Newborn, how much expressed milk and other advice!

[LittlePandaBear]

My son is just 3 days old. Despite being told in hospital that his latch was perfect many times, nipples are so sore and it's very painful to feed.I started using shields whichever have helped and can see that the latch is fine with them. I had a c section and it's difficult moving properly at the beginning to ensure a good latch.

My milk came in yesterday morning and they're so uncomfortable and rock hard, even after a feed they don't feel any better. I'm thinking of expressing to relieve some pressure but not sure how much to aim for as I'm worried about DS getting too much and making him sick. He's been happy on the breast despite my problems.

I went through this all with DD 3 yrs ago and managed a combination of breast, expressed and formula for the first 2 or 3 months before moving to formula only. I should know what I'm doing but find it so tough and it's getting me down. I want him to keep getting my milk whether from breast or bottle but also can't cope with the breast agony along with my c section pains!

Help and advice please? Xx

[sleepyhead]

Be careful about overstimulating your supply by pumping too much. As you know, it's all about supply and demand and at this stage your breasts haven't calibrated themselves and are oversupplying (also I've read that fluids given during labour - ie a drip) can affect things, don't know whether this is true or not). If you pump too much it'll throw things out for longer.

Your ds's stomach is tiny and very small amounts of milk frequently are needed rather than lots at once. I expressed for a couple of weeks at about the same stage as you and was giving 2oz at a time, roughly every 3 hours, but basically on demand. I also expressed fairly frequently (trying as far as possible to anticipate a feed - tricky!) so that I was expressing about as often as ds2 fed, including through the night.

Got to say it was much easier once we were directly bf so do try to get more help with your latch if you can. Good luck!

[AnythingNotEverything]

Have you got Lansinoh for your nipples? Application before and after every feed should help.

You could hand express a little in the bath or shower to ease the fullness - I appreciate this may be tricky after a section.

I don't want to suggest that you should just put up with it, but it does sound like a fairly typical experience for day three.

I agree with pp about not over stimulating your supply - you could yet convince your body you've had twins and make things worse!

Congratulations on your new baby.

[crikeybadger]

If your nipples are sore, it's painful to feed and your breasts don't feel softer after a feed, then it might be worth getting your latch checked again. Also might be useful to rule out tongue tie.

You could just hand express a little milk off just till you feel more comfortable or try some reverse pressure softening to enable your baby to get on to the breast easier.

How are the poos? Starting to change colour from black to green?

Are you getting a mw visit soon? Would be good to chat things through.

[LittlePandaBear]

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I get your points about expressing likely to increase supply rather than help boobs go down, so haven't expressed yet.
Boobs are still rock hard and sore, one worse than the other, even after a feed. He's definitely getting lots of milk from me and poos are now greeny. Still using shields and it ensures his latch is right so sticking with them. I think the main discomfort was from the incorrect latches whilst I was in hospital rather than now.
Have discovered a biggish lump in my armpit this evening which has made me worry, but a quick google shows that it's all linked to my milk, it's on the side that my boob is most full. Tried massaging it while feeding but doesn't help, need to try hot flannel next before running out of ideas.
I find this all so tough, although I know Ds is getting what he needs. Now considering using formula for a night feed to start to reduce supply a little and make myself more comfortable, and forgetting the expressing altogether. Dh hates seeing me stress over this and thinks I should use bottles so I'm happier. Not sure which way to go :(

[EirikurNoromaour]

Surely giving formula at night would make the engorgement worse? That doesn't seem like a very good idea.
It's early days, I know it's horrible at times but it will settle down soon.

[Lorelei353]

Everything you're doing sounds great and totally normal. It is really tough at the start but things do settle down.

[Bumpiemalumpie]

By, I was the same at your point just over a week ago. I pumped a few times and it all calmed down. You are doing fabulously. keep going and join our cluster feeders anonymous thread!!

[Madamecastafiore]

Dd is 12 week snow and she was DC 3 and by god I thought this part was worse than c section and late pregnancy.

Have a nice warm bath and manually push the milk out, especially from far back so you avoid more lumps. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with the pain and remember it will be over very quickly. I felt so much better after about 4 days.

I'd avoid giving baby expressed milk or formula until your supply is regulated or you could end up over stimulating and being in more pain or not stimulating enough as the pump doesn't stimulate the same as a baby.

Good luck though, it's shit but cake and being spoilt helps.

[crikeybadger]

Agree with others....if you are not removing any milk from the
Breast either by direct feeding or by just giving formula then you may put yourself at risk of mastitis.

Keep massaging the lump and feed as much as you can to release the blockage. Sounds like your baby is getting good amounts of milk which is great, but just be careful to keep the milk flowing or you could end up with more problems.