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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Argh! What are we doing wrong? (Long, sorry)

22 replies

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 24/04/2011 21:04

hello all, back again with the bf problems. Yet again, we hit the weekend and it all goes wrong. DD is 3 wo tomorrow, and dispite a really useful session at local bf support group on Thursday we are struggling again. Friday night she wanted to feed every hour or so. Wouldn't have been a problem but I got so sore I couldn't bear to let her near me. Cue household in tears again. Managed to express and fed her with the bottle. When she woke at 2am on Saturday tried her back on the boob and she fed fine. Fed ok Saturday morning, then went out to park in the afternoon and she slept until we got home. Bad evening of fussiness but we struggled through. She fed at 1am and then we all slept thru til 6. Fed again and went back to sleep til 9. Now, for the whole day she has refused to feed "properly". I latch her on, she gives 2 or 3 sucks, then stops. Kept persevering all day, boobs ended up the size of footballs and rock hard, keep trying DD all day but still just 2 sucks then gives up, screaming at me so I know she's hungry, she just won't suck. After calling emergency Dr who said not to worry as she's still wetting nappies (!) finally express off 10ozs worth so that we can get something inside her and I can relieve my boobs. She's now had 5ozs from a bottle and is sleeping peacefully. So, after all that, I'm now worried we've killed off the bf'ing. has anyone else been in this situation? Can we recover the bf'ing? Thank you.

OP posts:

PorkChopSter · 24/04/2011 21:10

Poor you. Now, I don't think one or two bottles of ebm is the end of the road but it is the end of a long day. As the day has gone on I guess the both of you have got more frustrated and it has got more difficult for her to latch as you have got more engorged.

Is there one size or position she seems to feed more from? Is she very windy?

RitaMorgan · 24/04/2011 21:13

Is there a latch problem making you sore?

There's some info here on Kellymom which could help.

Could it be a physical problem like thrush in her mouth, earache which is putting her off?

lilham · 24/04/2011 21:15

I'm not an expert with bf, but the number of feeds sound very infrequent to me for a 3 wo. If you look at www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

A newborn is supposed to be feeding 10-12 times a day. That is around once every 2-3 hours. You mentioned your boobs are rock solid. Are your aerola very hard too? Babies can have trouble latching on if the aerola isn't soft. You can try hand expressing to soften it up.

lilham · 24/04/2011 21:17

Do you have the phone number of your local bf counsellor? Or LLL or NCT bf hotline? Talking to a bf counsellor might help.

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 24/04/2011 21:18

Thanks for replying. She's not really windy, no more than usual I'd say. We are normally better on my left rather than my right, but today it's all been hopeless. She's fast asleep now after the bottle so I'm planning to offer her the boob when she's next hungry but have ebm just in case she still won't suck until I can see someone on Tuesday - having read about nipple confusion I'm worried this weekend might stop us from going back to normal
Bf'ing.

OP posts:

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 24/04/2011 21:24

Sorry, took me a while to type cos I'm on my phone. Thanks for all your replies. We have been struggling with feeding since she was born, had lots of help from midwives, local support group etc and I thought we were getting somewhere, however the lack of suck today has really put us back. I don't think she has thrush, I can't see any White in her mouth. She normally feeds roughly every 3 hours or so, sometimes I have to wake her up in order to feed but things were improving. I tried calling national helpline today but there was no answer. Have read la lech league and NCT stuff, my "normal" problem is I'm so sore I don't know if what I'm feeling is normal bf feeling or pain. Expressing to feed is easier for me but I know it's not as good as direct feeding so I do want to get back to that ASAP.

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ZenNudist · 24/04/2011 21:34

Sympathies. 3wo is such early days. I really struggled too but am sat here bf-ing 8mo ds, you can get through this. Keep applying the lansinoh before & after feeds. Get your sore nips out to air, will help heal. They feed so much at first, I'd say 3m, esp in the eve. It gets better & is so easy/ convenient for you once you crack it. I took about 6w-2m to get it. I was going to say is your nipple mouth shaped? You mention being full, which I remember made it hard for babe to feed. I used a latch assist to get nipple definition, or just pump a bit off so nips stand out more. Finally wind is a real issue for young babies. If she's screaming lots she might be taking in air before she can even feed. I found if ds seemed hungry but was popping off screaming (esp in the eve as wind & tiredness accumulates over the day) lots of winding (dh helped) led to a longer feed.

