Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

Unsettled newborn and engorgement - HELP!

11 replies

BlueyDragon · 11/03/2010 08:05

DS is 3 days old and having had real problems feeding DD I was really chuffed to get BF going with him. However my right breast is now rock hard (lumpy); the left is less so. Even expressing a bit by hand I don't seem to be able to get DS to latch on properly - he's been unsettled all night, feeding pretty much constantly and has now gone to sleep having had a bit of formula.

What do I do now?

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 11/03/2010 10:01

Babies on day 2 and 3 are often unsettled. They do feed a lot at this stage, it's Mother Natures way of helping your milk supply.

Feed on demand, co-sleeping in the early days is great for survival, so you can snooze whilst they do feed. Put them in a sling if unsettled if you have things to do, as it'll soothe them and leave your hands free

The housework can wait, try to relax and sleep when they sleep.

Don't mistake the fussing for them not getting enough milk from you and replace feeds with formula! You're doing great and sound like you have plenty. Fussing may also be wind related. You could try some infacol or gripe water at every feed for a while as that can help, if you're not using one or the other already. Make sure you wind them well and maybe wind them half way through every feed as well, if it helps? Make sure you're drinking plenty as well and eating lots, so that your milk supply is plentiful as well, just in case Worth trying all the avenues, just in case.

The [[http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/index.html kellymom website] has lots of advice on engorgement and tips on how to deal with it and other common concerns with BF babies, such as latch.

Attend BF clinics or call La Leche, their phone line is free and ask any questions of them you need to put your mind at ease. You're doing great.

teaandcakeplease · 11/03/2010 10:03

Sorry the weblink again: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/927344-Unsettled-newborn-and-engorgement-HELP?msgid=1 8878617

teaandcakeplease · 11/03/2010 14:14

Just noticed the weblink is completely wrong in my 2nd effort to get the kellymom link to work. Don't know what's going on today, I usually don't do this.

Anyway 3rd time lucky: kellymom weblink

rubyslippers · 11/03/2010 14:15

has your milk properly come in?

the more your baby is on your breast at this point the better - my DD fed constanly for the first 3 days (literally) and once my milk came in on days 3/4/5 then things settled a lot

teaandcakeplease · 11/03/2010 14:23

Sounds like it has, from her original post

A hot flannel is good on an engorged breast before feeding, I also sometimes expressed a tiny bit before latching them on, as it helped too. Although you did say you weren't sure that helped you but the warm flannel hopefully may. Forgot that tip earlier!

Sorry, I'm tired.

rubyslippers · 11/03/2010 16:17

i wasn't sure if it had from the OP

the engorgement made me think it was on its way but may not have fully got going IYSWIM ....

i know my own DD was velcro'd to me for the first 72 hours before my milk came in and then she did settle a little on days 4 and 5

teaandcakeplease · 11/03/2010 16:40

Completely. Once the milk is in they're so much more settled.

I always found on day 3 I cried a lot too. Probably hormones.

rubyslippers · 11/03/2010 16:47

i cried for the first 4 months weeks

BlueyDragon · 13/03/2010 21:11

Thank you all - went to the BF counsellor who was marvellous, really helped on the latch which cleared up the lumps and engorgement and cracks. Milk definitely in as well and we've had a much better couple of days. He's a bit of a windy boy in the evenings so we might try the infacol if that doesn't settle down.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 13/03/2010 21:12

brill

teaandcakeplease · 13/03/2010 21:12

Oh that's so lovely. I am soo glad

New posts on this thread. Refresh page