Newborn feeding probs and bleeding nipples

[Pennies]

DD is 3 days old and is running the following routine. Sleep, wake, cry, suck, cry, sleep, suck, more crying etc etc. Presume this is normal but wasn't expecting that her main activity of choice would be just BF'ing and SO much crying.

Is it too early to express so that DH can feed her as well to give me a chance to get some sleep?

Also just tried using the express machine (medela mini electric) and was shocked and upset to see it drew blood. What do I do about this?

Pennies.

Pennies - feed her then get DH to take her away for at least 2 hours so that you can get a sleep. She will survive. Also, take her to bed and feed and sleep at the same time. Try not to fall into the trap of believing that you must feed ALL the time/ or express to leave milk for DH to give. You can sleep between feeding times. Baby could lie and sleep skin-to-skin with DH. I would leave expressing till at least 3 weeks TBH to allow your milk supply to establish in response to baby.
If baby has caused bleeding nipples, she is not on well enough. If she is not on well enough, she will not feed effectively and will then demand to be fed more often. Check that her tummy is facing your tummy and that her haed is facing the breast directly. Make sure she has a wide mouth before latching her. If you feel she is not on well enough, take her off and do it again. She will soon become and expert as will you

Pennies, I agree with mears.

For a three-day-old, it is normal to want to feed a lot, and to be close to you...but skin to skin with dad will be fine to give you a break. If she is crying a lot, and not comforted by feeding and/or cuddling, then it may be you need help fixing the bf positioning and attachment.

Hope this helps.

Ask your midwife to check your latch. her nose should be clear of your breast but her chin should be touching and making your breast move when she sucks. I had bleeding nipples as my milk didn't come in for a week (I had complications after the birth) and even though everyone said my latch was correct i still had bleeding nipples -kamillosan really helped me
i wouldn't express so soon- your breasts need to get used to dd before attaching a pump. leave that for a while. The only thing I will say though is IT DOES GET BETTER AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER when it's good.

Hi Pennies,

I so know how you're feeling at the moment.
I had exactly the same thing with DS.
DS was born on a Sunday and my milk didn't come in until the following Friday!

DS did suffer with dehyration (sunken fontanelle and dry mouth as he was sucking fresh air for hours on end. Midwife gave him cooled boiled water and 2-3oz C&G premium formula per feed. I had to express (try a Avent hand expresser so you can regulate flow yourself) if you manage to express some even if it's tiny amount give to your babe after BF as a top up or give for a late night feed. I did this as DS lost 1lb 1oz in 5 days. He recovered within a day and resumed BF on day 6 and topped up with formula until weight resumed normal.

If you're ever in doubt or worried about your baby please do ring for help and be insistant about getting help.

I read somewhere that babes only get about a teaspoon of colostrum per feed.

Please don't give up, let your babe suck for no more than 45 mins MAX per boob or you'll have really sore boobies.

I found lying down to feed tummy to tummy the best position for us as I found getting the right position a nightmare. Technique is everything. Ask your midwife for help and maybe goto a BFeeding clinic.
DS is now 4 months and we're still BF despite problems like you in the first week and mastitis in week 3.
I really enjoy BF'ing and the late night feed in bed is great for a good night's sleep... well until the next feed is due anyway!!
I will be sad to return to work and give it up.

Interesting article on:-
www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2004/08/27/hbaby27.xml

We were out of hospital on the same day DS was born as well!
Good Luck!

Hi.
My DD is now 14 weeks and I had bleeding nipples. I was told that my latch was good but that they were cracked from the constant sucking. I remember crying because dd was sick and it contained blood, i though something was wrong with her until my midwife told me that she had probably swallowed milk from my nipples. The cream mentioned on the last message helps loads. Dd used to feed every 2 hrs and i remember crying with tiredness. I agree that getting dh to take baby away for a bit helps. Get him to take her in the car. It helps take babes mind off sucking and as it isnt in the house you can rest properly as you wont be listening out. TBH because dd liked sucking all the time it was the only way to stop her crying and i knew she wasnt doing it for hunger as she wasnt swallowing, in the end I gave a dummy. It has truly been a life safer. She is much happier getting comfort from the dummy and I was alot happier as she wasnt contantly latched on. I know some people say to bring babes into bed but I could never do that while she was so small. I just could relax and sleep properly. I do now but its only after the morning feed and dd is much bigger now. I know its hard having a baby who feeds and cries constantly. I have been there but it does get better. My mil used to tell me that my milk wasnt satisfying dd and thats why she was sucking all the time even though shed just finished feeding. A comment I couldve done without at the time. I wouldnt express quite yet. I left it to 4 weeks old before I did that. The idea was so that DD could do a late feed on the weekend to let me sleep. It never worked though as he slept through the crying while I woke up. Best solution was after the 7am feed to get dp to take dd downstairs and let me have a lie in and bring her back up for a feed and then hed take dd back downstairs.
Sorry for the long garbled message but just wanted to let you know it gets better and once it does bf is the most easiest form of feeding ever. Much better that warming and sterising bottles.

Shouldve said and satisfying form of feeding. DP is amazed that its me alone thats feeding dd and making her grow.