Breastfeeding help, anyone? :(

[xXHopeXx]

Hi all!

I posted this in the BF'ing chatter thread, but thought I'd ask here in the general forum too in hopes to get more replies and advice!!

My DD is only 1.5 weeks old, and from the beginning we've had troubles feeding, shed attach, have a couple sucks, arch back, scream, then try again and the process goes on and on in a vicious circle.
Anyway, the midwives suggested that maybe I had a very strong let down, (of which im still not sure, but it wouldnt surprise me) and suggested we try the nipple shield. So we did, as we were resorting to feeding via syringe and even then shed scream and scream and turn bright red. And it worked a treat!! She feeds awesomely with it and has put on 200g in a week and only lost 20g from her birth weight! so we are naturally very pleased with that! inkcheer:

However, recently, as in the past couple days, she's started acting funny with her feeds again? I can now only feed her lying down, whereas before I used to have her in the football hold sitting up usually, but was fairly lax with whatever, and shed sleep pretty well too, and finish eating within about 45mins.

Now she takes AAGES to feed at just about every feed, (sometimes upto 2hrs! Is that normal?!) and usually now around 1-1.5hrs! And she occasionally pulls off and has a cry for about 2secs and jumps back on and sucks a couple seconds and does the same thing again! It's getting very tiring! Occasionally shell surprise me and do a fairly quick feed (around 45mins) and sleep really well for ages, which is what she always used to be like!
And then with sleeping shes now usually fairly unsettled! She stirs alot and won't sleep in her bassinett when she usually prefers it to sleeping with us! (we want to cosleep, so it's not a big deal her being with us, just unlike her is all!)
Pretty much every time I pick her up to put her in, shell wake and be hungry again! Even if I just finished feeding her! Either that or I'll just have her in the bassinet and same story! I dont know what to do!?

Just thought if anyone could give suggestions I'd be so so grateful, I'm getting so tired and frustrated as I know she's not starving!

Thanks girls

Xxxoxxx


Oh, it might also help to note that I am currently on Keflex AB's ATM, for a suspected UTI or slight infection of the stitches from birth as I had an anterior Labial tear... If that may have anything to do with it??

It's so hard to describe what she's doing and remember it all without people seeing it

[Ginger]

Hey Hun have you called the aba helpline as it sounds like you might need to talk to someone

[Lily Dust]

Hope, firstly huge congrats on your precious little gir! Secondly gosh how hard can this breastfeeding caper be!!! Im no expert and obviously others will be able to offer more advice but the constant feeding may very well be that your little one is starting a growth spurt. I thought it was generally around 3 weeks but she could be trying to increase your milk supply reading for those little bones to grow before your eyes.

At that age DD used to do the same bad attachment and arching her back when she got over tired, you have said she is more restless, so could that perhaps be an issue there? If she is happiest feeding lying down perhaps you do have a forceful let down which could almost make her choke, so going against gravity would alleviate that issue iykwim.

Loooooong feeds and frequent feeds are very common in the early days as tiny babies can be slow little things.

ow many wet/ dirty nappies is she having a day. That will be a great indicator of whether she is getting enough milk. I cant help with the antibiotics but I hope you are healing fast, tearing just plain sucks

Im sorry I dont have more to offer but do call the ABA, if you feel up to it. You're doing great, it really does get easier, hun

[starangelk]

My DD used to feed for a really long time in the early days too - it was as if she just liked hanging around on the boob. I would re-check your attachment, maybe see a lactation consultant if you can arrange it?

Hugs for you, you are doing a great great job! Congratulations on your new bubba.

[xXHopeXx]

Lily dust - she has at least a wet nappy when we go to feed her which can vary between every 2-4hrs, and nearly always a dirty one too, but will sometimes skip out on it for a feed or two.
It's like an orange colour ATM?

Starangel - when she feeds there's no pain though (unless she bites down half asleep, which only happens once in a blue moon)
However she does fall Asleep very quick despite positions and trying to keep her awake?

My midwives have said everything seems all normal in the amount she's feeding and how many times, but i guess I just wish shed slow down a little!
I guess also being paranoid cuz this is my first

I'll ask my doula tomorrow as she's coming around, she's a trainee ABA consultant, so FX I can get some help there.

Just looking for some reassurance this stage does end, or even if theres something obvious I could change

[xXHopeXx]

Oh I should also mention we are still using the nipple shields too if that changes anything?

