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I gave birth via c-section on Sunday, and after a few hiccups, DD is finally getting the hang of BF. Since late last night, when my supply really started kicking in, feeds have gotten longer, and my nipples have been getting more and more painful as the feeds go on.
I have some cracking, and am using nursing butter after each feed, but when DD attaches it is just sooo painful!
Can anyone suggest any ideas for lessening the pain?
For the immediate situation:
You could try expressing until your nipples heel a bit, also breastmilk is a great healer for cracked nipples, so rub it in!
You could also try a nipple shield.
Long term:
Get onto a lactation consultant, ring the ABA, I think your darling may not be attaching properly. Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful xo
Could possibly be thrush?
Sounds like an attachment problem - here's some really helpful video clips on attachment, but I agree - call the ABA or an LC.
Breastfeeding Videos
I'd get some nipple shields to use in the short term so your nipples can heal, meanwhile getting support from ABA and a Lactation Consultant to work on your attachment.
Congratulations on your baby!
Cracks suggest the latch is not right. Do you have access to lactation consultants via your hospital? Otherwise maybe someone can recommend you one in your area. Another source of support is the ABA - 1800-686-2-686
Here are some ABA links that might help:
ABCs of attachment
Baby-led attachment
Breast & nipple care
You need to get the attachment sorted so your nipples can heal, otherwise it will only get worse I'm afraid. Often it's a simple matter of adjusting your technique - it may be that the way your holding your baby is not optimal for eg. Or sometimes baby just needs a bit more help to get hte hang of it. They are born with an innate desire to seek out the breast and feed, which is why trying baby-led attachment can be really effective.
I would hire if you dont want to buy, an electric express to give your nipples a rest if they are really bad, nipple shield suit some people.
Bepanthen or a lanoline cream can help. Alittle fresh air and sunshine also help to dry and heal. A lactation consultant can help.
It does get better hun, I know it just hurts so bad right now but it does get better. Hang in there hugs
Can you ask your hospital to send a midwife over on a home visit? I had awful sore nipples with DS2 and the midwife who did my followup visit fixed up our positioning. After that it was all systems go - no need for shields, pumps and all that hoo ha.
Slight change to the holding position seems to be doing the trick. Now fingers crossed DD stays put!
P.S. Can I just say how much I love being able to say DD after 9 months of not knowing?! :D
Well done! :happy dance::
Looks like you need to update that ticker :)
Yep, the iPhone is great, but not sure if my skills are up to it - otherwise Saturday when I get home it'll happen!
Any better Kimbles? Have you gotton on to an LC or the ABA at all?
Things had settled down, we'd gotten into a routine. Turns out DD has a blocked nose, and as such wasn't attaching properly. Since we started using a saline nasal spray, it's been much better.
Shocker of a day today though - DD started by feeding well, but then decided she didn't want to be put down all morning. She slept over lunch/early arvo, but since 2pm has been looking for feeds every hour or so. And not sleeping outside of when she's feeding. Thankfully DH seems to have settled her for now, and I might get a bit of a break, but the constant feeds have taken their toll in my boobs today.
The early weeks can be very hard and illness on top of that makes it even harder! Glad you're getting a bit of a break - take things as easily as you can. It will get easier with a bit of time.
Frequent feeding in teh afternoon/evening is really normal - it's the arsenic hours when they need extra comforting. The upside of the clusster feeds is that they often then have a longer sleep at the start of the night.
Make sure you keep on top of any soreness or nipple damage, don't want that to get worse.
I have posted in our babies born thread but big hugs to you Hun. Xoxo
Gaaah, bad day. I've realised that I really am starting to dread breastfeeding DD. I want to be able to do it, and have resisted all urges to go out and buy formula, but its just soo hard. :wall:
Hi Kimbles, you are doing a great job, the first couple of weeks are pretty intensive. I pretty much expect that the first 6 weeks = constant feeding. In fact, the more you feed right now, the more milk production cells will 'switch on' - so it's all part of your baby's plan to make sure there's milk around longterm (ie, yep they feed when they arent even hungry, but there's a good reason for it!).
If you can get through another week you should start noticing some big improvements, nipples will feel better, feeds will space a little. Unfortunately the hardest part of feeding is at the beginning!
How's your wound going btw? Hope your recovery is going smoothly!
I completely relate to the dreading feeding feeling.. if you absolutely PERFECT attachment it should help. The tiniest unevenness in how the nipple is latched on to will result in a big distortion/ pulling on the tissue once it's stretched out inside the baby's mouth.. so it really pays off if you can be obsessive about getting hte baby latched on well. So basically it should only hurt for the first minute and then the feeling should subside - is it hurting for the whole feed?
