Preparing for Successful BF 2nd time around

[peppermintpig]

After failing first time round I am preparing to tackle problems this time around...I have tackled the emotional side and am far more prepared for what to expect. I have the support numbers in my mobile but can anyone advise the following:

• how soon can you start using lanisoh ? WOuld you use immediately, at the first sign of discomfort or once it becomes painful ?

• which brand of nipple sheilds would you recommend.

I found the pain so unbearable last time (undiagnosed tongue tie) but want to be prepared with something other than formula and bottles this time around to get me through the potential low points rather than give up in a fit of panic and regret bitterly...

I used lanisoh from the start with DS2 after "failing" to feed properly with DS1.
That and pure bloody determination to get it right!

Lansinoh any time and don't be afraid of regular paracetamol (obviously within does limits!)prior to a feed,

I found the pain agonising too,tongue tie an issue in my case as well,but luckily I stuck with it as I had a lot of support and advice from a private lactation consultant (and I was crying with pain as I fed her....lord it was horrendous) and by six weeks it was painless as her tie had stretched a bit.Second time round it was only a bit tender for the first coupls of days and when the milk came in,I am still feeding.I do think that in my case the shields maybe made things worse?They did make it fractionally less painful but I think they made my supply less than it would have been and caused more probs than they solved,I didn't use then this time and I didn't use nipple cream either,it was just all fine,and hopefully you will be too-good luck!I have been feeding for four years solid now!x

Oh thank you Doris - hadn't packed paracetamol. For some reason I didn't relate toecurling agony with the need for any kind of pain relief last time - was in too much shock to think logically! (wasn't good birth)

HM - thanks for the inspiration I am hoping more than anything for a story like yours! But feel I need to prepare the 'bloody determination' side of me too. The shields are just a back up for the moment I experienced last time when I just couldn't face the pain and sent DH out for formula.

Anyone else ? Would like to get the nipple sheilds bought tomorrow - am already overdue now and having last minute stress!!

I have been using these nipple shields & found them to be excellent. Usually arrive next day after ordering so hopefully you can get some in time, sorry not sure whether they are sold in any shops
www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/details3.asp/ProductID/261/sid//medela-contact-nipple-shields.h tm

Good luck

pp- you shouldn't need to pack paracetomol in your hospital bag ( maybe I'm just reading this wrong as the mw should supply and be able to record how much in a 24 hour period etc just worried when I read your post...Good luck and I hope it all goes swimmingly

I had a lot of pain for the first 6 weeksish as well, I'm not sure what the cause was, but it did need some determination to get through it. I think the fact my sister and mum were very pro-bf helped me get through those early weeks and the fact I can be stubborn (I once gave up chocolate for several years as an 'experiment'. I know....weird).

The best thing I did was go to a breastfeeding clinic after a few days where I got one-to-one 'hands on' help with the latch. It made a huge difference to know how to hold the baby and other basic things like that.

The other thing I found useful was just to ask someone I knew really well (in this case my sister) if the latch looked right to her - she noticed that my DS was not taking as much of the areola into his mouth as she would expect so I started using my thumb to flip it in! This seemed to do the trick. 19 months on I am still bf my milk monster.

Good luck!

Just another tip for sore nipples...after a feed squeeze a little bit of milk out and allow it to dry on your nipple - it worked for me when I had a cracked nipple - healed it really quickly in fact. It really is magic stuff! I hope it goes well for you this time round - well done for being so prepared - stay positive! xo

I found that breast shells helped to keep bra from sticking to nipples. Good for collecting milk in too.

Don't know about nipple shields but use Lansinoh straight away! I'd say after each feed and shower as well.

Just to give you some encouragement I had horrible pain/cracked nipples and bleedings with DC1 I was careful with the latch and using Lansinoh with DC2 and apart from a slight tenderness at the beginning on one side (probably due to the fact that he cluster fed less than 24 hours after birth from 9PM to 4AM solid) I found BFing easy and pain-free! Such a relief from my 1st experience.

I recommend the avent shields. They are much better at staying attached than the medela ones and a more nipple like shape.
Good luck! I too am hoping for a better time next time around.

When I started to breastfeed dd1 I was so glad to get her latched on that I let her feed even when I knew the latch was wrong and as a result ended up with very sore nipples. This time round I am making sure the latch is right every time even if it does mean taking her off the breast a few times at the start of each feed. Best of luck.

Suiledonn that's exactly what happened to me the 1st time round.
I also ignored the pain- I just kept telling myself it 'wasn't that bad' until it turned very painful indeed. After 3 months when everything fell into place I was amazed to realise you could BF without pain- people had been telling me all along (the whole 'if you do it well it doesn't hurt' argument) but I hadn't believed it!

Thank you for all the replies - I bought 2 different brands of shield today. I hope I don't need them. Reading all your encouragement is getting me fired up to get started - just need the baby now!

By the way, you can use lansinoh before a feed as well as after (and during if it goes on for a while!) to prevent friction from making the pain worse.