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Infant feeding

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

Please, I desperately need some help

156 replies

lookout · 30/10/2011 08:56

Here is the background

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1321772-Tongue-tie

My last post is today's situation. I just don't know what to do. I am seriously considering giving up, i dread every feed. I just really need someone to tell me what to do.

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TitaniaP · 01/11/2011 14:54

Glad it's getting easier. I really struggled to feed lying down to begin with but persevered and it's truly a lifesaver. I got the bf MW to show me how (more than once) and its now the easiest and quickest way to calm my DS if he's fretting.

I also have a DS that didn't like being put down and found a sling a lifesaver!!

ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonyourfoot · 01/11/2011 15:04

Haven't got any advice I'm afraid but just wanted to give you a big un-mumsnet it WILL get better

lookout · 01/11/2011 18:12

i am looking forward to being able to feed lying down one day. i need the sleep.

after such a positive session with the mw i've now only been able to manage one good latch since Sad. I really need a break but can't put him down long enough to express a feed for dh to give him.

titania, which sling? it's a minefield! we have bjorn active, but he's not that happy in it yet and i've no idea which sling to get.

thanks for the hug, too, ahyes Smile

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metalelephant · 02/11/2011 00:14

It's great that you found a comfortable position, even though it hasn't worked every time, practice makes perfect I guess so as you persevere it will get easier...

I'm struggling with the never ending feeding sessions myself, but we must remember it's early days and take it one at a time.

Hope today is a better, more painless day for you!

lookout · 02/11/2011 02:11

thanks. we're into that evening cluster feeding when it's pretty much non-stop from 8pm-1am. not easy with latch issues!

i've just put him down in the warmed basket, fingers crossed he'll stay there for a bit. mixed success with the feeding this evening, but yes, it was a better and more painless day today, thank you! and you're right, it is early days, this too shall pass...

trying to remind myself that they're not tiny for long and to make the most of the cuddles! hope you manage some sleep tonight. do you have any kind of routine yet?

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TitaniaP · 02/11/2011 12:41

Lookout - I use a moby which is a stretchy wrap. If you google moby you'll find it - you have to wrap it round yourself and it takes some getting used to but I love it and find it really comfy. There are loads of slings out there though and it's all a matter of personal choice. Lots of people I know don't get on with baby bjorn but I'm sure others love them.

I learnt how to use my wrap by going to a sling meet - there are loads of them all over the country. They often have different slings you can try. Or there maybe a sling library near you too.

I've managed to do washing up, hoovering and tidy the house with DS in the sling!

Hope it all gets easier soon - I know how it feels!

organiccarrotcake · 02/11/2011 14:14

lookout Can you possibly find your way to your local sling meet? www.slingmeet.co.uk

The problem with slings is that they?re very personal. For instance, I?m a very experienced sling user and I own pretty much all types yet I was unable to feed in a Moby. Loads of people can though! I found a pouch to be perfect for feeding a small baby in - yet getting one to fit is a minefield. Really it's best to try a few different ones together with people who know what they're doing with them. Baby Bjorn slings are never one I recommend. They're not comfortable for mums or babies, and they're ergonomically poor (please don't ever wear your baby facing out in one - or in any sling).

For a high needs tongue tied baby they are usually very settled in a good sling. My personal experience with my TT DS2 was that he lived in his sling because he needed to be close to me, have free breast access and it allowed me to care for DS1 (and do the washing!!). I found that nursing tops which have a lift up flap just below the breast was perfect for using within a sling.

You might consider looking at cranial osteopathy. TT babies usually have compression which can be really helped by CO - both to release the tension which helps them to settle better, and to help them to feed more easily.

Your key to success is as deep a latch as possible. The exaggerated latch you've been shown is great (maybe go back for another session?) and rugby hold can help, too.

You're very much not alone. We're BFing at 16 months so it's all possible.

Oh, and beds don't need changing. Honestly, nothing bad is going to happen Grin.

lookout · 02/11/2011 18:35

i now can't get any positio or latch right and am in so much pain, not just in nipples but right through breasts. i don't know what to do.

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metalelephant · 02/11/2011 19:03

Oh poor you, lookout, have you had any luck since your post? When it gets too painful give your breasts a little break, express and give that in a bottle. Remember you have made great progress in the last few days, you have successfully latched your baby a few times, have tried the exaggerated latch and have had some painless feeds. A few days ago that wasn't happening at all, right? So it's bound to get better, there's just a mix of steps forward and steps back.
I'm not saying that lightly, I go through my own little bells everyday, when dd feeds for hours on empty breasts and then screams even when I have offered her both breasts twice... And of course she will still only sleep on me, which in my current state of sleeplessness terrifies me (for her own safety that is).
Sorry of I hijacked your thread, but I just want to say this is bloody hard indeed and we must be proud of every single day we went through and remember the good things, especially when going through a rough patch. Go to another breastfeeding cafe tomorrow and remember that painkillers are your friends! Wink

metalelephant · 02/11/2011 19:05

Oh dear, I meant "I go thorough little helps" rather than bells, but it does sound rather joyous so maybe I'll stick with bells from now on...

metalelephant · 02/11/2011 19:07

If your breast go on hurting go to the gp, maybe you could get an emergency app, in case its mastitis. I also had a lot of breast pain when dd was biting nipples, te pain was radiating far beyond the bitten area.

lookout · 03/11/2011 00:32

have had some good some bad feeds since last post, tried to express and got about half an oz, i guess i was too stressed. i so need to relax and stop stressing about it all, it makes everything seem much worse.

hv came to visit today, she thinks possibilty of thrush, so have appt with gp tomorrow.

metal, you're so right about steps forward and back, i need to be patient with myself, and stop giving myself such a hard time. this thread is helping so much. thank you all.

