breastfeeding probs with 7 day old - baby blues any advice appreciated

[justwatchedharrymetsally]

hello
first post to mumsnet - typing with 1 finger whilst baby sleeps. my 7 day old is breastfeeding - but am finding it v challenging! she takes from 1 side ok but on the other she barely seems to take anything and it is much more painful. she is on each side for about 1 hour - providing she doesn't fall asleep on the bad side. After 2 hours I am kind of done in - she does keep rooting but if i try and keep going i just start crying and find it hard to get baby latched on. We,re leaving it about 2-3 hours between feeds. she does eventually stop rooti ng and will sleep- eventually. end up having to pretty much wake her for next feed - during day at least. Nights harder all round. I know its the latch on the bad side that is prob. going to support group tomorrow. But any other advice appreciated. Terrible baby blues keep crying! No one reallt mentioned this side of BF at NCT! Have read loads on mumsnet / web but like i say if anyone has experienced same wd be great to hear yr thoughts/ advice. Thanks.

Oh just, really feel for you. Think that crying at 7 days post birth is completely normal no matter how you feed your baby so please don't beat yourself up about that.

Your body has been through some major hormonal changes whilst pregnant and giving birth, and now you are probably sleep deprived too. Its no wonder you are crying. Have a look at this as it explains quite well the difference between baby blues and post natal depression, some something to bear in mind if you don't feel any better in the weeks to come .

Glad you are going to the support group tomorrow, we are always here for you too.

What has your MW said about the pain and your latch? Is the pain in your breast or nipples?

There is a video on getting a good latch but think that you are right to seek out some RL support too.

If you are really struggling and have someone to help, get them to try .

With the right support all of this should be sorted and will seem like a small blip soon. It does get easier .

so something. Doh.

Just wanted to add, it might be a good idea to call one of the Bfing Helplines and talk to a BFC now. I know you have been finding it harder at night so they may be able to help you have a better night.

Try this number.

Just thought I'd bump for you in the hope you get someone with more experience or training to come along .

How are you feeling this morning just and how did you get on last night?

Hi, I don't have anything helpful to add but I just wanted to give you a big un-mumsnetty hug and say hang on in there, the first few weeks are awful but it does get better. I didn't have a latch problem but did find it painful to bf at first; the MW at hospital said hang on in there for the first 4 weeks and BF gets easier after that. It does (altho watch out for the growth spurts!); I fed DD until she was 18mo and feeding DS now 11mo. I didn't have the baby blues but I do have PND and can sympathise.

Hang on in there and welcome to mumsnet! x

Poor you! Just wanted to say that you're doing really well. I had awful problems initially - bad latch, bloody cracks, a ravenous bubs and the blues and it can feel desperate and rubbish. People kept telling me "it'll get better" and I remember thinking "yeah right! When?!" It does though (at about 5/6 weeks for me but ealier for some) and now can't imagine not BF. The best thing I did was give in to it - feed the baby when she roots and don't worry about when the last feed was. And paracetemol if your nipples are really sore. Big hug to you and your little person!

You must be exhausted

It's really hard to help over the Internet, but it does sound as though you could get a better latch if someone could help in real life. I think that firstly because of the pain, and secondly because feeding for two hours seems like a long time (feeding evety two hours, timed from start of feed to start of feed would be absolutely normal, but for two hours seems like a long time to feed).

For what it's worth, I didn't achieve pain-free feeding until about 9 weeks. By then though, feeding was much faster (maybe 15 mins per feed) and much easier as both me and my babies were practised. Once you reach that easy stage, Breastfeeding is a diddle compared to the faff of bottle feeding

I really hope you can get some good real life help soon. In the meantime, there is a website by Dr Jack Newman (I can't link, but google will find it) that has lots of good advice and videos about inproving latch and positioning. Dr Jack is wonderful :)

I hope things improve for you soon.