Help please..breastfeeding newborn.

[Weezie85]

Ok, so I only have a four day old but I am already stressing massively.
I have been trying to breastfeed her since she was born. In the hospital she fed really well when born, staff where impressed that she latched on really well. I seemed to be able to get a really good grip with it all, then we get home. The second day was a nightmare as I was in so much pain, my nipples started to bleed and have scabs on now. The pain was so much I am crying the entire time she is on me. I have used my nipple cream which helps with the pain in between but it still kills when she latches on. The midwifes who have visited have said that everything looks good in terms of how she is on me and she is sucking enough.
My main issue is not just the pain which I can work through, but she is feeding for about 20 minutes each time, then 20 minutes later wants to feed again. I have been keeping a diary today and no joke the longest she went without was between 2.30 and 3.45pm.
I am shattered, my boobs hurt, I just don't know what to do. She is always wanting fed.
My MIL and Stepmum both say I should supplement with formula, my DH says I need to do what I want to do, but he is worried as I am getting no sleep at night due to this.
I have tried to express but so little comes out.
I just don't see how this can be right.

apart from the bleeding and scabs, it is quite normal for a newborn!

they really do feed a lot to get that supply going and the milk to come in.

can you call a bf helpline or go to a a local group for real life support with the latch?

sounds like you're doing great, but maybe latch hasn't been perfect.

www.Kellymom.com is great for advice too.

good luck and congratulations. :)

my DS2 is 7 weeks old so i have fairly recent experience of the initial feeding frenzy!

It all sounds normal to me, how much sleep were you expecting with a four day old. Every day will get easier and it's worth it (and I say this as someone who got mastitis, which was more painful than labour). Your nipples will heal, the pain will ease when your milk comes in and by about 10 weeks you probably won't feel let down at all.

There should be breastfeeding clinics around you if you feel you need more advice.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just reassure you that what you are going through is normal and will not last.

oh and expressing is no indication of supply, especially at this stage when your milk is just 'coming in' after baby having the colostrum at first.

if you can just feed feed feed it should get you through quicker than adding formula, as your body is getting the message to make milk, whereas supplementing will interfere with this process.

try to get help with sore nips though. is it lansinoh you have? layer it on to aid with the 'moist wound healing' of cracked bits.

It actually sounds pretty normal to me - I think because baby's mouth is so tiny, it can be really hard to get the latch right at the beginning. I think pain is quite normal but it should improve soon (this is my own experience anyway)

The constant feeding is very normal - you just need to go with it. I know it's really, really hard though! Please get your DH to do everything while you breast feed. He needs to bring you drinks and snacks, and you need to live on the sofa with phone, remote, lap top to hand. Make it as comfy as possible!

Yes I agree, sounds normal for a newborn! I thoroughly recommend lansinoh. Things will get easier once your milk really comes in.

Many congrats on the birth of your new lil one.

You are doing fantastically. Of course your nipples are sore, they've never been used like this before. Babies that age do feed a lot. It is also very comforting for lil one to be so near you too. (I'm pretty sure you can take paracetamol for the pain.)

Try not to supplement feed at this early stage, you will only confuse DD and she may stop breast feeding all together. Much easier for a baby to bottle feed as they are lazy creatures.

You are not going to be able to express much at this stage - it has only been a couple of days and you really haven't established any sort of feeding pattern yet.

My best advise is sleep when baby is sleeping - who cares if you don't get dressed. Forget the housework and everything else. Take any offers of help. The first baby is the hardest as it is all very new.

It does get easier. If you need any help with the feeding, contact your local NCT counsellor or Laleche network.

I echo what everyone else says - it does hurt at first, and as long as you keep putting the lansinoh on, the scabs will heal (that bit was most likely to poor latching)
yy get someone who's local and bf expert (peer groups etc) to check your latch and positioning,
yy to having your DH bring you drinks and food (lots and lots because you'll feel better with lots of refreshments!)
get yourself to bed with tonnes of pillows andcushions, remote control, phone, laptop and camera, and stay there! (you may use the toilet and shower etc)

you need to look after yourself and concentrate on nothing else but feeding you and thebaby.

DH can also sort clothes, nappies and burping.

congratulations :)

sounds perfectly normal to me, your baby needs to stimulate milk production which is why she is feeding all the time, you are doing brilliantly and it does get better. as others have said your nipples will be on fire at first but in a few days should calm right down.

if you have an LLL or breastmate in your area give them a ring it's what they are there for. do you have a local surestart, pop in and see if they have a breastfeeding group, it's nice just to offload to others sometimes

i can't express, my DD2 is growing like a weed but i only ever manage to get 20mls off, it's never an indication of how much milk you have.

Please try not to supplement it will affect you supply at this early stage

it isn't easy but DD2 is 8 weeks old now, she is trying to roll over, has the most amazing grin and goes 2-3 hours between feeds. the newborn stage is a very short part of their lives, it will get better honestly. you are doing fantastically just keep telling yourself that.

advice is live in your PJs watch daytime telly, eat haribo and sleep when baby sleeps, the dishes will wait. also you may find DD will settle in a wrap sling, mine loves hers, this may give you a bit of freedom.

Congratulations on your lovely newborn.

All of this sounds normal, newborns want to be close to you and they associate feeding with comfort. Agree that you need to sleep when baby sleeps and just go to bed with LO.

The bleeding nipples are a concern though, are you getting any RL help? Have you read this on Kellymom? If there is no RL help around, like a BFC or Bfing Support Group, give one of the Helplines a call, have you got the numbers?

Have you read this on Kellymom too?

As for supplementing, do YOU want to? It's your baby and your family seemed concerned for you but you should only supplement your baby if you want to, not to keep anyone else happy.

If DH is concerned, wait till LO has had a good feed and get him to take DD for an hour or so. He could wear her in a sling, take her out for a drive or a walk in the pram. If the rest of the family are concerned ask them to cook dinner/do the washing/ironing/cut the lawn. Anything that lightens your load.

You might also find on latch and on crying helpful too

Forgot to mention the expressing. With DC1 I could hardly ever express a drop. It is no indication of your supply at all and DC1 grew to be a very chubby, happy little chap .

All I can say is so many of us know exactly how you are feeling. It is such a shock isn't it after you've often had this rosy picture painted to you that it doesn't hurt unless you're doing something wrong, and it will just be easy. I must tell you I don't know anyone who didn't struggle at first and it is bloomin hard work and a bit of a shock to the (already very weary) system. I just want to echo what people have said above-just feed feed feed then feed some more. It is competely normal to do so. I'm afraid bf is just not easy at first for a lot of people, but i promise you it does get so much easier fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things. I know it doesn't really feel like it ever will for you at the moment,but I promise you it will. Like someone said above,this is just the hard bit and if you stick with it,you'll look back in just a few weeks time and think,yeh,that was unbelievably hard work,but I'm so glad I did it. I'm sure someone has probably already mentioned this to you,but the website kellymom.com is absolutely fab for help on anything to do with bf.All that constant suckling is boosting your supply to be exactly what it needs to be and it will soon lessen. You really can do this,just believe in yourself!