BF trouble

[Trudyla]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new here and I hope you can help me.

My daughter is 9 weeks old and I have been breastfeeding her. I didn't find it very easy at all and struggled very much in the beginning but somehow we got through it and it got a bit easier eventually. However, I never got to the stage where I enjoyed it or it felt comfortable.

For a few days now though it seems to have taken a turn to the worse again. She latches off all the time, pulls on my nipples, cries in frustration and doesn't seem to get enough milk like she used to.

My nipples had been finally pain free but the pain and soreness is back with a vengence.

My breasts feel much emptier as well as if I am not producing enough milk anymore. Is that possible? The milk used to just shoot out in all directions when I tried to latch her on but there is nothing like that happening now.

I used to express some milk in the morning to help establish my supply and have stopped that a few days ago. Could that have anything to do with it?

I would greatly appreciate any advice. I really don't know what to do anymore and am feeling so annoyed and helpless and frustrated.

Thanks in advance,

T x

Welcome to Mumsnet. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time - breastfeeding is difficult at the start but well done for getting so far. Okay, there are a couple of possibilities:

(1) Your daughter may be ill - unlikely but if at all possible see your GP to rule this out
(2) Your position is wrong. If you have her positioned right she should not be able to pull on your nipple as she will have a wide gap. You need to bring her to you, not let her lunge at your boobs.

Do you have a health visitor who can watch you feed? Or have you tried Kellymom.com etc. for positioning diagrams?

Hello T

I really feel for your struggling. I have BF two babies and have to say it's the hardest thing I have ever done so well done for getting this far.

I'm not an expert but in my experience I would think that she is just having a growth spurt and getting frustrated with her feeds which will pass. As you are having pain I would second whomovedmychocolate and think that your latch is wrong. I found www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk to be my saviour. There is a telephone helpline and there are local groups where you can go and feed. Are there HV run groups near you too?

The best piece of advice I had was to line your baby up correctly for a feed. Start off which her head inbetween your boobs. Then move her over so that her nose is in line with your nipple. She will should open her mouth wide and tilt her head back so she takes your nipple properly.

I wouldn't worry about not having enough milk. It's hard to know what is coming out but it is perfectly natural for your boobs to be softer as you get more established. This doesn't mean you don't have enough milk. At 9 weeks you are definitely settling down with your supply so please don't worry.

I really hope this helps and good luck!

It does sound like typical growth spurt behaviour - babies are often very fussy at the breast, not just drinking more.

Your breasts becoming softer is a sign that your supply is adjusted well to her needs - it really doesn't suggest that you haven't got enough milk.

The same is true of the milk spraying out. I used to spray everywhere, but for months and months now i've never had that.

There's info on growth spurts & fussy feeding from Kellymom here and here.

Around 6-8 weeks is a time when many babies are at their most unsettled, so this may be having an effect, just a bit late.

Try using Lansinoh cream on your nipples as often as you can.

We had a local breastfeeding cafe where you could get help on positioning / latching.

Well done on getting this far - hope it improves soon.

Thank you so much for your quick help.

I didn't expect my breast to start feeling less full. I suppose I will have to get used to that.

I had my latch checked before and haven't changed anything really, so I don't think it's that.

However, things do seem to have improved a bit, so maybe it really was just a growth spurt. I'll see how the next few days go and if things continue to improve.

Thanks again,

T

:)

And your breasts often get even less full as time goes on. At 3.5 months, when DS suddenly slept for long periods at night, I was woken with engorgement and very full breasts. He did a similar thing (multiple night wakings to sleeping longer stretches) at 7 months and I would have hardly been able to tell by the difference in my breasts.

I could have written your original post, Trudyla - softer breasts, baby pulling like mad halfway through a feed (OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!) and lots of feeding. Even though I know, I really do know that nothing has diminished my supply and that if anything, DS is feeding a bit more to ramp it up - I get worried. He's not been dropping off the nipple with that sated look recently, and it worries me...

I think it's just how this parenting thing works. The baby switches it up all the time, and we worry endlessly about what it all means!

Ah, that dropping off with a drunken/full look does stop as well. :( 'Tis normal.

Oh really? That IS sad, as it was one of the best parts!

Oh, I know. Feeding to sleep is the next best thing, though. :)

Unfortunately things have turned bad again :(

She is still very fussy on the right side but nothing I can't live with.

However, my left nipple is so bad now that it makes me cry everytime she drinks from it. I wonder if this could be thrush. Or is it more likely just sensitive from all the pulling and fussing? It hurts really bad when she starts drinking and it doesn't stop even after I have finished feeding. The nipple looks red but it doesn't itch. I can't see any thrush signs in her mouth. She has a bit of a sore bum but nothing major.

I haven't taken any antibiotics.

I have covered my nipple in Lansinoh cream but nothing seems to help and I'm beginning to dread to feed from that side.

I think the next time I will try a nipple shield to see if it hurts less but she is not so keen on drinking from that.

Oh dear, when will this ever improve? I'm really fed up with breast feeding :(