9 weeks in and it's STILL not 'clicked'... is it past hope?

[MamacitaGordita]

Well the subject line says it all really, DS was arrived nearly 9 weeks ago and we got off to a great start with the BF (I know, I was lucky!) but before Christmas I started getting really sore nipples; especially the right one. If I look back it's never been totally comfortable and all along I've just put up with what is obviously a bad latch on the right (cracks now... ugh) and a mediocre latch on the left. He is growning and gaining really well and is obviously getting what he needs, but the pain is making me miserable. Especially at night, and I DREAD putting him on to the right. In 'rugby' hold he's not traumatising the cracks but his latch is pants that way too and I can feel soreness in new areas! Great! Which means I'm avoiding it a bit and I'm worried about my supply dwindling on that side.

I saw a BFC yesterday and she's given me some ideas (raising him higher with more pillows, moving his head so it's not nose to nipple but more nose to chin...just playing around with positioning) as well as a pump to borrow so I can express to keep up the pace on the right. Anyone find that things came together at this late stage? Has anyone out there just fed from one side? (Not ideal in terms of symmetry I know!)

But I am feeling it's sort of the beginning of the end... I feel so down about it cuz BF is so important to me and I looked forward to it in pregnancy. But to be honest I'm not enjoying it and it's the toughest bit of childbearing, including the 'bearing' bit! There was another lady at BF support group and I remember when I started going her DD was 9 weeks and bf quite the thing- no soreness, no mountains of pillows, no faffing around... I'm just feeling down about it. Sorry for rambling, I guess I needed to get out. x

Took me and dd a while to get to grips with bf. But just suddening clicked and I went on to feed her till she was 7 months. So dont give your self a hard time it will happen. When I got sore I expressed and I did give the odd bottle!! I found once I got the positioning right it all fell in to place. One tip which really help me from a midwife was be firm and bring the baby up to you. Good Luck I think it took me a good few months to feel really comfortable.

If it's just on one nipple, and recently appeared, could it be thrush? I would go to your GP and ask.

Hi mama i know how you feel. I had mastits when my DD was 7 wks old, i was put on antibios wich then gave my DD thrush and she passed it on to me.

I saw the com. nurse (shes attached to our h/v team) who suggested nipple sheilds but only for a short time as they can effect milk supply, taking paracetamols 2x 6 hourly, and if i wanted to to give a bottle of ebm or formula to have a break from bf.

hang on in there it will work out, and rember that you have given your babe the best possiable start do what ever you want to do.

Sorry forgot to put that we were both treated for thrush and we are still bfing.

Sorry forgot to put that we were both treated for thrush and we are still bfing.

No solution but wanted to sympathise - my DS is also a pain to feed from the right side. I was really tempted to just express every feed from that side but was warned on here that that would affect my supply.

He's 12 weeks now and though it's still a pain, it does get a bit easier. And I remember seeing someone at a birth group when I was pregnant easily and discreetly feeding their 3-week-old, I still can't feed him that easily now! Just easier for some

things clicked for me and DS around 10 weeks. Up until then i was in total pain and cursing my existence whenever i had to feed him.

It WILL click if you persevere. I'm not saying kill yourself trying, but if it's something you feel strongly about continuing, I am confident you will be in much less pain, and his latch WILL improve.

My DS had the most terrible and painful latch, and also worse on one side than the other. Now (23 weeks, but for a while now) he opens wide and it's all fine - i think his mouth just needed to get bigger. I thought that was BS when people said it, but it seems to be true in this case.

also keep in mind that a position that wasn't working a week ago can start working now or later on. DS's latch was so poor that i couldn't do a normal cradle hold until around the 9 week mark. Thank god that started working because it's so much more comfortable than reverse cradle or rugby. Also, I still hold my boob while feeding him, as that helps him keep a good latch on.

there are some good videos and tips on drjacknewman.com and kellymom.com. Not saying it's as easy as watching a video, but always good to get the visuals.

It took us forever to get comfortable bfing. I had horribly cracked nipples, pain, etc. I was ready to give it up when I was in tears every time he latched on. However, we stuck it out and finally about 4 1/2 months on we got better at it and now at the 10 month mark it's super easy. I hated the rugby hold and so did DS. Unless the bf counselor put us in the correct position, we just couldn't do it.

I had a cracked nipple on my left side and found that allowing some bm to dry on it healed it up really quickly. A girl in our LLL group had problems for weeks and ended up with a REALLY bad cracked nipple so she had to actually stop feeding on one side for a few weeks until it recovered. She was then able to gradually reintroduce it and she was feeding from both sides normally within a couple of weeks. She didn;t need to use any supplements at all - her other breast just upped its supply to deal with the added demand. Hope you feel better soon -it is a nasty feeling but you're doing a great job and you can get through it. Speak to a bfc if you need any more advice - and don't feel like you're alone!

Thank you all so much for your comments- it's such a relief to hear about others who've been through it too- that's what's so good about MN as none of my RL friends have babies etc! I'll keep at it as it is really important to me. And good point chandellina about positions being better or worse at different stages of growth. We had a really odd one (half rugby, half sidey-ways!) going at lunch time and although it was agonising at first it was the best one on that side in ages- took about a million pillows and cushions but it was encouraging... thanks again ladies x