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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Help Please - 7wks in and still problems breastfeeding :(

27 replies

SuQ · 29/08/2007 11:52

ds is nearly 7 wks old and I still have problems latching him on right breast (no problems with the left) Finally thought we were getting somewhere in the last couple of wks, pain easing but now nipple is bleeding. HV says I'm lucky to have it so easy on one side and maybe the right is always going to be more difficult. Help please, don't want to give up but thought we'd have the hang of it by now, have read all the info on how it's done but still have problems getting him to open wide. Feel like such a failure

OP posts:

numptysmummy · 29/08/2007 11:56

Don't know what to suggest to help re latch but you are not a failure,you have got to 7 wks despite it being hard.It will get easier. Do you have alocal breast feeding support group? Obv you aren't undeer the midwife now but she may be able to help if your hv can'y.

callmeovercautious · 29/08/2007 11:57

Hi SuQ Have you been to a BF coucellor? You can call La Leche League or ABM etc. I don't have the numbers but know someone else will be along to put them up for you. If not just read a few threads they are on loads of them.

I had problems on one side too and it took ages for her to get the hang of it. I think it had a faster let down so she struggled to cope with all the milk gushing into her mouth. This eased off at about 12 weeks when my supply balanced out a bit more.

Also speak to the HV and ask if there is a support group in your area, we have one here but only once a month.

Jojay · 29/08/2007 11:58

don't feel like a failure!! You're doing so well to have got this far, esp. as your HV is being so unhelpful.

I really think you'd benefit from having an expert watch you feed, and give suggestions on improving your technique.

Try the NCT or the La Leche league - google those names and you'll get numbers you can call.

It is common to find one breast is easier than the other, but it doesn't mean you should carry on suffering.

Good Luck!

foxybrown · 29/08/2007 12:00

Don't feel like a failure! My DD is the same age, and one side was by far easier than the other.

If it helps, this is what I did:
Lansinoh cream and Avent breast shields to help with nipple healing.
Expressed off all the milk in my 'dodgy' breast to ease it and help production.
I find it helps if I squeeze my nipple flat to get it in her mouth.

HTH. Good luck.

fishie · 29/08/2007 12:02

oh don't feel a failure, it is horrid when it won't go right. get some help, ring one of the advice lines they are there just for this sort of thing.

fishie · 29/08/2007 12:03

here (from hunker's profile )
Breastfeeding Network 0870 900 8787 Breastfeeding Network's Drugline 08700 604233 NCT supporter line 0870 444 8708 La Leche League 0845 120 2918 Association of BF Mothers 020 7813 1481 and 08444 122 949

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 29/08/2007 12:06

hello! good for you for sticking with it. it took me weeks with dd too and i can echo the suggestions that you go to a group or to see a counsellor to help you with latch. i never did know what the problem was but it did get better and i breastfed for over a year with no further problems.

i too was hugely frustrated that it took so long to establish - all the books said 'if you're doing it right it won't hurt' and the midwives kept saying i seemed to be doing it right so i couldn't figure out why it still hurt. made me mad as hell!

going to a counselor did help though - so hope you can find one near you. good luck - and a failure is the last thing you are! x

georgesmum007 · 31/08/2007 00:44

Hi you are doing a fantastic job- BF is no easy option to start with- get some advice from a counsellor- My DS could not latch on for 13 weeks, he wouldn't/couldn't open his mouth wide enough so he had EBM, I persisted thanks to the help of a BF MW specialist and finally he latched on and I feed him until he was 18mths. I really struggled with the whole thing- but the support I had from the specialist was so good. I can honestly say it was so worth sticking at it- because once it is sorted out it is the most wonderful thing to do. But at the same time if it does not work out do not beat yourself up about it. You are doing a great job- you are definately not a failure.

determination · 31/08/2007 08:27

SuQ,
One thing you are not is a failure, you have done a tremendous job to carry on BFing this long and you will get over this hurdle. You need a LC to sit through a full feed and assess your latch, there may be just a very slight alteration needed and that will make all the difference. Have you tried different positions?

Call one of the supporter lines
The Breastfeeding Network (BFN) - Supporter Line 0870 900 8787 - The service operates from 9.30am to 9.30pm every day of the year.

La Leche League Great Britain - 0845 120 2918

National Childbirth Trust - 0870 444 8708 - 9am to 6pm, seven days a week.

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers' - 0870 401 7711 - Open every day from 9.30am to 10.30pm

sazzybee · 31/08/2007 08:59

You are most definitely not a failure! I had dreadful trouble with my left boob - really hadn't got the latch sorted at all and my nipple was cracked and bleeding. But I finally went to see a bf counsellor at about 7-8 weeks and she just got me to practice over and over again and I finally got it sussed. She also changed my feeding position to the rugby ball hold and that really helped too.

I was utterly hopeless at understanding the diagrams and always felt a bit rushed talking to the HV. But the counsellor sorted me out and I'm still feeding DS and he's 6 months now.

Please get yourself to see someone - I wish I'd gone much earlier than I did rather than struggling for so long.

