im struggling to Breastfeed as got very sensitive nipples but would like to express instead

[biglips]

My dd2 was born yesterday and she sucks hard and a big baby. i know it is painful but i would like to try expressing instead BUT ive been feeding my dd2 SMA bottles all day, apart from this morning at about 9am as she was on my breast.

IT is too late to express them now???

[NotQuiteCockney]

Expressing is less comfortable than feeding in my experience. And more work. You do get used to it, though, whatever you do. And it's by no means too late to move her to breastmilk, however you decide to do it. Please do express now, if that's the most tempting option.

[biglips]

or it is too early to express them??? as ive never expressed them before and i tried with my dd1 but was on bottles on day 2.

[Tryharder]

I'm sure someone will be along later to give you loads of bf advice but I would just like to say that I too have extremely sensitive nipples and found bf very painful at first. But your nipples do toughen up, honestly!

I suppose it's like the first time you insert contact lenses - it's horrible having to touch your eyeball - but after a while, you can poke your own eyes without any problem.

[mazzystar]

congratulations biglips - hope it all went well, what is dd2 called? [off to search for birht announcement]
other people will have better advice than me - thinkiing of you .

[Notquitegrownup]

Hi Biglips

If you want to try expressing, then do, but I too found it more painful than feeding.

Bfeeding shouldn't be painful if the attachment is right. Is there anyone who can watch you attach, and help? Do you have a local breastfeeding clinic or la leche group?

Having said that, I had huge problems feeding ds1 and getting our attachment right. It was agony. I would have given up, if I hadn't used nipple shields whilst getting lots of help, and expressing too, to keep my supply up.

Basically, use what you can - expressing? Shields? to get you through these early days, and see if you can get help to avoid this pain. Remember, it shouldn't hurt if your dd is latched on right. Keep on pestering the experts for some help until it doesn't hurt - it is soooo worth persevering if you can - and definitely ignore anyone (particularly mothers-in-law) who tell you that you just have to grit your teeth and put up with the pain!

Best of luck

[biglips]

prob is that i cant cope with pain at all....honest and i feel happy if i do express them. my nips are still sore from this morning..ive put some the Lin...nipple cream on twice this morning, what can i put on my nips before i express them?

hiya MAzzy...ill email to u tmrw xx

[Notquitegrownup]

Oh and loadsof congratulations too on your new arrival

[sweetkitty]

First congratulations on your DD2

I have had 3 babies and the first few days are nothing like BFing, all 3 have been sore at first to when they latch on but the pain should soon ease off.

I would say that expressing is hard work and yes it can be painful to start off with.

If you want to continue with BFing I would try and put her to the breast as often as possible in the next few days, have a bath with her or just lie with her get laods of skin to skin contact, you need to get her feeding from you as much as possible to stimulate your milk supply.

The problem with bottles is that it won't stimulate your milk so it won't come in properly and could lead to you stopping BFing before you would like to the other thing is she will get used to taking bottles and won't be able to BF effectively and it will stress her and you out.

No it's not too late to express if you want to, you probably won't get much out at this stage if she was only born yesterday don't worry you won't be starving her, the colostrum isn't much at all maybe 5-10mls and is a funny orange colour to start with.

[biglips]

yes there was 2 diff midwives that were there at diff times. yes there is a breastfeeding support group....i think!...will check it out tmrw. i do have a nipple shield which it was ok to use as it just took the edge of the pain away.

[madmouse]

Congrats on dd2

I expressed for the first three weeks as ds in scbu.

agree that expressing is at first v. uncomfortable. ds fed from me twice before he fell in and he was a lot gentler than the machine.

did you bf dd1? Because nipples do toughen up. Are you pale skinned? i am and they say pink nipples are more sensitive. It should become pain free once they are used to it though.

At first you will need to be disciplined as not much will come out when you express. You are only making a few mils of colostrum atm. and maybe nothing will come at first. So limit the time you express and preferably get some help.

Also dd will become better at bf, she is learning too . She is sucking hard because she wants you to establish milk supply.

All the best whatever you decide.

[biglips]

yes im a redhead and white skinned freckly woman! with very pink nips!

will come back as ill have another go of it now using the nips shield

[Pannacotta]

Just to say that I found b-feeding quite painful for the first few days with both my DSs and that it felt much easier and didnt sting once my milk came in (was about day 4/5 with DS1 and day 3/4 with DS2).
As madmouse says it's probably due to your baby sucking very hard to get your milk supply going. My first feed post birth with DS2 was quite painful, felt almost like he was trying to pull my nipple off!
Worth trying to b-feed IMO, expressing is ok but harder work than b-feeding.
(btw am fair skinned too)

[IAteDavinaForDinner]

Congratulations!

Firstly - get your latch checked - BF support group/counsellor or similar will be able to help. Good latch will help, and this becomes more important as your milk comes in in the next day or two.

Secondly - it is normal for it to be painful at first - good advice I was given was to get my baby to latch and count to 8 by which time the pain has lessened - very true IME. I did a lot of biting my lips/stamping on the floor/swearing during those 8 seconds though

Thirdly - I can promise you it will become pain-free with time. You will perfect the positioning, your daughter will get better at feeding and your breasts will settle down.

[tiktok]

biglips - hope you can find an opportunity to speak to someone in person, someone who is knowledgable and understanding. There may be something that can be done about the pain. Expressing will get very little out at this stage 'cos there ain't much there If you feel you have to express, try hand expressing. That way you get more of what is available rather than the drops you do get sticking to the pump tubing.

Using formula is not a great idea if you want to bf, but it is certainly not too late to change back to full bf.

Speak to someone soon!

[mazzystar]

bl -are the community midwives still coming out? I think we have the same midwife group - because D and J are especially good at helping.

There is also a baby cafe run by the health visitors at the Children's Centres at Woo Primary 0151 928 6539 - not sure what day - might be Wednesday. They might be able to help. You are nearer S though, I think they do something similar.

You have my every sympathy because I found bf v painful, esp at first even though latch was pronounced "perfect". It did get better after a few days and I managed a few months with both of them in the end.

Hope you get some support, love to you and L and the babe

[biglips]

ive expressed today and it was successful...and ssooooo much easier than breastfeeding....

my boobs are sooo full so many thanks for the advices and im feeling ssooooo much happier now!