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metalelephant · 03/11/2011 01:29

This thread is helping me too you know... Wishing you a much happier day today!

TitaniaP · 03/11/2011 08:49

Lookout & metalelephant, I really know where you are both coming from. I could have written so many of your posts a free weeks ago.

I had thrush type pains, but the Infant Feeding Specialist I saw said that it was probably where my son was compressing the nipple causing the pain. Not saying yours isn't thrush, but there are other things that could cause that type of pain.

I second the suggestion to look up a sling meet - my local one is great and we also have a FB page for any queries in between the meets.

I may have misled you slightly when I mentioned the moby. I have never been able to feed in it (or any sling for that matter). However I can at least get other stuff done and DS generally falls asleep in it! The days I wear him a lot he's definitely more settled!

Hope you have a really good day.

TitaniaP · 03/11/2011 08:52

Oh the osteopath has definitely helped. It does sometimes take a few sessions tho'.

lookout · 03/11/2011 13:41

well gp said not mastitis and while there are no thrush symptoms aside the pain, she said to treat it anyway, can't do any harm.

there is a sling meet near me. sadly it was on tues and i couldn't make it so i'll have to wait til next month Sad. i'm not worried about being able to feed in it, just to be able to get on with things!

first two feeds of the day were perfect, next two not so much but at least i know we CAN do it. fed lying down last night too. a bit painful, and took a while to get him to latch, i wonder if i'm not doing it properly. again, we have to keep trying i guess.

thanks both for continuing to post, i am so grateful.

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SESthebrave · 05/11/2011 18:31

Lookout - just thought I'd check in and see how things are going?

TitaniaP · 05/11/2011 22:53

Lookout - saw on your other thread that you've had to have the TT resnipped. Hope things get better for you soon. Do you have a plan in place from the LC?

lookout · 06/11/2011 03:00

yes, had to have it done again today. made an immediate difference on one side, although latch at last feed wasn't that great. the other side though is so badly damaged that anything even touching it causes immense pain. i still can't get a good latch on that side. the last feed on that side was so painful and inefficient (still feels completely full) i'm going to have to express from that side for a few days to give it a chance to heal.

i have exercises from the lc, and i'm going to see her on thurs. one of her colleagues is also an expert babywearer and is bringing her collectio of slings for me to try.

i guess we still have some way to go before bf becomes enjoyable.

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impatienttobemummy · 06/11/2011 04:48

Hi, you have had great advice which I wish I'd had! But just wanted to say... I know how your feeling I felt the same 2 weeks ago, my nipples were so sore I just could not put DS on. He was screaming I was crying! And with a growth spurt he was having at the time I just couldn't cope but desperately wanted to breast feed so I used nipple shields. My nipples were all healed in a few days so took them off and just as suspected he wouldnt latch without them :-(

Now I'm BF with shields which isn't ideal but at least im BFing! What I'm trying to say is that your doing so great keep going! For me without the shields I would have given up so if it gets that bad consider them but bear in mind baby may start to like them too much ;-)

lookout · 06/11/2011 16:47

We have been using shields and they were a life saver for a time. I found though after a week that he was falling asleep within minutes of being on them, he just got tired and couldn't be bothered as the transfer was too slow for him. I am expressing from my bad side and feeding from the other at the moment. Not ideal either and with my nerves in their current state as well as being exhausted, I can't see myself carrying on much longer. I'm at the end of my tether.

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TitaniaP · 06/11/2011 17:57

Lookout - so sorry you're feeling so down. I had the nightmare of my DS not feeding, screaming due to hunger and not gaining weight due to TT but I was never really really sore like you are.
Hope that you manage to get things sorted soon. Has your LC mentioned seeing an osteopath at all?

lookout · 07/11/2011 12:09

no mention of an osteopath, no. we managed one good feed on my bad side last night. today though i had to take him off several times it was so painful. my breast is rock solid and i'm desperately trying to pump it empty, i'm worried about mastitis as he's obviously not emptying it properly himself. what else can i do to prevent it?

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metalelephant · 07/11/2011 12:20

Massage your breast and express gently under a warm shower, the warmth should help. When I did that I would gently press downwards in the areas that felt harder, with a closed fist press my knuckles from the top towards the areola, sort of channeling the milk down, whilst expressing with th other hand. Or use a breast pump and out a warm flannel on the breast. Poor lookout Sad

lookout · 07/11/2011 18:36

how long is it worth putting myself through this. i am trying to work out the answer to this question.

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