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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

4 day old breastfeeding, milk's come in but feel like we're going backwards

8 replies

Tillytilly5 · 11/02/2023 02:14

My son was born late on Monday. We've been making progress with breastfeeding until Friday afternoon. I know it's not easy and not expecting miracles but felt like we were getting there and on Thursday night/ Friday morning my milk was coming in and we had some long feeds with good sucking and swallowing.

But then yesterday afternoon and since, he's been latching and doing an initial suck before wanting to stop and getting really upset if I try to keep him on.
The way he stops going almost feels like my milk's suddenly starting tasting bad and he doesn't want it anymore (which I don't think is it) but how it feels when he starts and doesn't want to carry on.

My boobs are a bit full so have been trying to pump to make it easier for him to latch but that doesn't seem to be helping :-(

The midwife is coming tomorrow so will ask her for help and support but just posting now to see if anyone has any tips or if they had something similar happened to them?

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 11/02/2023 02:26

Could it be that the initial let down is fast and he cant cope with it? Maybe take him off, let the initial gush soak into a pad or cloth then put him back on. My let down was like Niagra and my poor babies were spluttering. It all settled down eventually.

Whattheladybird · 11/02/2023 02:26

congratulations!

My son hardly fed at all before day 6; couldn’t get him latched on. Was discharged on day 4 from hospital on a mixed feeding plan.

we did eventually get it cracked, probably about 6 weeks in, and he fed to a year (and his siblings til much later).

so: there’s still time!

I am not a bfing advisor but I’ve breastfed three newborns with different issues over the years.

I was surprised about how - particularly when my milk came in - I really had to struggle with getting baby to latch first, trying all sorts of positions (lots of videos on YouTube). also, if your milk is coming out with quite a bit of force that can be tricky for them too (if you lean back to feed that can be easier). It won’t be a horrible taste but a different sensation for baby.

definitely hand express a little off if it makes a latch easier around the nipple. If you’re pumping your milk out, can you give a little to him in a bottle or even a small cup (egg cup?)) so that he’s not so hungry (and frustrated) when latching on.

for my middle son, nipple shields were the only way he would latch on. Used them on the end for two years. (And yes, he’s my choosiest eater now;) ) but for all three of mine they were helpful in the early days to get the latch right and over that initial resistance. You can get them from bigger Boots or Amazon will deliver (I used the medela ones) and it might even be possible to get them from big 24hr supermarkets nowadays - I think I saw them there by the time I had my youngest.

Anyway, sympathies. Hope the night goes ok xxx

Scramble1805 · 11/02/2023 02:33

If your milk is flowing quite fast he could be guzzling down wind. Thorough burping and adjusting feeding position might help. I found football hold to be slower for me, but reclined backwards is also helpful.

Original poster

Tillytilly5 · 11/02/2023 02:55

Thanks for all your suggestions and kind words :-) means a lot with the baby blues kicking in too!

I'll see if the let down is too strong and have ordered some nipple shields. We'll get there!

OP posts:

SeaToSki · 11/02/2023 03:05

Have you eaten something with lots of onions or garlic? Mine hated my milk if I ate them. My SIl had to avoid broccoli and cabbage and I heard of someone who couldnt eat strawberries while bf

AlwaysLatte · 11/02/2023 04:10

Congratulations!
Do ask about tongue tie if you haven't already. My sons both struggled to feed for this reason.

Original poster

Tillytilly5 · 11/02/2023 18:59

AlwaysLatte · 11/02/2023 04:10

Congratulations!
Do ask about tongue tie if you haven't already. My sons both struggled to feed for this reason.

Tongue tie it is! Saw the midwife today (helpfully she's also the feeding specialist) and she spotted it straight away. She thought my milk coming in was making it even harder for him which was why it felt like we were going backwards. So hopefully we get that sorted and will be able to carry on breastfeeding

OP posts:

AlwaysLatte · 12/02/2023 11:07

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