It hurts!!

[Arcadia]

YAY! You're doing such a great job!!!! Hooray for no more ouchies!!

[Janie]

Yay yay SJ! I think you're going to find things a whole lot easier from here. WOW on that weight gain, that is huge! Keep it up hun, you're obviously doing all the right things

[Heaven]

Went to see the GP today for the 1 wk checkup and she asked how feeding was going and I told her it was sore etc but getting better. Then she went into this big speech about how I can just give her formula if I want or if it's too hard bc the formulas these days are pretty good and it doesn't make a difference in the long run. Supportive!! Not what I needed to hear, I'm not giving it in after 1 week! And she was surprised she was feeding every 2-3 hrs like that was too much, that's normal isn't it??

My nipples are heaps better. The left one looks normal now, the grazes are gone. And there's no grazes on the left one anymore but it has a crack on the side. I don't know how the crack will ever get better though?? When she feeds off it it just opens it up again so it never has time to repair. It doesn't bleed or anything though. How will it get better??

[MantaRay]

It is such a shame that many GPs know very little about bfing. My own GP is brilliant and is very supportive of bfing but admits that he knows very little about it as it's not covered in any detail in their training. It's only GPs who are interested and study it as an extra, or attend ABA seminars for Health Professionals, that know much about it.

I'm sorry that your GP wasn't more supportive, but it's great that you know you are doing a fantastic job. Feeding every 2 -3 hrs is totally normal and exactly what human babies are designed to do. Formula is based on cows' milk and mother cows leave their calves for hours to go and graze, so their milk is designed to sit in their tummies for longer (and their tummies are designed differently to cater for this also). Human baby tummies are tiny and the milk is designed to be easily digested for baby to feed frequently. You and your baby are doing exactly what you are meant to do!

Don't doubt yourself hun. You are doing a great job.

ETA- I forgot to answer your question about the crack. I don't know the answer, but I suggest you call the ABA helpline and ask them. They should be able help - 1800 mum2mum - you don't have to be a member.

[~clover~]

Hunny DS was feeding every 2 hours until about a month ago!
Its completely normal!
I had a lady at the chemist say the same & offer her advice...I tried to follow it & ended up on the verge of mastitis! Keep doing what's right for you guys!

[Heaven]

Thanks guys!

Just another question. If I hand express a bit off the sore side to give to her how much would she need? I have no idea. She fed off it before but then she was just mucking around and not sucking properly which is not cool when it's trying to heal so I took her off and expressed a bit out instead for her.

And also, when is it ok to stop feeding her and try and settle her when she still wants the boob! I'm finding it hard to know when it's ok to stop. She seems to want it all the time and sometimes she's not really sucking and swallowing much just comfort sucking so I take her off b/c I want my nipples to heal and the LC told me to. But she keeps bobbing around on my chest like she wants more and crying iykwim and I feel mean like I'm starving her or something!!

[~clover~]

Do you use a dummy?
I used one for a while. DS went off it by himself after a few months. It might help with the comforting. Or just walking/rocking. Do you have a sling?

I think at this age DS probably had around 50 mls when I expressed, but I always tried for 100 JIC.
We only express fed a few times though.

[~Trish~]

Hey SJ, it sounds like you are doing a brilliant job! I am no expert, but I've B'fed two bubs and I used to feed up to 20 minutes per side and then end our feeding session (especially if they weren't really feeding any more). They definitely got enough in that time. I also used to give them a dummy when they just wanted to suck, it worked so well at settling them.

As for expressing, I have no idea how much she'll need sorry, I'm sure someone more knowledgable can help you with that one!

Big pat on the back, you're doing so well

[Heaven]

Thanks guys. I wouldn't be able to get that much without a pump anyway so I will have to keep feeding off that side. No, we don't have a dummy. The LC said don't use one b/c she will waste her energy sucking on it and not feed well or something I think??

As if I need anything more to hurt now I have some kind of infection, have all pains in my tummy etc, so got some antibiotics from the GP today.

[~clover~]

Well the dummy thing is totally up to you hun
Have you tried nipple shields? They might help, just til you heal.

[~Trish~]

I used a dummy with both my boys from a few days old and neither of them had any problems with feeding well, but you do what you feel comfortable with.

You poor love, I hope you feel better soon .

[Arcadia]

And also, when is it ok to stop feeding her and try and settle her when she still wants the boob! I'm finding it hard to know when it's ok to stop.

I only now know when to stop...it takes quite a while to get the hang of their sucking styles. It also takes them a while to learn how to suck without gulping heaps of milk. Now I can tell when DD is comfort sucking because she pulls onto the end of my niplle and does "fairy sucks" (about 5 half sucks and a little swallow). In the early days though, I was just concentrating on getting her ONTO the boob without wondering when to take her off...