[Lily Dust]

Honey, it does end, it really really does! Your Doula/ ABA Consultant should be a wealth of knowledge about all things booby All the wet and dirty nappies sound perfect from here and gosh it seems a life time ago but Im pretty sure DD had like yellowish- orange poo at that stage too. At such a young age they do tire out so quickly so maybe detach after half hour and a bit of a burp and attempt a wake up then back on for more???

No need to be paranoid, thats what everyone is here for, to answer any questions, give advice, ideas and just big old

[~Minny~]

Its definately normal hun, the first 12 weeks are the hardest and then it all just falls into place

As for the feeding, have you trying reclining back in a chair to feed if you dont want to lie down all the time to feed, this should help if you do have a strong let down.

[MantaRay]

How are things today hun? I posted in the breastfeeding chatter thread.

[xXHopeXx]

Thanks mantaray, I posted in the other thread, but here is a copy of one of the posts

One thing that can help fast flow is to express a bit before feeding. If your DD arches and pulls off soon into the feed then this might help. Some feeding positions also help like lying on your back or in a reclined position.

I *somehow* managed to feed her lying on my back the other day, dont know how I did it? I have tried since but since I have big boobs (around an 18F) it makes things ALOT harder! I don't know how to get her into that position and have her and me be comofortable!

Also, I spoke to the ABA line and our doula this morn, and the ABA line suggested that maybe she's comfort sucking and once she's finished try wrapping her or massaging her or something and cuddle her to comfort her seeing as shed be happy to suck 24/7.
And our doula came when i was just starting to feed and saw that she has a very strong suck, and that perhaps she is emptying the breast alot quicker than what I think and to try swapping sides after her sucks have slowed down from the initial quick sucking during let down.

This seems to have worked a treat during the day, but she is still whinging and crying at the beginning of the feed, but settles down eventually and feeds, so now she is only feeding for about an hour again, and if I can stop her whinging at the beginning, it'll be quicker again!

Now to just hope that she will at least continue this through the night and not revert!


All the other ladies that have answered too, thankyou so so much, I cant see all the replies as I'm on my phone ATM, but they were read and tried and appreciated last night

Thankyou xxx

[MantaRay]

That sounds like great progress hun. I hope things continue improving

I found that it was easiest to feed on my back if I attached sitting up first and then lay back. Although easier still would be to have someone there with you to help with the positioning.

You are doing so well hun.

[Loula]

Lots of hugs.

As pp says this can be normal. But when you mentioned the antibiotics I first thought of thrush! Have you checked her mouth and got the doula or dr to check your nipples? Are you cleaning the shield well between feeds? If it is thrush then you might need to get more shields.

I was on a shield for 4 weeks and it was a god send but I would try to wean her off it as it Canberra a pain long term iykwim?

I hope she settles soon.


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[xXHopeXx]

Loula what does thrush look like on the nipples and in bubs mouth?

[Arcadia]

Thrush looks like white spots on bubs tongue/inside cheek. It is usually very painful for mum though, so I wouldnt be worried about it, unless you're in pain?

Fussing at the start of feeds is very common, and some women express a bit until they get a let down, and sometimes even until the squirty stage is lessened and then put bub on...it just means bub isn't working as hard for the milk, nor choking on the let down. I tried a lot with dd due to similar issues, but found time the best cure- her mouth got bigger, attachment better and her management of the flow improved.

Cosleeping is the best thing for your milk supply and if it leads to more sleep, enjoy! We still cosleep and love it.

Feeding every hour or so is normal too! Tiring but normal. Your breasts and your baby have a relationship that doesn't really include you...just try and go with it and trust your body and your baby. Feeding lying down should Jean you can doze and rest too... Good luck!

[Loula]

I'm by no means an expert. From what I have seen in others with thrush on nipples they experience shooting pains at times, they find that buns is often on and off alot during the feed and baby has a white coating on their tongue. Hope that helps


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[xXHopeXx]

She hasn't got anything on her tongue/mouth, however if I started getting thrush, would she because I'm using a nipple shield?

I know my boobs are sometimes sore, not so much when I'm feeding, but randomly, and it sorta feels like a sharp pain? It almost feels like my nipple is trying to constrict really quickly, and it hurts as a result, ITMS? very hard to explain.. and they feel itchy occasionally when I'm feeding, but not on the nipple, around the boob, ITMS?

The nipples look normal though? They're not white or anything? maybe coincidence?