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With Bonjela, you'd have to make sure you cleaned your nipple well though, because I don't think it's suitable for newborns??? Ren, Barb often says that Kenacomb is good stuff :D
Sounds like things are on the improve SJ, you're doing really really well hun!!!!!!! Good luck at the clinic tomorrow, let us know how it goes :)
Thanks so much everyone. I will write down that ointment Ren.
It seems like my nipples might be healing, yay! No lipstick shapes today! So that must be helping. Maybe I've worked it out, hope so. It's not hurting the whole feed anymore, just when she latches on. And I'm not clutching my breast for dear life and sweating, lol.
One side doesn't look too good, kind of like on the side of my nipple it looks like it has a cut in it sort of???? It doesn't bleed or anything though, it looks white inside. It freaks me out like my nipples going to get pulled off, but it doesn't hurt anymore than the other side so hopefully I'm not doing any more damage. The other side still has the graze but it's healing too.
u are doing such a FANTASTIC job!!!!! just take it one feed at a time and im sure your nipples will become tougher. Mia used to pull on and off all the time. Most of the time right at the letdown so milk would go everywhere!!
ur a great mummy! hang in there!! xoxoxoxoxoox
It sounds EXACTLY like my bf experience in the first week. If you can, try and get the baby to attach away from the sore spot IYKWIM. I had a divet like that on the outside edge, so I used the football hold on that side so bub wasn't actually attaching to the sore spot.:
Good luck with your appointment in the morn. You're doing a fabulous job!
I just came across this thread. Sounds like things are on the up - you're doing a fantastic job! The early days of breastfeeding can be full of ups and downs, but many mum's find things begin to really click by 6 weeks. Don't hesitate to call ABA's 1800 MUM 2 MUM any time (24 hrs) - totally free service for all Mum's! Your local group will also be a fantastic support along your journey.
All the best :)
I didn't even think about the bonjella for under 4 months!! Sorry! Yes well Ash is 6 months so I haven't had to think about it.
What anna said, LOL! I had a very similar thing too, SJ. I even phoned the ABA because I was worried about the white stuff and whether it'd be ok for Natty to swallow it. They said it was fine - she'd be fine with it.
Good on you, mate. It sounds like you and Grace are doing really well with it :)
Thankyou girls!!
Well, went to the breastfeeding clinic this morning. Had a much more helpful LC who didn't just say it looked fine and actually found what was going wrong. I wasn't holding her close enough and getting her chin into the breast enough so she still wasn't getting enough of the bottom in. Was a much better experience feeding there!! Even the pain when she first latched on wasn't as bad. I really hope I can do the same thing by myself when she wakes up again. They had a boomerang pillow there that was helpful to hold her easier with so I picked one up on the way home too so that will help my poor sore back.
:crossfingers: the next feed goes ok!!
I use my 'rainbow' pillow still :) It's a great thing lol
Glad that you have received some help IRL, SJ. That's excellent. How often do they run the clinics? Can you go for a follow-up with the same LC? GL with keeping up on that positioning you've been shown - I am sure you guys will have this down pat in no time! :) Keep up the good work, mate.
There's a breastfeeding clinic on 3 days a week so if I have more trouble I can go back!!
Well, just did the last feed and I did it!! All by myself (well, with DH holding her hands lol). So happy! It didn't hurt! Thank God.
Forgot to say before too, they weighed her and she's obviously getting enough milk, lol. She is above her birth weight and has put on 520g in 5 days!! lol. Miss Piggy!!
WOW what an awesome weight gain :D
You're doing an awesome job, well done :clap:
Wow at that weight gain hun, that is amazing. I'm so glad that you have found the problem and are finding the feeds better now. I have a feeling that the hardest part is over for you now.
Brilliant that she's put on such a lovely amount of weight! Congratulations! And well done Grace :)
YAY! You're doing such a great job!!!! Hooray for no more ouchies!!
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 :D
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??
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.
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!
:)
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!!
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.
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 :D
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.
