milk coming in and 3 day old struggling to latch

[craftycottontail]

Any tips with how to have a better night tonight? I know it's early days but DS seems to really struggle latching at night anyway, and with swollen breasts last night it was awful! So painful when he does latch and makes me dread the next feed.

Have been topping him up with syringes of formula to get him settled as he gets so distressed but I worry this isn't ideal.

Weirdly during the day we seem to get on much better tho not sure how today will go with breasts swollen and sore.

Does this phase pass quickly? Any tips greatfully rcieved, despite all the things you read beforehand I feel utterly unprepared :(

If he is struggling to latch because you're engorged, hand express a bit off into a muslin first so that the areola is soft. It'll settle down soon!

If your nipples are sore, are you using Lansinoh?

Yes to Nobel's suggestion of hand expressing a little bit first. Could you also try feeding him before they get quite so engorged? Maybe in the day it's not so bad if you're feeding slightly more often?

Also, yes, be religious with Lansinoh whether you need it or not, I didn't get a single crack and put it down to applying after every feed.

yes, yes, i had this too!

I thought, when she was born and just seemed to know what she was doing, "yeay! i won't have any problems!" then milk came in, and suddenly, she didn't know what she was doing and i panicked.

it's all because your boobs change and the baby is still too new to understand :)
(and the engorgement)

just keep at it, and it'llk come right :) (checking latch and position and stuff)

if you are syringing, then it'll be better for you to express a bit of your own milk and syringe - this way, you are telling your boobs they need to make milk :)

Thanks everyone for your tips, I did read them at the time but sorry for not posting back earlier! I found if I expressed a bit off when engorged it helped him latch on a bit better. Still struggling with getting him to latch properly though.

Def get some advice from a bf supporter if poss regarding latch if it continues, don't hesitate as it can be a real life saver! X

I had very similar problems - try lots of different positions. For a couple of weeks DS ended up feeding sitting bolt upright, but it stopped the problems.

Also second the idea of a proper breastfeeding counsellor, mine was worth her absolute weight in gold.

Mine are huge round footballs when the milk comes in, know how you both feel! I used silicone nipple shields & they were fantastic. just popped one on, it allowed DS to get a good latch and a good drink. then when boob a bit softer (in a natural break in the feed IYSWIM) took it off then much easier to relatch

How would I get in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor? I'm going to a breastfeeding cafe tomorrow so hoping to get some tips there.

It's been less painful today/last night, is so nice to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and realise how nice it would be for it to work properly all the time! Gone 4 days now without resorting to formula so feel a lot better about that.

Have a look at Kellymom and I think its called reverse pressure? Hang on.

this worked for me

Ha too slow! Xpost.

I tried rugby hold which helped dd latch