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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Please help bf problems

14 replies

milktraylady · 09/06/2013 23:43

Hi minimilk is 8 weeks old, I am bf. It feels like a battle :(

I already have had 1 lot of antibiotics (week 3 I think) for the beginnings of mastitis (v scary).

Basically I think the flow is less on my rhs than lhs, as she feeds so much better on the left. Plus the latch is really hurting on the rhs today & yesterday.

My DH is mega supportive and we took a photo of her on each side earlier. Major difference in how holding her looks on each side.

Had a hot bath, massage, expressing, ibuprofen. The latch is so wrong I can't feed her :(
The expressing only got less than 1/2 oz, took 30 mins.

Question is- am I actually blocked on the LHS? Is this possible? What on earth can I do about it?

(Stupidly didn't read up on bf while pg, I read the entire bloody nice guidelines on pregnancy & birth but didn't read anything on bf. had no idea I would have all these problems. )

Please help me, I really want to keep bf. (already supplementing the odd formula bottle, and I don't want to go down this slippery slope)

ThanksSad

OP posts:
nestee · 10/06/2013 00:09

Oh sorry to hear you're having such problems. Is there much pain? Have you tried holding the baby in different positions like lying down on your side, or the rugby ball hold? Probably the best thing you can do is get yourself to a breastfeeding clinic tomorrow. They are great usually. Best of luck, try not to get too down about it.

Redtractoryellowtractor · 10/06/2013 00:15

Don't worry too much about how much you re expressing, it's not a good ndi actor of how much milk you are producing or ow much the baby is getting.

My midwife showed me a hold where you sit and hold the baby facing you, lightly sitting her/him on one of your feet, then slowly draw the baby towards you, up your leg, and onto your knee. The head naturally tilts back, (you have your thumbs under their armpits and lightly support the head with all the rest of your hand/fingers), and they then latch on facing you. It worked for us and got the latch sorted.

mindalina · 10/06/2013 01:20

laid back breastfeeding sorry if duff link, on phone Smile when my baby is being rubbish at latching on without hurting me this really helps us.

mindalina · 10/06/2013 01:20

laid back breastfeeding sorry if duff link, on phone Smile when my baby is being rubbish at latching on without hurting me this really helps us.

Meringue33 · 10/06/2013 01:58

I have the opposite problem - baby prefers right. Can you trick her by using rugby ball position on that side?

Try not to panic - can she get some milk out even tho imperfect latch? Can you feed her more from other side in short term til you get it sorted out?

Original poster
milktraylady · 10/06/2013 04:27

Mindalina thanks for the link, I haven't read that since week 1, good to read it all again.

OP posts:
Original poster
milktraylady · 10/06/2013 04:31

Meringue yes trying not to panic!
Feeding just now & the latch is acceptable on rhs surprisingly.
I find the rugby ball hold tricky, I will try the lying down hold today.

I will see someone in person today, got to!

OP posts:
LikeCandy · 10/06/2013 06:47

You may find this link useful

If all else fails you could also choose to only feed from 1 side if its that much of a problem. If you only use one side the other will quickly dry up (but then you will be 'wonky' for the duration)

I hope you get some good advice today IRL

Original poster
milktraylady · 10/06/2013 09:18

Thanks Candy I haven't seen that website before. I will have a good read.
Am trying the NCT & health visitor to get to see someone in person today.
Bizarrely the latch is working better today.

This feels like a battle! Confused

OP posts:
mindalina · 10/06/2013 09:34

so glad it's going better today Smile if it's any consolation at 15 weeks dd has only really got the hang of latching in the last few weeks and still sometimes faffs about with it. it did all get noticeably easier at about 12 weeks - im sure her mouth was just too little at first! I hope someone can get out to see you and give you some proper help. do you have any bf drop in clinics nearby? they are good for practical help and moral support. also dr jack newmans website has some good videos about helping to get the latch right. Smile

Original poster
milktraylady · 10/06/2013 11:14

Bf midwife is coming round in an hour to see us.
Phew.
Thanks peeps

OP posts:
LikeCandy · 10/06/2013 15:04

How did it go milktray?

Wishfulmakeupping · 10/06/2013 15:09

Don't have much to add in teens of positioning but just wanted to recommend the bf national helpline they helped me so much with my feeding dd. good luck

Original poster
milktraylady · 10/06/2013 18:02

Thanks she said the latch was ok, showed how she should be all in a straight line.
I have a red rash on the dodgy side, she said to go to the gp if it got any worse- as it's mastitis then.

Didn't really give a reason why I keep getting blocked on the one side.

OP posts:
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