Well the dummy thing is totally up to you hun :)
Have you tried nipple shields? They might help, just til you heal.
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 :hug:.
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
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!
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.
Hi hun,
Sorry bout the infection:hug::hug: 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 ;)
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.
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 :)
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!
:grouphug:
You are doing so great!
It WILL get better! It takes practise. It honestly took 6 weeks for me to work it out & you are way ahead of me already!
Have you tried the lansinoh? Might be worth a shot?
SJ, you are doing great hun! But don't put too much pressure on yourself, these are very early days yet!!!! Most people take about 6 weeks to get into the swing of things, and some even take longer (and that can be regardless of how they feed their baby). Just take it a day at a time. I promise that one day things will be easier, and you'll be more comfortable with BFing.
IRT the attachment and pain thing.........is it possible that things were looking good when the LC watched you, but they're not always like that? Maybe it was one of the good feeds? If the crack doesn't heal soon I would look again at getting your positioning and attachment checked, in case there is something there that isn't immediately obvious. I would hate to think you were battling on with a crack, and pain, when it's not necessary. Do you detach Grace, and then reattach if it's too sore? Does it help if you do that, can you get her in a less painful position? Cracked nipples are certainly the result of poor attachment, but it will still be sensitive as things are healing so it's hard to know right now what exactly is going on.
Hope you're feeling better soon hun :hug:
Oh its so hard in the beginning isn't it...what with the recovery, uterine pains, lochia, fatigue and now an infection poor you!!!
I just want to reassure you, you're experience sounds EXACTLY like my BF journey its unbelievable. But by about 5-6 weeks, DD was self attaching and I could walk around the house...it DOES get easier if you keep practicing.
When you say "stingy" do your nipples look white at the tips? Does it hurt more when you're cold, like when you just get out of the shower?
You could have a mild case of vasospasm...which I had at the start too. It is when the blood flow to the nipple is constricted. It can be because of various things, but poor attachment is one of them. Now I had 'perfect' attachment and STILL had vasospasm and a divet in my left nipple (like you).
I also had the lipstick effect on the left nipple.
I realise now DD was slipping off the nipple to cope with the flow because the letdown on the left is faster. Have you tried leaning back a little at the start of a feed to slow the flow (just remember to sit foward at the end to empty the breast).
I think you have to take each feed as it comes and forget about the last one. Just concentrate on getting her on correctly each time, and re-attaching if she slips back.
Its ok to be a learner. We've all been there. I didn't leave the house for the first 3 weeks let alone bf in public!
I promise you it gets easier!!!
Don't worry Sara :hug: you are doing a great job. It takes weeks to get it right from what everyone has told me and hey look at me, i'm 4 weeks ahead of you and STILL experiencing a bit of pain when she attaches and i've been told i'm attaching 'beautifully' now. It takes time.... babies are different, nipples are different etc for everyone.
And your nipple WILL heal... you should have seen mine it was horrendously cracked and bleeding for 2 weeks and it has healed now although still cracked but healing each day and cracks don't open up as much (gosh it sounds awful well it was!!)
You are doing great :hug: i wish i'd seen my LC earlier like you did!!
Skye- I have some lansinoh but I don't know if I should use it or not. I keep hearing different things. Some ppl swear by it but then I've been told creams don't do anything and breastmilk is best?? I'm confused.
Janie- Thankyou! I've seen 3 LC's now, lol, I'm certainly taking advantage of them! And they all say attachment is perfect, even when I said it was still hurting!! This is on the left side. So I have no idea. That's the one with the crack so maybe it's just that that's hurting now. But she's not as good at that side and I have to take her off a few times and reattach b/c we don't get it right. And that is not good for the healing!! I wish I could just get it right but it is getting easier at least. I'm doing the football hold on that side every feed now and it doesn't seem to open the crack up as much so maybe it will heal better now. If it's still not looking like it's getting any better I think I'm going to go back to the breastfeeding clinic on Monday.
anna- Thankyou! Your experience gives me hope!! I'm almost 2 weeks down now!! Getting easier by the day! Thanks for those tips, I will try leaning back. Sometimes it does look like she's choking!! And she starts like wimpering when she's on there (which is so sad, but cute, lol).