Mostly just when she first attaches, then the pain goes away. However when she starts to fall asleep and slide off the pain comes back.
Attachment seems to be the main thing - whenever a midwife etc was around in hospital, she'd attach perfectly, but other times she fussed or puts her hands in the way just before I can get her on, so sometimes attachment takes many many gies. And in the meantime I get frustrated with her (which I feel so guilty about as its not her fault) and get myself worked up. She's had a blocked nose for the last week which doesn't help with attachment, and when we stopped in at CaFH to weigh her, one of the employees said it looks as though she has a small tongue tie - but nothing major or serious.
I just wish that when you go to antenatal breastfeeding classes they'd mention that it is not just a simple thing to do - they never made it sound difficult at all, so I wasn't prepared for all the difficulties!! :(
It sounds like you're doing a great job! I think I could have very easily given up at any point between 2-5 weeks (esp at 3 weeks) but am now so happy that I stuck with it. I found using Lansioh after every feed and lots of airing helped
I also went through a dreading feeding stage... But feeds are more spaced out now and don't take as long and I'm finding myself missing the extended feeds.
Good luck - and keep in mind thats its not always easy
:hug: It can be very hard at first, you're not alone there. And I remember dreading feeding with DS too.
I urge you to find a good LC in your area - you can post here to ask or PM Barb Glare or even call the ABA for a rec - and get that tongue tie looked at. She may also be able to give you some more advice about the attachment - it's always worthwhile getting a 2nd or even 3rd opinion.
It really, really does get easier! But you may need some help in the mean time. Try to remember that she's only very little and getting used to being on the outside. She will want to be held all the time regardless of how youfeed her - it's just how babies are. Being able to breastfeed when they're fussy and needy can actually make things much easier for mums.
Thanks everyone!
I do want to state I have nothing against formula either - I know for some it is the best/only option. I just feel guilty as I know I am producing more than enough milk for DD, so it seems silly (or just really lazy/selfish on my behalf) to then not use it all to feed my baby.
And I was worried that my reluctance to introduce extra feeds (she currently gets 7 at most in a 24 hour period) would affect her, but she gained 120g in the 6 days since leaving hospital, and is already above birth weight...so I'm at least doing something right! Small positives at this point...
Well it's good news i think that the pain isn't lasting... as that means your attachment is hopefully okay and that you don't have anything else going on... I think some pain at the beginning can be inevitable for some people (esp if you're strawberry blonde - I am!) It really should ease off and get a bit better each day esp after 2 weeks. Just hang in there! My DH pretty much knows (we've got 4) that for the first few weeks my job is feeding lol..
It will also get much easier because the baby will get stronger - she'll get way better at aiming herself on to the breast, her head control will improve, etc. If you can hang in there then before you know it, it'll be just like riding a bike :D You only have another week at most before the first hurdle (from my experience!) is reached, nipple pain will ease, the baby is just that little bit stronger so it's not all so unco feeling.
And I agree, I think people should be prepared a little bit better at the antenatal classes etc- this is a new skill, and a new part of the body you've never used before, and a new little baby who's learning too!
I know a friend that had the same problem with her daughters hands getting in the way of attachment. She would wrap her the same as she did to sleep then undid her once they were settled into feeding. This went on for a few weeks until it stopped being a problem.
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Fiona - I have joked that I wanted to sew the sleeves of DDs clothes to the side of the onesies so she can't lift them, but DH told me that was a bit extreme!! Lol :D
We have wrapped her in the past, but generally when I finally manage to get her in a good position, she's managed to Houdini her hands out already :wall:
Glad to hear she's gaining well. You are certainly doing a good job of feeding her.
If she's a Houdini sleeping as well as feeding then you might want to google 'woombie' or something similar. I swear by my woombie.
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We've got a zip up suit for sleeping, which is awesome, as she can still bring her hands in front of her, but doesn't startle as much. I feed her in it overnight to minimise waking her, but it is slightly awkward other times. I also want to teach her to sleep during the day without being wrapped, and around noise/light etc so she gets the difference between night and day.
I have read that tounge tie can play a huge part in bf issues even when it is only a small tounge tie. Get it looked at Hun. How has today being? Xo
she's only 2 weeks old Kimbles, she'll probably want to be out of the wrap soon enough anyway (wrap me up one?)
It's been pretty good Zap, she's sleeping and has had some good big feeds.
Apparently the tongue tie shouldn't be an issue as long as her tongue can get past her gums/lips, which it does. I am guessing that's what I have too, as I've never been able to stick my tongue out very far either...!