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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Severe engorgement 3 days in, can't express, what am I going to do?!

47 replies

Gannetseatfish · 16/07/2017 17:08

My little girl is 3 days olds d was feeding well but I have become severely engorged on both sides. I am having some success pumping on the right side but literally nothing is coming from the left and it's huge like a rock, hot and lumpy. I'm still in hospital (baby has jaundice) so have good painkillers, antibiotics and access to help but nothing is working to loosen the breast and get DD feeding again.

Has anyone had anything like this and how did it pan out? Did the breast get better with time?

I'm totally taken aback by the pain (worse than section pain) and stumped as to what to do - help!

OP posts:

Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 16/07/2017 21:46

I love mumsnet! You guys have made me feel so much better, even stopped crying. What is it with bfeeding and tears? We can get through this.

choconuts - I'm the same I never had any of this with my first. This time fed into pregnancy and I think my boobs were primed and ready to go ( into overdrive)

Stardust - I'm def doing it wrong!! Will try the basin technique as this was the most successful last time. It's so bloody sore/bruised. It's much sorer than c section scar now!

Quod - am right in the middle of that circle! Have tried 2 different pumps now with bigger cups and still lefty won't let down. Will keep trying.

Right off to try strategies, thanks so much for stopping me feeling like a freak.
Student midwife took cabbage bra in her stride though so that bodes well for her future!

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junerat · 16/07/2017 22:18

Do check for a blocked duct, my love. Unusual this early in and, but possible. Any hard lump (difficult to feel when engorged) can stop letdown.

Echoing another poster, upside down feeding (laying baby on the bed and dangling the nipple into the mouth) helped me (give yourself a really good squeeze whilst feeding like this).

Other than that, hot flannels, lots to drink, get some sleep if you can. Your baby is safe and you are surrounded by support and love.

Venusflytwat · 17/07/2017 11:17

How are things today? :)

Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 17/07/2017 21:02

Better and the same! One boob much improved, feeding well and started to recover from nipple trauma. The other boob is the same! Had some success this morning with a nipple shield but haven't been able to repeat this. One of the midwives massaged it which feeding which also provided some relief but I'm too shy to ask anyone to do it again. So it's still engorged although not as painful as yesterday. I'm going to keep trying to latch baby on although it's bloody sore I have to try and get rid of some milk!!'

OP posts:

HeyMicky · 17/07/2017 21:09

I was going to suggest someone else massage it. I found that DH sitting behind me and massing was more effective than me doing it myself. Hang in there!

FlaviaAlbia · 17/07/2017 21:33

I know a pp has suggested tongue ties already but DS couldn't latch and it was agony when he did. I managed a couple of times with nipple shields. He had a tongue tie and fed no problems when it was snipped.

I had a awful time with the midwives in the hospital, about 15 tried to help me feed but none of them spotted it. I got a LLL consultant to come see us and she spotted it straight away.

Sorry for the long post but thought it was worth saying just in case.

Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 17/07/2017 21:41

Def worth saying! I don't think it is a tt as she feeds so well off the other boob. I am hoping to get home on Wednesday and get in the bath and maybe that will work, otherwise I might try feeding from one side only. The bfeeding specialist I spoke to today said this was totally possible. Might be our only option now anyway!

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WORKWORKWORKWORKWORKWORK · 17/07/2017 21:42

Okay, I doubted whether to suggest this but it worked for me so many times! I suffered from engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis and alsorts. If you can see little white bits in your nipple, carefully "scratch" them out. I once used a sterilised needle & immediately milk would start flowing out.

Also, as above, warm running water, keep massaging, keep trying to feed even though it might feel like your nipple is on fire, then pat yourself on the back & congrats!

MrsPandaBear · 17/07/2017 21:46

I'd also recommend trying a haakaa pump (or similar) while feeding from the other side. Otherwise, have you tried nipper shields to see if they help with latching your baby?

Elledouble · 17/07/2017 21:58

You poor thing - I remember that well, it looked like I'd had a really awful lumpy boob job. I remember crying down the phone to my mom, telling her my boobs had turned to gnarly old wood!

