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

I've rang many times and feel like a scratch record!

Quick question - how much of the areola does DD need to latch on to? Does the same amount apply to every woman as they all differ in size?? In my case there is alot!!

Not the same amount - as you rightly say every woman is different!

If she has got enough breast in her mouth (not just the nipple at the end) that it's comfy after the initial latch on and her cheeks are full not sucked in, she has fish lips (lips curled back esp. lower lip - get OH to check), her chin touching the breast and her nose is clear (if it's not and you are nursing in a cradle/cross cradle position, tucking her bottom in closer will help), you can hear swallowing/see little pauses in her chin movement then she has got as much as she needs in.

What is her mouth shape?! DC6 has a lovely but TINY mouth and his latch was rubbish despite me trying every trick in the book... Rugby ball grip helped somewhat but he was still a noisy 'clicky' feeder and I was sore for months. Bits of advice helped for a bit but essentially I think it was just his tiny mouth....

Re the areola - try not to worry about getting it all in - so long as her mouth is as wide as it can be then that's as much as you can do
I really feel for you

I try to get as much in as I can but it's really difficult! I know DD had TT corrected yesterday but there is still so much clicking!!

Arrrgghh I'm going crazy!

Have you got any follow up from the TT clinic? A home visit/clinic appt to see how things are going?

Are there any groups near you or any BFCs near you that you can get some RL support? I'm happy to track down the closest groups to you if you wanted (PM me your town, county or area and I'll send you a list so you can choose).

TBH I wouldn't worry about the clicking for the time being, as long as it doesn't hurt you and baby is getting milk, you can work on the finer points later on.

Gina, hi, sorry to hear the TT snip has not be the 'miracle' cure you had hoped for. In terms of the feeds you've done today, your LO's behaviour, wet nappies etc., are things pretty similar? If so, the engorged breasts might be a result of the block feeding, as they still adjust to reduce the milk production.

Latch wise, I don't think all the areola has to be in your LO's mouth, but it's a long time since I fed my DSs. However, have found this video that might be useful. I agree with Truthsweet that you shouldn't get too caught up in the idea of a 'perfect' latch. As I said before, the paediatrician in the video link writes somewhere else that many babies establish good BFing with a less-than-perfect link. Also, as your baby gets older (and she is getting close to 3 mths now so will soon have more neck and head control, and more awareness of what she's after!) they seem to be able to latch on any old how .

Do try the Savoy cabbage tip if you think you are going to have some blocked ducts, it does work. Will keep fingers and toes crossed for you.

I think I'll have to just be patient and fingers crossed that things will naturally all fall into place! I can't imagine it will take much longer surely?? I'm feeling mentally drained now and not sure how long I can go on for! Im so desperate to breastfeed my DD for a long time.

Is your dd still putting on weight and happy? Are you nipples in good shape and not sore? If so I wouldn't worry too much about how you think it 'should be'. DS sucked in his cheeks when he fed at first and I was told by a hv and 2 midwives this meant he wasn't feeding properly and I spent an awful week trying to get the 'perfect' latch. When we weighed him he'd put on loads of weight so he was just doing it his own way- he obviously hadn't read the bfing manual.

Lol - DD is putting on weight, she is very unsettled, frequent feeding, green poos ( looks like spinach ) doesn't have a long nap in the day bla bla bla! Her Feds last for 5-7 mins and she gets so fidgety! I keep blaming the oversupply and fast let down but being TT answes for alot of those! I'm not sore and nipples appear round once she's done but there is alot of clicking!! Am I being paranoid or am I right in saying that this isn't right??

Have to add that on occasions my nipples can appear bruised at times!!

No it still doesn't sound right. Don't be afraid to go back and ask for more help, no one is going to tell you off for asking for extra help.

Length of feeds aren't anything to worry about or green poo (I know you've had an oversupply issue). Some baby's really don't sleep much (DD never did, no other reasion then personality) If she's gaining weight then she' is getting enough milk so try not to worry to much.

You've been doing so well.

Gina, sometimes, clipping TT is held out as the answer to all problems, but it really is not. Sometimes, a TT is really not at the heart of the problems.

