First time mum needs help and advice on breastfeeding please!

[youngmum21]

IVe just had my beautiful baby girl and am trying to breast feed?
My milk has just come in and lo only seems to want to feed off one side any ideas why this cud be???
At the min one boob is really ful because lo will not feed off it and im not sure wot to do?

Any help or advice wud be appricated!!

Thanks

have you rang your health visitor or midwife? im sure they will be happy to come and help you out

It might be worth trying to express a little from the 'unused' boob, just enough to soften it up a bit, it may be that it's so full now that your DD is having difficulty latching on.

Well worth finding out if there are any breastfeeding counsellors near you too. Best of luck.

They do have favourite boobs sometimes... . One tip from a midwife that worked for me with dd was to hold her in the under-arm (rugby ball) position to feed from the unpopular side. Or try lying down to feed her maybe? Changing position can often be helpful when you hit a sticking point, I've found.

Youngmum, try reading this page and following the advice given. The Kellymom website is a fantastic source of information about breastfeeding.

If that doesn't help, I would phone LLL 0845 120 2918

Congratulations on your baby girl and well done for getting started with breastfeeding - it does get easier and more enjoyable

well done youngmum - keep trying! same advice as everyone else really, babies do have favourite boobs, but really do get in touch with midwife or health visitor as that is what they are there for. if u get one you don't get on with, stand your ground and get another one or follow franny's advice! its so so so worth persevering with best of luck

As someone else said, express a bit to make the breast softer. I don't think they can get enough in their mouth if it's rock-hard as I seem to remember mine were when the milk came in...

oh, another thing, hot flannels on boobs when you're in the bath are fab for huge cannon-ball type knockers

Thanks for all the advice but have decided to just bottle feed as have been getting really upset and frustrated, i have managed a week of breast so hopefully i have done some gud!!!!

Thanks again sorry to waste anyones time xx

youngmum, a week of breastfeeding certainly does good

If you change your mind, and decide to go back to breastfeeding. then of course you can do.

Post here if you would like support and info on this.

i wud love to continue to breastfeeding im upset that i cant and i get upset cuz lo gets upset and i just cry and cry i know im prob weak to give up so soon!!!

youngmum, you're not weak, you've just had a baby and are probably very tired Best wishes to you and your little one.

youngmum, where is your midwife in all of this? You can call her today and ask for help.

There are bf support lines, too, but first step for you should be the midwife who can come and see you.

Hope you will call.

Also, if you wqould like to continoue bf afterall, you still can, or how about mixed feeding...I am just saying this, because you are obviously not really 100% sure that Bottlefeeding is what you want to do...so,might be worth keeping those options open!

Youngmum - well done for giving it a go. I'd agree with 3andnomore - it's worth considering mixed feeding even you feel you can't fully bf anymore.

I was in exactly your position so I know how you feel - bf just made me completely exhausted and emotional and ds was really difficult to feed. I started giving him formula at night cos I really couldn't face the struggle and bf during the day.

Mixed feeding does mean that your breastmilk won't increase as much in step with your baby's needs. You do also need to be pretty determined with the bf as it is easy to fall back on formula when the going gets tough. I did end up introducing formula top ups in the day as well, but I have really tried to keep giving him some breastmilk.

I know others disagree with me, but I have found mixed feeding the best of both worlds. It took the pressure of the bf because I knew he would take a bottle if needed. I was less tired so I was better able to cope with bfeeding him and have even started to enjoy it (when he cooperates!). He is now nearly four months and has finally become a lot easier to bf (about time too!).

Best of luck with whatever you do.

Youngmum, congratuations on the birth of your Dd. Is your midwife still visiting ? Have you tried the football hold on the less favoured side? Every week you manage to breast feed benefits your lo so hang in there and get all the help available.

big congrats youngmum,i hav trouble on the one side,i think its quite natural to hav a good side.hang on in there ,keep tryin ,it will get easier,as baby grows.dont be tempted with bottles yet,get her established on breast for few weeks.dont be scared of repositioning as much as you need,to get it right .new borns are so hard to handle if you hav an awkward side,i do sympathise,stay calm.well done,dont give up keep going.

Both mine had a favourite boob. BF is hard work at first especially when your boobs are huge & painful. Expressing a bit to soften them up a bit helps a lot. My midwife said it can be like trying to latch on to a very full balloon otherwise - tricky!
Hope you manage to work something out to suit you. Congratulations on your little girl!