About to attempt BF for 2nd DC after HORRIFIC ordeal last time... possible?! Expert advice please!!

[booflebean]

When DS was born just < 2 years ago I was absolutely resolute to EBF for as long as possible. Didnt even buy formular/bottles.

Some info that may/may not be useful (I don't know!)

• he was 9lbs, born 2 days early
• he was mildly jaundiced
• he wasnt interested in feeding at all to begin with and slept first 24hrs ish solid
• I asked to be "allowed" to feed him ( ) after he was born but I was bleeding a lot and needed a lot of stitches and was told no, they need to sort me out first
• when home I really struggled to latch him for first day or two and then a midwife showed me to put a lot more breast in the mouth which did help
• my breasts were painfully huge. I went from a 32C to a 36FF and they were horribly painfully full.
• he went down to 8lb3 and didnt regain in the "specified" time but once we had sorted the latch (well, he actually got milk in him I mean, I dont think it was sorted if you read on) he did put on enough weight for them to be happy
• in hindsight I dont think I fed him often enough to begin with
• I was told to feed entirely on one side each time (I now think this was wrong??)
• he fed for about 15/20 minutes each time??? Was told anything after this wasnt "real feeding"?!!
• after about 5 days I was in UTTER AGONY - dripping blood, hard, hot swollen milk glands, razor blade nipples, gritting teeth, stamping feet when he first went on... I cried through every feed
• I put him chin towards the painful bits to try and drain blocked ducts which did work but to be honest it was the razor blade nipples that were the real problem. Tried nipple shields, breast shells everything. It just got worse and worse, not better.
• on day 9 my DM and DH begged me to give-up and bottle feed and I did and felt utter utter relief

DD is due in 2 weeks. Things I am going to do differently this time which I hope will help -

• insist I latch her on ASAP after birth
• offer her a feed more often
• offer other breast at each feed (DS always used to fall asleep which I would assume means he was finished, there was seriously no waking him to offer the other. Does this mean I should unlatch before this happens and offer other breast????) Not sure of the logistics of this?
• I think my nursing bras were too tight (my boobs just got so unbelievably big!) and may have caused blocked ducts. I have bought some crop top style bras to begin with to make sure this doesnt happen again.

Soooo..... what are my chances here???

Any other tips WHATSOEVER will be so very gratefully received.....

No advice, but I'm in the same situation, so watching with interest!

I had a very sleepy baby who I struggled to feed but we got there in the end. Well done your DH and DM, it sounds horrific!

Things I would add to your list:

• offer a feed every time she cries or roots (Google root reflex)
• aim to feed every 3 hours at first if she doesn't cry/root more often. I got DS to wake up to feed by blowing on his face. He was grumpy about it and it took forever but he was too tiny to leave longer than that.
• get properly measured for nursing bras
• get latch sorted at hospital before you go home
• if you are unhappy with the latch then show your MW/HV and call the La Leche League helpline for advice
• when your breasts get engorged (rock hard) and painful place folded up muslin cloths soaked in warm water over them
• if your breasts are too hard to get a proper latch then express a bit first
• get some Lanowool breast pads (saved me anyway!) and use from day 1
• get some hydrogel healing breast pads for use if you start getting sore
• cover your nipples and surrounding bit and breast pads in lanolin between every feed

Your chances are high.

You had rubbish support and info last time - you were told things that were totally WRONG.

This time you know better :) Ring any of the bf helplines and talk about what happened and devise a strategy for this time round :)

Find out in advance what specialist support there is in your area. Someone from la leche league may be able to visit at home frequently to helP with any issues.

I tried all of peasant's tips below last time and still failed . Sorry for thread hijack. Am going to get in touch with local LLL.

It can just be down to the baby themselves. With Ds1, he wasn't interested (failed induction csection sleepy etc) and I struggled with him to begin with. Eventually it worked out, but we had to persevere.

DS2, planned section, screamed from the moment he was born until he latched on. HE knew exactly what to do - I just put him in position each time - he was a fast efficient feeder from day 1! I kept him in the hospital bed with me, and when he woke up popped him on - he was (and still is) a hungry baby!

So with DC2 be positive, they just may have the knack!!!

So sorry to hear about your ordeal. Sounds horrific .My DD was also mildly jaundice and after feeding well stopped feeding and we were told to return to a and e. She was checked out by the v experienced NICU sister who correctly identified I just needed more bf support. Was given my own room and helped me loads for 2 days including techniques to wake up baby (tickle feet), a bf chart to record feeds and told me to set my alarm for three hour feeds. By the end of my stay my daughter had exceeded birth weight and I ebf for 18 months! It makes me so vv and that other women don't get such good support. Your ideas sound excellent and I wish you all the v best for birth and feeding xxx

I had a very similar experience but was able to persist because I had really good support and none of the rubbish advice you got! Definitely drum your heels about getting that first feed in - as I was haemmorhaging and up to my eyeballs in post-section drugs I was informed that they were going to NG my DS and give him formula for his first feed. I fought through the haze and demanded they bring him in, which my lovely DH supported, and to this day he's never once had formula. I also got the 'razor nipples', bleeding, legs shooting out, toes curling, shrieking etc etc. If you get near this stage again, ask if the midwives can get you a pump to use while you heal and cup feed baby in the interim - it's really not too uncomfortable to pump with ouchy boobs, it keeps your milk supply up, prevents engorgement and should help with preventing blocked milk ducts. Also ask for (nay, demand) referral to a BF specialist at the first sign of any trouble.