, but the pain is so excruciating that the thought of it makes me want to cry... but I don't want to trade one problem for another if the nipple shield is just going to cause more problems tomorrow.
I used one for about a day and a half to let myself heal and to get DD used to opening wider to get a better latch. It helped SO MUCH. She still has some moments where she rejects the boob at first without the shield, but she gives in eventually.
Another thing that helps with healing is expressing a little milk and rubbing it on the nipple and letting it air dry. BM is kind of a miracle healer.
Anyone else have babies that eat every hour? He's been nursing Q 1-2 hours since yesterday morning, aside from a couple of times that he went 3 hrs. At one point today, he nursed for almost 1 ½ hrs straight. Exhausting.
Has anyone ever been able to use a nipple shield for just a few feeds to get through recovery and then switch back? My left nipple hurts SO much. It kind of looks like it's blistering. I think his latch is too shallow, so I want to try to fix it, but the pain is so excruciating that the thought of it makes me want to cry... but I don't want to trade one problem for another if the nipple shield is just going to cause more problems tomorrow.
+1 to all the "use the shield" advice. I have at nips, get crazy engorged, and nursing is REALLY painful for me in the beginning. I would say, use the shield without fear or guilt or anything. Just use it. You can start by using it every other feeding on each breast (so first feed you use it on the kedt but not the right, next feed you switch, etc). or you can use it for every feed. Once your nips stop looking and feeling like burger meat in a couple weeks, you can start weaning off. Babies are *really* resilient! Don't be fooled by all the "rules." If breaking some rules means you're able to continue nursing, then do it mama! Also, be sure you're switching up your nursing hold every other feeding to evenly distribute the "damage" baby's doing to your nips. So one feed try the football hold, next feed cross cradle, then back to football, etc.
Anyone else have babies that eat every hour? He's been nursing Q 1-2 hours since yesterday morning, aside from a couple of times that he went 3 hrs. At one point today, he nursed for almost 1 ½ hrs straight. Exhausting.
So britterrss and @rivers and roads , this is "rule breaking" in the BF world but for both my kiddos who nursed a year, in the early weeks, I timed our feedings: 10mins on each side (there were times i was in so much pain i watched that clock and popped them off as soon as I could), then 10mins on the next. Then no more feeds for an hour. This was the wonky way i could keep going and give my nips a chance to heal.
My first especially was a sleepy nurser and would stay on the boob for hours just dozing and chewing if I let her. ***do.not.do.that*** keep them awake and actively eating the whole time they're on the boob (the pedi told me to undress baby, play with their ears, feet, etc, blow on their face- anything to keep them awake for the full feeding). And if your milk is in, listen and watch for the "suck swallow breathe" rhythm that indicates baby is actively nursing and your milk is flowing. If they start a "suck suck pause pause pause pause suck suck" rhythm or appear to be nibbling or dozing, wake them up, pop them off, etc.
Also my first baby was crazy oral so we used a paci which also saved my boobs. If I had nursed her round the clock I would have had to stop. Using the shield, timing feedings, and allowing pacis in the first weeks really helped my sensitive, flat nipples get settled and after that we were able to change things up (nursing more on demand, weaning off the shield, etc).
Just want to say (1) nursing can hurt like a mother and (2) don't be afraid to break the rules if it means being able to continue BFing.
Anyone else have babies that eat every hour? He's been nursing Q 1-2 hours since yesterday morning, aside from a couple of times that he went 3 hrs. At one point today, he nursed for almost 1 ½ hrs straight. Exhausting.
Are you sure he's eating the whole time? I'd maybe try popping him off and giving him a paci after like 20 mins, half hour and see how he does. I do know that nb babies nurse all the time, especially in the evening so it's kind of hard to gauge.
Has anyone ever been able to use a nipple shield for just a few feeds to get through recovery and then switch back? My left nipple hurts SO much. It kind of looks like it's blistering. I think his latch is too shallow, so I want to try to fix it, but the pain is so excruciating that the thought of it makes me want to cry... but I don't want to trade one problem for another if the nipple shield is just going to cause more problems tomorrow.
