Been feeding for over 3 hours now- help!

[baddyfreckleface]

dd2 is 5days old and I have not been enjoying breastfeeding. My nipples are excruciating and one on particular is bloody and cracked. I came to bed with dd at 8.30 and have been feeding her non stop since. I am now in a lot of pain and already feeling shattered and sick of feeding.
Is this a normal feeding pattern for this age?

Hello, Firstly, congratulations! Is she feeding or just suckling for comfort? Try taking her off and let her suck your finger and see if that calms her. If you have some lanolin cream, that should help your nipples. Hopefully someone a bit more knowledgeable than me will be along soon!

Poor you, I remember those days. Firstly, congratulations & well done so far! Secondly, the constant suckling on day 5 can be entirely normal-my mw called it the night of the long suck!
Thirdly, have you got lansinoh-use loads all the time. Leave your bra off if you can. Try a different position to feed on that side to take the pressure off the crack-lying down, or bringing baby in under your arm? In the morning see if you can ask for a bfeeding support worker to assess a feed/check latch.

It will get better!

Hi. And thanks!
She is definitely feeding, slightly frantically! She usually falls asleep but not tonight! And if occasionally she does nod off she is waking up as soon as I move and crying to feed.
Have been using lanolin cream lots.
My 2 year old is in room next to us and is a bad sleeper so am also stressing about waking her up!

I remember those days too- it will pass although I know it doesn't feel like it now and your supply will be better for it. I agree on the lanosinoh and if you need it take a break and get your partner to walk round with her for a bit. Well done, you're doing a fantastic job.

Poor you - just sending some support. X

Oh, the night of the long suck! Doesn't sound good! I have also hit the baby blues, crying for no good reason, today. I am aching and bruised from my c section and she has not put on any weight yet. Crappy day!
Two people have checked her latch and said it's good. I can't find another comfortable way to feed as I am still quite sore and uncomfortable.

I have such a sore nipple on one side I have stopped putting her on it tonight. Although my other is taking such a battering now I know that's a silly thing to do!
I have propped myself up with a million pillows so that if she falls asleep I don't have to risk waking her to put her in her basket . She can sleep on me tonight!

You're doing well. She's giving your body the feedback it needs to produce the milk she needs

Hope you can doze a bit

Woah.

Ok, constantish feeding isn't that normal at this age. Damaged nipples are a sign of bad latch (as is constantish feeding). I don't care what people who looked at you said, damaged nipples means bad latch.

Please do not offer a dummy, or your finger, instead, it's worth trying to fix the latch.

How are you holding her? Are you feeding lying down, on your side, I'm guessing, if you're feeding in bed?

What kind of shape are your nipples after a feed?

Well things settled down a little but still was feeding on and off all night. Then my two year old woke at four, she has a cold. So that was pretty much our night!
I feed on my left by holding her straight across my body. The right, which is the worst one, I hold her like a rugby ball.
My nipples look pyramid-ie after a feed. Sometimes a bit flat.

She never feeds as often or for as long in the day. Sometimes she goes 3-4 hours.
I know it's all hard at first and she really hasn't been here long. I am feeling guilty that dd1 is getting very little of me. Especially as she isn't very well. Dh does his best but at night when she is poorly all she wants is me and it's just not possible at the moment.