Really struggling already on day 2 - could do with some advice!

[soon2befamilyof4]

Hello. So Baby born friday morning and to start with latched perfectly. But now, I am finding it so painful. My nipples are bleeding at feed times and it is just so painful to try and feed. I have breastfed before - I fed my datughter for 8 months last year, so I guess I expected it to be fine.

What can I do? She is hungry and I just feel like I can't do it.

I was thinking about trying to hand express and then feed through a syringe? What if I can't get much? It is taking a boob massage and lots of prodding about and squeezing to even get one drop.

Sorry, short of time, but I'd suggest calling one of the helplines. All will be open today. NBH is on 0300 100 0212.

It could be that you need to tweak the technique you're using for hand expressing. At this stage you'd only expect to get small amounts. Colostrum is very sticky, so a sterilised spoon can sometimes be easier and less wasteful than a syringe.

Have just spent about 20 mins expressing and got about 1ml so not sure if I am going to be able to get enough? Sorry to be brief, its just that she is still hungry.

I did manage to keep her on my right boob for most of the time I expressed from my left but I don't think she got enough as she is still trying to suck everything in site.

What about trying the Biological Nurturing technique I mentioned on the other thread? IME that means less wear and tear on nipples and works really well with newborns. Basically lie back on a load of cushions at an incline of about 20-30 degrees or whatever feels comfortable, go skin to skin, and let the baby root around and find the nipple with minimal help from you. Get DH to feed you peeled grapes and mop your brow with lavender water whilst feeding (only kidding about the last bit, but it does feel very comfy and luxurious feeding like this).

www.biologicalnurturing.com/pdfs/Poster%20for%20web%20site-locked.pdf

I have now bf four small people btw, and still get sore nipples at the beginning every time (but these days I manage to avoid cracks, mastitis and so on). May the force be with you, my friend.

biological nurturing can be helpful. stay in bed with your baby in nappies and you will little or nothing on top. i foudn popped on pillows helpful. put your baby longitudinally (up and down) with his face on between your chest. let your baby find her own way to her breast and latch on her own. you limit your 'help' to keeping her safely on your chest.

try to do this as much as you can over the next two days or so. (Hopefully you have someone to look after dd1 as much as possible to allow you time to focus on no.2.)

this can teach both you and her how to latch on better.

here explains it v well.

Phone your Midwife and see if she has the name of a peer cousellor(sp) in your area, having someone to come and see your latch and give you one on one support will be invaluable at this stage. They may even be able to come today or tomorrow. They will be able to advise you on feeding technique and also what to use to help your nipples heal. Really feel for you though, I remember that painful feeling so well. It does get better though.

soon2be: I am going to be very bossy and directive here!

Stop trying to express. It's not helping and it's demoralising you. Hand expressing of colostrum is a technique and you might need to be taught it. Once you know how, you might want to try again.

Call a midwife and ask for a visit asap.

And call one of the helplines - another one is NCT's on 0300 330 0770.

Keep the baby close and use biological nurturing; and/or have a bath together.

Real life help is better than a talkboard - and you need real life help now.

Keep us in touch

What tiktok said.

And make sure you're treating the sore, cracked nipples. I found lansinoh wonderful.

Congratulations.

And remember, babies like to suck suck suck suck all the time. It's nature and not necessarily hunger although with such a teeny tiny offering the breast whenever they want to suck is the absolute best thing and will help your milk come in.

Thanks guys. With the creams - I always felt uncomfortable last time about putting stuff on my nipples that are going to go in the new baby's mouth - but I am desperate this time! lol. Do you wash it off or anything? Surely baby sucks it in their mouth if not?

last time, my milk had come in by now I think. I remember it being very early and the MW was very shocked.

lansinoh is safe for babies if they eat some of it - honest!

Oh and I like the idea of having a bath together - but the MW said to leave it a week before bathing?

lansinoh you can leave on - didn't affect my lo at all and really help - it's expensive but soooo worth it healed my nips in a few days - that and b-nurturing worked a treat!!!

bathing together is called rebirthing. search it on MN or google. don't put any soap or bath gel in the water. just water is fine from day 1. no need to use baby bath stuff later on either.