With dd1 I used it for the first month or so, mostly on one side Because of flat nipples. I would get her latched and then unlatch her take it off and relatch her fast once the nipple was extended more. But we weaned off it really easily.
Baby R is 5 days old and I have already introduced one a bit. If it's obvious that she is wanting to suck but not eat, I will give it to her. She usually will suck on it for a few minutes and spit it out and be fine, so I don't keep putting it back in. I don't like to offer one at night because frankly I'm not getting up constantly to put it back in their mouth. So I just nurse at night when she wants. I did the same with my son, but he also turned into a thumb sucker. So take my advice how you want
She used one in the hospital. DS never really took a pacifier (in spite of our attempts to give him one) so we wanted to start early with DD. IME, nipple confusion is not really a big deal.
Also team already started. She's 5 days old. She uses it randomly if she seems like she just wants to suck. Or if she's freaking out during diaper changes. If she actually wants to nurse she'll spit it out and glare at me.
Also team already started. She's 5 days old. She uses it randomly if she seems like she just wants to suck. Or if she's freaking out during diaper changes. If she actually wants to nurse she'll spit it out and glare at me.
This made me LOL!
Thanks for the advice ladies! I don't feel so guilty now - I needed his butt to air out and he was pitching a fit so I used it for a few minutes. And he's been nursing so so so so much in the last 48 hours, much of which is comfort sucking, not actual nursing. But everything I read says no paci until 3-4 weeks... He doesn't seem to get nipple confusion at this point, though.
My DD1 started using it in the hospital. This time I am planning to do the same if I feel she needs it. I definitely feel like you can tell if they want to eat vs. just suck for comfort.
Anyone else have babies that eat every hour? He's been nursing Q 1-2 hours since yesterday morning, aside from a couple of times that he went 3 hrs. At one point today, he nursed for almost 1 ½ hrs straight. Exhausting.
This was my LO1. In further support of you not feeling guilty for using a pacifier, our pediatrician suggested one for her at her first ever appointment when she was all of about 4 days old. (Granted I could never get her to take one, but that's another story...)
Does everyone offer both sides at each feeding? I've always heard "offer the other side when the first is empty". Well, that doesn't happen. I let her nurse for a long time and it softens but isn't empty. And when I take her off, she goes to sleep. Well, first she spits up, and then goes to sleep. Should I offer the other side after?? Will it damage my supply if I don't? I know I always offered both when my son was new, but after a while just alternated them at feedings. I feel like I've forgotten the rules of newborn.
Does everyone offer both sides at each feeding? I've always heard "offer the other side when the first is empty". Well, that doesn't happen. I let her nurse for a long time and it softens but isn't empty. And when I take her off, she goes to sleep. Well, first she spits up, and then goes to sleep. Should I offer the other side after?? Will it damage my supply if I don't? I know I always offered both when my son was new, but after a while just alternated them at feedings. I feel like I've forgotten the rules of newborn.
It depends on your supply. I do not offer both at each feeding bc I have a lot of milk and it would make my supply even more. I think as long as your baby is gaining and poops are yellow, then you're good! I definitely wouldn't offer both if she's done before finishing on one side (milk still remaining).
Both girls have usually always just fed on one side. If Mallory is still awake I'll offer the other side but usually not. I don't feel a let down and never feel empty but she's having enough wet/dirty diapers and gaining so I don't worry much about it.
Thank you britterrss. That's what I was thinking. I definitely don't need more milk. Baby is gaining 2oz/day and peeing and pooping like crazy. I just started to second guess myself! ETA thank you kelle017 too!
The engorgement is GONE, mostly. Thank goodness. That was horrible.
Has anyone gone through insurance to work with an LC? How did you find one and go about setting up an appointment?
engorgement = so.effing.horrible. so so glad its over for you. Both times I feel like once I finally figure out how to manage it, its over. But holy S when it comes on fast its just horrible.
