12 weeks and not getting better, I'm at the end of my tether, please help.

[daisyandbabybootoo]

Babyboo was 12 weeks on Tuesday. BF got off to a flying start and had settled after the first two weeks. I was feeling great about it as I didn't manamge with DS beyond 5 weeks.

After 4 weeks she started to get very clucky at the breast which has got steadily worse over time. I've had blocked ducts, mastitis, more blocked ducts. Two weeks ago I started getting shooting pains in my breasts towards the end of feeding, continuing for over an hour afterwrds and intermittently between feeds....pain shooting into my armpits. Was given thrush medication for me and baby last weekend and over this week the cluckiness has improved, but she is now fighting with the breast at every feed.

I manage to get her latched on ok, but as soon as i relax into the feed she shakes her head and either pulls abck or gets her face pointng down to my lap. I re-latch and she does the same again. My nipples are back to taking a real beating like in the early days and the pain when feeding is excruciating. Nipples coming out wedge shaped and can't get her to stay properly latched at all. I'm now starting to dread feeds.

I think I've got a bit of an oversupply issie as well....when i express (not often)it all seems to be the thinner foremilk, up to 6ozs of it)

I've called the NCT and am waiting for a call back, but am sat here crying as she is waking up again, and I don't want to feed her. I've got PND as well and am trying to cope on my own weith her and demanding 5 year old through the week as DH works away.

This just feels like shit.

Daisy - holding the back of her head might be your problem. She needs to be able to tilt her head back so that she is able to take the nipple into her mouth with her jaw leading. That ensures that the areola at the bottom is well into her mouth.

Once she is latched let her rest on the crook of your arm and support the weight of your breast from underneath with the other hand. Sometimes it the weight of the breast makes it slp. You will not have to do that forever - just until she gets the latch sorted.

You might want to rest her on a pillow but only once she is latched on and if there is a space for it. We used to always advise mums used a pillow initially but that can mean that some babies are not aligned properly to the nipple. If you have large breasts it might be that the best position is resting the baby on your knees. HTH.

she's always struggled with tilting her head back and seems to want to tuck her chin into her chest (she does this when latched on as well)

i do use a pillow, so will try latching her on without one and see how we go. when on the right she tries to turm so she's lying flay with her neck twisted. if i try to push her gengly back n her side, she really fights to be lying flat.
It just feels as though feeding has become a real battle. i'm worried that if she continues to find it stressful she will start to rufuse to nurse.

just managed a football hold feed quite successfully, so willl try varying positions.

sorry for the appalling spelling

I still use rugby hold and dd nearly 8mnths.

When feeding on right side in earlier days I used to have the pillow on my right, her almost on her back with my right forearm under her back and hand under neck (sounds uncomfortable but perhaps try with both of you being comfy)

Her head would then turn to my boob and I could help her tilt her head with my hand under her neck. After a bit I could usually take my arm away & just let her rest on the pillow......trial and error.....

I still prefer this hold at 8mnths!

Have you got a fast letdown? That may be why she is struggling. You can try expressing some milk off first or let her come off when the milk starts to flow and catch it in a muslin (or bottle if you don't want to waste it but that might be more of a faff). The other thing you can try is feeding her in a more upright position with her her legs downwards.

It really is best if her head and body are in alignment (in whatever position) - think what it would be like to drink a cup of coffee with your head turned to the side (try it even) - it does make drinking harder.

I think that when you have had a few good feeds she wil remember them and get better.

Is she frantic looking for milk when you feed her? If so it might be worth waking her for feeds so that she is a bit dozy (might not work though but worth a try).

I think you will get over this hurdle.

i think i do have a fast letdown as she often gags. it's at letdown when she starts her clucking and slurping. hv thought she might be trying to slow the flow herself .

i think i may also have an oversupply issue as well. i've not expressed a lot, but i did the other morning and got 6ozs plus which appeared to be all foremilk. i stopped expressing at that point as i'd filled the container. that was after 10 hours though.

I spoke to nct yesterday who suggested singke side feeds (generally do that anyway) and i've looked at what kellymom says on the issue. i know it will take time to iron these issues out.

we've been having a quiet day with no distractions and things seem little better already.

10 hours is a long time when you have had blocked ducts etc. Breastmilk is very thin the longer you feed so don't assume it is all foremilk. It is amazing stuff - it changes throughout the day. When I expressed on night duty it actually looked pale green .

Although she might be slowing the flow herself she may be getting overwhelmed which can put her off. When she starts doing that, let her come off and the milk will spray and then slow down for her. Then put her back on. Sounds as though you are getting there.

oh mears, so glad you said that about pale green !! phew thought there was something wrong or my excess mutlivit was coming through (you know how it makes your wee green)

interestingly, i have always told people when taking vitamin tablets - if you turn your head to the side to swallow, it opens the gullet to make swallowing easier.

maybe this is what she is trying to do with your fast letdown ? my lo still feeds like this in the mornign when my boobs are full - lies on his back and just necks it like a pint.

mind you he is a guzzler !!! glad things are looking up a bit daisy, it never rains but it pours eh !!

thanks mears.....she's been going down at 8 and that's her till 6:30 or 7 some mornings. I'll try expressing before i go to bed tonight and see if that helps.

Thanks for all your advice and for the comments from other MNetters. It would be so easy to throw in the towel (or muslin ) without the grounding you get from here.

We've been doing better today, I think the peace and quiet have helped. Roll on Tuesday and school going back in!!

Thanks

Sorry to hear you have had such problems.

If its any consolation, I had a nightmare for 11wks, 13wks, 12wks with my three before bf felt normal and actually easy and enjoyable. I too had mastitis and thrush as well as cracked and bleeding nipples.

I have just stopped with my third at 13.5 months so hang on in there if you can and hopefully you will get there soon then enjoy the good times!

ta chocolatekimmy..things have been better this afternoon and evening

strangely enough i feel much better just having talked about it for a bit on here....a problem shared is a problem halved and all that.

I'm still waiting for my BF epiphany though

i hope it comes soon!!!

Let us know how you get on.

I've managed to clear all the blocked ducts and had a pain free day yesterday. I've been paying more attention to her latch and things seem to be better. Her growth spurt has passed and things feel back to normal and I think we are free of the thrush!

Feeling much more positive about the whole thing again.

Thanks for everyone's kind words and encouragement

That's good news