Breastfeeding newborn

[lorza03]

Hi all, my baby is 3days old. I am breastfeeding and in pain! I'm sore and can't stop crying . I'm now just getting anxious at every feed which is making things worst. The midwife saw me latch and said I'm doing it well and just the damaged nipple that's making me uncomfortable 😣 has anyone else felt this way is it normal.
? Any advise welcome x

I had this experience, it was an awful pain, and unfortunately culminated in my baby losing a lot of weight. I found that the midwives were useful with latch to a point but we always seemed to have the knack when they were there and lose it as soon as she'd gone! I also don't think they realised the emotional impact this was having on me. Have a little look into lactation consultants in your area, they tend to be able to offer longer term support and have a higher level of training. X

Ps do you have Lansinoh?

There is alot of support out there but if you cant manage dont stress yourself out. Theres no shame to putting LO on formula. My LO was on formula from birth and shes doing fantastic. My friend had alot of trouble breastfeeding and she put her LO on formula and she felt loads better.

It is definitely normal and will get better. You’re both just learning how to do this and that takes a while on both sides. Have you seen this? kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplehealing/ Kellymom is a fab website for any queries.

Great that latch looks good and the midwife may be right that it’s just due to the injury, but it is hard for someone to tell for sure if the latch is good from the outside. Are both nipples damaged or just one? Defo loads of air time for healing and hydrogel dressings can be comforting. Hang in there, I promise it will get better, perhaps not in a linear fashion but the first weeks are the hardest for sure.

Try using nipple shields - stops the pain and helps the baby latch easier. I use the mam ones

Oh it’s so hard in the beginning. Nipples hurt because they’re not used to being in a tiny mouth constantly! It also coincides with the baby blues at around 3 days which makes things seem impossible.

If you do want to continue my top tips are:

-skin to skin, loads. You and baby in bed/on sofa with your top off and just cuddle and feed. Watch films, get someone to bring you snacks and drinks.

-Lansinoh for your poor nipples. And nipple shields if it’s really bad, they do help loads.

• watch latching videos on YouTube to make sure you’re definitely latching deep enough. Midwives aren’t always the best to ask in regards to bf unfortunately.

• see if there is a breastfeeding group in your area. You’ll get tons of support and women who have all felt like you, it makes it seem less of a nightmare and more normal.

It gets better so quickly, I promise. I used to dread feeding dd because it hurt so much I would shriek. After 4 weeks it got easier and by 8 weeks I was an old hand. Don’t forget both you and your baby are learning to feed together, so the early few days are hard for you both. Congrats on your new little one!

Been there and know how you feel! I’m surprised my little boy didn’t drown the amount of tears I shed on him in the first week or so.

Put a LOAD of lansinoh on both nipples after every feed regardless of whether you’ve used that side.

My midwife said my latch was fine. Then I saw a proper breastfeeding support nurse and she adjusted my latch and the difference was unbelievable.

Google exaggerated latch and watch YouTube videos. Latch is the key. Are there any support groups near you? I go to a breastfeeding cafe on a Monday and it’s fantastic for support.

If you’re in a good area then you might have access to an NHS IBLC (international board recognised lactation consultant) who can really help with latch / feeding issues. You may even have a local peer supporter groups available (my area has one every day somewhere), which can help as I nearly gave up at 2 weeks.

The breastfeeding network and Kelly’s mom are great resources, as is the breastfeeding helpline www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

I found using lanosil really helped and shields if needed really can help a lot. It gets easier but the first few weeks are hard due to inexperience, cluster feeding and sheer exhaustion.

Congratulations on your baby

Should say my son is now 11 weeks and I’m still exclusively breastfeeding. It does get better.

It is very normal for breastfeeding to be difficult in the beginning. Things that helped me a lot were getting myself and baby to my local La Leche League meeting, they are so helpful and supportive with all things breastfeeding related. I also went to a breastfeeding clinic twice to get advice and help due to pain caused by the latch being wrong.
I also bought a set of silver “breast angel” nipple cups which worked wonders and heal sore nipples so quickly.
All the very best, everything is so new and I certainly found the first few weeks very difficult.

