Breastfeeding woes

[Mybreastmilktastesgross]

DD is 6 days old and I am trying to breastfeed. I have flat nipples and am struggling to get her to latch. I have tried nipple shields but I’ve also got really large breasts so I am struggling to get into a good holding position as well

I am currently expressing to keep my milk supply up as I’m worried the supply will stop but the milk also tastes gross! It tastes really sour. (I’m not deliberately drinking my breast milk but I was syringe feeding DD today and I squirted a bit in my mouth and it tasted sour. I just expressed some milk half an hour ago and got DH to try and it is still gross). I want to breastfeed her as I know it’s better for her but I don’t want to give her something that tastes rancid

I don’t know what to do! I’ve tried contacting a breastfeeding support group but no one has gotten back to me. Should I just give up?

[Mybreastmilktastesgross]

Anyone?

[Crunchie14]

Hiya, I'm not sure on the milk tasting funny but could you phone your birth centre? I know where I am they will send a midwife out to come and see you or just talk things through over the phone?
As for the big boobs, have you tried the rugby hold position? I once saw a lactation consultant who recommended rolling up a thin blanket and popping it under the boob to lift it slightly so the nipple is in a better position for baby to latch!

Hopefully someone is along soon with some advice regarding the milk taste! x

[Whisky2014]

Hi ok, I don't have kids but I'm pregnant with my first.

I don't think breast milk tastes like normal milk tbh so I don't think sour tasting is anything to worry about but someone else on here can correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, re. The hold I heard there's one called the right ball or something and you hold baby as if you're carrying a rugby ball under your arm whilst getting baby to latch.
Speak to midwife for help?
I'm sure it will all be fine just persevere and congratulations!!

[Whisky2014]

Heh snap crunchie!

[le42]

I have quite large breasts and flat nipples and have been using the nipple shields for the past 5 weeks... in what way are you finding them don’t help? - I might be able to advise.

I’m sure there is nothing wrong with the taste of your milk...

Do you live near a breastfeeding support group...? The health visitor should be able to advise

[le42]

They don’t help**

[AntiHop]

Is there a breastfeeding drop in group you can get to? also try www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/

[FetchezLaVache]

I wouldn't worry about the taste of your milk - if it's just come out of your boob, it can't possibly be 'off'. Plus, I once made myself a latte using my own breast milk (I know, I know) and it was BEYOND AWFUL. < not envy

Get onto your local community midwife team, they should come out and try and help. I had a flat left nipple and they suggested expressing a bit before latching, to pull it out a bit. That and nipple shields did the trick for us!

[acidbrass]

Congratulations on your new baby and sorry to hear you're having a difficult time. It took me quite a long time to get the hang of breastfeeding with my first baby, but once we got the knack there was no looking back. One resource I found helpful was the NCT support line, I think it is staffed by breastfeeding counsellors and is open late at night, till midnight maybe? www.nct.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
good luck with it all x

[EyeDrops]

For good advice, look up la leche league - they have a helpline and may have a group that meets in your area for breastfeeding help. You should still be under midwife care, so give them or your HV a ring in the morning and they should be able to come and see you.

Regarding taste, is it possible you have high lipase? There's nothing wrong with that, it only affects taste, which can be remedied by scalding the milk after expressing.

Also check out the Facebook group Breastfeeding Younger Babies and Beyond - I found it really helpful with my dd.

Sorry I don't have any more direct advise!

[FrowningFlamingo]

@le42 don't want to derail the thread too much but do you feel you get a decent latch with the shields? I've been using them for four weeks and we are managing but I feel like he's nipple feeding a lot and I often feel a bit bruised, plus get milk blebs. Just wondered if you have any tips? Planning to get to breastfeeding clinic next week hopefully...

[le42]

@frowningflamingo — in all honesty they aren’t ideal at all. I’m not sure about you but I started with them as I couldn’t get him to latch (we had to formula feed in hospital as a blood loss in me resulted in milk not coming in) I then found it hard to get him on and in some ways they are a godsend but I would prefer not to use them. I have quite flat nipples so coming off them is proving tricky as my nip is so small compared to the teat.

I went to a breastfeeding drop in and this was their advice ....

• pop it inside out to create the suction when you put it on
  

• stretch it wide over the nipple to get as much breast tissue as possible
  
• make sure babies mouth is really wide before putting in
  
• if baby starts just doing lots of short shallow sucks latch them off, wait a bit then put back on
  

I do find I have sore nipples still... but it’s hard to do ideal latch at 3am when you are shattered! 😣

How are you finding them?

[FrowningFlamingo]

Similar... I know I've got a bit lazy about putting them on and basically just shove them on. I have an inverted nipple on one side and the baby has an overly recessed jaw so they've been a lifesaver but I also hate them 😆 i aim to offer without every feed but frequently forget - path of least resistance I suppose :/

[le42]

I came off them for two days even though he was crying I persevered - it was really hard. Then he got a cold and was exhausted and wouldn’t feed very well, I was worried about how much he was taking in so I put them back on 🙄

I find feeding in public with them hard as I need two hands to get it in position.

Oh dear! Maybe we need to just be patient... it’s better to be using them and BFing than not!

Good luck to you!!!

[FrowningFlamingo]

Glad to know I'm not the only one at least!

[MaverickSnoopy]

Re taste, breastmilk is usually sweet tasting. It might not taste nice to you but it's usually sweet, nor sour. Agree about the scalding thing - I know someone who had to do this with all expressed milk or she couldn't freeze it.

My 2.8yo has been very ill lately and I decided to give her some of my expressed milk for the healing properties. She hasn't bf since she was 6mo but she drunk it and was fine with it. She also doesn't like things that have a sharp taste so I definitely think she would have noticed if it had been sour.

[Namechangeymcnamechange11]

Op I had the same troubles with latch with large boobs, especially when engorged. The best advice I had was to try the 'post box' approach. Squish your boob just behind the nipple, so it's easier for them to get in. If you're a bit engorged, hand express your first let down into a muslin.