So we're on the boob but...

[Pretty Butterfly]

Jodie - I'll give that a go - thanks. We don't usually have much success with any hold other than the football hold - too much boob for the poor thing.. LOL

Hehehe, just reverse it!!!

I also had too much boob, and just couldn't get all the proper areola and some breast in.... If you pinch it together a bit, and use it to push the mouth down, you can quickly get the pinched up bit in the mouth just before bub clamps shut!! Well, thats the plan anyway, may not work for some, but does for others...

Oh, and again, SO SO proud girl!!!!

[thepixie]

I won't add to all the sterling advice you've already received, just wanted to let you know the cheer squad is shaking their pom poms in the background here!

Go Mel!!! I am just rapt with how well you're doing - bloody brilliant woman!!

[~clover~]

You've come a long way already! Pat yourself on the back hun x

[Arimeh]

Thanks guys

She's still sleeping.........

She usually has a huge sleep during the day, and I thought it was because of the formula she was getting - but obviously she still continues it with booby juice!!!

OOh I hear a little murmur from the loungeroom.... gotta go!

[Inanna]

Mel you are doing beautifully. I had all these issues too. The mouth opening especially with Immy as she was so tiny & I had big breasts too... Remember to take Eden to the breast not the breast to Eden. And hold your breast pinching down on the nipple so it fits in & bring her quickly to the breast. hold your breast but let go of the pinching whilst she feeds...

It's hard to describe when I am not there. Bigger breasts are difficult to manage with BF in those first weeks sometimes. But you are doing an ace job my love.

Your midwife should be able to help you??? Can she come out to you? Surely there would be a LC in the whole of Lonny??? A LC can be really helpful.

[Oorki Galoorki]

Yay! Go milky Mumma!

love to you
xoxo

[Heaven]

Wow Mel. I'm so proud of you. Your issues seem very common (unfortunately!!). I agree with seeing an LC so they can help get attachment right. Cracked nipples are not fun at all.

To try and get her to open her mouth I used to squeeze a bit of milk out so she could smell it then brush my nipple down her nose and top lip until she opened up. Have you googled pics of what correct attachment should look like and where to have your hands etc? I found that really helped me. I also wasn't holding DD close enough. I had to hold her a lot tighter than I thought, then dig her chin in so her chin was the first part to touch the breast then when she opened her mouth slip the nipple in pointing to the roof of her mouth.

Don't know if any of that was useful but you're doing awesomely!! And it really does get easier and easier as they grow.

[MantaRay]

Mel, you might find that she attaches better if you don't have your hand behind her head. If you able to move it down to her neck instead that might help. Mums often find that having their hand on the baby's head pushes the wrong part of the mouth to the breast first. Hopefully you might see a difference just from that.

[~clover~]

How's it going?? Hoping it has been better for you both?

[Arimeh]

MR - I thought with the football hold you do hold the back of bub's head? Thats what I got from the demo I saw on Youtube? (thank god for youtube ay?)

Ahh now I'm getting all confused.. LOL

She slept for ages today - and didn't feed for something ridiculous like, 7 hours or something, and then she woke up - would NOT attach no matter what I tried, she just wouldn't do it, she would open her mouth, but she wouldn't suck my nipple no matter what. So I cracked it, changed her nappy instead, and THEN she attached. Had a feed on the left side for about 15-20 minutes, then fell asleep again. Then we had to go out, so she slept for another 40 minutes, then woke up in the car, my mum gave her 40mls that I had expressed earlier so I didn't explode, then she fell asleep, then we got home, she was STILL sleeping, and she just fed now for about 40 minutes on the one side - and fell asleep.

So I dunno if I'm doing this right or not, but at least my right side doesn't feel like its going to explode everywhere now.. LOL

She's starting to get grizzly now so I'll have to go and see if she wants more. I have learnt that if she is really tired, or has been woken up, nothing will make her suck. She sucks when she is good and ready - and no time before. Stubborn bugger

[~clover~]

Lol. Jesse only ever had the one side at a time. I'd offer the second, but he just wouldn't wake for it, so I didn't push it.

I think with putting your hand at the back of her neck, instead of her head, the head can go back on the right angle for better attachment. When I think about the times I've done it, I think its worked out better that way.
It all sounds so confusing now, lol. See if it works though.

Sounds like you've had a much better day so far anyway

[Arimeh]

I just fed her for about 40 mins on the other side, and realised my hand is sorta at the back of her neck - not like, on the top of her head or anything... LOL.. its hard visualising it

[Heaven]

Yeah, that's right Mel, hand at the back of her neck. I sorta had my index finger and thumb behind each ear iykwim. Just make sure you're not stopping her head from being able to tilt back so she can attach properly and her nose is clear.

You're doing well!! Sounds like she's having some good feeds!!

[boomba]

Mel hun your doing a great job! You should be so proud!

Mwah xxxx

[Inanna]

That's right my love - around the base of her little skull... You're doing great.

[onthefly]

Perhaps she just needs to feel comfy before she'll feed.
Sounds like you're doing really well! Hope she learns to switch from lots of day sleeping to night sleeping

[Arimeh]

Urgh these cluster feeds are pretty awful ay.. LOL

She was on me from basically 5.30 to 9.30 - with only 10 minute breaks in between 40 minute feeds.

I was worried though because she had barely peed all day - understandable when she was asleep for most of it - but she certainly makes up for it when she wakes up - she just feeds and feeds and feeds and feeds!!! Is it ok to do that or should I be waking her up for more regular feeds? I'm hesitant to wake her up because she just won't suck if she's tired.

[Inanna]

I know that story about the sleepy and won't feed thing. At this early stage frequent feeds are best for your supply. I would be waking her if she goes any longer than 3-4 hours. Some women won't & that's all cool - but I would for manily supply reasons. When your supply is established it is fine. Don't wake her 3 hourly overnight though - your sleep is important so sleep away if she is at night.

This tme will pass when she is feeding so all over the shop - you can gradually coax her to feed the older she gets the less sleepy she will be.