HTH

crikeybadger · 24/04/2011 21:41

Did you get her checked for tongue tie Fuzzy?

crikeybadger · 24/04/2011 22:07

If you're worried about nipple confusion, you can always give cup feeding a try.

Apparently white spots aren't always visible with thrush. You may find this useful if you haven't see it.

Good idea to speak to a BF helpline if you can but I certainly don't think you have killed off the breastfeeding.

Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Tryharder · 24/04/2011 22:10

I read your OP and thought "thrush". Thrush might also account for the pain you are experiencing. Hope you are able to see someone soon and get it sorted. I have found La Leche League very very helpful in assisting me with bf problems in the past but appreciate that it's the bank holiday weekend.

I would advise to do what it takes to get you throught tonight and tomorrow with the view of seeing a bfc on Tuesday. And agree that a couple of bottles of ebm will not "kill" bf.

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 24/04/2011 22:14

Thanks, I am suspicious it may be thrush but will have to wait til Tues to see Dr. Who would be qualified to check her for a tongue tie? HV mentioned it but didn't offer to look so not sure who would.

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RitaMorgan · 24/04/2011 22:21

A breastfeeding counsellor would probably be better able to identify a tongue-tie than an HV, but you'd probably need the HV or GP to refer you to have it snipped.

solvendie · 24/04/2011 22:29

Sorry - don't have much to add but hope it gets better soon. I used cabbage leaves on boobs to relieve the pain. Keep it in the fridge to keep it cool. Apparently there is a chemical in the leaves that helps soreness. Sounds odd but it did work for me.

crikeybadger · 25/04/2011 08:52

Some lactation consultants can also identify and snip a tongue tie- but obviously they do cost money.

If you think this might be an option, you can find a certified one third box down on this page.

Hang on in there.

BoffinMum · 25/04/2011 09:00

I agree, it takes at least a couple of weeks to kill off breastfeeding so do what you need to do to keep milk supply going and avoid soreness for the time being until you can get to a bf group. Anything to avoid you both getting stressed and upset about it.

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 25/04/2011 20:09

Thanks everyone. We've managed to get through the weekend on ebm, will make appointment at Drs first thing tomorrow to get checked out for thrush and go from there.

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DangoDays · 25/04/2011 20:15

Had thrush early on too Fuzzy - were you on antibiotics post birth? They increase the chance of thrush developing. Good luck at docs. Hope you are feeling more comfortable.

MummyElk · 25/04/2011 21:22

fuzzywuzzy i think you need to get a BF cllr to see you at home (or go to her), perhaps not at a clinic per se but individually. where are you? There are plenty of counsellors out there but it's a case of finding them. I would keep trying the helplines, keep trying again and again - most are run by volunteers so sometimes its hard to get hold of them
Have you tried breastfeeding her today at all? well done on EBM - you're doing a great job

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 25/04/2011 22:07

Dango - yes, antibiotic drip during labour, 2 lots of different antibiotic tablets afterwards so prime candidate for thrush.

MummyElk - I'm in Bristol, attended a support group who were very helpful, plan to go again this week. From what I've read & people have said here I think we probably have thrush, especially as we were doing so well after the session on Thurs.

Thank you all for your advice.

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RitaMorgan · 26/04/2011 15:52

If there is a tongue-tie then the tongue-tie clinic at St. Michaels was great for getting it snipped quickly.

Original poster

FuzzyWuzzyWuz · 26/04/2011 18:04

So, we've been visited by the HV and had appt with my Dr. HV suggested reflux or thrush. Dr checked us both over and says nothing wrong with either of us. She says some bf babies get too tired/lazy to suck and need a day or two off to recover. As DD has started feeding from me again today and I trust my Dr (been seeing her for 3 years, she's normally right about stuff) I've agreed to see how it goes over the next couple of days and go back if there are still problems. She says a couple of ebm feeds by bottle every now and then won't hurt.

Thank you all for your advice, here's hoping this weekend goes without incident!

OP posts:

MummyElk · 26/04/2011 22:12

PMd you. how is it now? i have a GREAT contact for you if you want it...
it's not the worse thing in the world that she's taking a bottle. and at least it's bm!! thinking of you. hope it's going ok

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