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Infant feeding

Refusing one breast, thrashing, bleeding nipple

3 replies

FranticallyPeaceful · 22/05/2018 19:20

Oh my!

I have a three day old and he’s currently acting like I’m trying to murder him when I try to offer my left breast. My nipple is flatter on that side and I’ve breastfed my two DC prior to this and they’ve all preferred my right breast - but this little man just down right refuses it and my breast is so swollen, hard and sore. I bought an electric pump to express it and it milks about half an oz every 2 hours on a very painful max (whereas the other breast sprays it everywhere when I tried to compare) and I’m sure it’s making more than that as if NEVER seems relieved.

Is there ANYTHING I can try? My right breast is now bleeding at the end and so sore when he latches, because no matter what he doesn’t open his mouth wide... no matter what I do. He just thrashes around and scratches at my breast and his face etc.

I’ve breastfed both of my previous DC until they were just shy of 3 and I thought I’d have this sorted easily but wow. I certainly do not.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

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FranticallyPeaceful · 22/05/2018 19:22

I should probably mention he was induced earlier than expected, he’s so much smaller than my other two were - so I don’t know if this has anything to do with it

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littleneepo · 22/05/2018 19:31

If he hasn’t been feeding well from your left breast then you may well have got a blocked duct which would slow the flow right down - do you have a midwife appt soon where you could ask?
Otherwise I found a warm compress on top of the breast helped milk flow.
If he’s opening his mouth ok for your right breast you could try holding him the same way for your left - using a pillow and scootching him over - as it might be a position thing as well.
Good luck!

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YouFightLikeADairyFarmer · 22/05/2018 19:38

Poor you! Get him checked for tongue tie, just in case that's the latching problem, but my baby was the same - just wouldn't open her mouth wide enough. Nipple shields saved me - made it bearable to keep feeding, I had MAM silicone ones. She seemed to find it easier to latch onto the nipple shield as it was more of a teat already.