DD4 was born late Friday night and fed in delivery room (7 sides!). I noticed she wasn't latching on terribly well but put it down to mec. swallowing and the pain relief I had during my induction (remifentanil PCA - an opiate that has a 7 minute half life in adults and slightly longer in neonates). Biological nurturing didn't work for her (feeding reflexes sluggish though she was very alert) so I latched her on myself in cross cradle.
On the ward she did a blow out mec. nappy and during the nappy/clothes changing crying I noticed she had a quite a thick lip tie. I did Murphy Maneuver and could feel a posterior/sub mucosal frenulum though that was quite thin. She latches with her tongue back although she can stick her tongue out slightly. Ward MW reluctantly did a referral to the TT clinic but couldn't say how long it would be.
I am now exceptionally sore - bleeding, cracked, blistered nipples - and each feed results in wedge shaped nipples with a ridge running over the nipple. I have done exaggerated latch, and am changing feeding position fairly frequently so that the same part isn't getting all the damage. I have lansinoh and am doing moist wound healing but it's not yet working.
DD4 feeds on average 6 sides per feed (I swap sides when she stops suckling but she clamps down with her jaws). The feeding is pretty ineffective as on average she does 7 sucks per swallow, with breast compressions this does get better but still 3 or 4 sucks per swallow. She doesn't open her mouth very wide either. She had 7mls of ante-natally expressed colostrum by syringe on her 2nd night as she fed from 11pm to 6am but she fed straight away afterwards.
She is very mucousy and throws up a lot inc. a spectacular vomit that projectile shot out of her nose and mouth at the same time! She also burps a lot. Her poo was greenish yellow on day 1-2 has been profuse - 8 large poos in first 24 hours - though they are getting smaller and more yellow and is weeing well too.
Is there anything else I can be doing to help her? My brain is slush and I can't think properly. Sorry for epic post but I didn't want to miss any thing out.