Day 4 and can't take it anymore

[iheartshoes]

My DD was born on Friday night after an EMCS. As soon as I was in recovery I tried to get her to go on the boob and fed her that night , all seemed to go ok and I was so pleased with myself for feeding her. But since coming home yesterday (when my proper milk started coming in) my nipples are so dry and cracked it excruciating especially when she feeds . I think it's a latch problem she takes in too much of the top part of the areola but I find positions her to feed so so hard because of the pain in my stomach from
The section. Midwife came yesterday and showed me the football / rugby ball hold? Which worked when she was there but I've been trying to do that all night and she won't take it Im not doing it right. I can only get her to feed if she lies across me on a pillow which is causing me so much pain . I'm so so tired and frustrated and dreading the next feed . I don't think the feeding is even working properly as she hadn't had many dirty nappies. I've always wanted to breastfeed, birth didn't go how I imagined so I thought I could make it up by breastfeeding her but I just can't. I've been trying to look up instructions online but I'm just so tired my brain can't function anymore. Someone please help mem at the end of my tether. I'm crap with instructions over the phone and I'm in too much pain with my stomach to go to any breastfeeding support classes. This is so not how I dreamed my first days with my baby would be someone please please help me

How are you doing OP?
How has today gone?
Did you manage to speak to LLL or your midwife?

Another person appalled at how little pain relief you were given! I actually had to tell the staff in hospital to stop giving me so many powerful opiates after my section as they were making me woozy, I had a pain relief team member come to see me every day in hospital to check that the meds were keeping on top of the pain, and I was sent home with Tylex (paracetamol & codeine) and diclofenac to take as needed. I was told both were fine in small amounts for breastfeeding.

Also seconding the recommendation for the Brest Friend cushion for taking pressure off your scar, and hope you're doing better!

Agree with the girls that days when the milk comes in are horrid but IT IS ONLY A PHASE...Reapeat to yourself 100X a day....
The things that could help:
Expresing a little bit so breast/nipple are soft enough for baby to latch on (you can use yor hands/breast pump)
Massage the breast (WHOLE breast,right from under the armpit towards the nipple to prevent engorgement,put a bit of body/baby/olive oil
Use hot/cold compresses to ease discomfort(muslin dipped in really warm water/cabbage leaves)
Nipple shields can be a godsend,they are not recommended but they saved me and my little one for the first 6 months
If you don't have Lansinoh or any other cream spread your own milk on the nipples
Use loads of pilllows to make yourself comfortable

Good luck.You can do it but it takes some time..:)))

Bless you, how are you getting on today?? My ds is 10 wks old today but 9 wks ago I was you. There are some good tips above. You must get diclofenac. Order a medela or a Ameda tonight on amazon - I promise it's worth every penny. Try nipple shields. Do you have a partner or mum about? Get them to just bring baby to you when she needs feeding - make them do all the lifting. Cry as much as you want.

Honestly I was you but by the end of wk 2 we cracked it and it became easy.

Where are you? In my area the hospital will send a mw out to you up to 10 days post birth. Do not be afraid to ask for help and keep going till you get it.

I didn't have a section so this may be rubbish advice but if its comfortable to lay on your side that really helped me the trick is to have baby laying quite low so they reach up to the nipple and have a good mouthful! As I say sorry if this is useless but thought it might be worth mentioning! Good luck your doing great and it does get easier :)

Don't want panic . If you end up choosing to bottle feed you are not a failure . I bottle fed my ds and they were both healthy babies . Don't flame me I just want to help. You have also had a major surgery so don't be hard on yourself .

Hi. I could have written your post aswell! I am one week ahead of you. Re admitted to hospital after 24hrs due to 16% weight loss. Nipple shields worked for us as my nips are not long enough for my ds. I was told to lie down as I'd had a cs. My son doesn't like lying down and fought me all the way. Lots of tears from both of us. Finally the answer was standing up! I literally held himone night and put him to my boob in frustration and he latched! Over the next few days we now sit down as long as the angle is right he is happy. I wish someone had told me sooner that he is my son and I can try what I loke. Only rugby hold and lying down mentioned in hospital and seriously get some pain relief.

Thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement . I am hoping yesterday and Monday were a low point. I was up feeding her until 1 at which point she just stopped being interested and wanted to sleep. So DH took her and she slept on him and I went to the bedroom and cried my eyes out but then slept through till five when he bought her through. First long block of sleep I've had since last Wednesday. Anyway he's now bought her through and were feeding , painful but bearable. I had the community midwife out yesterday she spent ages explaining how I'm better off sitting up right in an arm chair and trying to balance get on b feeding pillow so she rests on that rather than on scar. Worked well when midwife was here n we took pictures to remind but do struggle to get the same kind of easy feeding the midwife got . I can't understand why they didn't give me stronger painkillers at the hospital I'm going to try GP today but don't hold out much hope that ill get any. In too much pain to leave house so will only be if he lets me order over phone. In meantime have also got DH to get me arnica n codeine which I think might be what helped me get off to sleep for a bit . Been slathering on the lanosinh and think we will get a pump just trying to decide which one. Some of the advice and comments on here have made all the difference - thank u. She is getting weighed today also fingers crossed she hasn't already lost too much weight .

I would strongly advise speaking to La Leche League. They're brilliant. They're breastfeeding experts and they have a helpline which you can call at any time. www.laleche.org.uk/

Morning iheart. Nice to see you feeling a bit better today!

I reckon when you ring your Gp just try and insist it's an emergency for the painkillers. It's not like you need to take up an appointment time, you just need a prescription. Don't let them fob you off with their fastest finger on the button thing (if it's anything like our doctor's)

Your husband sounds like he's doing well too

Brilliant things are going better!

Just my 2p after all the weeks of expressing, don't get an avent pump. They are shit. Anything off the shelf in the supermarket doesn't tend to be that good. This is bitter experience when we rushed out and panic bought when we thought mine had broken. Fortunately DH had just dismantled it too thoroughly for cleaning!

This is mine link. Ive got 2 incase one breaks. However, the first one has taken me through to 20 weeks if exclusive expressing (32 ounces a day) no problem. You can get them on amazon prime. So next day delivery.

I find it just as good as the hospital grade one I used in the hospital.

Good luck!

So glad to hear things are improving and you got some sleep.

Crying your eyes out is perfectly understandable and normal.
Demand better pain relief from your GP! Get dp to pick up prescription.

You're doing really well. This really is the toughest part. It does get easier.

I used cheap Avent pump. It was fine.

Hi Harriet - that Is a great link thank you. So today has been a lot better. Midwife weighed her today she had only lost 75g which apparently is normal fur newborns to loose some weight ? And she said 75g isn't a lot at all (her birth weight was 6lb1oz) to lose and showed bf going well. That made me so happy that the bf is working n determined to carry on. Her jaundice has gone to and she is doing a lot of pooey nappies midwife again said good sign . So we are getting there . So glad didn't give up. Bf wasn't as painful today either been putting the cream on religiously. Doctor prescribed me co codamol to take which again seems to have helped. I can't thank everyone enough for all your advice.

Oh that's lovely news shoes!

So pleased that you are feeling better!

(I think dd lost about 200g in the first week)

Don't want to jinx it but I really really hope so thank u Harriet for all ur advice xx

75 grams, is, for an average weight baby, nothing. YOu are doing so well. Keep going, it gets so much easier...

Good point chunderella, about the birth.

Hang in there- it does get better! I remember being in tears with 2 cracked nipples not knowing which boob would be least painful to feed with.
I found these really helpful- they keep your clothes off the sore bits
www.philips.co.uk/c/avent-baby-breastfeeding/breast-care-6-pcs-scf157_02/prd/

Sympathies op - I had dd by CS last week too so I understand your pain! She is my second and I fed DS for 16 months so I blithely assumed all would be easy this time round. I'd forgotten that it hurts at first until your nipples get used to it - I've had those days of dreading the feed, wanting to scream at the razor-blade sensation of her latching on...but it's much better now and not hurting at all. It does take time for your nipples to get used to the feeling, and engorgement makes it really uncomfortable too. Hang in there, you are doing so well!