Never thought BF counld be so hard

[Gina1981]

DD is over 8 weeks now and EBF, but I never thought it was going to be this hard!

Ive been to bf clinic twice this week as I've been so close to giving up! I've started many threads on here re feeding as its been so difficult!

After 8 weeks of question re poo colour, being unsettled bla bla I've now come to the conclusion that she isn't getting a full feed and snacking instead! Sol I'm now on a journey to resolve this! If I'm being honest in so tired and fed up I'm now thinking is any of this worth it!

I don't know how long to keep going until I lose my mind! I have 2 other DC and I hardly have any time for them!

Advice please xxx

Hi Gina.
Hopefully tiktok will be along shortly to advise how long the 'blocks' should be from - but from what's been said above, anything between 3-24 hours. It will probably take you 2-3 days to notice a reduction, and you might feel a bit of discomfort as your breasts adjust. From what you've said, you've not used your left breast for 12 hours now, so I would probably use that next. It probably feels very full this morning as you're more rested (relatively!) and I seem to remember I always felt much fuller in the mornings.

However, I think nappymaestro is right in that you don't want to risk blocked ducts, so to relieve the feeling of engorgement in the breast you've not used, you might want to apply a cold compresses to relieve any inflammation, and perhaps take an ibuprofen.

If you find it getting very engorged, Savoy cabbage used to work for me when I had oversupply - basically get a couple of fresh Savoy cabbage leaves - not the outside ones, but the next layer down. Bash them with a rolling pin, or score with a veg knife, then wear inside your bra on the affected breast (2 or 3 leaves) for about 20mns, no more than 3 times a day. It's a very effective way of suppressing milk production, so you don't want to overdo it. It might help you in this case though.

I would think your milk supply will have adjusted to the new supply-and-demand regime you've got going by tomorrow or Tuesday, so hang on in there

x-posted!

tiktok dc5 was exactly like this and i listened to the advice i was given and heeded it. He too did many green poos and the technique i suggested rectified things

you may think it 'wrong' my experience on hv advice suggests otherwise

otter, I explained clearly why you were wrong about gushing breasts. I didn't comment you were wrong about anything else. You, and your HV, are still wrong if you still think that block nursing in the way described leads to gushing breasts.

Gina - how's it going today?

DD was diagnosed today with Tongue tie. She has had it correct and have been shown how to latch her on properly. So I guess the next couple of days we shall see the difference! Fingers crossed!!!

I never mentioned block nursing tiktok

So pleased Abput the diagnosis gina let's hope it makes all the difference

I think we have both misunderstood each other's posts, Otter.

Gina, hope this is real progress.....I think someone else had ruled out TT on a previous occasion, is that right?

I'd seen many professionals and some had said that she wasnt TT. I'm so sad that it's taken 9 weeks to be noticed!

DD has really been through it today! She also had her 1st immunisations today too!

There is still clicking and the latch isn't quite right still! I'm hoping that we start to make some progress very soon! Think I'm in for a long night!

I'm finding it so hard to latch her on! I'm hoping it gets better! I dont think I can through anymore. I feel so let down by the nhs! I can't believe they missed it!

Gina - have you tried biological nurturing - laying back semi reclined, skin to skin with baby (no bra/top for you, just nappy on baby, blanket over both of you if the room is a bit chilly). Gentle stroking of her back and sides, with her on your tummy/chest and letting her attach herself.

It gets the oxytocin flowing and can trigger feeding reflexes in her (help her by gently hand expressing a tiny bit so there is milk on your nipples for her to follow).

Hope you are ok.

Hi Gina. Glad you have been given some practical help at long last, and loved TruthSweet's suggestion for some skin-on-skin nursing. Fingers crossed that things start improving for you now, and I hope you get a decent amount of rest tonight - it's hard to be positive at this time in the evening when you're surviving on so little sleep. You will feel different about it all in the morning.

Big hugs emoticon. That baby is dead lucky to have a mum who is so dedicated. Your older DCs will be chuffed to see the amount of love, care and sheer bloody-mindedness that their mother has put into their nurturing. Have a good night.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I really want this to work. I still haven't managed to latch her on properly and she hasn't fed properly all day! I can only pray that after a goodnights sleep and with a new day that the nightmare ends!

I can see why so many people give it up. I've been so near to giving it up. If I hadn't carried on I guess I wouldn't have found out about her TT.

Does anyone have any idea how long it might take her to adjust? After 9 weeks is it even possible? I know I should remain positive but Im feeling a little deflated right now.

some people report an instantaneous change in feeding once tie is sorted Gina but as she is already nine weeks it could take longer....

I really hope it makes a difference and you can settle down now and not worry, i often find ten weeks is a bit of a 'watershed' with bf anyway and it all gets a bit better from here on in!

DD is still not latching on properly! I'm so tired of this all! I definitely need to get more help. I think after 9 weeks I'm fed up! I'm nit sure how much I have in me to keep on with this!! I w

Oops pressed post too soon .....

I woke up this morning with 2 very engorged breasts so I really need to start feeding properly otherwise I can see mastitis in the near future!!

Sorry I haven't had time to read the whole thread. I would say don't panic about the green poos- my Ds had them for 4 months- and multiple times a day sometimes up to 8. He was putting on weight- probably because he was feeding so often but we were told not to worry that he probably had a slightly immature gut where things weren't being absorbed quite the same and so things went through him very quickly. Apparently it is fairly common. By 4 months his bowel obviously matured and his poos went mustard coloured and every other day.

I spent ages thinking it was all these things- foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, trying out one breast and then the other, stopping eating certain things but no amount of change of feeding helped and just stressed me out. The Hv and gp said as long as he was putting on weight it didn't matter- it nearly killed me feeding him that often especially at night but we got through it. Turns out my MIL had the same problem with my dh but they told her it was fine and she never panicked once as it was the olden days and there was a total lack of information available.

One of the other women in our bfing group had the green poo thing with her ds and for her it turned out to be lactose intolerance but her ds struggled to put on weight. If he is putting on weight then chill - gp said she'd seen all manner of colour of baby poos.

I find so much comfort in all these positive experiences everyone has posted. Last feed wasn't too bad. I just want to say a huge thank you for everyone's advice and support. You've all really helped me keep going and I hope to come along and help others in the near future!

I'll keep you all posted to how we are getting on xxx

Omg, DD isn't latching on properly!!! I was also told that the TT may regrow if DD doesn't stick her tongue out further!! I feel like I'm slowly going insane! I thought I could cope but my patience has run a little dry after 9 weeks.

What do I do? I can't physically force DD to bring her Tongue out more!!