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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Quick question

12 replies

Jael · 18/11/2008 12:04

I'm currently pregnant at the moment, have DD almost three. I had planned to breastfeed her all along, but only ended up doing so for about two weeks. My nipples were bleeding alot, and I was in excrutiating pain all the time, and was finding it very difficult to breastfeed as I wasn't shown how to latch the baby on etc and I'd had a C-Section that I wasn't coping very well with, and PND on top of that, anyway sorry for rambling.
I'd really like to breastfeed this time round, I'm slightly naive about it. I'm 22, and as I didn't get the help last time, I'm planing to talk to a few breastfeeding moms and get some advice before I start. I've seen the cap things that you can place over your nipple, can you use these straight away, and like for every feed, to stop from getting sore/bleeding etc. Or will baby not drink properly because of them? Just abit confused.

Jael X

OP posts:
tiktok · 18/11/2008 12:57

Jael - good idea to talk to other mothers and to get better informed.

You're asking about nipple shields. These should not be used straight away and if they are used, they need to be a 'last resort'. They can be useful in certain circumstances but they have major drawbacks. Supply may be reduced because of them and they are a nuisance!

This time round, I hope you get help with positioning and attachment. Check out baby-led attachment and biological nurturing, which may help you.

Good luck!

StealthPolarBear · 18/11/2008 12:59

oooh good luck
talking to mums is IME the best thing you can do - if they're not being discreet ask if you can get a good look at latch/positioning
wouldn't try to start with nipple shields
and stick around MN! (~Haven't seen you before, sorry f you're a regular) it's the best place for quick, free and almost always correct advice
when are you due and what are you having?

Original poster
Jael · 18/11/2008 16:12

I've got ages yet!I'm 16 weeks, but I want to be well prepared. I really wanted to breatfeed DD and It really upset me when I had to stop, so I really really want to BF this baby. Moms have said to me, it will hurt but you've got to keep going and I keep thinking, maybe I gave up to early with DD. But In the 2 weeks I did BF her, it never felt comfortable, not once, I couln't tell whether she was drinking or not, and my nipples were bleeding and sore all the time...maybe I'm just a wuss... I joined MN in the summer, and I'm so thankful to it, it has helped me so much. I'm on the May 09 thread on antenatal atm and its so reassuring to talk to other moms, who are pregnant and going throught the same thing's as me. Which is why I want to talk to BF'ing moms this time, before I do it myself. X

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 18/11/2008 16:14

Congratulations!
People are divided on the pain thing - I've never really had much apart from when I know I have a poor latch (usually been as he's got older and decided to feed while playing with his toys ). Lots of people do have pain though and I don't know how they do it - I am a real wimp!

VictorianSqualor · 18/11/2008 16:17

Whereabouts are you Jael?
Can you go to a local babycafe?
Good idea to talk to not just mums but someone who can help you with latch and positioning at the very start if you need it.
And congratulations.

Original poster
Jael · 18/11/2008 17:06

I'm in the midlands, staffordshire. Don't really know any breastfeeding Moms, and it's the first time I've been on the breastfeeding bit on MN. I haven't really got anyone who could help with showing me how to latch a baby on properly, I've looked at a few illustrations lol they're obviously not gonna be as useful as the real thing. I mean, I am young, and I would like to breastfeed, I really hope I can, I don't want to be in the position I was in last time, with lack of help etc, midwives etc were all pretty useless at the hospital and stereotyped me as a "teen mom"

OP posts:
ten10 · 18/11/2008 17:23

Is their a local NCT Bumps & Babes group in your area, the group I used to go to was really helpful as nearly all the mums were breast feeders and were very happy to discuss their experiences.

Also once the baby comes make sure that you talk alot to the staff at the hospital as they helped me with getting my DS to latch on properly,
I also found that my health visitor was helpful with this.

4andnotout · 18/11/2008 17:37

Im exclusively breastfeeding for the first time and this is my 4th child! i made it clear to the mw that i was determined to bf this time and they took the time to help me latch her on whilst i was in hospital and checked my latch when they visited at home. She is now 3 weeks old and doing really well, im really enjoying it but feel that i couldn't bf the 1st 3 dds.

Ecmo · 18/11/2008 18:04

I don't think that the soreness is all about the baby not being latched on correctly. If you suddenly start to do something every 2 hours that you've not done before you will get sore. I expressed for my DS for the first week as he was in ICU and I still got really really sore and it can't have been due to him not being latched on correctly!
It does hurt for a bit and you will probably get sore but keep going.
Also I found it helps to buy some nipple cream to use for a few weeks before baby comes to get your nipples used to some action.

tiktok · 18/11/2008 19:03

Ecmo, you are right that not all soreness is down to positioning, but the analogy with 'doing something you have never done before for 2 hours' does not hold, sorry.

Nipples and breasts are made to be breastfed from Many women breastfeed with no soreness at all, from the very start.

If you got sore with a pump, then the suction may have been at fault.

determination · 18/11/2008 21:10

Jael,

You should start contacting the local midwifes and find out the bfing groups in your area. This will let you actually See what it is like to bfed and speak to real life people about it. Also, read up on www.kellymom.com LLLGB nhs breastfeeding info and Baby Friendly

I would also buy silverette and put them in your hospital bag to wear asap when your baby is born, these will prevent you from getting sore nipples. They are worn between feeds directly over the nipples and are fantastic for completely healing nipples and can also be used to prevent cracks.

You really need to educate yourself though so that you are in a better position to know what is right and what is wrong when it comes to bfing good luck

kathryn2804 · 18/11/2008 23:04

Definitely look up the breastfeeding groups in your area, whilst you still have a brain! The nct run them, plus your Primary Care Trust might run some. There may be breastfeeding peer support counsellors around. ABSOLUTELY insist that you will not leave hospital, until someone (particularly a breastfeeding expert) sits with you and explains about positioning and attachment and makes sure you are doing it correctly! And that doesn't mean a midwife giving a casual glance and saying 'looks alright to me!' You have to get a bit stroppy about this sometimes. Good luck.

This is a great video to watch for good attachment www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zln0LTkejIs

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