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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Midwife really put me off my bottle and breast plan..is she right?

34 replies

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 13:37

So, on DC 2 and very, very sore boobs. Same as DC1. Let down pain continues through whole feed.

I have a young toddler who requires a lot of time so I am breast feeding through the day ( wincing through it) and using formula at night. Midwife just told me it was the death knell for breast feeding as would kill my supply. Is she right? Will it mean my milk will dry up in the day?

OP posts:

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TheScience · 05/04/2014 13:40

How old is the baby? It will be difficult to maintain a breastmilk supply with a lot of formula/no breastfeeding at night in the early days, so you might have to be prepared for breastfeeding not to last as long as you'd possibly hoped. Some people do have very strong supplies which will survive a lot though so you never know.

I have quite a painful letdown (but only lasts 30 seconds or so) but I found with DS1 that it didn't last long - I can't remember now, but only for the first few weeks I think.

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 13:46

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. A week old only. Guess I will have to grit my teeth through the night and cope on two hours kip. Eek!

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CountessOfRule · 05/04/2014 13:53

That is the usual thought, yes.

Why is ff better at night? I'd have thought it was vastly more hassle than bf. Is it so others can help? Because that help won't always be available and you might end up worse off.

You have to find what works for you. I was on cocodamol for the afterpains with DC3: dear God. "Breast is best" on a population level, but that doesn't mean it's best for you and your family this time.

CountessOfRule · 05/04/2014 13:54

From memory the toe-curling pain was ten days, maybe two weeks? then quickly settled down.

TheScience · 05/04/2014 13:57

Yes, I would have thought bf would be easier at night too - you can't lie down and doze through a bottle feed.

TheScience · 05/04/2014 14:01

Maybe if you would like to mix feed you could breastfeed the baby after your toddler goes to bed, hand him to your DP and you go to bed, they could do a bottle for the next feed and then settle the baby in your room so you could potentially get a stretch of sleep say 8pm-2am?

If the whole feed is painful, is it definitely let down?

ArtFine · 05/04/2014 14:01

Do whatever is best and easiest for you. Don't feel pressured to BF when it's difficult for you.

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 14:03

You see the pain never went with DC1 and the conclusion was I was super sensitive in that area. I don't mind the let down pain, it's the pain the whole way through that is hard. I cried for the first month with my first who had posterior deep TT until the consultant said to abandon it and express which I did. I really want to make it work this time but I also don't want to end up taking my tiredness out on my toddler by being snappy as it's not fair on him. Torn really!

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cakeymccakington · 05/04/2014 14:04

some people manage to combine breast and bottle just fine, but at only a week and missing all night feeds I'd agree with her that it's likely to very much affect your supply unless you are expressing at least a couple of times to make up for it (during the night)

i think you would be best to find a local breastfeeding counsellor (a qualified one) if your midwife is not able to help with the pain you are experiencign during the feed. it might be an issue with latch rather than letdown pain, or it could be thrush or any other number of things... you need someone knowledgeable who can watch you feed and see if there is anything that can make it more comfortable for you

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 14:05

Thanks for the suggestions. You see I can't doze through the pain!

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TheScience · 05/04/2014 14:05

Does the baby have a tongue tie? Did your older DC have it snipped?

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 14:06

Had someone this week who said latch was fine and it's not thrush even though pain is similar.

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cakeymccakington · 05/04/2014 14:06

cross posted with you.

has new baby been checked for tongue tie? there is a hereditary link.

crikeybadger · 05/04/2014 14:11

Agree with cake about checking for tongue tie....please don't put up with this pain, especially when it is through the whole feed.

Can you find someone who really knows about breastfeeding and can diagnose a tongue tie to help you? Ask your midwife if there is an infant feeding specialist who can visit.

TheScience · 05/04/2014 14:14

The latch may look fine from the outside, but if you are in pain then it isn't fine. Have you seen a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation specialist?

Both of my DC have had tongue ties and although the latch looked ok from the outside I could feel it wasn't deep enough, they sucked on my nipple instead of the breast and I could feel hard gums rubbing on me. Exaggerated latch/flipple technique and laid back (biological nurturing) positions really helped me until the tongue ties were cut kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/latch-resources/
I also had to be really strict about taking the baby off and trying again if it was still painful after 30 seconds, otherwise the nipple gets damaged.

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 14:16

She might well have it but with DS they said he would have to have a proper op to get rid of it as it was deep ( the initial snip did nothing) and I wasn't going to put him through it! I have it too!

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cakeymccakington · 05/04/2014 14:20

i'd get it checked. it may be something that can be fixed easily this time

Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 14:23

Thanks! She has been feeding for two hours and still going. Every time I take her off she wants more which is making me think she isn't getting full up!

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Offred · 05/04/2014 14:24

Also lip ties. Shouldn't be painful if latch is the problem in some way adding in bottles of anything including ebf won't help. I think you need to get to the bottom of the pain because even if you can maintain supply with mix feeding you are still having the pain whenever you do feed - it's respite not a fix.

TheScience · 05/04/2014 14:27

Does sound like tongue-tie and/or a poor latch is the problem.

Are you able to see someone qualified about improving her latch? Maybe do that first and if improvements in positioning and attachment don't solve the pain then look into tongue-tie.

cakeymccakington · 05/04/2014 14:28

well that could also indicate a tongue tie, if she isn't transferring milk effectively...

Offred · 05/04/2014 14:43

Have you checked for lip tie?

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Totesamazeballs · 05/04/2014 15:32

So she wouldn't stop crying after 2.5 hrs on boob. Just opened a bottle and she's had 3 ounces! Think breast feeding ain't gonna work ! I will get someone to check but if it's the same as her brother it's deep. It certainly isn't obvious and the hospital said she didn't have one.

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TheScience · 05/04/2014 15:37

If you post your location maybe someone would be able to suggest a local breastfeeding counsellor/lactation specialist who could advise you on the latch issues? Ideally someone qualified should observe a whole feed for you.

Offred · 05/04/2014 15:37

Have you checked for lip ties?

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