Breastffeding a 2 day old baby: how do I know if I'm doing it right?

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Hey everyone, I'm just after some advice, I'm not totally sure what I'm doing and really want to do this right so need a bit of hand holding.

My baby is 2 days old and was 9lb born; I had him @ home but had to go in to hospital for stitches. So I have had some help with latching on, everyone in the hospital said he was a 'good feeder'. But I'm still not sure if I'm doing it right as it does hurt a bit and everyone says there should be no pain.

I will go to a group soon too but in the meantime I know there are some breastfeeding gurus lurking around these parts , so just after some advice really. Have taken some pics which hope explains.

Pic 1: latching him on. So it's quite hard to hold a baby with one hand and a massive boob with the other . I'm not sure he is opening his mouth wide enough to get the latch deep enough? How do I get him to open wider?

Pic 2: this is him latched on.

1. This is when it hurts a bit maybe for the first 2 minutes or so? Is that normal?

2.I think we start of well but he slips maybe; how much of the top areola should show? If there is no pain is it ok to carry on even if there is a lot of top areola on display

Pic 3:my nipple
if my nipple is like a cauliflower with loads of bumpy bits; he's sucked some of the bumps right up and make them white on one nipple, the other nipple has a split bumpy part.

Does this make any sense and does anyone have any advice, many thanks .

newtonupontheheath, the windmilling arms are a pain aren't they!? I read something that in the womb this is one of the first things they learn to do & it's like to a need to feed, how cool is that?!

I found that if he's feeding on my right boob I tuck his left arm (the one nearest my leg) under my boob. Then I trap the other arm in my cleavage! The other thing I noticed with my model is that if he's really hungry he does the windmill arms more, so I try to feed him as soon as I see his cues.

I think the main thing I was doing wring, was in my haste to get him on the boobs I was bringing him to my boob and squashing his face onto it. Tipping his head back really worked a treat for us. Also even though it hurt like hell, I didn't wat to unlatch him because it was so hard to get him on it in the first place! But now as soon as it feels hurty I take him off and start again.

Hope this helps a little :)

Kelly mom is a really good site too BTW, not sure I'm allowed to link?

It sounds like you're doing great and he is a real cutie.

Hopefully the MW or group (if you've managed to get to it) will have warned you about growth spurts. These can cause a real wobble as many mums are convinced they're starving their babies as they are hungry ALL the time.

It's perfect normal and happens at very roughly 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 19 weeks. To be honest I sometimes felt like the first 6 months were one long growth spurt!

When you do have a wobble, sit down and eat some chocolate cake and have a small glass of wine. They can do wonders when you are in the middle of what my bf counsellor called "the witching hour" (i.e. 7-9 at night when bf babies often seem unsettled). It's because they're putting in their milk order for the next day by suckling a lot.

worldgonecrazy - so funny you should say that, I just posted another thread asking for advice on maybe wind?! My baby hates 5pm-9pm it seems

ShouldI Yes I've seen kellymom... Need to refresh myself I think!

I only stopped feeding my ds in may and I fed him for 20months but it is so different feeding a newborn and a toddler! I've remembered some stuff, but forgotten some too

I just noticed one poster said to let your nipples air dry in between feeds. I would advise not to do this. Keep lathering on the nipple cream and keep them moist, this way any cracks don't get worse and it helps to avoid cracks to start with.

Well done and congratulations!!

Congrats again shouldibecrossaboutthis and fellow pregnant green man buddy! This thread is useful for me too as my baby is 3 days old so I have many of the same questions!!

Hey polly congrats on the sad arrival of your bundle! Breastfeeding does get so much easier, I'm just slinging my baby around now, inventing my own holds and even reading a book!!

Good luck with it! x

Jeez, *safe arrival! Sorry for typo