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Infant feeding

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

Urgent Help needed with breast feeding

40 replies

Mosschops30 · 17/01/2005 17:06

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OP posts:
morningpaper · 17/01/2005 20:18

P.P.S. also when people say "If you are doing it right it won't hurt" don't just hear that YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG - babies are the DUMBEST creatures ever at nursing and it takes them WEEKS to learn how to do it effectively. Your baby needs to learn all this too. It's very hard to do all of this without an experienced friend around you as well. You are doing REALLY well to get this far and you are being a GREAT mummy. Have confidence. xx

pixiefish · 17/01/2005 20:35

how are things by now. Not going to repeat anything that anyone's said- but I do know how you feel. With me it was positioning (mw and hv said ok but it obviously wasn't) please contact a bfing counsellor. Do what's best for you though- happy mummy= happy baby... loads of hugs

HelloMama · 17/01/2005 20:42

I had this problem too at the beginning. I successfully used silicone nipple shields (from Avent) without it affecting my milk supply. The other problem I had was over-supply. Even now (at 6 months) if I've been at work in the day and haven't had a chance to express but then latch baby on as soon as I get home, it really hurts. I think this is because the breast is so full its almost like he is being 'bounced' off and he can't latch on properly. So now if I'm that full I try to express a little before the feed so it doesn't hurt. HTH. Good luck. It is worth sticking with it if you can!

Yurtgirl · 17/01/2005 20:44

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Harrysmom · 17/01/2005 21:26

I had the same problem for about 3 weeks!! I cried and sweated buckets all the way through breastfeeds......It seemed to improve for me when I tried putting the baby in different positions, the most comfy for me was laying DS on a pillow in front of me...tummy to mummy with one hand behind his neck and the other holding my boob in kind of a torpedo shape....I hope it gets better for you. Took about 2 months for me to feel that I was finally at ease with BFeeding.

Hausfrau · 18/01/2005 09:54

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Yurtgirl · 18/01/2005 13:11

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Pollyanna · 18/01/2005 14:22

Mosschops I am going through exactly the same thing as you (hewlettsdaughter has linked my thread below) - but about a week ahead of you (dd was born on 6th jan). It does get easier honestly. I'm not sure whether I have got the latch 100% right yet, but it definitely isn't so painful now.

Do phone the NCT help line - they will put you in touch with a local counsellor who will help. I have also seen a counsellor at the hospital who has taught me the enhanced latch - that has helped alot. I have got over the worse pain by doing the football hold instead of the normal hold - this takes the pressure off the existing crack and puts it on a different place. Also go to your doctors and get some painkillers - I have codeine - it does help. You can take this alternately with paracetamol.

I know what you're going through, a week ago I spent each night in tears, thinking that I would have to give up. Now it is still painful, but more bearable and I feel more able to persevere (although nights are still the worse time).

Finally do check whether you have thrush or mastitis. I definitely had one or both of these as there was unbearable pain after feeding which didn't seem to be related to the cracked nipples - it has now gone with the antibiotics/thrush cream (I'm not sure which one of these has worked!).

lucy01 · 20/01/2005 20:37

stick with it.... the pain doesn't last forever, it just seems like it. i had awful cracks with both dd's but now am trying to get the second (fast approaching 1) off the boob cause hubbie wants them back. after a couple of months you find you are just popping them on and not having to worry about finding bottles/formula/bibs/etc. the pain doesn't last forever and, if you can, it can be the most wonderful experience - i want the toddler on bottles now as i can't always rush home from work to feed - but am not looking forward to not doing it anymore

mears · 20/01/2005 23:48

How are you doing Mosschops?

Hausfrau · 21/01/2005 09:27

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memum · 04/02/2005 22:06

I have a 19 day old baby. I too am suffering bleeding, cracked nipples. I have resorted to a few formula feeds out of desperation. Will try to persevere using your advice.

memum · 04/02/2005 22:08

Sorry - error - I have a 10 - not 19 day old baby

eidsvold · 06/02/2005 09:43

memum - try and see if you can get a cream called lansinoh - I can get it here in Australia - not sure if it is available in the UK - brilliant for sore, cracked nipples - protects and helps them heal so quickly. I would have totally chucked in breastfeeding if not for my sil telling me about this.

bredicot · 06/02/2005 10:10

memum,
never got to the bleeding stage but did have some pretty sore nipples with all three of mine, at least once was due to an infection. I resorted to sending my mother-in-law on a nipple shield hunt on a Bank Holiday (father in law not impressed!!
Anyway I found they really took the pressure off for a few days, and I know that lots of people (including my midwife) say that they confuse the baby and make it harder to get a good latch when you stop using them, but if by then you are not in so much pain you will have more energy and be calmer and can work on the latch. All three of mine carried on feeding (up to 9mths, 12 mths and 12 mths). Also just remembered that my cousin ( head of midwifery teaching at a uni carries a few sets round in her bag when she is working). Best of luck, at the end of the day you do your best and if it ends up as breast or bottle, so what! you will always be a great mum for doing your best for them!

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