painful b/fing told 2 see paed speech pathologist

[MantaRay]

Lilli, I am sorry to hear that you are still having problems. It must be upsetting for you

I agree with Marcellus hun, an LC can diagnose those things that a speechie might pick up, but an LC can also give you specialised help with breastfeeding which a speechie can't.

If you go to the ALCA website NSW LC list - Australian Lactation Consultants Association Ltd - ALCA - New South Wales you should hopefully be able to find a really good one that is near you. All the best hun

[Lilli]

Thank you so much for your words of encourgament - this is really distressing for me coz it's been so long and I'm worried that there simply isn't a solution.

I wouldn't mind seeing a LC and I found one that does home vistis from the link you provided - thank you for that. The reason I am hesitating is that I am scared that she will help me during the visit and I will achieve a good attachment but when she goes, I'll have the same problem (as this is what happens at the clinic - they help me attach him to the breast without pain but I can't do it consistently for ALL subsequent feeds at home).

What I might do is see what this speech pathologist says and then seek the advice of the LC. You are right in saying that the speech pathologist wont be able to help with the actual b/feeding but maybe they can tell me why the attachment is so wrong - ie is there are physical reason behind it?

PS I have used football hold - it's hit n miss - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I hope that this isn't a problem that is just unresolvable (are all b/feeding problems resolvable?)- I am happy to persevere if I know there is an end in sight - ie he'll grow out of it in a couple of months etc - but maybe it's just bad luck and that's the way it'll always be...

[onthefly]

The LC should help you to get it right yourself, rather than doing it for you (if that makes sense). Sometimes you have to see a few before you get the one with the right approach for you. Me, I saw 3 before one was able to help me through.

I would still recommend an LC over a speechie - she can also diagnose physical problems with your baby, as well as other specific breastfeeding issues. And if she comes to you she should be able to watch and trouble shoot for at least a couple of feeds, rather than helping your baby on for one and sending you on your way. I think the fact that you can feed comfortably on one side suggests that this really should be fixable - and yes, I think most problems are resolvable, the trick is getting the right advice from the right person.

How old is your baby now? It took us 11 weeks to get to painfree feeding. Hope you can figure things out soon

[Lilli]

ok, I'll take heart that it took you 11 weeks Marcellus - my DS is 8 weeks - I feel like I'm the only one still experiencing b/feeding pain - all the other mums at the clinic are fine. I'll try to hold out til the 12 week mark and I hope I have a solution by then.

I think I will consult a LC as well as getting checked out by the speech pathologist - hopefully these two specialists can help.

Thank you for your advice!!

[onthefly]

Hey, there's no harm in getting a second (third, fourth) opinion! I'm just personally a bit wary of getting advice relating to breastfeeding from anyone but an LC.
I really do hope you can figure this out soon! It is very frustrating and upsetting - and very isolating also, when you feel you're the only one like this. The truth is many mothers struggle in the early months, we just don't talk about it enough i think.
All the best~~