Breastfeeding help for when baby is here

[FourOclock]

Hello! I am currently pregnant with my third and would like to try and have a more successful breastfeeding journey than I did with my first two, and wondered if anyone has any advice on how to make it doable.

There were quite a few contributions to why it didn't work out so well with my other two, but the main issue was my nipples getting so sore/cracked/bleeding in the first few days before my milk came in, that it made feeding just agony and unbearable. For my second I tried to use lanisoh nipple cream right from before the first feed but it was no better.

I ended up pumping for a little while to give my nipples time to heal, and breastfeeding was then okay after a few weeks of that, but the pumping was such a faff especially in the night that I often just couldn't be bothered and would give formula instead (which resulted in my milk supply decreasing the less I pumped)

This time, my ideal would be to find a way to get through those early days of feeding - I'm wondering if nipple shields would work? Just so my nipples aren't completely shredded and I can feed through the discomfort a bit easier. I have friends who are great at offering help with latch etc but noone ever seems to have an answer on how to ease the pain other than 'keep going' which just makes me give up! I can't physically sit there in agony, but maybe that just means I'm not cut out for breastfeeding if that's the only way to do it.

The other thing I would really like to have is one bottle of formula per day, in the evening that my husband can do. I know this goes against everything breastfeeding 'manuals' say, but I know from having my last two babies that me going to bed in the evening to sleep for a few hours while he does a feed before going to bed just works so much better for us as I'm better in the night at waking and he has more energy in the evening than me. Again, this is pointless if I have to stay awake to pump - if I plan to always give that evening feed as formula then surely it won't effect supply that much if I then go on to breastfeed all night? I don't know.

I'm wondering if maybe breastfeeding just isn't for me, but would love to see if there's a way to make it work for us.

I nursed all of mine. I accepted that the first week would involve some discomfort and pain. It does settle down. I'd have someone check your latch and make sure that is right. It will give you the best chance of not having pain. Give it a go and see how you get on with this one?

Breastfeeding never hurt for me. Not sure why you're saying that like it'll hurt most people

It really shouldn't

Like the PP i powered through with the pain and it did settle down. Went on to feed for 12+ months.

What I found helped was Lansinoh, airing nipples as much as possible, rubbing breastmilk on any cracks (amazing!) and I did try nipple shields for about 2 days but you need to make sure you buy the right size. My breasts are quite big and the standard nipple shield size didnt fit.

With the second I had no cracking or pain at all. So it might be different for you this time.

Cant comment re bottles as mine never accepted one!

Good luck!

You might just find that since you've tried before that your nipples are a bit tougher (God I hate that phrase, sorry) if you know what I mean. My first was a nightmare, so much pain and blood, but when DS arrived 2 years later it was literally a few days of ouch but nowhere near comparable.
What I did was fed every time they woke, snuffled, cried for that first few weeks, and then once my supply was well established popped a sterilised breast shell in my bra whilst I was feeding from the other side. Literally collecting the drips from first thing in the morning gave me enough to fill a bottle that my husband could give baby last thing at night. I had the occasional day where I needed to pump but it was minimal.

@beddingwedding

I didn’t read @WildCoasts ’ post that way.

I didnt think he/she was saying it should
hurt but for a lot of people it can be v painful - sensitive skin, poor latch etc.

It’s not supposed to of course, but for a lot of people it really does. Hence Lansinoh continues to make healthy profits, nipple shields continue to sell etc

OP - check out the Kelly mom website for info about supply. 1 bottle introduced once your milk supply is established should not cause a problem. Lots of people
mixed feed successfully. My DC unfortunately were just stubborn!

I think the whole 'see how you go/power through' thing is the thing that stops me. I thought it would be easier second time around as I had him very soon after my first but it was just as bad and I gave up earlier than I did first time round. I want to try and be armed with what I can do to help before baby comes so when I'm knackered/weak/vulnerable/sore I'm not trying to find help when I'm not in the best state.

I had people texting me saying 'it gets better after a week' 'it gets better after three weeks' etc and when each day felt like 400 hours long I was just like HOW can I do three more weeks of this

Lucky. I have six and think only one was fairly painless to start. It's not uncommon to have some discomfort when starting. Maybe I just have sensitive skin?

I think none of us know how it will really go until we are there. Like each birth, it's an unknown and each baby is different.

It was painful for me at first. Don't know why the PP is so adamant it doesn't/shouldn't. I've been breastfeeding for 4 months and we're doing perfectly. It does hurt when both you and baby are learning. We didn't change anything and now it is comfortable and I enjoy it. Nipple shields are what saved me, and the Lanisoh cream. Think it got better after 2 weeks, then the discomfort disappeared completely!

I think none of us know how it will really go until we are there. Like each birth, it's an unknown and each baby is different.

I do get that, but the fact it's hurt for two previous babies means it's not exactly impossible that it will hurt again, so if there are things I can do to prepare before the birth then I would like to - like buying nipple shields in advance rather than panic buying at 2am and frantically waiting for them to arrive, or reading tips on how to ease the pain (if there are any...). I don't just want to rely on that it might be easier third time round

I’ve been really lucky with my second that I didn’t have any discomfort but the memory of the first has stuck with me! My sympathies OP, it is a really distinctive pain which in my case (DD1) lasted for about 10 nail biting days, aided by lanisoh, coconut oil or your own milk but airing your nipples as much as possible will really help, also make sure you have a really good latch (get midwife to keep checking if you’re unsure to begin with, I know some do gloss over it a bit.) I’ve never used shields but have friends that did successfully. I’d also say that with DD1 I had nipple thrush for a bit (slightly later on) which was bloody uncomfortable and was a pain to treat as we kept passing it back and forth every time she fed.

Missed your last post, I’d get nipple shields in advance

The infant feeding coordinator at my hospital gave me a nipple shield when we were struggling to latch on one boob, it seemed to help baby a lot and it was less painful when I used them. I do get what people are saying that it shouldn’t hurt but my baby has a great latch on one side which didn’t hurt and a poor latch on the other side which did hurt. The shield got us through to the point where she could latch well on that side and I’m sure helped her learn to latch on that side.

If there’s a next time I’m going to bring a few pairs to hospital with me. The infant feeding coordinator said that MAM mediums should work well for most people but if you get some before the birth then you’ll be good to go.

You could try a Haakaa to collect the let down on one side while you feed from the other to get the night bottle depending on your supply. If you use formula though, I’d probably just make sure you stick to a consistent time so your body knows not to make milk at that time.

Hi op. I've been following some pages on Instagram and they have been a great help. Olivia hinge (olivia lactation consultant) https://instagram.com/olivialactationn_consultant?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y is a a wealth of knowledge. She has videos for every possible question you might have. And demos deep latch techniques etc

This time I have found silver cups to be invaluable. I wouldn't still be breastfeeding without them ( baby nearly 4 weeks). They are magic for cracked sore nipples. Get them on Amazon. They are expensive but worth it. I haven't bothered with Lansinoh cream as I have these.

@QueenLagertha thank you her page looks amazing! Have followed her