expressing Question

[Vmama]

hello

am planning to express feeds to give my poor right nipple a break as it is really cracked and sore and it's either that or give up bfeeding which I don't want to do.

My question is -should I express every time I'm due to feed him on that side and would it be better to constantly feed from left breast or to give him the ebm from a bottle when he's due to feed from left?

He's had a bottle of EBM last feed at night for the last week or so (he's 3 wks old now) and he's switching from breast to bottle ok and it gives me a break from the pain. I've got to the point where I just can't feed anymore on the right breast though at the moment my left one seems ok.

I nearly gave up bfeeding entirely last night but today feel more positive but still need to give my right nipple a break. I express plenty of milk -enough for a feed each time.

any advice welcome -has anyone else done something similar?

[mears]

I would feed from left breast and express from right at each feed. It is important to keep the milk flowing to avoid mastitis where you have a cracked nipple. Most important thing is toget help with latching onto the painful side though - the position cannot be ideal. Have you tried different positions? Have you got Laninoh cream of silver breast pads?

[Vmama]

I've had Lactation consultant round twice and she thinks latch is fine it's just he's got a powerful suck and a disorganised latch -she said even one poor latch could cause damage because he's such a strong sucker. I'm trying to latch him off if it hurts and relatch but now I just need to give it a break.

I kept hoping the LC would come and tell me my latch was wrong and this is how to fix it but she didn't think there was a problem with positioning or latch just he's a strong sucker.

It got like this with both breast after the first week or so so am just glad it's only one.

yes am using lansinoh and it's great but only goes so far to stop the pain.

he's struggled to feed from day one (caesarian didn't help) and he sometimes seems to forget how to latch on -LC said it's as if he skips a step -doesn't open his mouth wide enough and just starts his sucking motion so it's difficult to get him latched to start with -add to this he gets agitated and spits out my nipple plus fights me with his hands and it gets even more difficult. the thing is it's not always like this but when it is it's agony.

[LearnerMum]

When my DS was 3 weeks old i had blisters on my right nipple and avoilded feeding at all costs! I was expressing first thing in the morning after feeding as this is when the supply is at its best. I found that i had to express every time a feed was due as otherwise i felt really full and uncomfortable. You can build up a good supply this way and feed entirely from a bottle at certain feeds. Have you tried "Lansinoh" cream it worked a treat for me

[mears]

Although you feel he is switching OK from breast to bottle I would avoid using a teat until he has mastered latching on properly so that he is not messing about causing damage when not latching properly. Damage is caused by him not being on properly. The problem will be if you rest the nipple then put him back on without getting the latch sorted on that side. have you tried the rugby ball hold?

[mears]

these are meant to be goog

[mears]

good even

[Vmama]

i know what you mean but even the LC can't see a problem with the latch and at least I get to have a break by giving him one bottle a night. i have been using the rugby hold mainly but am now trying the normal cross body hold too to see if that helps.

i just wanted to know whether it would be better to feed from one breast all the time or to express and feed EBM from the right breast when he's due to feed from right.

i'll check out those silver breast pads -has anyone used them?

[lori21]

I did something very similar - did not feed on the left side until the nipple was better and expressed on this side everytime I fed on the other side. My dh gave him the expressed milk from a doidy cup. I found that once the nipple had recovered I was more relaxed with bf on that side and the cracked nipples did not recur. It is really important that if it hurts after the initial feeling then you unlatch and start again. I so nearly gave up and am thrilled I didn't. I am still not as confident at feeding on the left hand side even though lo is 8 months old but lo can latch on literaly standing on his head.

Good luck

[mears]

I would continue to feed from one side and bank the milk you get from the left in the freezer for future use.

[Vmama]

I expressed from right breast yesterday and fed only from left topped up with 2 bottles of EBM now today i'm feeding him off both breasts again as right one has healed but he seems really agitated and the last feed was an hour and ten minutes before i had to latch him off to go to the loo -he's been fussy at the breast too it seems like he might not be getting enough out though when i hand express after he finishes there is still milk flowing -help! He hasn't slept today either except an hour this morning and it's just exhausting.

[mears]

Vmama - babies often have 'off days' when they want to be fed all the time. As long as he is on properly and swallowing every time he sucks, he is getting milk. Remember breastfeeding is not all about milk the baby gets, it is the lovly comforting feeling a baby has when attched closely to him mum. If though you feel you have had enough, then swaddle him or carry him in a sling and see how he goes.

[ruth2007]

vmama - glad the pain is better. You might find that he is evening out your supply after the expressing. Expressing never takes as much Milk as he would so the supply on that side may be a bit lower. It will sort it'self out if you let him feed as often as he wants.