5 day old daughter - I'm struggling to keep on breastfeeding - please help!!

[ComeTalkToMe]

I have my beautiful 5 day old daughter curled up on my chest sleeping but only 5 mins ago she was screaming at me trying to feed her and I'm not sure what to do!

Every time I feed her since last night she is screaming, pulling off the breast and crying till very red in the face. She sometimes gets a few sucks of milk in too! I am getting very distressed and worried as her screams sound to me like she's in pain. I just sent my husband to get ready made formula but by the time he got back she had fed enough not to need it. I am really worried now, as this seems like it will continue all night. I have very large (34K) breasts and I'm worried she's not latched on well enough although she has had loads of wet and dirty nappies so must have been getting latched on until now I think. Does anyone have any advice?? Thanks, I'm desperate...

I am embarrassed to say that I gave her 3oz of formula at 2am after lots of tears all round. She has since fed three times ok and I've expressed some for tonight so I'm hoping I can come back from this...

Embarassed? Why? If you felt that was needed to get you through that night, it got you through the night.

If you want to breastfeed, try to avoid formula (it will impact your milk supply) but in the middle of the night when most of the breastfeeding lines are closed, sometimes you just need to try something different and that's ok.

You CAN come back from this. This one formula feed will NOT impact your breastfeeding. It's just that if you keep using formula it is very likely to do so.

Expressing is an option but really it might end up causing you more stress at this stage. Are you going to be able to make the breastfeeding group today?

Don't be embarrassed!! Nothing wrong with formula - especially if it got you all some rest and peace-of-mind.

Hopefully your midwife can help you out today. And perhaps you'll feel a little more comfortable trying breastfeeding again, when you know your baby isn't going to starve.

Of COURSE you can bounce back/keep going! Good luck x x x

I'm very happy at the moment, midwife was out today and baby has only lost 2oz, so less that 2% of body weight - so maybe things will be fine! Told her about the formula and she said if you were that stressed you need to do something and now I'm a bit calmer after weighing I might not need to do again!

She had a look at me feeding and has made some suggestions which were helpful. Her main one was to try and relax as if she does latch on I sooo don't want her to start crying again I don't move, even if it's a bit painful or my position is really uncomfortable so just need to keep going and hopefully my confidence will improve.

I'm still going to phone one of the helplines and go to breastfeeding support on Monday. Mumsnet has been an absolute saviour to me - thanks!

Fantastic news .

Hope the weigh in gives you confidence that things are fine and you are doing well.

Thanks guys

I am feeling a lot better in general today as well which is good, long may it continue!

Congratulations on your baby and your determination with you bfing. The thing that made the difference for me was getting the positioning right as well as the latch being good. I held DD in the cross cradle hold to begin with so if feeding from R boob holding her with left arm. Had to make sure not to put fingers on the back of her head, nose clear of boob and chin tucked in, and her body flat across mine. This made such a difference to us and she became so much calmer during feeding and stopped screaming and pulling off.
We are now nearly 7 weeks on and it really does get so much easier even by now.
Hope it keeps on getting easier for you x

Just saw this and sounds like everything is going well for you now :) but wanted to say the breastfeeding clinic at St Johns in Livingston is on Wednesday afternoons - they are absolutely lovely, really really helpful and you can just walk in. Would definately recommend if you've got any little worries :o

OP, I can't really offer any advice, but if you are near enough to get into Edinburgh easily, I attend a great BF support group/BF cafe at Ikea on a Tuesday morning at 10.30 -11.30 (although it usually goes on until later than that) Lovely, lovely HV there and sometimes an Infant feeding person who can watch you feed etc.

Also, if it's any help to you, there are several BF clinics in the city, they are:

Simpson BF Clinic
Simpson Centre
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
EH16 4SA
Mondays 10am-12 noon.

Leith BF Clinic
Leith Community Treatment Centre
EH6 5JA
Tuesdays 12.30-14.30

St Johns BF Clinic
St. Johns Hospital
Livingston
EH54 6PP
Weds 14.00- 1600

Tollcross BF Clinic
Tollcross Health Centre
Ponton Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9QQ
Fridays 9am-11am

I hope these help.

Sorry, just to add, they are all walk ins.

Thanks so much for your messages. I'm going to go to a group in Mayfield on Monday midori1999 but I might try the Ikea one as well - is it a woman called Elaine, I think she visited our antenatal class in Bonnyrigg?

Feeding is continuing to be challenging but I think in general is going well. She still gets upset at the breast sometimes and I have a crack in my nipple so I think there may be a problem with my latch although midwife didn't see one - hopefully seeing someone at a group may help.

Hope everyone's well and again thanks xx

Yes, the HV there is called Elaine. It's finished until after New Year now 'officially', but we're all still going to sit around drinking hot chocolate and coffee and chat support each other.

Good luck at Mayfield.