PLEASE HELP ME WITH BF 3 DAY OLD - FEEL SO SORE AND TIRED

[Amani]

Merry Xmas everyone!

Am finding BF so much of a challenge and really would appreciate any advice and support...

I'm finding BF really tiring and painful. DD was born on Sat. First two days of BF were fine, then from Mon everytime I BF DD2, the first few sucks are sooo painful and thereafter it's ok. Is this normal?

To top it off it seems like she is permanatley on the breast. On Mon night she was on most of the time from 9pm to 3am and I hardly had any sleep and I have to admit that last night when the pattern started to repeat itself I gave in and gave DD2 formula (I felt so bad), but she slept for 3 hours straight (she usally goes 1.5 hrs then needs another feed). Today aswell it seems like she has been attached to the breast best part of the day. Feel so tired and nipples feel sore....I really want to give BF a good go, but it's sooooooo hard...Is any of this normal or am I doing something wrong?

Amani - I have no clue what this is like. I just wanted to say 'keep up the good work'. Sounds like you are being brilliantly patient. By the time me and the others from the January thread have our babes, you'll be an expert, dishing out the advice to us.

The weather outside is stinky anyway

Remember that very young babies can appear hungry when they are actually tired - the cues can be similar.

If the baby has had a pretty good feed then seems to want feeding again 5 minutes later, try swaddling them up and cuddling to sleep.

Having said that, it is normal for a baby to be constantly on the boob. My DD3 did it at first, then after nearly a week my milk came in properly and it settled down. I thought my milk had come in on day 3 or 4, but by day 7 I knew it had REALLY come in!

As for the pain, I found for a couple of weeks my letdown was so strong and she sucked so hard the first 20 seconds of a feed were excruciating. But then it settled, and her latch and position was fine.

Good luck, I hope it settles for you soon.

Hi amani! have posted on dec post-natal too, but just wanted to say that I saw a BF counsellor today who said exactly what Sidge has just said re cuddling rather than feeding again 5 mins later.
It is a bit of a nightmare eh?!

DAY 12: BF getting a little easier - DD2 feeding every 1-1.5 hrs during the day and every 2 hrs at night (3 hrs with a complementary bottle). With the feeding spaced out a bit can spend time with DD1 and even managed a quick shopping trip with her.

Good news is the pain at the begining of the feed has gone and feeling a little more positive about BF.

Bad news is got masitis, but have been given some anti bitoics from docs which is helping.

DAY 18: Just thought all you lovely people out there who gave me support might want to know that bf is defo becoming easier - no more toe-curling pain.

DD2 feeding every 1-1.5 hrs during the day still and she usually throws up after each feed. MW reckons she is being 'over-fed' and suggest I extend the time between feeds - which has been an impossible task as DD2 cries like anything for a fed and I just don't have the heart to leave her hungry. Anyone had any experience of 'over-feeding'??