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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Help with engorged boob please!

83 replies

Kione · 19/01/2017 14:30

DS is two weeks old and has a mild tongue tie, they said the latch was ok and didn't need cutting.
He has been feeding and put on weight but my nipples are really sore and worst is one boob gets really full and sore, the other not so bad.
How do I make them even? I am tempted to just use the full one but I know that's not right as it will just keep producing. I think it is already overproducing as milk just pours out.
Any advice please?
Midwife coming tomorrow but I don't find her very helpful. Breastfeeding group not on til next week and that feels like ages.
Help please!
Thanks.

OP posts:
Kstar8 · 26/01/2017 20:41

Hi Kione,

I too had a miserable time BF. TT snipped at 5 days old but it was a very thick posterior tie and I spent two months in agony with everyone telling me my latch looked perfect. At 8 weeks I had DDs tongue checked again and was told that there was still a lot of fibrous tissue tethering the tongue. I assumed I was bad at BF or DD and I weren't compatible. I had lump after lump and engorgement as DD couldn't drain breasts properly. TT done again at 8 weeks and at about 12 weeks feeding was so much improved. DD started putting on weight nicely and stopped feeding for hours on end. Those days were truly dark and the pain and distress every time I found another lump were utterly miserable.

I know there are some professionals that think that TT are being snipped too often but if you're in pain still but your latch looks good it means something else isn't right.

I had a lot of pain during my let down for the first couple of months and worried that I had thrush as it was excruciating for the first few mins feeding but I think it was due to nipple damage and you're more aware of it as the tissue around it is so sore. I can feel my let downs now (DD is five months) but it's a warming/tingly feeling.

There is little blood supply or nerves to the frenulum when babies are under a year so the pain and distress is minimal. However, it was difficult to see DD in discomfort at 8 weeks rather than when it was first done. If you're able to, getting it done sooner is best, for baby and your nipples/sanity.

Hope things are going well for you now

Picklesandpies · 26/01/2017 20:51

Let down pain like you describe is normal yes - but I would urge you to keen an eye out for thrush if it's excruciating and goes on for weeks. Like pp says, warm, tingling feeling is normal once things settle down. Glad your boob is feeling a bit more normal.

Original poster
Kione · 27/01/2017 10:15

I am sick of all this really. Thrush, madtitis, sore nipples... I am thinking two weeks more and I'll give up, hopefully formula won't give DS colics then.

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Picklesandpies · 29/01/2017 17:38

How's it been going this weekend?

Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 09:28

Hi Pickles thanks for asking. Its been so so. The breastfeeding seems ok pain-wise but DS still feeds for 5 minutes and with clicking noises and I feel like a slave. When am out I get nervous abd he doesn't feed well. We had an awful night on saturday. Last night was slightly better but he grunts like mad abd I think its the wind.
MW coming again today.

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Picklesandpies · 30/01/2017 09:37

Glad to hear it's been a little better perhaps. It's good the midwife is coming today. Clicking noises are normal but could be a sign of bad latch so ask mw to check. Will she update you on tongue tie and whether it will be cut? I guess you are coming to end of period where that is viable. You sound quite anxious - that must be horrible. What you are describing though - 5 min feeds etc is totally normal, at least in my experience. If your baby is gaining weight then breastfeeding is working. I know it's hard work though. Anyway - just wanted to say hi and that I've thought of you. Good luck with the midwife.

Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 12:08

Well, as we hadn't had a letter yet she called the hospital from my house and they told us to go there and then! Its done! Tried to feed him after but he was still numb, he didn't even wake up... So I am a bit anxious for it to be ok when the anaesthetic wears off. But well, that's done now!
Thanks for checking, it is good to have at least virtual support :)

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Picklesandpies · 30/01/2017 12:43

Oh wow! That's a development! Great news. I hope he feeds well when the anaesthetic wears off. Great news. Well done for persevering with midwife and getting it taken seriously. Let me know how you are getting on.

Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 12:51

The advantages of living in small places I guess!
He woke up screaming but would not feed. Now sleep again. I gave him the dummy tho not sure if I was supposed to.

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Hawkmoth · 30/01/2017 12:53

Just found this thread. Hope it's going well. My DS had his tongue tie done and it made a huge difference. We're still BFing at ten months.

Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 12:55

Thanks.?Did he get better quickly or did it take a while?
We are getting married in August so the plan is to breastfeed for 6 months if it goes well.

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Hawkmoth · 30/01/2017 16:19

It made an instant difference. To me as well as him!

Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 16:42

Great, hopefully it will for us too :)

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Original poster
Kione · 30/01/2017 16:45

He fed well on the last feed! So relieved! But I couldn't relax as I had to ho and get DD from school so he got chucked in the car as soon as he finished. I can't imagine how extra difficult must be having more than one kid if bottles have to be made too, at least I have the food ready at all times :)
I am even seeing some positives to this...

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Picklesandpies · 30/01/2017 20:07

This is lovely to read! How fantastic! Well done you.

Original poster
Kione · 31/01/2017 11:52

Step backwards again. Thanks for your lovely words but don't feel it today. Baby seems to dribble all the milk down my side, am sure he doesn't know how to eat now :(
He doesn't want boob but shows the cues of being hungry. I am really upset today.

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Picklesandpies · 31/01/2017 13:52

Please don't be disheartened - I'm sure your baby just needs time to adjust to having tongue tie cut and new way of feeding. Call midwife if you're worried xx

Original poster
Kione · 03/02/2017 14:25

Now I have thrush! There is no end to this :( so I am taking tablets and a gel for DS.
There are so many things that are not said about breastfeeding...

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Original poster
Kione · 03/02/2017 14:27

Re. Feeding its better, one side better than the other. The bad side, my clothes are soaking wet when he finished like it comes out of his mouth.
I think am going to start introducing bottles, all this is not good for me.

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SerialReJoiner · 03/02/2017 14:31

How long has it been since the TT was released? It takes about a week for baby to readjust to the new way of eating, I've heard. Flowers

This bf thing isn't always plain sailing. My 3yo DD was TT and now my 4 week old DS is as well. Oh the joys.

CelticPromise · 03/02/2017 14:35

It sounds as though you may have an oversupply on that side. I would go to a bf group for some real life support. Take it one feed at a time.

I feel the needly letdown too. It's not nice.

CelticPromise · 03/02/2017 14:39

5 mins might be enough for him to feed. My 3wo only feeds for 5-10 mins as a rule.

fruitpastille · 03/02/2017 14:39

You poor thing, reading this brought it all back to me! I think you have done so well to cope this long. I always felt trapped by mastitis as I had to feed to clear it and couldn't switch to bottles! I hope you are feeling better soon - it can only get better surely :-)

Original poster
Kione · 04/02/2017 09:45

TT cut a week on Monday so yeah, he might have to get the hang of it.
I go to a bf group run by a Health Visitor every Tuesday and it helps to talk to people, but I find each professional has a different opinion :/
DS is a big baby tho (over 10lb at birth) and 5 min feeds don't fill him up. He doesn't poo as much as the "manuals" suggest.
Tried a bottle yesterday but he took hardly any and his colic lasted longer.

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Original poster
Kione · 04/02/2017 09:47

I live in fear of mastitis as my step sister had it and had to have a horrid procedure to take the pus out Sad

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