Lansinoh is designed not to be washed/wiped off - it's totally safe if the baby swallows some. I just used it immediately after a feed and found it soaked in by the next time but if it doesn't, it really doesn't matter

I also found putting Lansinoh on my nipples useful, and the effect was enhanced by using Lilipadz as this promoted a kind of moist healing environment, whereas paper breast pads had been drying them out a bit, even with cream on.

I had baths with DS3 from day 2, and found he fed better in the bath (but watch out for poos). We used a bit of Earth Friendly Baby soap on him but nothing else. He was fine.

I know to use no soap etc - we still don't really use much on DD1 who is 16 months now, we use baby bath or baby wash about once a week but water on a daily basis.

My milk has now made an arrival which was a huge relief. DD2 now doesn't need to suck anywhere near as hard and it isn't as painful. It still hurts when she first latches on as she gives a good suck but then the milk starts flowing out and she doesn't really have to do much.

The MW is coming round tomorrow though - was meant to be today but thats a long story. I am going to get her to help me get a better latch. We are Ok though, its just that I think she needs to open her mouth wider and I can't seem to get her to do it.

Another thing, my nipples don't seem to really stick out? I am pretty sure they did when I was feeding DD1. This seems to be causing DD2 to come off the boob and then we have to keep starting all over again with getting the latch?

I feel a lot more confident now though, I was starting to worry as I had no enthusiam to carry on feeding and wasn't enjoying it. But I hate FF and didn't want to do that either!

babies do not nipple feed, the breast feed so forget nipple size. make sure your baby gets a big mouthful of breast.

you can try baby led attachment in addition to nose to nipple etc. half sitting in bed propped uo with pillows can help with getting comfy.

just one comment re lansinoh being expensive - my midwife old me off for buying it and has now written me two prescriptions - I think they should make everyone aware that you cn get this free.

she may be tongue tied. Call yr midwife unit and ask if someone who knows about tongue ties can come have a look.

Use loads of lansinoh, more than you think to help with healing.

where are you - can you look online for a breastfeeding specialist or call the NCT and ask if they can recommend someone in yr area - they may come out to see you for a small fee - and whatever you spend, remember it will pale in significance in comparison to how much you'll have to spend on formula if things don't work out. Don't be scared to keep calling round til you speak to someone yr comfortable with and whose advice you understand - and that person should be with you, observing feeds etc. I had such a rubbish time with my LO and I wish I'd sought better quality help much sooner.

WE are doingg much better now. Dont think she is tongue tied as she sticks her tongue right out a lot of the time when awake and sometimes when she is sleeping.

We are going to a BF group tomorrow but I am a lot more confident now.

Thank you everybdy.

I didn't know you were having a tough time Soon. I'm around if can help, but am not as up to date as the real experts.
I had to ring nct line and I'm a midwife!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope group is good. Lansinoh is ace, and a good bum cream too, does wonders for nappy rash. Wonder if could lanolise wool with it

tickle the top of her lip with your nipple and don't shove your boob in until she has opened wide. Feed her with her sitting slighty upright so she doesn't choke on fast flowing milk.

Having fed 2, I would say don't agonise too much about the latch in the first few weeks. her mouth is tiny - as long as she is getting good feeds and you're not totally being torn to shreds - just go with the flow (difficult as I was very, very sore in the first 3 weeks).

I think we are fine now TBH. I am going to go to the BF group tomorrow just incase as I will then be left with the weekend so would rather get the help while you are there.

Tree - You can Lanolise wool with it! A lot of people use it if they have leftovers/can't get hold of the other stuff.

Tree again - as you are a MW, can I go completly off topic and ask if you know anything about belly buttons? DDs seems to have puss coming out?

Course Soon - though i'm antenatal so not community experienced.

I'd say give it a clean and a dry with plain water and cotton wool. Then if it continues or is stinky, get it checked at hv weigh clinic, or midwife or somewhere like that.

dd2 did same, if the cord is just off then there is still some healing to do and a bit of gunge can happen.

Don't hesitate to get it looked at though if you're not 100%, I can't see it or assess dd in peson