Hun if you're in the Sth East subs call St John of God Berwick & ask for Christine Browns number she was my LC & she's really good. She does clinics at the Raphael Centre in Berwick & will also do house calls.
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Hun if you're in the Sth East subs call St John of God Berwick & ask for Christine Browns number she was my LC & she's really good. She does clinics at the Raphael Centre in Berwick & will also do house calls.
BellyBelly Member
Babyluv - do you know if she'll go out to the western suburbs? we live around penrith area
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Christine Brown is in Victoria, so I don't think she'll do a house call.....!
Can you express prior to feeding DD to get let down then see if she will attach (with or without nipple shields)? Sorry I don't have any other advice
BellyBelly Member
Christine Brown is based in victoria, so that's not going to help much.....
Tresillian do say that they deal with breastfeeding problems as well as other issues of early parenting - maybe call them and see if they have any suggestions.
BellyBelly Member
ah, my badi assumed sth eastern suburbs meant sydney lol. (the world doesnt revolve around sydney Gemma!)
BellyBelly Member
oh and KMN - i was actually MORE full (im pretty sure) when she had the hang of it, if not much the same as i am now.
my supply seems to have settled abit in regards to fullness, but i was never really full, and my boobs didnt go hard, they were harder, but not hard. i remember some of the midwives in hospy saying that isnt uncommon with larger breasted women.
i dont know if that reply helped? lol
Registered User
Sorry I haven't had time to read all the other posts, so forgive me if somebody else has said/asked the same thing... Are you using the nipple shield full time? If you're not I would just start using it all the time for the time being so you can get rid of the bottles and get her used to the idea that milk comes from mummies boobies.
I had lots of problems with breastfeeding due to inverted nipples and literally couldn't get DS to attach without a shield. At around the same time as you're at I just decided that if we were going to have any sort of breastfeeding relationship it would have to be with shields. Over the next couple of weeks we both got used to everything, then when he got 12 weeks I was able to gradually wean him from the shields because his mouth was that bit bigger, his suck was stronger and he had a good idea of what he was doing iykwim?
There's nothing wrong with using shields if that's what makes you able to BF hun, I know they can be a PITA but they don't necessarily have to be forever either. GL x
Registered User
Hey.. Im with baby luv. Breastfeeding was like this for me too, especially the first two weeks. My nipples had to literally change shape before he got the hang of the feeding.. and they did eventually with all the practice. Just hang in there, because it will get easier. The first two weeks are definitely the hardest, and I think it only starts to feel more natural and easy after about six weeks. People say that breastfeeding is natural for baby and its Mum that has to learn, but I really feel that my bubs had to learn how to do it, and it took time. He would pull on and off the breast all the time and was constantnyl wanting to feed for the first five weeks - I think that he was trying to build my milk supply actually, looking back at it now. Also - another reason why bubs can pull on and off is reflux. Our little boy had reflux quite bad to start, it is just getting better now. Have you had your baby checked by the GP for anything like this?.. What I found really helped us (and I think can also help with a fast let down) is reclinig myself back and laying him up across my tummy so that he wouldnt get as much milk as quick, and also lying next to him to feed which was a bit tricky to get the hang of, but really worked once we started it..
good luck, i am sure with persistence, your bubs will get it. I was discharged from hospital with my bubs being completely formula fed, and I had a really poor milk supply, bubs had reflux... and his patterns sounded very similar to your baby's. Now because there was no way I was going to resort to formula feeding and I was going to persist until we got it... my bubs is breastfeeding just fine, we are 11wks down the track.. Just dont give up, you are not being mean at all.. as they say, 'breast is best!!'... my bubs is a good example of how things can turn around.
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Sorry just read your appointment post, thats is great you've had some improvement!!! Still, reading your most recent post, your bubs still sounds a bit like our bubs who would (once he got the hang of breastfeeding) overfeed a lot because of reflux.. to soothe the burning feeling in his throat. He had silent reflux most of the time.., later it became more just chucking up after every feed, and is onyl settling now in the past couple of weeks. I found the best things that helped were baby wearing (keeping him upright to sleep on me), and keeping him upright after feeds, reclining his cot with a wedge so he was not completely flat, and the cranial osteopath..
Sorry I have not read through all the posts so not sure if you have already explored this and asked for a GP opinion on reflux.. as KMN said, you probably wouldnt need meds unless they are really distressed by it, we never ended up using meds.. there are other natural alternatives out there too if it comes to that..
Registered User
Hun, I don't have time to read all the replies, but I read your OP and then the post with a quick rundown of your story.
I really feel for you. I had lots of trouble initially, too. I felt EXACTLY like you do.
I had flat nipples, that just didn't want to stick out much. My BC midwife, after spending 5 hours a day at my house for a few days, was at her wit's end and took me to see a lactation consultant. She managed to help me. And with her advice and regular pumping, I managed to "draw out my nipples". It took a couple of weeks, but I finally got to the stage where I could breastfeed with ease. It was a combination of my nipples not being so "shy" anymore and my daughter's suck being stronger.
I have breastfed for over 3 1/2 years now (with a short interruption during the second part of my second pregnancy).
And for what it's worth, I never had those problems with the second child. So what you are doing now is paving the way for future babies, too.
If indeed you have problems with a fast letdown (I did with my second), your baby will soon get accustomed to this and probably love it. Give her a chance to grow a little.
Keep pumping. Keep trying the breast. Give yourself a break when you need one. I found that taking the pressure off for a day and just feeding EBM helped me.
And you are NOT BEING CRUEL. Breastfeeding takes practice. And yes, it can be frustrating for both of you. But you will both learn.
ABA counsellors are great. But in this case, if they can't help, find a good lactation consultant. I am sure they will be able to help.
Life Subscriber
I agree that it sounds normal hun. Some babies chuck after every feed for months (sorry to be the one to tell you!!). In an otherwise healthy baby this is not a problem - except for all the extra washing. Believe me, I know that it's a lot of work as one of mine was a happy chucker too. Sometimes holding the baby upright for 15 minutes or so after a feed can help - but it might not too.
It is great news that feeding is going so well hun. Don't just be proud of your daughter, be proud of you too. You are doing a fantastic job hun.
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