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Infant feeding

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

Day 5. Milk is in. Shooting pains from nipples. Normal?

4 replies

civilfawlty · 18/01/2012 18:47

Hello. And help. It is hurting like buggery. Is it normal? I'm sure the latch is right.

Also- they said feed from each side. But sometimes he wont get off the first; others he falls asleep; others he does 15mins on each. Sometimes it fills him for 3 hours, others for 45 minutes. How do I know if he is getting enough milk? And how long should I cuddle him for,versus putting him in his Moses basket? And is it normal to keep crying? I'm so worried I'm doing it wrong.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 18/01/2012 18:55

On sides, follow his lead. Trying to follow any kind of script just leads to stress and problems for both of you :) Let him feed for as long as he wants on the first side, then when he comes off naturally offer the other side, if he's awake. He might take it or might not - the important thing is to follow his cues. Sometimes he might feed for a long time, even up to an hour or so in the early days, on one side, other times 5 minutes, again, it doesn't mean much, he will settle into a pattern when he's got the hang of things a bit more.

Normal to have varying gaps between feeds as well, very much so, please don't worry about this. You'll know he's getting enough if he's alert when he's awake (even if he's not awake for long) and if he has at least 6-7 wet and/or dirty nappies per day. If you're worrying about him getting "enough" meaning a set amount, at each feed, don't - if he's hungry, he will ask for more.

As for how long to cuddle him, that's really up to you...

And yes totally normal to keep crying. Eat lots of chocolate. It will help.

showtunesgirl · 18/01/2012 19:18

Don't worry about the crying, I cried so much the first week that the midwives put it in my hospital notes as I was in for six days.

TruthSweet · 18/01/2012 21:07

What Bertie said.

And try watching some of these for hints on babies feeding well (Good Drinking and Really Good Drinking are what you want to see NOT Nibbling!).

Don't forget babies 'nurse' for reasons other than hunger so if you think he can't be hungry again, remember he may not be nursing for food, he may be getting comfort, closeness to mum, warmth, cooling down, reassurance he's not alone and tiger food or help regulating his breathing/heart rate instead.

Can you ask for a referral to the Infant feeding co-ordinator/Specialist BFing MW as bfing can be uncomfortable or even a bit painful (should subside though quickly after baby latches on) - hurting like buggery isn't good. Have a chat with your MW in the morning about how things are going if you are feeling unsure or worried about anything. You can always call the Maternity ward if you get really worried/need reassurance.

On the pain front:-

Has baby done 5 wet nappies and 2+ yellowy poos (moved on from Meconium type poos) today?

Are your nipple nipple shaped (might be a bit longer than when they went in) at the end of a feed or are they wedge/lipstick shaped or squashed looking?

Does baby can sucking pattern from the start of the feed to the end? Moving from a more frantic suckling to a rhythmic suckling with small pauses (the pause is a mouthful of milk being swallowed), perhaps fluttering/tickly suckling at the end?

Crying all the time is normal too, but speak to your MW if it doesn't ease off soon.

Congratulations on your new baby boy Thanks

BertieBotts · 18/01/2012 21:43

Ah forgot to say - shooting pains can be a sign of thrush, so worth getting checked for that (you and baby) as if it is you'll both need to be treated for it.

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