first time breastfeeding please help

[the3ks]

my dd is 2weeks old now and at the beginning bfeeding was going well, then i got cracked nipples on my left side so gave it a rest for a day to ease the pain, after that i couldnt get her latched on to my left side at all, managed it with help from the clinic, but as soon as i was home couldnt do it again! so i was bfeeding exclusivly (sp) on my right side and expressing from my left with little outcome. now my boobs are totally diff sizes! iv managed to get her latched on my left and feed her on that one 1st for 5 or ten mins then put her back on the right as it feels as though shes starving hungry and isnt gettin enough! im also expressing on the left to help with the size but its not happening. please tell me im not gonna be lopsided for rest of my life as ill be gutted as its very visable!
also should it hurt so much underneath my boob whilst feeding? sometimes it does sometimes it dont, my latch and everything else is apparantly fine.
any advice is so appreciated

Ok, first some questions.

How is your DD's weight gain? Is she making lots of dirty and wet nappies?

People do manage to feed on only one side. And, from what I know, mums always have a "better" boob and a "worse" boob. Both my boys preferred my left side, and DS2 still does.

My left boob is normally a bit bigger. When I am bf, the size difference is greater, but from what I remember, they were back to being (nearly) the same size, between babies.

I wouldn't bother with the expressing, it's not necessary, and it's just annoying you. You can keep offering the left boob first, to try to balance things out, if you like, but please don't get stressed about that.

What do you mean by hurting underneath your boob while feeding? Inside? Shooting pains? Or what? When do they come? Do you get them on both sides? Do you ever get them when you're not feeding?

Congratulations on the birth of your DD, by the way. You're doing really well with breastfeeding. The first six weeks or so always does suck (ha ha) with tiny babies.

hi thanks for replyin so quick,weight gain is ok, she s not quite reached her birth weight but there not worried. lots of wees but had probs with poos, had to give me suppositries (sp).
the pain is directly underneath my right boob, like a sore aching feeling that tingles really bad and hurts like hell. only on my good side i get this never on the left.

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i dont no if it is as its only just started but then i wouldnt no as im new to this lol. im also dreading the nxt feeds now, so much so im almost in tears knowin i have to feed her! but when the pain isnt there i love nursing her.

Have you tried taking some painkillers? You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen whilst BFing and it may help a bit.
Lansinoh is also good stuff, as is trying to get baby to feed in a different position eg rugby ball.
If you are getting pain whilst feeding is it possible that something is blocking the drainage of one duct? I used to get a similar thing when I wore a particular bra, till I worked out that the strap was obstructing the milk flow.
Keep offering both sides and your milk will increase - but it will take a while and you will need to let her suckle on that side to stimulate it - let her feed on that side till she comes off then offer the other side. If you're always pulling her off after a few mins it will affect the supply.
It is really really early days, and you're doing well. Take it easy!

When do you get the pain? When she first latches on? A bit later? Throughout the feed?

Do you ever get it when you're not feeding?

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sorry 1st chance to get back on. the pain is thruout but its not always there, some feeds it is some times it isnt, but when it is it lasts thru out the feed.

the3ks...this needs investigating, I think, and the first thing would be to get your midwife to have a look (you can still have midwifery care at this time) or a bf-friendly doctor.

It's not normal to be in pain like this and I wonder if you have a blocked duct that comes and goes.

Also I don't undestand about the poos - NQC meant the baby poo'ing, and I wonder if you thought she meant you If it's your baby, then giving you suppositories would not help at all, and a baby who isn't pooing lots at 2 weeks would not need suppositories but a check on how milk was transferring.

But apart from that - I don't really know what's happening to cause the problem and you deffo need checking - asap, as well.

Stay in touch !

hi tiktok, lol no i meant the baby not me pooing, yes they gave her suppositries (sp) although she has started goin naturally on her own now but only every 2 days! i thought bf babies went loads, there now saying she just may have a mature gut which i think is a bit strange. im gonna go to the bf clinic to get them to check it as im at the point of giving up now it hurts so much, even hurts just to bedn over!! agony in my right so im avoiding bending, how stupid!
mw came yest and she s only gained 2oz over her birth weight so she wants her weighed wkly to keep an eye on that.

Gosh,it sounds horrid.
What could it be??

3ks,it may be useful also to phone the helpline for the Association for breastfeeding Mothers so that they can talk this through with you and eliminate possibilities.
They are lovely people.

0870 401 7711

Suppositories for a breastfed baby??? ......this is a highly unusual response from the medical people.

She may well be ok, and actually, some babies are infrequent poo-ers and there is nothing to be concerned about at all, but these babies are unusual. They need checking out, weighing naked with digital scales (did the midwife use these or spring balance?) and someone knowledgable needs to observe a feed....all of this will be available at the bf clinic, together with a check on this horrible pain.

I hope you see someone who doesn't start talking suppositories or the equivalent.

Let us know what happens!

has anyone suggested trying to latch her on to the left side by keeping her in position as if she were feeding from the right side. so u keep her where she is but you kind of bend or a bit so she gets your other breast? does that make sense? my dd always hated my right side until i started doing this. i feed her on a feeding pillow and i just move her along a bit so she gets my other side rather than turning her over. hope that makes sense. sometimes they call it a rugby ball hold but it's basically you move rather than her.

yes they weighed her naked on the digital scales. also had a health care assisatnt check my latch ect who seemed pretty confident in what she was doing. i mean i still get pain after feeding her is this normal? i no the first min hurts like hell and afterwards it eases as i count down but this is a joke.

Ds2 won't take my right side w/out a nipple shield. Have you tried one?

dizzy ive tried that hun. jabber not tried, wil buy some tom though as im willing to try anything at the moment

Some hints: moisten the back so it sticks to you better. If it has a cut out area, that lines up with baby's nose. And, most important, before you put it on flip it partially inside out so that it looks like a Mexican sombrero. Place the center over your nipple then flip the surrounding part back down. It's like it kind of pops into place.

Good luck and HTH

hiya,
i think you are doing brilliantly, hang on in there, those first few bfeeding weeks can be tough. Some breastfed babies do poo infrequently in the early weeks {my dd only went once a week }and its more important that your baby is having wet nappies. Wonder if the pain you are experiencing could be thrush of the breast duct-this is very treatable but you do need to see your gp or hv or ideally a breastfeeding counsellor to get it sorted. it could also be making your nipple more sore... think it would be great if you could get reassurance from a bfeeding consellor re. weight gain too.. i know how anxious it can make you as my dd took 6 weeks to regain birth weight yet i went on to bf for 11 months so far and she is doing great. hope this helps a little and take care..