Help... before the explode!!!!

8 replies

geordiemacminx · 07/05/2007 10:21

hey ladies.

Looking for a little bit of advice as i really dont have time to read the breast feedng book that I naively bought

Ds 3 days old, took to feeding like a little star, until today when me milk seems to have come in with avengance!! He goes to suck but then gets really figety and upset... My breasts are now the size of small countries, and I'm worried that its only gonna get worse.. he had a little feed about an hour ago but it hasnt deflated breast any.

So... am I right in thinking that a hot shower and flannels will stop them from exploding in the short term?

Would it be a good idea to express some off too? I have the pump...whats the best way to express to get him back onto breast?

Also while I'm here..once he is feeding am I best feeding him from 1 breast, then using the other for next feed or using both - seems to be lots of conflicting advice?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can give me!!!

OP posts:

Quootiepie · 07/05/2007 10:23

Hiya, try expressing. I expressed before feeds sometimes when I was at exploding point, freeze or refridgerate your milk - you will be glad of it in a few days/weeks I sometimes fed from both, I swapped after 20 mins, or when I felt deflated - sometimes he had one breast, sometimes both, sometimes switched back and forth a few times in one feeding session x

Quootiepie · 07/05/2007 10:24

Make sure you don't swap too early on the breast though x

Quootiepie · 07/05/2007 10:24

Oh, and cabbage leaves in your bra is supposed to help (I think) from the fridge.

moondog · 07/05/2007 10:26

Geordie,hi and congratulations.
I didn't experience this myself but advice seems to be to do the flannel/shower thing and also express enough off to feel comfortable. Have you got a pump? Some people can do it by hand and remember,in worse case scenario you could get your dh/dp to suck some off.

Remember to freeze if you express some (although not from dh's mouth obviously!) Very useful to have a supply.

I tried the one breast at a time thing with one baby and the two breasts at a time thing with another and really didn't notice any difference either way.

maveta · 07/05/2007 10:26

Hey GMM!! Have a wee look on my thread from the other day.. I got some good advice here
Hope it helps, mine did go down within 48 hours and now fine xx

Original poster

geordiemacminx · 07/05/2007 10:31

thanks ladies - who needs crappy books when you can rely on MN!!

Hi Maveta, congrats to you too... havent had time to post birth story or anything else really, but to be honest he was born on Friday at 1pm, and I was back home on sat at 8pm, so not too bad, especially since he came out of the sunroof!!

Thanks once again

OP posts:

maveta · 07/05/2007 10:32

And for what I did.. I used a very cold flannel to cool my breasts down for a few minutes before feeding. That helped the really hot swollen feeling.. then I expressed a bit off by hand, just enough so that my boob felt a little softer and more ´maleable´. He was fine latching on after all that palava. With the colostrum I was just feeding off one boob at each feed but when my milk came in there was too much in each for him to finish so I was giving him (knowing he took approx. 20 mins to feed) 10mins on one and then taking him off and putting him on the other for the rest of the time. I guess maybe he missed out on a bit of hindmilk but as it was only for a few feeds I didn´t think it would matter, and it doesn´t seem to have. I also tried to feed him every 3 hours instead of the 4 he had settled himself into.

Now that the engorgement has gone I find I feed him off one breast til he decides he´s finished (or if it seems like he´s just comfort sucking, I take him off), then change him and burp him to bring him back to life a bit and then feed him off the other. He never takes as much the second time so I just start with that one on the next feed.

It´s a total minefield though, isn´t it?? There´s so much info out there. Good luck and HTH. xx

eca · 07/05/2007 21:37

Hi GMM, congratulations hon. Hope you're enjoying your lo.

If my breast is getting to the exploding stage I hand express a bit before i feed. I would do that just to get you through this stage. Your boobs should settle down for you in 24/48hrs. Shower, cold or warm flannels all help too. And most IMPORTANTLY make sure you're wearing a good nursing bra ALL THE TIME.

HTH

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