Re: LC, our hospital has several who were very good and told me I could come back at any time for help, support, advice, etc. They made it sound like it would be free in that setting...
I've been using a nipple shield since day 1 and it is still very painful for me.
with my first BF hurt for a long time. Like weeks and weeks and I used the shield too. I just have super sensitive, flat nips that took a while to get acclimated to nursing. (See my zillion comments above about timing feedings. I literally could not take more than 10mins on each side. It was really painful.). BUT, with my second the "omg this hurts soooooo bad" phase ended after just a few weeks, maybe two or three vs like two months with my first.
Really hope things get more comfortable for you soon!!
The engorgement is GONE, mostly. Thank goodness. That was horrible.
Has anyone gone through insurance to work with an LC? How did you find one and go about setting up an appointment?
My hospital has lactation consultants that do free appts as well. Also, the breastfeeding support group is offered twice a week. I went a couple times when my son was new. The LCs are there to help with your latch, offer advice, and do weighed feedings. And the other mamas are there for the same reason. I actually really liked it. Maybe your hospital has something similar?
Does everyone offer both sides at each feeding? I've always heard "offer the other side when the first is empty". Well, that doesn't happen. I let her nurse for a long time and it softens but isn't empty. And when I take her off, she goes to sleep. Well, first she spits up, and then goes to sleep. Should I offer the other side after?? Will it damage my supply if I don't? I know I always offered both when my son was new, but after a while just alternated them at feedings. I feel like I've forgotten the rules of newborn.
I was told when my DD was a nb that humans are the only mammals that nurse from more than one nipple. If you feed from both sides your body will think it's feeding twins, so I always only fed my DD with one side per feeding.
I've been using a nipple shield since day 1 and it is still very painful for me.
with my first BF hurt for a long time. Like weeks and weeks and I used the shield too. I just have super sensitive, flat nips that took a while to get acclimated to nursing. (See my zillion comments above about timing feedings. I literally could not take more than 10mins on each side. It was really painful.). BUT, with my second the "omg this hurts soooooo bad" phase ended after just a few weeks, maybe two or three vs like two months with my first.
Really hope things get more comfortable for you soon!!
Ugh I'm sorry it hurt so bad for you too! I've been only able to do 15-20 minutes on each side. We are getting her frenulum clipped on the 1st so hopefully that will help
Success! (ish) we nursed tonight for the first time kinda sorta successfully. I used the nipple shield and he definitely latched and was getting milk, just not sure how much ultimately went in his belly since 20 min later his bottom arm was soaked. Spilling is nothing new, I think it's a preemie thing, sometimes his suck is faster than his swallow and he ends up with a mouthful that spills out. But still, it's a step!
Success! (ish) we nursed tonight for the first time kinda sorta successfully. I used the nipple shield and he definitely latched and was getting milk, just not sure how much ultimately went in his belly since 20 min later his bottom arm was soaked. Spilling is nothing new, I think it's a preemie thing, sometimes his suck is faster than his swallow and he ends up with a mouthful that spills out. But still, it's a step!
The engorgement is GONE, mostly. Thank goodness. That was horrible.
Has anyone gone through insurance to work with an LC? How did you find one and go about setting up an appointment?
I did through our hospital that offers private LC visits. The hospital took care of everything for me and billed insurance. My OOP was $0 for 4 sessions
I am debating giving up getting DS to latch and just EPing now that I'm actually building supply and responding to the pump. It's still kinda painful when he latches and he is only transferring 40-50 ml. While this is a huge improvement from where we were just 2 weeks ago, l still have to pump after he eats and then feed him again. Plus I go back to work in 4 weeks and he will be mostly bottle fed then so it might make sense to switch now and get the hang of EP.
Anyone here Pump full time that has anything to share? I'm not seeing any negatives to this since I'm already pumping 8 times a day.
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