Engorgement (?)

[smallwonder]

I think this is what it is.
Nipples sore, boobs are hot, so sore to touch, can't bare to even apply cream which isn't doing much. Been like this since late evening and DS feeding is killing me cannot continue. Have woken to worse feeling boobs that feel they will burst and in tears now.
Was so happy when mw weighed him yesterday, he was 5 days old because she said weight was great -- now can't bare thought of the pain.
What should I do please? :(

Sounds like it - either get DS to feed or and express to relieve the pressure. in fact, might be worth expressing a little anyway (I remember my DS found it hard to latch on to an over inflated boob!)

It will get better, honest!

Oh, and try a damp muslin over hot, sore boobs to take the heat off

Oh you poor thing, I had this at the same time, it's awful but does get better

As familiessharegerms said, try expressing just a little before a feed if your boobs are like rocks as your ds will find it hard to latch. Don't express too much or you might find yourself trapped in a vicious circle. At the worst point I had to syringe feed dd expressed milk as she just couldn't latch (felt as though I was filling straight up as soon as I expressed anything!).

Try not to leave it long between feeds as you'll feel even more uncomfortable.

It did pass within 48 hrs. Keep a look out for any signs of mastitis and in the meantime have a good cry, you'll feel better after.

Oh and some swear by cabbage leaves down your bra. Haven't tried it myself.

Oh and congratulations on the birth of ds and it sounds like you've been doing brilliantly so far.

thank you.
No doubt I'll be back when DS wakes

Managed good latch, it but did feel as I was filling up again instantaneously -- will be quiet day of me and DS I think and nothing else. Many thanks for advice

My boobs were like solid footballs for about 10 days after birth of each of my 3 - it was horrible and painful and made it very hard for babies to latch, causing a cycle of more pain and cracked nipples. It does settle down fairly soon though as your milk supply adjusts. I would suggest that before each feed you put a hot (as hot as you can bear) flannel over the breast for a short time, then gently hand express a bit to relieve pressure and soften the breast slightly so that it is easier for him to latch.

It will calm down, honestly, but in the meantime stick a cabbage leaf in your bra on each side. I was completely sceptical at first but bloody hell it works. Don't leave them in for too long as they can drastically reduce your supply - try 20 mins at a time at first, three times a day, scrunch them up or roll them with a rolling pin to open the wee veins a little as well

Even better - put the cabbage in the fridge and use the nice cold leaves! Also try taking a hot bath and express a bit of milk when you're in there. It's really painful, I feel for you. If you struggle with attachment again, express a bit, just enough so soften up the areola, then try again. MW told me to take some paracetamol and that helped. It only normally lasts a day or two then that should be the the worst bit over with and you can start to enjoy feeding

I was advised by the lovely lady from The Breastfeeding Network to stand under a hot shower, use a hot flannel or gently stroke them with fingers in a downward motion to help them flow. Also agree with other posters re expressing a bit before latching baby on. I was rubbish with a pump so just hand expressed into a muslin before feeding. Still do this occasionally at night if 8 month old DD sleeps for a long time and I feel like my tits will explode uncomfortable. Just enough to be comfortable as Buffy says.

Thank you again, lots of great advice!
Had to at 'tits about to explode' exactly as I described it to DH before the tears. Seem to be doing ok now now just keeping him cool as he's decided sleeping is a better option not good as I too keep nodding off -- perseverance!!! we will get there I'm sure

You can also try a warm shower with the water running on to your breasts or kind of doing a press up in the bath (fill the bath up with warm water and kneel in it letting your breasts dangle (if they can!) as that can help release some of the extra milk through gravity and the warmth).

Reverse pressure softening can also help (just google) to get baby latched on without extra stimulation of supply.

Hi, I hope the soreness passes soon. It sounds like your DS is coping just fine, but if at any point he does seem to be struggling to latch on, another thing you can try is reverse pressure softening.