Advice re 'chomper' and supply...

[NumptyMum]

I'm struggling to breastfeed DD who is 11 days old; having fed DS until he was over 2 (stopped last autumn) I never thought I would have the same pain as with him - but I do, and it's really getting me down. Midwives are still visiting and DD has been observed to be a 'chomper', she is very strong (has some head control and vice-like arms which have to be swaddled out the way) and even though my latch is now OK, my nipples can still get very 'squished' ie they are flattened when I take her off (she rarely lets go even after 40 mins).

Anyone else have this? When do I get to see light at the end of the tunnel? I've bought nipple shields, I know they are not recommended but it is either that, expressed milk from bottle or formula because otherwise I am crying/swearing in agony. However even the nipple shields don't stop the chomping pain.

Also my supply on one side has dropped. Early bad positioning meant that my nipples have been cracked and bleeding so I was advised to rest them and express (time consuming but supply was OK at that point); but then an inflamed duct on one side meant I had to feed direct to clear it and was then so painful I had to rest it again. At that point the supply to that side seems to have dropped, as I couldn't time getting expressing done with everything else going on.

Any tips for how I can get it back? Will it come back again OK? I can get some milk from it, but nothing like the supply from the other breast.

Support appreciated... feeling pretty low here. Dreading next feed.

Hi Gaelicsheep - sorry just saw your post. I found the Medela ones didn't stay put and were a little TOO close to nature ie I needed thicker silicone between me and DD's chomping! I was a little optimistic that the Avent ones are pain-free, but they certainly are better. The nipple area of the shield is still massive, and DD only latches onto that rather than taking in a chunk of breast so it's not ideal - but if it's the difference between feeding her direct or expressing and bottle feeding, it does make life easier.

I'm using a combination of all the suggestions above ie trying to take Ibuprofen or paracetamol around 30mins before I think she'll feed; trying to ensure latch is OK; trying to feed her from the breast when I can so that I toughen up OR if I can't do that use nipple shields OR if I can't do that, I do resort to ready-made formula for a feed but also express from the unused breast so that next time I can feed her that, which rests the sore side a little. And sometimes I think a feed is going to be sore but after the initial latching on and counting to 10 (or 20...) it improves. To be honest, I think the nerves in the 'improving' breast are shot to bits so don't register the same pain any more.

DD was getting v antsy re feeds at one point, I think she picked up on my obvious stress, so that's why I was trying to relax as much as I could about it and use various solutions so that I was less sore and more likely to bear feeding her. I think letting her 'self attach' (or at least a bit) helped too - she'll rub her mouth over the nipple a couple of times and lick it before latching on, so I cup the breast and when I think she's going to latch on I have it pointed ready so I can move her onto it as much as I can. Her hands can be a problem, getting in the way, so sometimes I have to swaddle her if I'm going to be able to feed her OK.

Have you got any kind of support in your area? I've spoken to various people - NCT helpline (helpful), La Leche League who actually have a group in my area (helpful but the leader is away on hols this week, just my luck), and I've had a really supportive mw who has now actually referred me to a breastfeeding clinic. It makes such a difference to know that someone understands that DD IS a chomper and it's not just that I'm a wuss... so if you can, do try and find out if there is any support in your area.

Good luck - and don't beat yourself up if you don't manage the perfect exclusive breastfeeding, even if you have to express and feed or use occasional formula, if you can manage SOME feeding it will all be to the good.

One other thing I've just remembered - I think I had similar problems feeding DS in the early days, v sore (though not sure if he had such a strong suck/chomp as DD). There was a point where it DID get better, and it might have been around 4 weeks or so. Remember they are growing so their mouth will be getting bigger/wider and more able to take in your breast properly. So it may be that you are close to things getting better anyway - do try and hang in there if you can.