Am I doing ok bfeeding my 6 day old baby?

[Popsicles]

Hi this is my first post on mumsnet, I think it'll prob be the first of many!

I'm a little worried that I'm doing something wrong as, although dd is latching on well with much of the areola in her mouth, I am still in pain during bfeeding.

It's mainly a sharp pain whihc subsides quickly as she latches on, but I have real prblems with engorged breasts ath the moment which is really getting to me. They are throbbing ad nothing seems to relieve the pain. After dd has fed the breast feels less full but only for an hour or so.

She is feeding at least once every three hours for a minimum of 15 mins with some feeds between (I'd say in total she's feeding at least 10 times per day.)

She is filling a nappy and passing urine between each feed and seems content... is it possible that she is not getting enough milk yet still seems so sleepy and content after each feed?

She had jaundice which was being monitored in hospital and is on the decrease so I think I must be doign something right.

The midwives at the hospitalsaid I should top up with forumula but generally she's refusing the bottle after being on the breast so I was thinking of giving that up.

Sorry to say so much, but any advice would be really appreciated!

hello Popsicles, welcome to mumsnet!

I also got this pain for a few seconds at the start when breastfeeding, but it went away. (Hopefully some more experienced breastfeeders will be along soon with some more information)
Engorged breasts, ouch, remember those well, they subsided gradually over the first two weeks or so. Also, they were not so bad with later babies, the first was the worst.

From your post, it sounds as though your baby is getting enough milk, as she feeds, seems content and fills nappies! if your breast is full she will just feed until she is full. 10 times a day sounds about the same as my babies at 6 days old.

The advice to top up with formula is rubbish if your baby is feeding, weeing and happy, and your dd seems to think so too
Many people mix feed breast and bottle for various reasons eg returning to work, but you really dont have to, 100% breastmilk is the best nutrition for your baby. The risk of offering a bottle is that if your baby accepts it, then they will drink less breastmilk, so your body produces less, and if your supply isnt well established, this can be the start of a vicious cycle that leads to giving up breastfeeding - when you never even needed to introduce a bottle in the first place.

forgot to say, putting cabbage leaves in your bra does help with engorged breasts - well it helped me anyway! Also hot baths, and expressing a tiny bit off in the bath (not a lot, or you will stimulate milk production)

hi popsicles, sounds like you're doing really well with the feeding and if there are plenty of dirty nappies - that is a great sign that your LO is getting plenty of milk, and she seems happy - great!
Engorgement is horrid, i sympathise. Cabbage leaves are a great suggestion and when it gets unbearable, just express off enough to be comfortable (not too much as you'llencourage more milk to come). As for the pain you experience, is it in the nipple or the breast. if its in the breast i'm wondering if it might be the let down feeling which can be painful for some women.

www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/pain.html

ps. don't worry about the midwives, they really should be supporting you to breastfeed, not suggest formula which would eventually lead to depleting your milk supply.

xx