Questions to help me persevere

[ELB1]

Having just posted a thread to get some much needed encouragement (1 week old baby and thinking of giving up BF already - am I so bad?)- and thanks to all who are helping me get through, I am now trying to get some answers to my questions - anyone who can advise I would be really grateful.
My questions are:

How long before it stops hurting at the latch on (my toes curl for the first sucks) - or will it always?
Has anyone been successful at mixing BF and FF - how did it work for you?
Any advice on being discreet when BF with big boobs (38H)?
I know my LO is getting milk at the boob because she dribbles when she comes off, but I don't feel the "let down" is this normal?
My LO takes different amounts of time at the boob at different feeds through the day - sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes. The side varies as I swap left and right between each feed, but will this affect supply?
Can you tell if your boob has "run out" during a feed?
I am about to buys some nipple cream - Lansinoh seems to come highly recommended, so you have to clean it off before BF?

ELB1 I am far from an expert but I can tell you this:

nips stopped hurting after 2 weeks (mine had blood-blisters, which gives you a good idea how strong ds's suck was!)

am usless at discreet even with littler boobs!

I didn't feel a let-down for ages, about86 weeks I think.

You can use vaseline as a stop-gap until you get the Lansinoh.

hth

ELB, haven't see your other thread yet sorry.

here are some answers:

• no, it will not always hurt. Pain is common at first, though not 'normal', mainly because many women and babies don;t get attachment and positioning quite right. You need help with this.
• introducing mixed feeding at this stage will certainly reduce your chances of continuing to bf
• practise with diff. clothing but I hope some people will come on here with their own ideas, as it is certainly poss to bf without displaying all
• not everyone feels letdown
• the pattern you describe is normal and will not adversely affect supply
• your breast will never run out....though it may well start to trickle only, and your baby will show you by his behaviour he wants to stop for the other side (maybe after a little break for a burp )
• read the pack but my understanding is that it does not have to be cleaned off

You need some good help, ELB - hope you can get it from your midwife or one of the bf helplines.

How long before it stops hurting at the latch on (my toes curl for the first sucks) - or will it always?

Shouldn't always hurt. the first suck thing my be your let-down reflex. does the pain go after a few seconds? if so thats a good sign. remember you've got something sucking on your nipples for hours a day, and man can they suck! i would keep getting your latch checked though, just in case.

Has anyone been successful at mixing BF and FF - how did it work for you?

no answer, but do a search on here. if you do want to mix feed i would hold out as long as poss till you milk supply has been established (4-6 weeks i think)

Any advice on being discreet when BF with big boobs (38H)?

scarves? vests under tops. you get more practiced at it!

I know my LO is getting milk at the boob because she dribbles when she comes off, but I don't feel the "let down" is this normal?

yes, some people don't. but that pain you have at the begining, that might be related. it might just be that you can't recognise it yet. i didn't until a few weeks in and was in the bath and felt it and saw a drop of milk come out and was like "oh that's my let-down"

My LO takes different amounts of time at the boob at different feeds through the day - sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes. The side varies as I swap left and right between each feed, but will this affect supply?

hmm, better wait for an expert but i think it is normal for feeds to take different times. this might change over time too.

Can you tell if your boob has "run out" during a feed?

it won't run out, milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, but it may get more difficult for LO to feed off one boob towards the end so they may come off but still be hungry so swap to the other side.

I am about to buys some nipple cream - Lansinoh seems to come highly recommended, so you have to clean it off before BF?

no. breastmilk around sore nipples help too. as does freh air. for the first few weeks when i was at home i just wondered around in an open dressing gown!

try this website for more info.

you are doing a great job. stick at it and keep coming on here for advice x

The pain does get better.
Supplemeting with FF is possible but need to get BF established first.
Discretion comes with practice.
I never felt a 'let down'.
Supply = demand
Would reccomend using breast milk

I do understand where you're coming from, my DS lost 20% of his birthweight and was re-admitted to hospital for an NG feed. We had to stay in until he was 12 days old before we got BFing properly established!
I so nearly gave up but am so glad I persevered. Get all the help you can and you'll get there.

Good luck!

1.With all 3 of mine the pain stopped within 2 weeks.
2.Gave ds1 a ff at bedtime from 5 weeks of age. Worked very well. Didn't mix bf and ff with other two.
3.Regarding discretion, I have some really lovely shawl/pashmina type things. You will probably care less as you get more confident though. I find it best to feed from underneath my top so top of boob is covered, and then i artfully drape a shawl to hide the wobbly bits.
4.sometimes i feel letdown, sometimes not.Less so in early days.

