Breastfeeding help 6 days old - urgent

[Womenareliketeabags]

My DS is now 6 days old and breast feeding has been hard so far, my right nipple is far too painful and mangled to even consider latching on that side, so I have been expressing off that breast and then giving via a bottle when feeding just off my left breast doesn't seem to settle him (probably had 5 bottles in total). And I have been ready to pack the whole thing in however over the last 12 ish hours we seem to have got the latch on my left breast cracked (nipple is a bit sore and damaged but with new latch it seems ok). The problem is he seems to have become unsettled on my breast but I really want to give this the best shot that we have. So my question is what do I do?

Do I sack in today and just sit in bed and feed him constantly off my left breast and hope that my milk flow increases enough to feed him solely of this one until my right nipple is better? Do I carry on expressing off my right and storing for a later time? Do I keep giving it in the bottles? (I'm worried that he is becoming unsettled on my breast due to having had a couple of bottles and it being so much easier!)

Please any advice is hugely appreciated.

You're doing a great job, it's hard at the start with each new baby as they're all so different. I second kellymom- it taught me so much and had answers for almost any issue I was having. It was also very reassuring and no nonsense.

Make sure with the latching that you really shove your boob into their mouth as far as you can to prevent any more damage. If you stick your finger and feel along the roof of your mouth you will feel it go from hard to spongy and soft right far at the back. So you're aiming for your poor sore nipples to be in the baby's soft palate. Sometimes if your boobs are large or engorged you might need to 'shape' them for their mouth (squash them flat if that makes sense) to help the baby latch on.

My other thing I would advise if they are fussing as I've really noticed this with my third baby (3 months old now) at the moment is that it is wind upsetting him. So if there is fussing going on, lean the baby over your shoulder and give them a good vigorous pat/rub until a burp comes out and then try again. Remember they made it down the birth canal so don't be too gentle

Definitely forget the world, enjoy your baby as they're only tiny for such a short time, you know from your first how quickly it all goes. Get in bed, and try some feeding lying down flat together, they love the tummy to tummy contact, it's warm and relaxed, and all my three latched on easily this way. Clear all pillows etc except just under your head, wrap the duvet under you and put the baby's own blanket over them, just in case you drift off together, I always do!

Biological Nurturing or Exaggerated Latch, rest the damaged nipple but do express fully otherwise FIL will build up in that breast and your supply will reduce. Spend the next couple of days feeding, relaxing and taking care of you and your baby. It will get better!