First week of DD2's life - finding it so tough

[Pennies]

Whoever said that it's easier with no. 2 is wrong. EIther I've forgotton it all frm 15 months ago when DD1 was born or else this is much harder.

How come it hurts to BF so much again (I only stopped BF'ing DD1 5 months ago)?

Green poo (not the meconium stuff) - how?? why???

Can't get her to feed for more than 5 mins so she wants feeding again 1.5 - 2 (if I'm lucky) hours later). See above for sore (also cracked and bleeding boobs) for general joy of this whole situation.

Cord stump gone a bit manky - cord fell off this morning and it just looks gross. Midwife says is OK tho, but it just makes me want to heave.

On the positive side she's beautiful and she's put on weight - didn't lose an ounce.

Not sure what I'm after by posting this - maybe just to vent a bit. I guess it's the 5 minute feeds leading to breif sleeps before demands for more that is doing my head in the most. Is this normal. DD! guzzled for ages and slept for ages for the first week or so as I remember.

[expatinscotland]

i get 10 mins. on each boob. then she drops off for half an hour and then wants another 10 mins. dd1 was a champion eater who slept for ages from teh get go. dd2 just went to sleep at 1 PM finally after being up for HOURS, feeding and then winding and then feeding.

[mears]

Be careful with your positioning and attachment pennies. Having breastfed before you can get complacent and not ensure that newborn is on the breast properly. That happened to me with DS2. My nipples were cracked and bleeding. Once I realised that he wasn't on as well as he could be things improved. Remember to make sure she is facing you, tummy to mummy, and not lying on her back with her head turned towards you which is what older babies often do.

Have you tried a sling to keep her close to you?

Going from 1 to 2 is pretty hard. Goping from 2 to 3 is easier and 3 to 4 was a doddle in my case

[mears]

You are doind well Expat BTW Love to see you inputting on B/F queries.

[Pennies]

Expat - sounds a familiar tale. Was awake for 5 hours the other night on a similar pattern.

Thanks for the advice Mears - I think I had forgotten that they baby needs to learn how to feed as well as me remembering. I stupidly used a shield once the cracking and bleeding started and that has affected her latching technique so the shield is back in it's box and we're just trying to take more time with it. Good idea re. sling.

2 - 3??? No chance!

[thecattleareALOHing]

I breastfed ds for a year, and then had horrible pain breastfeeding dd. I realised my last experience of feeding was feeing a big near-toddler, not a newborn, and toddlers basically latch themselves on, while a newborn needs to be guided. A session with the bfc at hospital sorted me out, and I also had antibiotics from the GP as I suspect I had a skin infection from the damage to my nipples. Pain went away completely really fast. Don't put up with the pain - it means something's wrong - latch, infection or even both. Cord stump clearly fine if midwife says so, but keep an eye on it. 1.5 hours between feeds for newborn really normal and indeed, pretty infrequent!

[jalopy]

I was always surprised how painful breast feeding seemed at the start. The let-down sensation was always so painful, it used to make my toes curl. Having said that, with each baby it settled down and was fine. They were all rapid feeders and were never on the breast for more than 4-5 mins. They still wanted plenty of feeds though. Yep, it's knackering.

[NotQuiteCockney]

jalopy, from what I know, letdown pain isn't something everyone, or even most people, get. Or if they do get it, they only get it relatively mildly.

I've taken an interest in letdown pain because I certainly get it. It was worse with DS2 than with DS1. It only started a few weeks in, with DS2, and then just got worse and worse.

[hercules]

My let down reflex was toe curling bite on a towel painful for the first few weeks for both babies. Midwives said it shouldnt hurt for anyone but that was bollocks.

[jalopy]

I had a very strong let-down reflex. It would actually kick in a minute or so after latching the baby on. The pain was excruitiating, it was quite incredible. I thought everybody got it. It lessened after a couple of weeks and was hardly noticeble once long term feeding was established. Can't imagine how I could face breastfeeding after each pregnancy. Madness, eh!

[harpsiheraldangelssing]

yes the let down reflex is painful for me
it also makes me feel sick

[Cadmum]

The green poop can mean that she is not getting enough of the fatty hind-milk. You could solve this by only offering one breast at a feed and having her drain that side. (I remember it well with DS2...) It is a very good sign that she is gaining weight! Well done for sticking it out. I fully agree that the jump from one to two is challenging and our DD was a better feeder/sleeper than DS1 but it was so much harder having two to cope with and being under the foolish impression that experience would help!

I hope things look up over the next couple of days. The first 6 weeks are the hardest. Be kind to yourself.

[expatinscotland]

i don't have teh let down pain, fortunately, b/c apparently i have a very good 'let down reflex'. but my nipples! arrgggh. pennies, you have my empathy. i KNOW everyone keeps telling me those nipples will toughen up, but man, they are sensitive! just to brush past them is like eeeeeeeeeee.

i let dd2 suckle on one boob until she drops off. dunno if she's getting 'hind' milk or that, i guess i'm going w/feeling her body will tell her what she needs.

she does get wiggly if she's windy, and that's the worst! b/c i know i may have to take her off and then she'll cry and then i'll have to get her back on.

[expatinscotland]

now she's going 1-2 hours between feeds. she changed her gameplan. again.

it's a good thing she's so cute!

she's also a much noisier sleeper than her sister was.

[expatinscotland]

and at least now i won't feel so lonely in the middle of the night - feeling like i'm the only person out there, struggling and knackered.

we should trade ideas of how to pass the time. i have started putting in a film and just turning it on and off as i feed/sleep. last night was 'master and commander' - REALLY good, btw!

tonight, i feel like a little 'braveheart' coming on.

[Pennies]

Expat - how old is your DD2?

Agree with the solidarity of knowing I'm not the only one awake and LOVE the idea of a film but no vidoe or DVD in our room. If I did have one I think tonight would have to be Bridget Jones' Diary - light hearted and easy to follow.

We had a 3 hour break today which was lovely until the horrible thought entered my ind that she had suffocated! I was so laid back with DD1 and am just a bag of neuroses with this one.

[expatinscotland]

she was born 10 dec. dd2 is feeding now - yeah, i feel 'braveheart' coming on!