A brief run down on my BF'ing experience... DD1 was 7 weeks early, too small to latch on, I had to express for a long time, I had a low supply even with a high dose of Motilium, we used shields until about 10 weeks, when she then was losing weight and I got Mastitis, ended up topping her up with F. At 5 1/2 months she finally learnt to BF without causing me pain. Stopped F top ups at 6 1/2 months I weaned off the Motilium starting at 12 months - very slowing and by 15 1/2 months she weaned/no milk left.
This time I was desparate to do it differently and do it my way.
DD2 was born via Csec, I held her for a short while, prior to her being taken to SCN for O2 and in an isolette for a few days to help maintain her temps. I had spoken with her Paed and my MW beforehand and went through what I wanted to achieve, as little intervention as necessary, no NGT, no IV etc.
My MW organised for her to be brought into my room in the isolette with all the monitors and O2 when I had settled back in from recovery, we then attempted our first BF, my MW then had to go, and another came in with a bottle of F and said that if she didn't suck she would have to have the 20ml of F and placed it on top of the isolette (hmmm talk about threatening!). Anyway finally the MW left, I was begging and pleading with her to suck and within minutes of the MW leaving us alone DD2 started to suck, she then sucked beautifully for a good 10 minutes, it was enough for her to avoid the F. I had colustrum (didn't have it with DD1 even though it was a VB), we then went through the same battle with the MW's for the next 24 hours. We got through them with DD2 losing weight (completely normal) only just holding above the 10% line. She fed well for 2 days, putting on 30 and 40 grams, then she lost the weight again, once again threatened with an NGT by the MW's (mine was off for four days ), I refused, her Paed said no, he said they should throw away the scales and look at the baby and mother. We were both fine
I started Motilium on Day 3 so we were a head of the 8 ball in relation to supply, I didn't want to go through what I did with DD1.
My milk came in and we hit problems, she could no longer attach properly, she cause shocking damamge to both nipples, fissues on both, the looked as though they were being ripped off at the base of the nipple (going half way around each nipple), along with being cracked and bleeding.
I would then express for 5 min at the most prior to feeds to try and help her attach, it was too painful and she just couldn't get on, so I asked for a nipple shield. This enabled us to feed, I expressed to relieve the engorgement.
We came home after 7 days and no weight gain, but her Paed was happy as I had done it before and he said we just needed more time.
The whole time we have been demand feeding, she has been demanding mostly about 3 hourly, sometimes 2 1/2hr and others out to 4 or so hours.
She was having both sides, then went to one side a feed. With the shield she has been gulping a lot, almost to the point of choking on the milk. Stopping and coughing and spluttering. Then when my nipples had healed and we were going to the 2 or 3rd attachment I would just offer naked boob and she would feed beautifully and pain free. She gained 290 grams over the week so definetely getting plenty of milk.
When she has had the naked boob she doesn't gulp as much, seems to be more efficient and not do as much comfort sucking, so for the last two feeds I have been trying feeding without the shield from the start of the feed because I know she can do it.
But after these feeds my nipples are stinging, it isn't pain free like it has been, I am basically holding the breast tissue up to her mouth to get in as much as possible, they are coming out looking pretty much the same as going in, so they aren't getting visually damaged. And she is draining them a lot better, because they are feeling much softer after feeds and I had a big lump on the RHS for the last two days, that she wasn't able to shift completely with changing position or with massage. So there are positives there as well.
So should I continue without the shield and just give her a few days to get it right, or go back to using the shield for the first attachment ot two and give her a few more weeks to grow?
I have also noticed *Warning TMI* that when she does feed without the shield that it is causing more loss, so she must be generating better uterine contractions....
Hun, I am not sure what advice to give... maybe someone can suggest something to help your nipples. But I have to tell you.. you are amazing! You are doing such a great job hun, really. What lovely weight gains she has had! I think in general terms they say without sheild can be better - and it is only a short term fix but not sure if this still applies if you are getting sore plus bubs is not technically FT yet?
