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Infant feeding

Breast feeding agony.

30 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 23/08/2017 14:41

I have a little boy who is a week old today. I also have another son who I breast fed until he was 2.5 years old.

For the first 5 days or so breast feeding was going so well but over the last 24 hours things have taken a turn for the worse.

My left nipple is in agony, cracked and bleeding, and I gave the fed from it now for 24 hours because the pain is unbearable. I'm using a pump to express from it every 4 hours (and getting good volumes) but using the pump is painful too and triggers more bleeding.

As a result I'm solely feeding from the right breast and so that nipple is now getting really, really sore too because he's feeding all the time. His nighttime cluster feeding has really taken its toll on my right nipple and I feel like giving up. When he latches on to the right side there is pain for about ten seconds but then it stops and the rest of the feed is pretty comfortable.

I'm using Lasinoh on my left nipple but it isn't making any difference. I tried to feed DS in my left side with a nipple shield this morning and it was a complete fail as despite persevering for 5-10 minutes he couldn't extract any milk from the breast.

I have been in tears so many times yesterday and today. It's soul destroying.

There is a weekly BF Support group that runs on Wednesdays and I was going to go this morning but Sod's Law it is closed today.

I'm so upset and in so much pain that I think I'm going to start offering bottles because I can't face another 24 hours of this, let alone longer.

I had a tough first 6 weeks establishing BF with DS1 but absolutely nothing like this. We had taken him for a tongue tie assessment at 6 weeks (my DH has a slight one) and DS did have a minor one but the practitioner didn't think it was severe enough to affect his latch.

I'm thinking of going to get current baby assessed too as I know TT's can be genetic through the male bloodline.

But if he did have tongue tie wouldn't my right nipple be in just as much a state as my left one is?

I don't even know what response I'm after from this post. I just know I'm an exhausted, emotional, tearful wreck and I don't know what to do.

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Writerwannabe83 · 25/08/2017 13:40

He had a really thick posterior tie.

We had a long discussion about his feeding and he scored 12 out of 14 for tongue tie symptoms.

She cut it for me and then I breast fed him on both sides afterwards and the difference is immense.

I think I want to divorce my DH and marry the Lactation Lady because of how much I love her Grin

She said she was really surprised DS had coped as well as he had but that if she hadn't have done it then he would soon have started losing weight due to poor milk transfer. He had already been showing signs of struggling as over the last 24 hours his feeds have been getting shorter as he seemed to be tiring a lot quicker.

But anyway it's been done and I'm feeling so much more positive!! It wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny!!

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TheLegendOfBeans · 25/08/2017 13:46

WOWZER; I'm so pleased for you. Now just enjoy feeding him and fingers crossed it all goes well.

Just to let you know my DD had the same thing and it grew back. Be vigilant if your baby's latch deteriorates next few days but I'm sure it won't. X

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stargirl1701 · 25/08/2017 14:50

Woohoo! 🎉🎉🎉 Fab news!

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Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2017 21:43

Thanks guys!!!

I can't believe his much things have improved in 48 hours!!

I'm in no pain at all during feeds now and all nipple trauma has pretty much healed. Breast feeding has become a pleasure again and I can't stop telling DH how amazing the change is.

DS is still perfecting his latch, he's still taking in some air but I feel that with every feed he's getting better and better.

The Midwife came to see him yesterday as I was concerned that the 2-3 days of really crap feeding may have affected his weight/health but she was really happy with him so that reassured me too.

I just can't get over how different things are now!! Grin

Thanks to everyone for your messages of support and encouragement Flowers

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stargirl1701 · 28/08/2017 07:53

Wonderful. Pleased for you both xx

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