Help new to BF & bub screams & fights before feeding.

Hi Ladies, I had bub on Sat and came home Wed.
For the first 3 days bub wouldn't BF at all and it was only on Tues that she started feeding from me rather than being fed EBM through a syringe. So the day before I came home was when she started feeding from me, I've been having trouble since I got home.
Once she is on she feeds really well but it can take up to 15 mins to get her to attach & she gets very distressed, screaming and fighting me with her hands. I have plenty of milk, it just drips out but she seems to not want to suck to begin with.
Any help would be great :) why do you think she does this?
I had a lactation consultant in hospy so I may ring and see if I can get onto her today.

Congratulations on your little bubby!
Definitely get on to the LC if you can - in person help is generally best. The ABA may also be able to offer advice/suggestions if you give them a call.

Just a few thoughts - it's hard to attach little babies if they're upset, so try to feed at the first sign of hunger = rooting, bobbing, mouthing. By the time they're crying for food they are really really hungry and impatient.
Or, perhaps your breasts are very full at first and she finds it hard to attach? Sometimes hand expressing a little bit before you start to soften them up can help a lot.

Remember that this is a learned skill for the both of you and it can take a little time to get it all working smoothly. It does get easier and it is well worth the effort.
All the best~~

Marcellus has some great advice :) She's a champ when it comes to Bfing advice :)

Big congratulations! I was also going to mention, perhaps your boobs are too full, and DD is finding it hard to initially attach herself? Try expressing a little first, and then latch her on. Make sure both you and her are nice and comfy, newborns can sense when you're stressed, and it often stresses them out also. A nice big pillow underneath her should also help.. Other than that i would definitely be getting on to a LC, as soon as you can.

Bfing for me took a while to establish, but as Marcellus mentioned, it really is worth it. Those beautiful newborn cuddles... awww!

Big fat congratulations again! I can't believe I missed your BA :think:

love Telly

Congratulations :D The advice you get on here about BF (and lots of other things!) is sooo wonderful. I am not the best person to give advice but I think expressing a little might make it easier for your LO to latch on and lots of skin to skin contact. BF is fabulous but can be hard work at times. Good on you for doing this and good luck!!

another that was going to say try expressing a little to begin with, and try rubbing it on her lips and around your nipple to settle her a bit. If you can handle it (and if you're not already) maybe try putting wearing her (sling etc) or having her lay directly on your chest about 30min before she is due for a feed. I did this to help my little man, he was tube feed in hospital and I think he just needed to re-learn my scent and to re-learn searching for for the milk. I found this helped alot in keeping him calm.

Congrats on your little one, and as stressful as b/f can be at times try to remember you are both on a learning curve, you'll find your rhythm soon enough.

It can be a bit upsetting when they do that. Try swaddling her before you feed her, so her arms don't get in the way. Also have a look at baby led attachment. Sometimes you just have to let them go and have their little trash and find it themselves. DD2 used to get so cranky at me for trying to help, she got awful confused when fingers and stuff were in the way cause she just rooted around and tried to attach to anything that moved.

Hi Ladies,
Thanks for your advice, I also spoke to my LC & she said it can just take some time for bub to get the hang of it but it's really upsetting for us both. I do express a little first to soften the nipple and just the last two feeds tried studymum's suggestion of swaddling her which has worked a treat because she can't get her hands in there, just had 2 feeds in a row that were cry free yay :) let's hope this keeps up. Thanks ladies xox

Sounds good!

I was going to suggest swaddling her too. Keep those hands out of the way. They can be very distracting!!
Hope the good feeds keep up :D

thats fantastic :)