Post by thelittleredm on Jan 22, 2017 0:20:20 GMT -5
Well, I'm late to the game today.
Our nursing sessions are generally 10-15 minutes per side, sometimes more at night if I have to keep waking him up. He's been feeding more frequently the last couple days but I think it's because he's not feeling well. Poor baby is congested and phlegmy I'm even starting to get a sore throat and headaches off and on. At least H feels fine.
W tore the hell out of my nipples the first day or so. Between latch issues and the cluster feeding, it hurts a little while they're healing. I need to figure out the shield.
Post by silvermelody on Jan 22, 2017 9:58:26 GMT -5
My milk came in and I definitely have some engorgement on the right. She suddenly can't latch that side and it is really frustrating for both of us. I had to hand express last night because I could feel a clog starting.
DS was a slow eater, 45-60 min per session once he was latched. He needed both sides every feeding. So far she is starting to want both but I may just need to work harder on keeping her awake on one side
We had/have trouble latching when I get engorged too silvermelody. It's super frustrating for both of us when B can't latch, or can only get the nipple (ouch).
Post by silvermelody on Jan 22, 2017 14:56:16 GMT -5
Reverse Pressure Softening. It's a way fyi push fluid out of your nipple/areola so that baby can latch.
Turns out my problem is mostly due to fluid swelling from having so much IV fluids in the hospital. It can happen anytime 10-14 days after delivery. I noticed my feet were swollen yesterday but didn't think about my breasts.
Any of my fellow c-section mamas or GBS + mamas that were on fluids for a while, beware. I was on IV for about 24 hours this time.
M only nurses for 10-15 minutes total and only on one side for each feeding. DS was similar so I think I must have a pretty active let down. She spits up a lot so I don't know if that's related but it makes me think she doesn't need to eat for any longer for each feeding. She's going anywhere from 2-3 hours between feedings. I'm definitely a little anxious for her 2 week appt to know what her weight looks like.
F is like this. His weight gain is fine so I'm trying not to worry.
I'm thinking of trying to pump now, while the house is quiet
Post by MissDemeanor on Jan 22, 2017 15:11:24 GMT -5
I've noticed a lump on my breast since I was super engorged last week. I'm assuming it's a clog but I can't get it to move at all. It's not sore or anything though.
Post by heybulldog56 on Jan 22, 2017 15:13:16 GMT -5
Does nursing ever get easier and less frustrating? I'm having such a hard time getting a good latch on left boob. He definitely is just sucking on nipple 90% of the time when on that side. I'm going to talk to LC in Tuesday but was hoping for tips and/or tricks. Nipple shield only occasionally works. He more often than not rejects it. I also feel sore all day long. I don't look forward to BFing either. Normal? I'm just feeling blah about BF right now..
heybulldog56 I'm definitely in the hating it phase of breastfeeding too. It got significantly better by 6 weeks last time which seems like an eternity right now.
It really does but I'm glad it does get better. Also glad that I'm not alone feeling this way. It's been bumming me out.
Post by judyblume14 on Jan 22, 2017 15:35:09 GMT -5
heybulldog56, in most cases, YES! It really does get easier. I swear. I was MISERABLE at first with DD1. And we were able to nurse for about 23 months. Trust me, I would have never gone nearly two years if it continued to be stressful / painful / frustrating.
MissDemeanor, examine your nipple very closely for a little white dot (called a milk "bleb"). Sometimes, a little piece of milk scab/skin can grow, thus clogging at the nipple. You can scrape it off with a clean fingernail, then hand express for almost immediate relief. If that's not it, you can try a vibrator or electric toothbrush against the lump to shake it up.
heybulldog56 I'm definitely in the hating it phase of breastfeeding too. It got significantly better by 6 weeks last time which seems like an eternity right now.
Ditto this heybulldog56. With DD I hated bf'ing until 5.5-6weeks.
We have the same problem on my left side. DS just doesn't latch well and more often than not just gets the nipple, which leads to compression and him mostly sucking on it without transferring anything. Blah. I feel like my nipple is just so big for his little mouth that he can't possibly fit more tissue in for a good latch.
Does nursing ever get easier and less frustrating? I'm having such a hard time getting a good latch on left boob. He definitely is just sucking on nipple 90% of the time when on that side. I'm going to talk to LC in Tuesday but was hoping for tips and/or tricks. Nipple shield only occasionally works. He more often than not rejects it. I also feel sore all day long. I don't look forward to BFing either. Normal? I'm just feeling blah about BF right now..
I have some of those feelings too. Last week my nips were hurting bad and I was dreading every nursing sessions. This week it is getting better. I definitely have thoughts like FF would be so much easier right now then I could hand off baby and feedings to H and I could get some actual sleep. Just trying to remind myself this is only temporary but so hard when you are in the thick of it. So yeah, I'm right there with you.
Post by heybulldog56 on Jan 22, 2017 16:01:03 GMT -5
vlagroupie, I woke up thinking about formula. It would relieve so much stress. I guess all I can do is remind myself that it does get better. Just so hard to believe that at 2 am.
vlagroupie , I woke up thinking about formula. It would relieve so much stress. I guess all I can do is remind myself that it does get better. Just so hard to believe that at 2 am.
Remember that formula isn't the devil. If you have BFing goals, that's great. But when the stress of breastfeed outweighs the benefits, supplementing can be sanity-saving.