When you're trying to hand express, try to move it firmly from the outside in - use the heel of your hand and imagine you're kneading bread

NameChange30 · 17/07/2017 22:31

DS fed better from one breast than the other. It turns out his tongue tie restricted his movement more on one side than the other, so that could have been a factor. He fed fine from both breasts once the TT was divided.

Don't want to keep going on about it, but please don't rule it out unless your baby's had a proper assessment for TT.

anchor9 · 18/07/2017 08:21

it's hideous isn't it, the final straw in terms of pain for me!!!

it will pass in a few days... persist with the feeding !. buy a manual pump (about £10 in tesco my DP discovered at about 11pm on day 3) perhaps but for me i didn't get hardly anything out with it. i just has to keep at it with the baby! luckily he was/is a champion bfer! so I'm wishing you all the luck, if it's any help it gets easier!!

Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 18/07/2017 08:56

Tried to feed again from the bad side with nipple shield this morning but it was literally agony. Scabs broke and it started blessed again, had to ask for morphine to get over it and think I'll need more soon. So feeding on that side is not possible until it totally heals up.

Feeling really conflicted about continuing this morning. I had so much trouble the last time and this tricky start had really put me off. I feel so guilty though, why do our hormones do this too us!

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Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 18/07/2017 08:57

bleeding not blessed although it was blessed sore!

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PenguinsAreAce · 18/07/2017 09:02

Oh sounds so painful . Do you have any Vaseline? The teeniest smear on a scabby nipple after feeding helps it to heal better (stuff about letting them air is old wives tales, moist wound healing is where it's at). It also in my experience makes the next feed far far less excruciating, as the worst pain is sort of as the slightly dried scab gets sucked off each time. The Vaseline/moistness helps prevent that.

Sorry you are having such a rough time

FlaviaAlbia · 18/07/2017 09:21

Oh, that's so rough for you

Give yourself a break, you've done brilliantly and they don't give morphine for a hangnail!

I mix fed DS for a while until his tt was snipped if you wanted to stop gradually or just give yourself time to heal that might help.

KimKardashiansArse · 18/07/2017 23:19

I've been there OP. Make sure your latch is really good every time - take your baby off if you have to so that you don't get more damage. Just one feed with a bad latch can cause damage that lasts for lots of feeds. Read up on aysmetric latch. You want to be getting loads of boob under nipple into mouth with nipple just getting in at the top. Try different positions. There are some positions that I could never get a good latch in. For me lying side by side ended up best.

Read about wet healing. You want to avoid scabbing: loads of nipple balm. Feed the baby on the other side to rest the bad side and express the bad side in the mean time. I'm expecting my third child and I'm still shit at hand expressing. I found a manual pump good and it helps to dangle. 🙈 When I was engorged I'd leak if I dangled boobs downwards. Also, are you giving baby both boobs at each feed or one? Because the boob that hasn't got completely drained will probably get engorged before next feed for a while.

Sorry for long ramble. Just remember that it does get better, this is normal (all of it) and you're doing a great job. GOOD LUCK

Original poster

Gannetseatfish · 19/07/2017 20:29

So just to update as I always am curious to know how things work out on these threads: boob is much much better today. Nipple is almost healed (using breast milk alone and allowing it to air dry) and engorement away down. Had some wee lumps and bumps today but a gentle massage seems to have dissolved them. Baby is feeding really well on the other side. We are going home tomorrow so looking forward to a bath and then maybe try and feed her on that side again.

Thanks so much again for everyone's support. Breastfeeding isn't totally straightforward but it's so wonderful at the same time xx

OP posts:

Rachie1986 · 19/07/2017 21:07

Well done OP. You are doing fantastically!

And thank you for updating :-)

GoldenOrb · 19/07/2017 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stardustandicecream · 20/07/2017 13:16

Well done

FlaviaAlbia · 20/07/2017 22:38

Lovely news Gannet I hope you're both home and enjoying having your own bed back!

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