How much is too much? I understand to some extent it's important to help bring your milk in but should I control it at all to help prevent blisters / cracks? Meeting with an LC tomorrow but would like to know what you wise ladies belief.
ooooo congratulations! I missed the BA thread! I have my own Mum here atm waiting (STILL) for my man to arrive.
Anyway to your question. If there is no pain or damage being caused by the comfort sucking, let him. Just watch he isn't slipping off as that's when damage will be happening. Is he actually having a decent feed before settling into comfort?
Sorry im not really sure how much is too much but i do know that my lil man still comfort sucks...usually only at the bedtime feed but yeah i dont know the answer i thought it was all normal, interested to see what advice more experienced mummies have to offer.
I've had the midwives confirm that the shape of my nipples after a feed is good, as I wasn't sure if the discomfort was due to sensitive nipples and starting to feed or wrong attachment. But just now when placing him on my dreaded left it was rather painful.
I believe he gets a good source of colostrum at the start of each breast but he doesn't always get both at the same time. I can express it at the start and he has a good rhythm.
Like tellytubby, my DD breastfed for something rediculous like 6 hours after birth too. My midwife in hospital actually suggested I get her a dummy, which I did and sucessfully BF her until she self weaned at 11 months. She still loves her dummy though ;-)
If you feel your bub is getting enough colostrum and you are experiencing alot of discomfort, maybe you can take him off the boob after half an hour or so.
Congratulations on your new arrival Danielle. It sounds like things are going really well already. Sucking is important but pain is not good. Maybe you could try some different positions first to see if they help, and if not, maybe put a time limit on his sucking to give your nipples some rest. Many mums find that leaning back in a reclined position and placing baby on their chest allowing them to find a position that works can be more comfortable. I've linked to a couple of clips that might give you some ideas. I hope it settles down hun.
MantaRay – Thank you so much, I had forgotten about these kind of attachments. Do you know if they would still be suitable with a flexible tongue tie? Sometimes when he goes to attach his tongue isn’t down and he can’t take as much nipple in his mouth. When I attach him I release him and then re-attach but if he was doing it himself would there be more cause for damage?
Lactation consultant came this morning, and he is tongue tied but it’s flexible meaning it’s not affecting him drawing the milk out. She is going to drop off more information and gave me the details of two GP’s in Brisbane who I can go to to see if it requires snipping. We are going to be trying out the football hold to remove the pressure on the newly formed blood blisters (which I’ve put the LOVELY rite aid hydrogel breast pads on…. BLISS)
She also said that the shape that he was making of my nipple in the cradle position was not good (the midwife said it was fine yesterday) and that it showed he wasn’t taking it deep enough into his mouth, which is another reason we are trying the different position.
She said that his sucking / swallowing was excellent and that he is definitely getting something as he has only lost 225 grams (4135 born – 3910 day 3) So so far so good… and she’ll be back tomorrow to see how things are going and help out if my milk has come in.
Danielle, some babies with tongue-ties do much better in those positions. I never tried with my tongue-tied DS as I didn't know about those positions then, but his was severe enough to not be able to attach at all so it probably wouldn't have helped. I'd give it a shot if you want to - you might have success.
I can also recommended having it snipped - we never looked back after having it done. There are other issues that tongue-ties can cause as well as feeding - such as speech later on and tooth decay, so it's worth looking into. The doc in Brissy that did DS's was brilliant - it was so quick and easy.
Having had one who just wanted to suck when she was born and gave me blisters, and then a second sucker who looked like he wanted to do the same, I got ruthless on the second sucker and just popped him off and snuck in the dummy if he looked like he was settling in for the duration and he was fine. And not surprisingly, I had virtually no problems with blisters/cracks with him.
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Newborn and comfort sucking
Just make sure he is attached properly, and apply lansinoh between feeds
it was rather painful.
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