1. Couldn't really tell if boob has run out. I found it was constant swapping from one side to another in early days.
2. Don't have to clean off lansinoh.

Good Luck!

More about the discretion thing.
Say I'm feeding on the left, well first I tuck a big shawl/blanket under my left arm so it goes right round the back and covers right down my side (this is for covering up the wobbly tummy bits).My armpit is now holding it in place.
Then I lift top/stuff baby under top with right arm, then use right hand to bring shawl round and cover me and babe all round the front and round to the right hand side.
Lots of fumbling while you get used to it, but soon your baby with be latching on by herself and people will be impressed by your deft handling!

1. mine stopped hurting after a few weeks.
2. i have mix fed from 10 weeks (ish) one bot before bed no more no less. ds is 4.5 months now. think it's more difficult to mix feed this early on tho as you're milk supply is still being established.
3. i didn't feel the let down for aaaages
4. don't worry too much about sides. you can usually feel which one is fullest by poking it (well that worked for me anyway).
5. your boobs never run out. if you let your baby keep suckling you will have another let down.
6. most nip creams you leave on.

HI There

Keep it up I promise its worth the initial pain!

The pain does go away. I dosed myself up with ibuprophen as advised by my midwife. there are no problems for the baby in doing this as i was concerned about this at first. I found that breast feeding was a hugh learning curve for me but you must remember that your baby has to learn too!!!

i now it probably sounds crazy but the old wivwes method of savoy cabbage leaves on the boobs is wonderful! keep the cabbage in the fridge and cut off leaves as you need them. line them in your bar and he presto instsnt soothing! i only needed to use then for about 3 wees then all of the pain went away and i really started enjoying breast feeding.

its so much more convienient that maing up bottles all the time as well.

I had to eventually try and get my baby on to a bottle as i was getting married. (didn't fancy bf on the day!!) I really struggled but found that the Tommie Tippee bottles were the only ones she would use. they are a great shape and mills loved them.

Lansinoh is a great cream and i swore by it. It doesn't need washing off before baby feeds either as it is a natural product just a bit expensive but one tube lasted me for the 7 months I breast fed!

Found you! My DH used to laugh at me feeding in the first few weeks as I could literally only do it with boobs totally on display. He'd 'less of an Elle McPherson feeding bra moment and more of baps out to the world!' It gets easier to be more discreet the more you do it and I discovered H&M feeding vests under my normal vests really help as you can lift up without revealing entire stomach (yuk!) or whole breast (embarrassing!) Lasinoh is fab- saved my nips for sure and definately doesn't have to be wiped off. My DS is 7 months and I have never felt the let down while he feeds- have unfortunately felt it when he's not feeding and have wet patches to prove it but this was a long way down the line. Regarding the times and sides etc, try not to time the feeds and be guided by you babe who will tell you when finished. At this stage for me feeds were less distinct and I passed him from boob to boob when he cried and eventually we got into the zone. For now LO needs to establish your supply which can mean irratic feeding for different times at different times but BF in the early days as you know isn't just about food. Hang in there xxx

Hello again!

1. Ditto everyone else, get your latch checked!
2. Can't answer, sorry
3. Try draping a muslin over your shoulder and baby. Or try having 2 layers on - one which you pull up, the other underneath (like your bra, of a feeding vest top) which you pull down; reduces the amount of, ahem, flesh exposed.
4. Some feel a let down, some don't feel a thing. So perfectly normal.
5. Keeping varying sides is good, means you're stimulating both sides.
6. You won't run out, but as the supply reduces near the end of a feed, dd should unlatch. I found at this age that neither of mine wanted more than one side at a time, when they got older they'd take both every feed - though this is not true for every child.
7. I liked lansinoh. but Boots own was ok too. I don't think you need to wipe it off - we were given it to taste at bf peer support training, though - it's not unpleasant but maybe wipe it off if there's a very thick layer on as it won't taste the same to the baby. Also, you could try buying jelonet dressings at your local pharmacy. They can be stored in the fridge and put on between feeds, soooo soothing. Your own bmilk if you express afew drops after each feed and rub on will help to heal. As will wandering around topless (just mind you remember when the postie rings the doorbell

good luck

• Initial latch stopped hurting after a couple of weeks, but had only ever been uncomfortable ot actually painful.
• Never mixed fed, sorry.
• Dangle them out the hem of your top (mine are still quite small and I can end up exposing a lot of tummy hitching up - you may not have this prob!)
• Never felt letdown till about 5wks
• Time taken to feed will settle down as dd gets older. Always offer both breasts (and if she still seems hungry after the second you can offer the first one again)
• Boobs don't 'run out' - they may feel soft once she's taken off the stored milk, but they still make milk while she's feeding.
• Lansinoh is sticky and 'orrid but does work - you dont need to wash it off but it's better to apply it after a feed to give it time to soak in a bit.

