BF Day 3 Help re switching sides

[helsybells]

LO arrived on Saturday and after a few issues feeding we are underway albeit a little sore.

We are still producing colostrum but am wondering if I should switch sides while feeding? She is 6lb 7oz so not big but yesterday I thought she had finished feeding after a good long feed as she came off breast by herself but was then hungry aboit 15 mins later she wanted more and I wondered if she came off by herself because that breast wasn't giving any more.... So should I switch during each feed?? Is this necessary in colostrum stage??

From a pain POV i'd rather do one at a time but obv better if LO gets her fill each time.

[ZuleikaD]

Not necessarily. You can try offering the other breast after she's come off by herself, she'll take it if she wants it. But small babies do feed very frequently and have tiny tummies.

[helsybells]

Thank Zuleika. I have to say I would be surprised if she could empty a breast at this stage even if we are still on colostrum as she's so small which is why I asked. But as you say I can try - though would rather not to give soreness a rest each time and take it in turns.

[midori1999]

It's good practice to always offer the second breast when she comes off the first herself, but she may not want it. You can also then offer the first breast again if your baby still seems hungry.

You say 'from a pain point of view', does this mean it's painful when you feed your baby? If so, that's a sign something isn't right and it might be helpful for someone to check your positioning and latch (they need to really see a full feed for this) as it may need a bit of adjusting, which can make things more comfortable. If that doesn't help and no one has, it might be a good idea for someone who knows what they're doing to check for tongue tie too. It shouldn't be painful to feed your baby.

[midori1999]

Oh, and she won't necessarily 'empty' the first breast before wanting the second either, but babies are very good at knowing when they want to switch. (I say 'empty' as your breasts csn't really be empty)

[ZuleikaD]

Actually it can be painful, just at first, but it should be more comfortable in a few days.

[helsybells]

Thanks Midori. I thought that I was doing something wrong because of the pain, but in hospital midwife assured me it was normal to be uncomfortable to begin with until you get used to it and or your milk comes in. It really hurts to begin but once she settles it's better though still not 100% comfy. They assured me that her/ our latch was good so in the end I accepted and just grin and bear it and hoping for improvement when milk comes in.

So Zuleida you definitely reconfirm what midwife said, but Midori confirms what I always understood to be correct. Hmmm...

....it's all v confusing!!

[ZuleikaD]

Tender nipples aren't used to all that sucking!

[MigGril]

it's a myth that it will hurt to start with. it often does and then gets better a baby learns themselves to latch more efficiently. But this doesn't mean that with the right adjustments that you can't get pain free feeding from the beginning.

As op says you need some one to watch the whole feed from start to finish and see if there are any slight adjustments that can be made to make it less painful.

So yes feeding can be painful in the beginning and get better on it's own, but it doesn't have to be with the right support.