Post by heybulldog56 on Jan 22, 2017 16:10:45 GMT -5
Thanks judyblume14. It really helps to hear that. My goal is to take it a day at a time. We meet with the LC on Tuesday. My goal is to keep following the feeding plan until then, see what she says, and go from there. Of course, this also depends on whether or not he's gained any weight. We'll find out tomorrow.
vlagroupie , I woke up thinking about formula. It would relieve so much stress. I guess all I can do is remind myself that it does get better. Just so hard to believe that at 2 am.
Remember that formula isn't the devil. If you have BFing goals, that's great. But when the stress of breastfeed outweighs the benefits, supplementing can be sanity-saving.
Post by silvermelody on Jan 22, 2017 18:25:24 GMT -5
I heartily third what judyblume14 said. A formula bottle once a day will not wreck your entire supply.
heybulldog56 it does get easier but it was around 5-6 weeks last time which was a miserable eternity, but I stubbornly suffered through. I remember wanting to punch the ped who told me to wait until three months because at that point I was biting my hand in pain every latch
But he was right. Nursing at three months was right totally different and easier. Keep working with your LC and tell her about all your frustrations and pains so she can help with position etc
Post by weeklyplanner on Jan 22, 2017 21:19:05 GMT -5
Ugh, my nipples. She really tore them up the first day and that initial latch hurts bad. They don't seem to be getting any worse though, so that must be a good thing, right? My milk is in and she's soaking diapers, so I don't suspect a transfer issue due to poor latch. I'll be calling a LC when we get home tomorrow and making an appointment. I've seen two in the hospital, bit they just said obvious things like make sure she opens her mouth big, etc.
Are cracked/scab nipples just part of the initial nursing process? I vaguely remember this with DS.
For me, my nips were super sore from days 2 through 5 or 6. It's because I let LO get away with a shallow latch. My nips were not cracked, but had little blisters on them. We worked on a deeper latch, which helped my nips, but was uncomfortable, and frustratingly difficult because by that time I was super engorged.
DD is 10 days old and today is the first day since my milk came in (day 3), that I'm not incredibly uncomfortable. Though, I may have been today, too, had I not pumped to relief (1 oz per side) after our morning nursing session. I'm not sure that I'm out of the woods yet, though,
heybulldog56, it will get better, it just takes a while - for me let time 4-6 weeks. This time I'm just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (still a long way away) as we pass the 3 wk mark. I have both hated and dreaded nursing sessions both times around so I think what you're feeling is normal. BF is honestly one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it does get better...
I've also had more of a problem on one side with poor latch and nipple pain. I don't know if it's my boob hold, DS's mouth or the combination of us both but using the same hold on each side just doesn't work. I've found I need to essentially keep him in the same position (lying on his right) and use cross-cradle on the left boob and football on the right. We can switch it up occaisionally but not much. Maybe try and mirror what works best on one side on your other and see if this helps you too?
I hope the LC helps, but echoing what others have said, formula is not a terrible thing if you need or want to go there for whatever reason. With DS1 I decided to quit BF at 8 wks for several reasons and planned to do so gradually by introducing formula 1 feed at a time over 4 weeks until I went back to work. After replacing a single feed with a bottle of F the relief/change for me was huge. I only dropped one more feed before returning to work and a third when I went back. We ended up combo feeding (BF evenings, motn and mornings with F during the day) for another 6 months.
Any and all BM is good for them no matter how much or for how long...
weeklyplanner and @orangcrush, I had bad nipple damage with DS1 and again with DS2 in the early stages so it can happen but my LCS say it's not normal. It can get better with improved latch but during the healing process it hurts like hell.
Things that gave helped me beyond trying to improve latch...
Like judyblume14 said, express a little BM after each feed and rub on your nipples allowing them to air dry. Its jealing but also baby's saliva is full of digestive enzymes which aren't good for your skin. Use lanolin after that too to keep them protected and help healing.
The Medela hydrogel cooling pads can also provide a lot of relief.
With cracked and bleeding nipples you are at more risk for breast infections so you want to try and avoid things getting worse. Adding salt to warm water and bathing your nipples after nursing (basically dangle your boobs in two biels!) in can help sterilize the nipples where bacteria from babies mouth can get in the cracks. And if you're using breast pads make sure you change them regularly so they can't encourage any yeast or bacteria to grow.
I've also been prescribed and used All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO) to use to prevent/treat infections when I've been cracked or bleeding so maybe ask your LC or OB about that too if needed.
Post by thelittleredm on Jan 23, 2017 1:11:42 GMT -5
@orangecrush, I still get engorged if I have to go more than 2.5 hours between feeds. It's not something I do often but it happened a couple times today and owwwww.
Thought I would share this... Bought on amazon recently and just used now, www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IADQTX0/ I got a little over an ounce from the right side while rocking baby back to sleep.
Thought I would share this... Bought on amazon recently and just used now, www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IADQTX0/ I got a little over an ounce from the right side while rocking baby back to sleep.
Do you have to actually pump it or did you just have it sitting there? Trying to compare this vs the Milkies thing
Thought I would share this... Bought on amazon recently and just used now, www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IADQTX0/ I got a little over an ounce from the right side while rocking baby back to sleep.
Do you have to actually pump it or did you just have it sitting there? Trying to compare this vs the Milkies thing
No you can just suction on and leave to catch leaking. Or you can pump it to get more too. A friend actually recommended this instead when I was asking about the Milkies.
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