Just a thought ... could it be a bit of thrush coming along. I had it and didn't realise what it was and I thought DS wasn't attaching properly and it ended up being thrush. I didn't even know till my breast was getting 'stabbing' like pain. Yes, I remember now, I had really sensative, red nipples. Maybe this could be it. I used nilstat on the nipple and DS toungue to get rid of it...it is sticky but very effective. Not sure if it would be different cause your darling is a little younger than when we had it.
I hope you get some answers soon, Keep up the amazing work!
Rach xx
How painful is it hon? I know BFing was a little painful esp at the start of a feed for abou the first four-six weeks. Once she was latched on ok it was better. It might be normal if she is not causing damage and something that will settle down soon. Otherwise can you start with the shields and then remove them during the feed. The spluttering is probably fast let down cause you have such a great supply! You're doing great
You don't have thrush do you? When I had thrush, it was a stinging sensation.
I think if it seems to be better for you and bub (besides the stinging) and you can put up with the pain, I would try to let her suckle the naked breast. Bubs dont generally get as much milk out when you use sheilds. Maybe it's just you bobbies getting used to the sensation of her feeding straight from them and the skin needs to toughen up a little. With DS, my nipples hurt alot when I first started to feed but it died down after a week or so.
Good luck hun, you are doing a great job!
congratulations on getting this far! It sounds painful
I think probably just the nipple. Although
I don't have experience with a nipple shield if you keep helping her she will probably take longer toadjust to just the nipple.
do what you need to do what feels right? Or better?
It's also possible that they might be sure from some previous damage before you started using the shields, and that it will ease as they heal.
If your DD is getting enough milk with the shields, there is no problem with using them, it's just easier not to. And if she's not getting enough milk with them then it's more of a problem, although some feeds with and some without could be an option. How bad is the pain?
Well done on your hard work!
I'd get checked for thrush, just in case. Maybe try what MR says and use the shields sometimes and sometimes not. It may be that once she's a little bigger she'll get the hang of it and you can ditch the shields entirely.
Sounds like things are going great! Go the shields if they are keeping everything nice and comfortable and I'm sure when she is bigger you won't need them anymore. Great to see BFing is so much easier this time as to the chucking if she is well and happy then probably nothing serious. Try a slightly shorter feed maybe she is having a bit more than she needs
We are still going with the shields and she is going great guns, I am getting a bit more concerned about the chucking, she is now doing it a lot more and larger amounts, I am just feeding her one side a feed, and even after that she is chucking, and it is a real acidy smell now, not just a bit of excess milk. I am not sure if this is just because she is 5 weeks old and getting into the "Colic" age or whether it could be a sign of reflux. She is screaming in pain before each spew, and is unsettled afterwards and is grunting quite a bit as she sleeps as well.
She has a Paed appointment next Friday, so not sure if I should try and do something about it sooner or leave it until then. I don't know a lot about reflux, or if there are any specific signs I should look for or if this is just normal, I might have to get used to smelling like acidy breast milk!!
hmmm I would check with the paed about reflux. If it is really bothering her/ you then ask your GP beforehand.
Hopefully it is just a stage/ or you can get something to sort it out quickly....
great to hear BFing is still going great!
I need some advice please....
and within minutes of the MW leaving us alone DD2 started to suck, she then sucked beautifully for a good 10 minutes, it was enough for her to avoid the F. I had colustrum (didn't have it with DD1 even though it was a VB), we then went through the same battle with the MW's for the next 24 hours. We got through them with DD2 losing weight (completely normal) only just holding above the 10% line. She fed well for 2 days, putting on 30 and 40 grams, then she lost the weight again, once again threatened with an NGT by the MW's (mine was off for four days
), I refused, her Paed said no, he said they should throw away the scales and look at the baby and mother. We were both fine
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what feels right? Or better?
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