1. around the 5-6 week mark, despite what you are told - you can have a good latch, but the initial time the LO's get on the breast - it does hurt (but should fade after 30 secs or so). if the pain continues then you have poor latch. take your LO off (little finger in their mouth) and put them on again.
2. I havent mixed fed but DH has given dreamfeed via bottle with EBM from when LO was 4 weeks old. I expressed at the same time in the early weeks to not effect supply but then around the 7 week mark stopped expressing and started going to bed early. Huge success for us, supply not affected. More sleep for me. Bonding time for DH with LO.
3. I have gone up to 32F - and find a shawl over one shoulder works fine.
4. Didnt feel let down til around the 6 week mark.
5. Nope, your LO will feed on demand and requirements and this will ensure that supply is ok. (Bear in mind growth spurts between now and 8 weeks, where they will need to feed more/ appear unsettled etc. Neither is indicator of poor milk supply - it is a growth spurt and within a few days, you breasts will be producing enough milk to meet demand)
6. your breast will soften, I also find that if I check manually I can see whether milk comes gushing out and put LO back on that breast.
7. lansinoh does not need wiping off.

good luck!

Hi ELB.
Saw your other thread.
It's great that you are finding the strength to rethink.

I had 6 very very tough weeks and then it was a doddle.
I never felt a letdown (or leaked) in my life.
I never even worried too much about one side/two side or both sides.
I just fed until they seemed to have had enough.

Whatever works for yuo is great but I think in the developed world we are at risk of over schedulising and monitoring breastfeeding which ultimatetly often only adds to the mother's stress levels.

Good luck.

ELB - so glad you are feeling more confident today. I had similar issues to you - DS was sleepy and jaundiced and lost more than 10% of his body weight. It was a v worrying time and we did end up being admitted to hospital when he was 5 days old - I can understand why you would want to avoid this. Busy post-natal ward not the best for already frazzled nerves!

How long before it stops hurting at the latch on - difficult to remember, but think it was within first 2 weeks. I think for me it was let-down pain. I used to count to ten and if it still hurt, break the seal with my little finger and try again.

Has anyone been successful at mixing BF and FF - didn't do this sorry

Any advice on being discreet when BF with big boobs - mine went up to a 34J when my milk came in, thought I'd never be able to leave the house! Things that helped me were getting clothing right. I would wear a strappy vest top under my normal top and then pull down the vest and pull up the top, minimum flesh exposed. You can practise at home in front of a mirror if it helps. Also as you will be out and about in winter for the first bit you can pull a cardigan or shawl/pashmina round you if you feel conspicuous. My other suggestion would be doing your first 'public' feed in a friendly environment, maybe where other women are bf, e.g. a bf support group, for me it was my NCT group (babies and boobs everywhere ). This made me feel more confident when I had to do it on my own. And you will get really practised at it, and it is v unlikely that you will have any negative comments (I never have, quite the reverse)

I don't feel the "let down" is this normal? - I was never sure whether I did or not, occasionally got tingles in my armpit(?) but think all women experience this differently.

The side varies as I swap left and right between each feed, but will this affect supply? - when DS was little he would take one side and then crash out, couldn't get him to take the other side, my supply seemed to be fine. Now he's older (15 months) he usually guzzles both sides.

Can you tell if your boob has "run out" during a feed? - They don't run out as others have said, but I found if DS was getting frustrated I would swap to the other side. Don't forget that you can swap and swap again, sometimes DS would have a 3 or 4 boob feed when having a growth spurt.

Lansinoh - found this helpful in the early days, you don't have to wipe it off before feeds, but just make sure you're not allergic to lanolin, as that's basically what it is.

Phew, appear to have written an essay! Good luck with it all, seek out your local bf support group if you can, and phone the helplines if you need to HTH