Ren- Thankyou!! So, it will heal. Is it still healing when you're feeding off it?? Who would have thought something so natural would be so hard!!
Well, yesterday and today have been really good for the right nipple!! It looks normal now and she attaches really good on it! Most of the time she gets it first go!! So I don't stress out when I know the next feed is on that side, it seems to be just the other one that is the problem now! Still pain on the left side, guess it will just take time. I think I'm doing it right.
DH has just gone out to get a hair cut and it's the first time we've been left alone!! omg. So I've got her in the hug-a-bub which I hadn't used yet and looks like she loves it! She's very snug looking in there and sound asleep. Let's hope she stays that way. I don't know what I'll do if she wakes for a feed when he's out!! It's so hard trying to wrangle her by myself, lol. I need DH to hold her hands for me! I will have to wrap her I guess.
:lol: I know what you mean about the whimpering... DD does that too! It's cute but hard to listen to as I know she's getting frustrated with the milk not coming in fast enough or too fast perhaps! She also grunts sometimes like she's trying to do a poo but she's not, she's just frustrated!!! lol poor little thing.... only on my left side she does it also....
Sara you and I are soooo alike!!!! I too have good attachment now but wonder why it still kinda hurts in a way.....
if the pain is only when she gets on and only lasts a few sucks then goes, then its just your nipple stretching and you are doing it right (i think) and your nipples will just toughen up.... (i hope!!).....
I have been told by my LC to put away the Lansinoh so i did, and just use milk on your nipple. before and after the feed to lubricate it....
It does get easier week by week.... although sometimes it feels like you take one step forward and then one step back.... thats how i've often felt..... some days are good some days not so good! But we will get there!!!
I should have taken a before and after shot of my damaged nipple it was pretty bad, even the LC said it was one of the worst she'd seen :redface: :redface: and could tell the pain was a 10/10!!! and you should see it now.... its soooo much better.... they do heal :hug:
Get the LC how to show you how to get her hands out of the way when you are about to attach, its easy. i use to have trouble too and get her wrapped or i would ask Dh to help but you need to learn to do it on your own as DH won't always be there. It's easy once you know how. with the hand that holds the boob use a finger off that hand to pull her hand away quickly then quicky attach her. does that make sense?? lol sorry if it doesnt
Ren- Yeah, I don't understand why it still hurts if the attachment is good. It just must be b/c of the crack. On the right side it only hurts for like 2 seconds when she sucks it in so must be just the stretching and if it hurts for longer I take her off coz it musn't be right. But on the left it still hurts most of the time and I find it hard to tell when the attachment is wrong or if it's just hurting coz it's already sore. It looks like I'm doing it right. And most of the time the nipple is a normal shape when it comes out! I wish it would just hurry up and get better, I'm impatient! lol.
That sounds really bad Ren, where is the crack? Mine is like on the side of my nipple so it freaks me out like she's pulling it open when she sucks it in, eww...
Rather than taking her off each time it hurts for longer than a few seconds, have you tried changing her position? I find that can help rather than having to take her off as that will only frustrate her more. My LC told me this and it seems to work (sometimes).
Perhaps you need to press her closer into your body, or push her bottom in more, or press in the back of her neck kinda to ensure her chin is pushed in and nose up etc....
see if that helps.
I don't understand why but every time i attach in front of my LC it doesn't hurt but when i come home and do it, it feels different!!!! and I'm doing the exact same thing LOL
Oooh mine was cracked all over in a complete circle and inside the nipple again it is hard to explain but it was very bad... my fault for letting it go 2 weeks before calling an LC to help me. I would cry every time she attached it was just awful....but i believed it would get better every one told me it would get better and pain is normal but THAT wasnt normal.... i reckon my contractions were easier than that pain!!!! :lol: now thats saying something huh.....
You're doing WONDERFUL :hug: