First night feeding in hospital query

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

DC3 due in a few weeks and I am determined to try to feed successfully this time (third time lucky and all that!).

With DC2, he successfully latched (about 11pm) and I gayly let him suck on the same boob for hours partly because I was so chuffed and partly because I was worried that if I stopped him, I would never get him back on again...

Needless to say, I awoke with blisters and bleeding nipples!! Doh!

In your wisdom and experience, how long should a newborns first feeds be so that the baby benefits and so that I save my nipples past the first 24 hours?!

Lurk to see response

I'm not sure there's a set time they should take - I was told to leave them to suckle until they decide to come off on their own. My daughter fed almost every hour for the first day/night. So I was a little sore but no blisters or bleeding - hope it works for you this time

Every baby is different. My DD used to feed varying from 5 minutes to 45 minutes at a time. I think the most frequent time was about 20 minutes. But as I say, all babies are different.

Did you feel any pain during the feed or have an idea that something wasn't right?

Choc, no set time at all. Blisters and bleeding nipples indicate you (and the baby) needed help and support to have a more comfortable feed. Speak up next time, and make sure someone helps you. Try baby self-attachment (biological nurturing) maybe?

Have to say my 4 never fed for that long in first few days. once milk came in it was different though. You need to check latch is ok though.

Choc I had similar issues with youngest - he latched on and sucked for hours and hours and hours and just never wanted to come off, if I delatched him he cried. I was just chuffed he latched on straight away as my first was prem and tube fed. Was later told by BF counsellor that he wasn't coming off the breast because his latch was rubbish and he was only getting tiny amounts of milk, i.e. not filling his tummy enough to sleep. Had no pain until about day 3/4 when my nipples sort of fell apart and he was throwing up pink milk.

All the MWs / my friends were saying things like 'all newborns feed a lot' 'some of them only go half an hour between feeds' etc., what no one was getting was that he NEVER came off - there was NO between feeds unless I handed him screaming to DH.

Go to breastfeeding cafe / LLL meeting before you have baby, get to know a professional that you will feel able to contact in the early days even if you feel / look rough. MWs tried to tell me that the latch didn't matter the first few feeds - bollocks imho, when the first feed goes on about 18 hours it does matter.

Sounds like my DC2. With the benefit of hindsight I think he may have had a slight tongue tie. DC3 was completely different and so easy in comparison. He fed every few hours but very randomly. I never got even slightly sore with him. I'd say if you get sore like that again and you want to persevere you probably need expert help.

PenguinArmy - Never had any pain during the feed but sometimes latching on was initially painful. I think if its painful throughout it would be worth seeking some help with feeding from either mw or breastfeeding cafe.

i had my baby at home

it was now midnight and the midwives were working the next day so wernt exactly in a rush to go home to bed themselves but it was on there mind.

my baby fed for 30 - 40mins for her first ever feed and was then taken off so i could get into the bath etc

she then didnt feed until about 7am the following morning