I’m so very glad that we continued to breastfeed, the benefits for us both are so many and now I cannot imagine mothering without breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is a skill you and the baby both learn together. Sometimes it can be really quick and sometimes it can take a few weeks. I was still feeding dc1 when I had dc2 and I still had difficulty. Whatever the midwife says the latch is poor if you are cut so you need to take action now before it gets worse

Things to try:

Lansinoh after every single feed

Air your boobs loads and do loads and loads of skin to skin with your baby. Just take to your bed for a few days.

Change your position every feed - in particular try biological nurturing (Google will bring up several videos). Really, really recommend this hold

Get your baby's tongue checked properly (finger in mouth not just a quick squint!)

Breastfeeding support group

Lactation consultant

Nipple shields til the crack heals

Kellymom website for some good resources

Best of luck, op. You are not alone. There are lots of women who have been through the same thing. Keep posting.

1. have baby checked for tongue tie
2. use nipple shields to give yourself a break
3. lanisoh

It’s awful and I cried constantly the first week (my baby was tongue tied so wanted to feed literally for hours upon hours but some babies are just like this). It does get better and if you need to top up with formula it’s OK too. We topped up tiny amounts which made me cry more(!) but then by week 3 were only bf-ing so don’t let them scare you into not giving formula if that’s what you need to do.

I used Lansinoh like it was free. I was constantly applying it. It really helped. Also used those Multi-Mam compresses, you apply after a feed. Instant relief. Expensive unfortunately but you shouldn't need them for too long. Good luck. It really does get easier.

www.laleche.org.uk/comfortable-breastfeeding/

Could you ring your community midwives and ask for a breastfeeding support visit? I know one has already been but no harm in a second opinion and if you ask specifically for a breast feeding visit they will have the time to sit and though things with you. Good luck and congratulations

Thank you to everyone who has posted it really helps me to feel (normal) I've cried a lot and so hard but I am determined to keep on going . I try my best to not loose patience with my othet two children as I know it's me with the short tempter as no sleep in pain etc. I will apply lanoish more often for sure ans look on websites recommended by everyone. May ring a helping tom when I'm crying again x

You could try mix feeding if it’s too painful etc - baby will still benefit from the BF sessions and get the goodness :) you’re doing great good luck

Multi mam balm and compresses are magic . Or coconut oil. Apply after every feed. Are you completely wedded to ebf? Would you consider introducing a bottle of formula at night to give your nipples a bit of healing time? I used hydrogel pads during that time. It does pass but it is awful, sending sympathy!

How you feeling now?

Thank you ladies for all the positive feedback baby is now 6 days has been tough at times. I went to a la leche league group which was helpful but then when I'm home I get totally anxious again . I'm going to get some compressed today

Honestly it’s a huge learning curve for most people, I used to put hot flannels on my boobs and then cold compresses or refrigerate the creams to help.

Did they show you any of the various holds which can improve the latch? Watch flippie technique on YouTube and try the biological or rugby hold. I also found the lying down positions were an early life saver. X

I actually found lansinoh crap! Really sticky, tacky, too thick, hard to spread/rub - I found multi mam balm much better. It's like a gel almost.

In addition to that the thing that healed up the cracks/abrasions I had was Epsom salt baths. They dried up and closed v quickly with one or two (which is kind of the opposite of what you're told to do i.e. keeping them moist) bit worked.

Shields could be worth a go bit I found didn't help hugely with comfort on the side that was worst.

You could, though it's hard to get time, pump ; to give cracks/soreness a chance to heal as well. I suppose extra time wouldn't be necessary if you pumped on one side (sorest) while feeding on other. Obviously this requires your baby to be ok with drinking from a bottle. I was v lucky and mine drank from both with no problem.

I also combined fed to various reasons - and it took the pressure off me, and helped with soreness/healing - however I understand why some people would be loathe to introduce formula at all.

What I would say is that it can be very difficult and very sore and very frustrating and upsetting at the start, that's why so many women stop.

This probably makes me sound v stupid but part of my problem early on wax thinking that the baby lay horizontally across me, straight as it were, but actually what really worked was wrapping them around me (fir lack of a better way of putting it) at a slight angle - from the non feeding side toward the feeding sideband them trying to get a good latch (most of mouth over noob, not nipple with top life just over nipple.

Sorry it's so hard to describe these things.

It does take lots and lots of practice and time.

As to relaxing, would listening to relaxing music of meditation help? What about a really distracting movie/TV series so your minds big so focused on only that.

When I say pump, I mean electric; could be just me but I found manual totally useless.

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