please help - don't know what to do

[Engelbert]

Does anyone have any advice on the following?

Baby is 2 and a half weeks old and feeds every hour during the day I'm always feeling, burping or charging nappy. I now have mastitis one one side and cracked nipples on both. It's too painful to feed him so today I've been trying to express to give it all a chance to heal, (have been smothering in lansinoh and jelonet) but can't pump enough to keep him happy so he's now having formula as well.

I just can't face another day and night where he's crying with hunger and I'm crying as feeding hurts and through frustration.

The midwives and nursery nurse have watched a feed and think the latch is ok, so don't really know what to do? He is putting on weight well and lots of dirty & wet nappies so that side is ok. It only normally hurts for about a minute ish after latch on but it REALLY hurts, I scream in pain - or am I just a wimp and need to get used to it? I have tried nipple shields but they didn't help - he wouldn't open his mouth wide enough when I was wearing them for some reason and just sucked the nipple in. He does have a slight tongue tie but the midwife, nursery nurse and hv have all looked and said that it shouldn't interfere with feeding as he can stick his tongue over his gums/ jaw.

I'm getting to the stage where I'm really dreading and resenting feeding him but don't want to give up on breastfeeding.

Please hang in there and ring the NCT breastfeeding helpline when they start up again at 8am. they have breastfeeding councellors all over the country and you don't have to be a member.

The number is 0300 330 0771.

Have you tried painkillers? Take some paracetemol and it should take the edge of the pain.

i had a section with DS1 and I swear it was the cocodemol that got me through .

It's difficult to post on forums like this as noone can say that there isn't an underlying problem, although the nurses checking the latch sounds like a good thing.

My local children's centre had a breastfeeding drop in centre which I found very helpful.

It's really hard but he is still very tiny and hopefully it will get easier. I found that week 3 was a real turning point.

you poor thing! I'm no expert but hope you get some expert help soon. MN saved my sanity in the middle of the night this summer - you're not alone!

Is there a bf cafe near you? Recommend calling the number bike posted, but you also want a qualified bf person to see you in the flesh, imho. Was the only way I got my 'that looks fine' latch sorted properly so it didn't hurt! Would different positions while your poor nips heal? side-lying helped me.

you can take paracetamol and ibuprofen when breastfeeding, and I guzzled them in the first 3 weeks - if you're holding off on them for some reason, get a biig jar. I'm sending you some you're-not-alone vibes. And congratulations on your lovely new DS. :)

It felt unbelievable even 2 weeks ago, but the stage where they want to feed all the time DOES end. I just got to 6 weeks and (touch wood) things are measurably better and easier than when I was posting on here in the middle of the night with bloody nipples and a screaming baby!

Best of luck!

Engelbert are you in the uk? If so all of the advice given so far is great, the helplne and the baby cafes, paracetamol etc.

Here is some information on tongue tie. If you think it is causing you problems then you should push for it to be sorted out.

Sounds like you could do with Breastfeeding Counsellor and quick. You could try your local branch of NCT, La Leche League or Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. They all have breastfeeding counsellors and there should be at least one in your area. They all also have helplines and some are 24 hour. If you aren't in the UK then La Leche League is interanational.

Two and a half weeks is still very early and it will get better. Your LO is putting on weight and that is all down to you.

Congratulations on your LO.

If you've got mastitis you really need to feed on that side to get rid of it. Sorry- it must be painful to do that.

Can you try feeding in a different position to see if that helps- rugby ball perhaps?

As every one has said you need more help on this one - be it from your mw, or a bf counsellor. Hope you can get someone to see you today.

Good luck.

Oh bless you - my baby has days like this, it DOES get better - perhaps your LO is approaching the three week growth spurt - this was hell for me, fed all day, slept for less than 5 hours in 24 but then when it finished she slept for most of the following day!

I had HV's, and Midwives a plenty telling me my latch was fine. It was a bf councellor who spotted DS's tongue tie. She told me that it's often the ones which don't look too bad that cause the most pain. We had his snipped and the difference was amazing. Don't be afraid to push for help. x

Also, my DS's tongue tie was 'very slight' but getting it snipped was the difference between feeding him hurting and not hurting, for me - so I suggest getting it fixed asap, your nipples will thank you! And yes to the 3 wk growth spurt though my DS hasn't read the manual and fed all the time days 12-14 and 22-23 .. ah well!

JHi thank-you so much for all your replies. Am feeling happier now - have just fed him with no pain! Will still try and see a lc though as really want to get sorted.

The tounge tie thing is interesting. I've been categorically told they won't do it in this pct so would need to have it done privately...

Glad you've had a pain free feed.

Stick with it - things will get better.

I am in the same boat, its a bummer huh

they say @it only hurts if you are not doing it properly@ but judging from here it hurts alot of women

one thing that helped me was nipple direction

I have tried to point nipple upwards, such that his nose is free and the boob touches his chin, does that make sense? that helped as I noticed before I was doing it the other way round and it hurt more

the other night I actually swore out loud and hit wall when feeding, it fucking HURTS

def call the line and make sure you are eating enough

one other thing we did was to drip formula onto my nipple, that way he was sucking my nipple, so no confusion etc and the sucking still boosted supply, but he got some food. he then slept for a few hours and my supply went back a bit

good luck

I'm glad you had a pain free feed too. It might be worth contacting a local Bfing Counsellor to see if they have any experience of your PCT and tongue tie.

Brilliant news that you've had a pain-free feed. I remember a few weeks ago sobbing that I can't do it, and yet I can't possibly give formula due to allergies - horrible. SO painful. Yet I easily fed my first for 15 months so felt so upset that it was all going wrong. The NCT BF counsellor was wonderful and she convinced me it would get better and within just a couple more weeks it did and now it's wonderful. I'm even expressing extra to donate to the local SCBU.

Definately push about the tongue tie. They won't do it? WHY? Would they if it was more severe? I agree about pushing that. Also second (third?!) the paracetamol thing or co-codamol (with advice only) - avoid ibuprofen though.

Fantastic that its improving and it will get much better. Well done for pushing through and I'm sure it will come together for you :)