To be honest, I fed DD ALL day and all night for the first three weeks. Basically every 1.5 hrs in the day and 2.5 hrs overnight. I know I was overfeeding her at times because she would spew (a lot) and her weight gain is MASSIVE, but that's really all tiny babies do (as well as sleep we hope).

Seriously...don't think about how much you're feeding her...just offer her the boob whenever she seems interested. After three weeks, when feeding is 'established' you can think about it a bit more. For the moment, put those feet up and enjoy having a baby attached to you...

HTH

[Visitor8]

I think they reccomend not giving a dummy in the beginning so they dont get confused. Also it can end up with bubs sucking on a dummy when they are actually hungry, thus effecting your supply. Having said that I used one from day 2!
I was told to stop feeding off the badly cracked side for one day, and letting it hang out while I was at home to help heal it. Then I was told not to so I don't know. I just didn't feed off that side for 24 hours. I was further in though, week 2, so i don't know if that would effect your supply. Maybe call the ABA.
And pft to your doctor!

[MantaRay]

Hun, your LC has given you good advice about the dummy. If you can avoid using one at this stage it is better. Babies get the majority of milk in the first 20 mins. So if she doesn't seem to be drinking much after 20 minutes then you can remove her and either swap sides or finish the feed.

[Indadhanu]

Hi hun,

Sorry bout the infection hope that clears up soon xx

WRT feeding every 2-3 hours, thats completely normal and Jazz did it up until 4-5ish months. It's just because breastmilk is quicker to digest than formula so bubs need to feed more often.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and the unsupportive GP. Mine has always been great, especially through mastitis, and I know how much that support meant to me throughout that time. I would suggest tring to find one who is pro-bfing, it can make ALL the difference!

I'm not exactly sure about the crack so I defiantely think contacting the ABA is a great idea. Maybe you could try a nipple shield while it heals? I've neever used one though so don't know how they work...?

I fed to settle. Well, its cheaper an more effective than a dummy LOL that was my opinion, but I can see that would be unappealing. Jazz wouldn't take a dummy anyway, which I guess is a blessing, spat it out from day one so i had to find a different idea. Rocking, walking, and a sling were all really impractical at one week post c/s, I barely had the energy to carry her while walking, let alone pace the floors rocking with her, so I just fed.
I kind of think bubs don't really know what they want in the first few weeks. I mean, they've never been 'hungry' have they? They used to have constant food supply, and now they don't. They've never been uncomfortable in a nappy, or cold, or overstimulated. This world is new and bright and scary to a newborn! So I just fed her, I figured it was comforting, she might be hungry who knows! She might just need cuddles because everything is just too weird and new. Either way most of the time it worked.

Hope the crack heals for you quickly hun. I've said it a million times but you have Lansinoh right

[Kmn]

The other option if she's pfaffing around is to take her off and give her a cuddle and a walk and whatever keeps her just unhappy as opposed to screaming blue murder and then give her another feed maybe half an hour or an hour later. Also - have you tried giving her your little finger to suck - sometimes that would calm down my ds when he was tiny.

[Snacks]

Aw, SJ I am so sorry you are sick! That is so not cool right now
If you like, you could try a different hold for the nipple that is cracked. The football-hold may not open up the crack as much. As long as it's not too painful, I'd say just keep on with it. It will heal up - give it some air and some sunlight (not too much sun - don't get burnt!) and that will keep it dry between feeds and give it the chance to heal. If it stays too wet (like any wound) it isn't likely to get better as quickly, KWIM?
2-3 hours sounds great to me.
IRT how you know when to stop feeding, this was a big deal for me too. The fact is, it is up to you. No one can tell you when she's done, you just make the call. If you want to feed her round the clock, go for it. If you want to stop after 20 minutes, then stop and settle her a different way. It's up to you, and neither way is wrong.
Good on you, SJ. You're amazing

[Heaven]

Thanks so much girls. Bloody hormones. I just get all teary reading your posts, lol.
Went to see the MCHN today who is also a LC and got her to watch another feed to check it was right b/c it's still feeling stingy for me sometimes on the left side and sometimes even when it doesn't hurt the nipple doesn't look the right shape when she comes off so thought something was wrong again. Although my nipples are heaps better except for the one crack on the left.
She showed me how to do the football hold so that I can do that and maybe it will help with the crack. Not sure if it's helping or not, it still seems to open up after But anyway she said my technique was perfect and attachment was perfect. So I have no idea what it wrong sometimes when it hurts, maybe it's just the crack hurting, but it feels stingy all over!! I am just a mystery. She just told me that it will get better/easier. So maybe I just have to wait for my nipples to toughen up. Hurry up!! I would like to enjoy breastfeeding and be able to go out in public sometime!! Oh well, every day is getting closer to when I can hey!!
Still feeling sick b/c of the infection but hopefully when that clears up I will feel a whole lot better and everything else won't seem so hard!