Help - newborn feeding issues!

[weebarra]

DD1 was born on Wed at 37+4, she is my third baby and I breastfed the last one until he was over 2. Now we have major issues and I really need help.
She cannot latch at all on my right breast (which ironically was DS2's fave). The nipple is quite flat and she has a pronounced overbite.
I thought that was fine, just use other boob till milk comes in properly, hand expressing a bit of colostrum from right breast.
The big problem now is that she has been feeding so much from left breast that the nipple is in bits and it's proper agony to feed. I'm happy enough to syringe feed formula for a day or so to give it time to heal, but I'm not sure that's the best thing to do.
Local hospital has a breast feeding clinic tomorrow which I will go to - but what do I do in the meantime?
Thank you for reading my essay!

Have you slathered the sore nipple in Lansinoh? Can you express colostrum from it and the other side and syringe feed that instead of formula? Babies don't need much.

Yes, but milk is in now, she's had the colostrum.

Does a different position help ? I had to rugby Ball on one side for the first couple of weeks as ds wouldn't latch in the 'normal ' position. Hope you get sorted soon

oh sympathies! how are her nappies? do you think she is getting enough? because I guess you have to play it a bit different depending on that?

is she having any from the right?

I'm not sure I can help but I have one born on the same day and an older one I'm still feeding.

this must be resolvable!

Have you got a breast pump? You really need to be removing milk from them otherwise your supply will be affected. I would persevere with trying to latch onto the other side too, my DD had trouble with one side for a while but eventually cracked it. I think you can buy suction things from Boots to pull out a flat nipple?

It would probably be a good idea to phone a breastfeeding support helpline, I've never used one but La Leche League are supposed to be good.

Have you had her checked for tongue tie? My dd ended up preferring one side and had tongue tie.

Also really focus on positioning - you can forget just how little tweaks can make a huge difference when feeding new babies! I used to stick dd on all wrong - I thought I could remember from last time!

I second Lansinoh. Nipple shield? Maybe. It was the saviour if my bf for #4 who couldn't feed. Shield for 6 weeks.. Now 5 months and still ebf.
Sore nips = incorrect attachment. So I guess that will need help first? Can you express and string or supply line feed rather than formula?

Have you tried pumping first on the right breast to draw out the nipple then try to latch her on?

Also different feeding positions, maybe look at biological nuturing?

Also try nipple shields for your left nipple to give it a chance to heal.

When I had very sore nipples with dd1 (latching problems on right side too) my mum bought me this Eau Avene spray which I found very soothing. I just sprayed it on and left to dry naturally after each feed then slathered on the Avent nipple cream (I found it more soothing than Lansinoh).

Now that the milk is in you could always express and syringe feed from both breaststroke thus giving the left more of a rest?

breasts blinking autocorrect!

Thank you all so much, things are much better today.
Midwife came and is one of a team in the city with extra bf training. She recommended nipple shields, pumping and biological nurturing.
Sent DH out to get shields and unearthed my old breast pump.
DD and I have been in bed most of the day and feeding is definiteky going better!

Glad to hear it is going better and that you have been having lots of lovely cuddles in bed. :)