How do I find a BFC who will come to the house?

[GeorginaA]

I'm a member of the NCT but I seem to have managed to lose all my paperwork or it's buried somewhere in the filing cabinet.

Ds2 is 3 days old and I have lovely mashed and bleeding nipples. I think I'm doing all the right things from memory and from the pictures (tummy to tummy, nose to nipple, wide open mouth to the bottom of the areola, lip curled out, etc) but still quite sore. Would like someone to just come and check the latch is right, check baby's suck etc.

The hospital offer various support groups, but I'm really not feeling up to leaving the house and traipsing across town. Do the NCT's counsellors come to the house does anyone know?

I live in Worcester, has anyone got a phone number for someone local to me?

GeorginaA - I noticed this in The Times yesterday and I didn't know this, despite having b/f my own two. Dr Jane Collins' page: "Many women find their nipples become cracked and sore and this is almost always because of the way that a baby is positioned and attached. If the nipple is directed towards the top of a baby's mouth as it goes in, it should not be painful for you. As the baby sucks, the nipple will then be pointing down his throat which is the best position for stimulating milk supply. If the nipple is instead directed to the centre of the mouth, a baby's tongue will compress it against the hard palate inside his mouth which is more likely to make you sore. If the nipple is in the right position, a baby should be able to suck efficiently and therefore get the nourishment he needs." Also "Today ends National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, co-ordinated by the Department of Health. For more details visit www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk." Please excuse the amateur editing! I remember well my cracked, sore nipples, and the sensation of having my toenails pulled with pliers while I fed. I don't know how I managed! Good luck!

Ooo thanks tiamaria that's great! Will try that

Left hand side has almost completely healed up now... is still sensitive for the first few minutes but is actually pleasant feeding from that side. Right hand side still draws a few tears and gritted teeth but again subsides to manageable sensitivity after five minutes and they're looking less bloody and mashed now. Fingers crossed, I'm on the mend...

GeorginaA - Glad to hear that the feeding is less painful. Fingers crossed! Forgot to say 'Congratulations on the birth, too'!!

Ow ow ow ow OW!

Spoke too soon.

Ds2 has just finished (god I hope so) a marathon feeding session on and off since 4pm this afternoon. Was doing okay until the last half hour or so when I think I left him on the right hand side a bit too long and I think he was sucking on empty. Removed him as soon as it started to hurt, but a bit late. Now have shooting pains through that breast all the way through to my back. Other side is pretty sore again too.

Was really careful with the latches... think it was just overuse. Ow. Plus sitting down in one position for so long has hurt my back and my bruising/stitches. I'm one very unhappy and uncomfortable camper.

Hope he's tanked himself up for a good sleep tonight...

cry he's woken up and wants feeding again.

Do I have to?!

GeorginaA - Sorry to hear that. Remember, my sister can chat to you on the phone if you want her to. Just send me an e-mail on contact another talker.

Georgina I was thinking exactly the same at 8pm last night - and it's my right side that hurts too - spooky.
I know it's really early days, but have you tried expressig yet? I'm taking off a couple of ounces from the right side every time he feeds from the left, then starting off with that before I offer him the right breast so that the time he's actually on it (and mashing my nipple) is reduced.

Funnily enough, I'm just sterilizing the pump now.

Had a really shit night last night. He's got into this habit of only sleeping when on the breast but then waking up the second he gets put down so wants more feeding. Although I think it's just overtiredness. Dh ended up going downstairs for a couple of hours walking the baby up and down the living room trying to get him to sleep while I got some shut eye.

It's throwing all his feeds off too - he falls asleep after 10 mins of sucking but then wakes up hungry as soon as you put him down. Never gets a decent sleep so doesn't get a decent feed. Ds1 used to do the same (but didn't start until 4 weeks old) and it drove me to insanity then.

Oh, and I also seem to have dislocated my hip or trapped a nerve or something. Went out this morning with dses and dh for Tumble Tots. Got up at the end to go to the car and nearly fell over. Thought, that's okay, I get to see the midwife this afternoon, but were delayed on the journey home and missed her by 10 minutes. I now won't see her until tomorrow. Shamelessly sobbed my heart out.

Oh, and the hospital breastfeeding advisor is on holiday today.

Got to go and wake up ds2 now from the only decent sleep he's had in 24 hrs to go mash my breast some more. cry

If he falls asleep after 10 mins of sucking have you tried only allowing him, say, 9 minutes, then putting him down and waiting for him to wake up and resuming the feed? ds screams for food as soon as he wakes, so I've started giving him 10 minutes to stop him screaming before I do the nappy change, and then finshing the feed with a newly alert baby.

My routine so far has been 10-15 mins sucking before he doses, then strip him off and get about 15 mins skin-to-skin, then wake him up by putting his clothes back on and trying him on the other side. Just about get 45 mins feed like this but it's pretty exhausting for all involved.

Unfortunately at night time I'm lazy and just desperate for any chance, no matter how ethereal, that he might go to sleep so usually attempt to put him back in the moses basket on the offchance. Probably highly foolish.

A loose GF starts tomorrow - I'm hoping that'll help break us out of the overtired/poor feeding cycle, even if only vaguely the right timings.

Message withdrawn

Hurray, last night he settled before 2am!!! Then "only" woke at 4am and 5am, so we actually got a fairly decent night.

Started expressing today, haven't got a whole lot out (only 2.5oz) but a different part of my nipples are getting a pummelling which bizarrely makes the rest of the boob feel a bit more comfortable... perhaps it's making them numb

Day 1 of GF and so far has felt fairly natural rather than forced, although it's been a challenge keeping him awake after a feed. Hoping the knock-on effect will be a better rested night and generally better feedings.

Want to go for a walk to take ds1 to nursery this afternoon but still waiting in for the damn midwife. Wondering whether just to go anyway.

Congratulations GeorginaA on birth of DS. I had cracked/bleeding nipples from feeding and then I just expressed five times a day and got collectively 9oz per session. My nipples were v.sore and I was recommended Jellnet or Jelonet which come in a sterile flat pack and was developed for burns. It is an emolient in guaze and you cut a square the size of a stamp or slightly bigger and place piece on nipple after the feed. It's wonderful as it promotes healing. I did try fresh air but when busy in house and out and about, bearing breasts is somewhat difficult! Jellnet can be bought at any pharmacy and costs about £3-£4 for a piece measuring 10cm square. I really stocked up.

Not sure if you still need this Georgina - Mira Sherliker, NCT Breastfeeding Councillor based in Malvern, Telephone: 01684 561958.