Mumsnet Breastfeeding Club

[Llondbol]

Hi!

I can't find a thread for breastfeeding chat; so thought I'd start one.

I'm a new Mum to Jac (10/4/19) and he's my first baby. I haven't made it to a local breastfeeding group yet, so would love the chance to chat here. It was a difficult start and I still have so many questions...

Anyone want to join? Introduce yourself - I'd love to hear from you 😁

@JLB7 I’m in the same situation, I feed once and once she lets go I wind and change her to wake her up then put her back on. Since starting this she’s gone from 2 hourly to 3 hourly so I can get about 6 hours sleep a night (in 3 lots) then I only need an hour in day to catch up. The first feed is the watery milk and the second is the fatty milk so I’m really trying to get her to have that to help with her weight and also sleep!

@JLB7 You sound like you are doing really well and I'm glad you are here hanging out with us.
It gets better. It gets easier.

How do you feel about co-sleeping and lying down to feed. It really saved my sanity and there's a link I posted yesterday to safe co-sleeping guidelines from the lullaby trust.

The more you feed the more your little one will grow =bigger tummy = longer between feeds....hooray!!

@BeHereNowx32 I would be livid but it's done now so don't waste precious energy dwelling on the MIL. (I've had to remind myself to let it go a lot with my MIL). Maybe hide or bin the bottle and formula from everyone so there's no opportunity for the MIL or DH to do that again.

You could do skin to skin whilst you feed and cosy up in bed with the little one. Or just do it tomorrow morning and order a cuppa and toast to be brought up to you in bed.

Good luck tonight. Every night is a step nearer an easier life and more sleep for you.

@Creas35 sounds like we are in same situation! We have to see midwife again tomorrow to check he's hopefully put on weight 🤞🏼
@BeHereNowx32 I can see why they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture - glad I'm not only one with the hallucinations, I thought I was going mad!
@avocadoincident thank you it's so nice to hear that support! Co-sleeping is one of those things that pre-mum me thought she wouldn't have to do, but now I'll give anything a go! I'll try look up the lullaby trust. I've tried the laying down to feed and it seems to work especially as I have a bad back but I struggle as I'm quite big boobed not to suffocate him! 🙈

Hi everyone

New to this thread as I’m a very new Mum of my 6 day old lovely daughter!! She was jaundice when she was born so in hospital we had to follow a strict feeding plan (BF plus top ups with whatever i could express and formula if that wasn’t quite enough until my milk came in).

Luckily it has now (with a vengeance!!) and we are home getting into the swing of things. Just wondering if anyone had any tips or similar experience, she is so so fussy when she’s awake for a feed. Basically she’s either asleep and calm, or awake to feed and gets very agitated. When I’m trying to get her to latch (which I feel is going ok but then again I have no idea!), she headbutts me and her hands are everywhere including stuffed in her mouth while she cries. She’s also got tongue tie which should be sorted next week.
Any tips? Or just normal and ride it out til we both know each other a little better?

Really appreciate it 🙂

@avocadoincident we are doing skin on skin now 😊😊 And a feed she has slept since 8pm. Amazing! Hope we haven’t peaked too early, but at least we are making up for our time together.

My DH had made 6oz of formula and luckily she refused it and I woke up in time!
@Browniee congrats. That sounds so hard. I know I get upset when baby finds it difficult to latch sometimes. Hope others can give you advice. My baby won’t let me help her latch on. I have to let her across me and she finds the nipple herself. So I’m rubbish at giving tips for position. Xx

hello

im mum to DC (2) and DC (10 days).

First time bf went ok, struggled massively with supply and combi fed throughout. But no issues with latch.

This time supply is far better and DC is only getting 2-3oz formula a day (hoping to completely faze this out).

But my issue is this:

For the first 30 secs/1min of latch its excruciatingly painful, to the extent that i have to grip the bed or something and really concentrate on not pulling away. Once the first minute or so is over it is fine. I know there is usually a little discomfort at first latch but this is way more than a little discomfort.

As far as I can see the latch is ok. iv followed all advice from midwife, breastfeeding advisor and looked at videos on line.....

can anyone help, i dread every latch and its beginning to get me down x

As soon as I started to use Lanolin on my nipples that pain went away/ went to a few seconds so not sure if it’s the latch or the nipple ( I’m no expert). It’s so horrible though u start to dread the next feed!! Hope it gets better for you @Lilsquish

thanks @creas35, il give it a shot.

although my nipples are totally fine other than initial latch. it feels like she is going to bite right through them.

