hun. You did one fabulous bf. Is the LC coming back? And just one point of encouragement, if things are going to go badly, it's going to be in the evening, when you're not as settled and everything is a bit more rushed and tense. My bf baby used to have about four feeds in four hours before 9pm. One bf at a time, hun. You're not unco, just like everyone else it's tougher at the end of the day. For your DD too.
Thanks Jennifer - I'm feeling very sorry for myself as you can tell. I just feel like an idiot because the LC explained attachment to me several times, I asked lots of questions, thought I knew what to do (after she showed me). Then as soon as she'd gone and I'd got DD in my arms on my own, it's like I'd forgotten everything she'd said and we were back to square one.
She's coming back on Thursday which is great. I guess I'm just feeling really sad that there's no earthly reason why we can't breastfeed - it's not DD's 'fault', there's no physical issues, it's just me who can't get the hang of it. I've been shown so many times how to do this and I just can't get to grips with it.
I guess it's not helping that the LC's way of attaching is different to the hospital's way so maybe that's confusing me. I'm remembering half of what the hospital showed and half of what she showed and confusing myself.
Aww no, you have to start somewhere! It takes time to learn this and get the hang of it, it really, really does! (and sometimes you have to unlearn a bit first, too)
You've had a good feed. So you know you can do it. Concentrate on those times when your DD is more settled - the evenings are often a shocker, even when you've got the hang of it.
You can do this, you just need to give it some time. Does she do phone consults? Perhaps you coud give her a call in the morning for some reminders. Or try the ABA helpline.
OK, now I'm a bit more together ... I think this is what's confusing me. I think the hospital taught me to basically use my fingers to shove the nipple into DD's mouth, making sure it was over the tongue.
The LC was doing something different and I'm forgetting what order to do stuff in. She was basically saying position DD so that her mouth is in line with the nipple, then press her chin into the edge of the areola (spelling?), wait for a wide mouth and then basically flip her head so that it covers the nipple.
So less emphasis on holding the nipple and I guess a bring baby to breast approach.
So I think I'm all fingers and thumbs because I've been used to concentrating on holding my nipple and trying to get it into DD's mouth and now I'm learning something new but old habits (which weren't working) die hard.
Your LC's way sounds right to me, shouldn't be holding your nipples at all I think. You might need to hold the breast a bit if you're large breasted particularly, to support it, but chin to breast, just below the areola (I do'nt know spelling either) and nose lined up with nipple is how I learnt it. You want to be moving baby, NOT moving breast. And make sure she's tucked in nice and close to you, chest to chest, with her head free to move.
Have you tried baby-led attachment at all? DD is so young that might work really well if you just lean back a bit and place her on your bare chest and let her figure it out.
Sounds like you may have a more relaxed way to go forward. Nothing wrong with just putting her to the breast whenever you would like. Chances are now she's a bit bigger she finds suckling easier and her mouth is a better fit. GL!
Thanks guys - I think I'll just see how we go at attachment for the next few days. If it's as easy as it seems to be at the moment (although she's only attaching and sucking not actually feeding because there's not much milk there obviously) then I will give the LC a call and go get some motilium. Whole different ball game if attachment is manageable and I'm not trying to wrestle a small mouth on to a big nipple. Much less stressful. Have already tried three times today already when before I'd have to seriously psych myself up before each attempt.
Am I the only one gobsmacked that I still have milk five weeks after last BF attempt and having not expressed a drop since either? And that DD would go on also after five weeks with no BFs?
not at all! demand and supply! As you start dropping FF and EBM feeds and she becomes more dependant on just you, she'll build your supply right up
Glad you're seeing an LC. I hope everything works out for you! x xx
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hun. You did one fabulous bf. Is the LC coming back? And just one point of encouragement, if things are going to go badly, it's going to be in the evening, when you're not as settled and everything is a bit more rushed and tense. My bf baby used to have about four feeds in four hours before 9pm. One bf at a time, hun. You're not unco, just like everyone else it's tougher at the end of the day. For your DD too.
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