So my milk has come in gradually over the last 2 days. Yay!
Lots of it apparently.
But I have no let down. I mean I can't feel it at all, there is NO leaking at all, and even getting anything by hand expression immediately after she pulls off (to try help heal the grazing) is fruitless. Is this normal? Had massive room crossing let down with Charlotte, even after 6+ months.... this is all just different lol
My right breast is now so full, it is like a basketball and she cannot even latch on, so I thought I would express a little off and that would be ok. The Swing I bought last week is proving thus far to be a waste of money - not sure what I am doing wrong, but it isn't working. I am getting less than an ounce of milk after expressing for 30 mins. All I am left with is a deformed, over stimulated nipple.
And sore boobs, that she can't feed from.
I am doing the warm shower, massage things, the lumps are going when she does feed and she is getting plenty when she does feed (so much actually *have* a let down - but the only thing that obviously does it is her mouth.) Even if she pulls off during a feed, there is no squirting, not even a drip...
Argh. Just so cranky today and this is just making it worse. I know it will settle down, I know the pain from the grazes will stop and she will get better with the latching. She has a really high palate which is also adding some pain, but she does feed well and does a good job draining the boob, even though the is clearly 3 times as much milk as she needs - I just want to be able to express it and store it!
Thanks for reading this dribble... feel free to offer any advice etc, especially re the expressing - I really want to be able to do it this time. TIA
Last edited by LimeSlice; February 13th, 2011 at 03:08 PM.
: sp
I'm sorry, I don't have any advice apart from what you've already tried- can you express while she's feeding?
Congrats on bubs feeding so well! You sound like you're doing an excellent job.
I'm sorry I can't be of more help but wanted to offer support
Dumb question but are you sure your milk is in already and not still 'coming in'? It sounds to me like it's only just starting, hence the basketball boobs! And your DD is only 3 days old so that sounds about right. My boobs were HUGE and so painful when my milk came in (on day 3 ) and the things that worked were icing them (ice packs, frozen peas, what ever works) and keeping DD plastered to my boob so to speak.
As for expressing, I wouldn't be expecting to get much at three days in especially given what I've suggested above. I'd give it a couple of days. With the Swing, you need to use the letdown setting first then either switch it to a full pump after your letdown or it will automatically do it within a minute or two (can't remember the exact time). Also, the standard nipple shields that come with Medela pumps are often too small for most women (according to my LC) so you may need a larger size or you could end up damaging your nipples. They sell the shields and baby stores and some chemists.
I think it will all start working for you soon hon, I just honestly think your milk is only just arriving from what you've said.
PS I didn't start leaking for a couple of weeks with DD and my let down really kicked in (ie firehose ) at about 6 weeks. I think you're expecting too much from your boobs too soon hon. Be patient
Last edited by Taurean; February 12th, 2011 at 11:37 PM.
I think the worst time is when your milk is just coming in Hun, not feeling the let down doesn't mean you're not having one. This could be totally different to last time. I would start with the basics - if the pump isn't giving you a let down and you have expressed fine before, it's probably the pump. Are all the parts together properly? Does it fit so that there is a good seal? What happens when you hand express in the shower - it sounds like you are getting milk out when you hand express. Other than that, try and relax. It's hard work getting breastfeeding established, even if it's not your first time around. If the pump isn't happening, you don't need to use one. If you are still engorged after feeds, you can hand express for now and if you want to keep the milk hand express into a container.
But feeding more often is always going to the best thing for engorgement. If Marley isn't attaching well, try Baby Led Attachment, and if that doesn't work, pay careful attention to the basics with position. Support her neck not her head, make sure she is nice and close to you, and that her head is at the right height for your nipple. Chin to breast and head tilted back on the same angle as if she was drinking from a half-full cup.
Don't forget that 1800 mum 2 mum is always there, and that if attachment just won't work that you can contact an LC to check for other issues.
Best of luck hun. I'm sure this will get easier for you once your milk is more properly in. Hang in there
No advice, but to back up the above, I too found the shields/nipple things that came with the swing to be too small for me when I pumped for P and I ended up very sore and odd-shaped. However, a bigger one was more comfortable and got more milk out.
Congrats on birthing your gorgeous little girl!! What a gorgeous name!
I was going to say something similar to Taurean..and I was a bit like this with my last baby. I think your milk sounds like it's not quite fully 'in' and I think in a few days time, you'll be be feeling those let downs more and spraying milk all over the place
I think, being so early, I'd just try and keep Marley feeding and not bother about expressing unless you just can't get over that engorgement no matter how much she's feeding. Keep it simple I reckon and let things be just how nature intended
Yep I agree with Taurean and MR. But just wanted to also say with DS I felt the let down as a tingly pr!ckly feeling but no squirting. With DD, I got (and still get) nothing, nada, zip. I don't feel a let down and I don't squirt or leak. So yep completely normal not to feel a let down. I found when I was overfull from DD going on a feeding frenzy, I'd get in a warm shower and hand express to get some milk out 'cause I was pretty crap at the pump.
I'm really pleased to hear that you have had some progress at least. Hopefully the LC clinic will bring more good news.
I'd probably be tempted to wake her. She will drain your breast better than the pump so it will probably help the engorgement settle more quickly. However if she is having good output (from today you'd be expecting at least 5 wet nappies in 24 hours and 2 or more poos, and the poo should have changed to a light green-brown colour or already be the mustard colour) and feeding well during the rest of the time, if you would prefer to pump that should be ok too.
Best of luck hun. It sounds like you have a challenge there
Expressing...with no let down...
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) and the things that worked were icing them (ice packs, frozen peas, what ever works) and keeping DD plastered to my boob so to speak. 
) at about 6 weeks. I think you're expecting too much from your boobs too soon hon. Be patient 
Hun, not feeling the let down doesn't mean you're not having one. This could be totally different to last time. I would start with the basics - if the pump isn't giving you a let down and you have expressed fine before, it's probably the pump. Are all the parts together properly? Does it fit so that there is a good seal? What happens when you hand express in the shower - it sounds like you are getting milk out when you hand express. Other than that, try and relax. It's hard work getting breastfeeding established, even if it's not your first time around. If the pump isn't happening, you don't need to use one. If you are still engorged after feeds, you can hand express for now and if you want to keep the milk hand express into a container. 
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