:-(

@Browniee congratulations on your little one and glad you've found us here.
Remember your baby is as new to this as you. When she's agitated she's just communicating hunger or a different need. Things get easier and calmer and more relaxed as everyone learns what life is all about.

@Lilsquish I totally feel your pain and anguish. I had exactly this and I started to get so anxious when I knew a feed was coming (which let's face it a feed is always coming). But all I can say is that it got easier on its own. A forceful let down seems to just go away once your milk calms down and feeding becomes more established.

I agree with pp, lanolin was amazing just as a little barrier. But also how about trying a warm flannel to warm the breast up. Or gentle massage of the breast to prepare it for the feed. In a matter of days this will be over and you can do this. In the meantime LOTS AND LOTS of rest and skin to skin time should not be underestimated. It's a very powerful tool in solving any bf problems.

@BeHereNowx32 sounds like you've cracked it, what a mummy superhero!!! Everyday gets easier.
Enjoy your skin to skin time today. X

Lilsquish has baby been check for tongue tie?

Lilsquish

I had that pain with both my babies but it did get easier after two weeks, although it was a few weeks more before it got more bearable. Check for tongue tie to be sure but if none, then try to wait it out, it should get better. And lots and lots of lanolin!!

Hello everyone, still breastfeeding my 15 month old and breastfed my daughter for 14 months. DS loves to comfort feed all the time but he's so wriggly too that it makes me miss the newborn days when they're usually so nice and still and just feed instead of pulling and twisting like a puppy!

@avocadoincident aw thanks. You’re very wise when it comes to breastfeeding!
Btw, my mum keeps buying formula. We have 3 tins of the stuff. Haha x

@BeHereNowx32

Well I've been through all of what you are going through. I've got an older child and a 1 year old. I had pressure to give up bf'ing the first time round and the minute I had I regretted it and I thought there was no going back. That first night of bottle feeding was the worst I've ever had. Such a faff and all the baby wanted was to snuggle into by breasts but they were useless to her then. An awful awful feeling. But I'm older and wiser now (and still learning with this new baby).

How about returning the milk to your mum if you keep accepting it she'll keep buying it and it's very existence in your house undermines your choices and decisions. Like you said your back is turned and someone makes up a bottle. You could donate it to a food bank and then tell your mum that. She'll soon stop buying this sub standard product when you have the gold standard milk flowing from your own body!

My friend told me a good way of helping family understand the her breastfeeding decision....these are her words:

"It is hard, I do find it really demanding but I've made this decision as it's what is best for my baby and I'm really determined to make it work. I appreciate you're trying to help but what would be most helpful for me would be.... ( e.g. taking some laundry to do for me, cooking a meal I can pop in the microwave etc.)"

Be firm. You are a child in your parents eyes but now your baby changes those dynamics. You are the boss of this baby and grandparents need to adjust to that hierarchy

So after our weight check appointment it turns out he had put on a little weight but they have found he has tongue tie! Which obviously makes sense now and won't be helping his wind/ feeding situation!

Aha JLB7! That explains a lot so.

@JLB7 what a shame. Hopefully once that’s sorted, feeding will improve.

Is everyone else drinking loads and loads of water? I’m struggling and keep getting a urine infection. Wonder if I should be drinking extra? X

I used to always have to drink loads in the early weeks. Lots of water & lots of tea! Dd2 is 6 months now and I dont feel like I need to drink extra any more.

@BeHereNowx32 I can't seem to drink enough! Always seem to be thirsty even though I drink gallons a day!

Hopefully like you say once we get tongue tie sorted we can get established well again 🤞🏼

@JLB7 it's a shame but wonderful they've found it and it can be easily sorted. I'm sure you'll be worried but I think there are others on this thread that have been through the same thing. X

In the early weeks I made sure I had a bottle of water with me at all times and drank the whole bottle each feed. At night I took 3 bottles up to bed with me so I could drink during the night feeds without having to go down to the kitchen.

@Natsku Oh wow. I’m no where near that. Lucky if I have a bottle or 2 in a day! Xx

BeHereNowx32 Having a bottle with you at all times makes a big difference as then you're more likely to drink, especially if its a nice insulated one that keeps the water nice and cold. I also kept a flask of tea near me during the mornings so I could actually drink hot tea!