Good luck

phdlife · 31/08/2007 09:04

SuQ, everyone else is giving excellent suggestions as to overcoming the latch problem, so I'll help with your other problem - would you like me to come slap your HV for you?

lailasmum · 31/08/2007 09:23

I have always favoured my left side for everything and this turned out to be true with breastfeeding too. I think its common. You could try expressing off your less good side as it doesn't hurt(normally) and could give it time to heal.

bojangles · 31/08/2007 15:54

SuQ

Well done for getting so far already - it will get better. Completely agree with all other posts to see a BF counsellor - some very minor adjustments can make a world of difference. I remember getting to 6/7 weeks and thinking surely now we will have it sussed but it did take a bit longer.

My DS never liked feeding from my right and now at 15 months hasn't fed from that side for months. I think he found it too slow as he was a hungry boy! At most I could get him to have a quick 5 min feed on that side but he always switched to his favourite one! I had terribly uneven boobs - good DD cup on one side and barely a C cup on the other!LOL

Keep up the good work.
x

leo1978 · 31/08/2007 18:33

Hi there

My ds has always fed from my left boob and could not latch on to my right no matter what I did - nipple shields helped once, but were fiddly and irritating and I gave up with them in the end! I was anxious about it for about 5 weeks and then decided I didn't care - he could feed from one only and I would be lop sided! It's fine to feed from one side and express from the other. He's now 12 weeks and if I swap him from the good on to the bad one (when I can be bothered) he can latch on. My only concerns are how different my nipples will look if I only feed from one side. I have found as he gets bigger and stronger his latch improves.
Good Luck and try not to stress - he can get all he needs from one boob!

nowwearefour · 31/08/2007 19:57

My DD2 is now 14 weeks and definitely favours my right breast over my left. I make sure i always put her on the left first esp when she is v v hungry as this encourages her to take it rather than mess around til she gets the one she prefers. i am sure it does not matter if they feed only from one side as our bodies are amazing at adjusting but i too have v sore nipples on the favoured side and would rather it wasnt that way. it has got better recently and i am determined to persevere so she doesnt reject the left one entirely. all the best with it!!

Rumpel · 31/08/2007 19:57

I had this too and eventually gave up feeding from right boob altogether - only ever fed her from the left and managed to keep feeding her until she was 7 months, then teeth arrived. I had to supplement with a bottle (because of other issues) but always still fed her from the left.
Good luck.

Pannacotta · 31/08/2007 20:04

Agree with the last posts, I would feed from one side only and express from the other and keep offering the other side as baby gets bigger and stronger and better at feeding, which seems to happen around 12 weeks or so. Both DS1 and DS2 prefer my left side and I always find it easier to feed on this side. Am not sure it will make you lopsided as your supply will adjust. Good luck

fedupwithironing · 31/08/2007 20:15

Oh god - it is bringing it all back. I had trouble one side with all three of my babies. I tried nipple shields and all sorts, but what helped most was a change of position - the so-called rugby ball hold seem to trick my babies into taking the left boob. Try supporting the baby on a cushion under your arm with their legs behind you. Wishing you all the luck in the world. You have done so well to get this far - don't give up, it will get better!

horrifiedmum · 31/08/2007 20:36

Hang on in there. you are not a failure (nor will you be if you decide not to carry on).

If its any consolation I took between 11 and 13 weeks to get the bf sorted with all three of mine.

One day it will just slot into place hopefully, but even if it doesn't he has had a fantastic start in life.

Pickie · 31/08/2007 20:44

DD had also trouble latching on left breast whilst right breast was fine. She was born very quickly and I went to see a cranial osteopath and after the 1st session she latched on no problem.

He explained as she was literally shot out of the birth canal she didnt get a chance to get into the right position and therefore found it difficult to latch onto that side.

She has been fine after that however I must say i always favoured my left breast (am left handed dont know if this has anything to do with it)

Good luck am sure you will get there!

uberalicelongbottom · 31/08/2007 20:47

I was having problems on one side until recently and I took my DS for a couple of cranial osteopathy sessions. Made a big difference. Find out if there's anyone in your area who practices on babies. It can do no harm and might well sort the problem out.

Please don't feel like a failure. You've done brilliantly to get this far. 7 weeks isn't long in the scheme of things. And from reading this thread, I can see your problem is fairly common and can be resolved in time.

uberalicelongbottom · 31/08/2007 20:48

x posts Pickie

Pickie · 31/08/2007 20:51

uberalicelongbottom

sheffmummy · 31/08/2007 20:58

SuQ, you're doing so well already. It took me ages to really settle into breastfeeding properly; at 7 weeks it was still hard going but the local breast feeding counsellor really helped. She suggested that the favouring one side thing was related to being right-handed, so it was me having difficulty helping him to latch on rather him not wanting that side. Once your LO gets the hang of latching on more by himself it will get easier. My ds is now nearly 10 months and is great at feeding either side despite the 2 months of problems at the beginning. Good luck

absandme · 31/08/2007 22:09

Well done!

Good responses here for you!

I agree, bf counsellor could look at diff positions, it's different having a professional look & different holds & making sure all ok. I used NCT bf counsllr & really helped would absolutely advise!

I still favor thr rugby hold on right side & it took me ages to have her accross my front!

GOod luck.

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