Oversupply and long feeds - help!

[craftykamo]

My DS is now 12 days old and I'm really struggling with bf. I had a c-section and struggled to feed for the first few days, meaning I got the latch all wrong and ended up with incredibly sore nipples. I went to see a breastfeeding facilitator earlier this week, we sorted the latch issue but she pointed our that I've got an oversupply issue, I leak regularly, DS has wind and regular explosive green mucousy poos.

I've been trying to block feed in order to ensure he's getting the hindmilk - but this is now leading to feeds that last for hours. The last feed this morning took over two and a half hours, by the end of which I was still producing milk and I don't think DS was fully satisfied. (he's being quite whingy now and I expect I'll have to get him back on again in the next ten minutes - less than an hour after the last feed.)

I'm completely exhausted, feel like I'm chained to my sofa and am close to giving up and going on formula. Are these long feeds normal? What can I do? Is there anything I can do, as my nipples are getting really quite sore after being sucked for so long!

Unfortunately the answer is yes these long feeds are normal in the early days.
When my DD was this age she we would often go hours with only 20 mins or so between feeds so I'd be feeding more often than not. It's very exhausting and frustrating and you feel like you are chained to your baby and the sofa.

I remember taking her to bluewater when she was 2 weeks old thinking that she would sleep more and feed less while we were walking around. Of the 4 hours we were in bluewater, 3 were spent feeding :(

The good news is that this will not last forever. My DD started spacing feeds out a bit by 4 weeks and things showed a notible improvement by 8 weeks. That being said she still cluster fed from 6-10 most nights until she was 12 weeks and even at 22 weeks rarely goes longer than 2 hours without feeding.

The only thing you can do is to go with the flow and wait for her to grow out of it. In the meantime stock up on DVDs or fill up your Sky+ planner and make yourself comfy on the sofa with some christmas goodies.

Could you try talking to someone on one of the phonelines? I'm no expert, but I would've thought that at 12do, you don't need to be worrying about managing down an oversupply yet. But I repeat- I'm no expert- am just suggesting you get a second opinion from someone who is.