Clicking is often a result of over supply. The baby breaks the seal in an attempt to control the 'fire hose' effect of a powerful let down and massive supply.

You have not been seriously block nursing long enough for this to be ruled out as a way of addressing the oversupply....I think you only really started Monday? So this is day 2-3?

You'd need to really go for it for longer than this.

I am very confused on how to block feed now as D's is sleeping for 8 hours now thought the night! I wake up with 2 very engorged breasts! So I don't know which one to start with and take it from there??

What do you advise?

I don;t think it matters a jot which one you start with, Gina - they have both had 8 hours 'rest' from stimulation, and one of them has had even more....choose whichever one feels the most desperate :)

Then what do I do after that??

I really appreciate the advice. Thank you x

You feed on your chosen side. If the other one feels really uncomfortable/lumpy, gently hand express using minimum effort (you might just need to massage a little and let it drip a bit into a cloth). Let's say that happened at 7 am. Every time the baby comes to the breast after that, you use that same selected side (not the one you have expressed/dripped from) until whatever time you decide - say 11 am or even 12 with a bad case of over supply. Then at about 12 you switch, and you use the other side, every time, until about 4-5 pm....and you switch again.

And so on :)

So every 4-5hours? I started with R br at 6am and then L br at 12.15pm and have been feeding from L since. Does this sound ok? Shall I feed from the R next?

Yes, you got it, Gina :)

Your gaps are a bit long at 6.5 hours though (timed from the start of the feed)....some women need to leave this long, but for most 3-5 hours is fine.

Sorry not read the whole thread just wanted to add that after 2 weeks of block feeding my DD went from fussy, poor sleeper, green poo and a good screamer to a far calmer happier baby. Keep at it as the results do take a while to show.

AlotToTakeIn - can I ask did your DD feed frequently and for only a short time? Also was there clicking when she fed?

I've been going round and round in circles for weeks now to find out the problem and when I was told it was TT I thought this would be the answer but clearly not! I'm sure my oversupply and fast let down doesn't help!

Omg this happened to me, breast feeding meltdown I called it (well done for getting to 8wks before meltdown mine happened at 3wks!) my DS was having top up feeds due to excessive cluster feelings which resulted on 72hrs of no sleep! He is now 10wks and efb is going well ATM touch wood.

In my opinion there's no harm in giving a top up of formula if it helps keep mummy sane and baby happy! I cried the first top up feed I gave I felt so guilty but now realise its about what your baby needs :)

Hi Gina
Sounds like you need to just keep the faith - your baby is gaining weight, sleeping for an 8 hours stretch at night (so clearly not hungry - but possibly tired as she is not one for daytime naps at this stage), and your nipples are in good shape. Stick with the block feeding, you should start seeing results soon. ALotToTakeIn has been there, and Tiktok knows her stuff.

Sawgowing, with all respect, the OP is keen to continue BFing, and the problem of oversupply is not going to be helped by giving 'top ups'.

You will turn that corner soon Gina, keep believing it. And it sounds like your LO is thriving, whatever the colour of her stools. I'm all for preserving the sanity of the mother, but I remember when I was ready to throw in the towel around 10wks, and it didn't really help me to have the MIL/DM/DH say that formula was OK. I felt so strongly that I wanted to BF. If that's how you feel Gina, am sure you can do it.

I have a very fast let down and definitely over supply, for now anyway. My son has fed really well now until now, he's 9 weeks. When he was tiny he didn't seem to mind choking, gagging, being squirted in the eye etc. But now I guess he's a bit more alert and more choosy and over the past week or so has started screaming, pulling off and basically given up eating. I went thru the same thing with my daughter years ago and struggled with BF for months. Anyway, someone suggested I tried nipple shields as they supply a more even stream of milk. Normally I can't be bothered messing about and trying new things but I just can't face 6 miserable months of feeding, a baby looeing weight etc, so I bought some Avent shields today. Have just a fed with one on -did feel weird having a bit of latex between me and him, but amazingly he fed for a good 10 mins on my 'bad boob' - crazy let down, always vast with milk. So, maybe, just maybe it works.
Worth a try? Good luck.