Brest Feeding - Some Issues I encountered and how I overcame them

[Jaans]

Hi,

I just thought I would make a quick post about some issues I encountered when learning to breastfeedand what I did to overcome the issues to be able to successfully establish breastfeeding, I post it cause its really easy to give up and for woman who really want to breast feed this may help.

My bub is a good feeder, she took to the breast very quickly without issue, that was until my milk came in. I have large breast's and they became even larger and rock hard when my milk came in (about day 3).

My breasts where so hard and my nipples so swollen that she couldnt latch, and when she did, she latched poorly and left my nipples cracked and painful.

A midwife struggled for 30 Mins to finally have her latch, another struggled for about the same and couldnt get her to latch, and then one suggested nipple shields.

I didnt fit the profile for them but we gave them a go and they worked a treat, they allowed my nipples to rest and her to suckle and once my breasts got into the swing of it, I lost the shields and she fed naturally.

Also, I had really very swollen milk glands in my right breast because the maternity bra I was wearing was too tight and constricting my breasts, I was told by one midwife not to touch them, another told me to massage them down towards the nipple whilst my bub is suckling (or whilst expressing) to remove them, I did it, it worked, and I continued to do this evey feed until my breast's regulated. Now I dont have the issue.

Other tips, dont wear a bra if you can avoid it, put up with the milk down your shirt until you get the swing of it, and your breast's regulate the amount of milk your bub needs. Always let both breasts hang out when you are feeding from one of them, it allows for the "let down" of your other breast.

I am returning to work shortly and need to express so I brough breast shields, they are brilliant, you pop them over the nipple of the boob your not feeding on and it collects the let down milk so you dont end up with it down your shirt and you can keep them milk with the milk you expressed.

Its all in the latch, dont let the baby nipple feed, it only takes a couple og bad feeds before your nipples crack and hurt. When mine where too painful to feed with, I just expressed and bottle fed baby and let my breast's rest for 2 feeds and they healed enough to feed properly.

Never sleep with a bra on, sleep on a towel.

Last tip I found worked really well for me, was to express a little breast milk post feed and rub it over my nipples and let the air dry it helps them heal.

Jaans xo

[shazzi]

That is great Jaans. I wish i had had your post in my early days.

Those nipple shields are a good idea. I had to express while my DD was prem and could not suck in the first 3-4 weeks and while pumping on one side I used to balance a small container under the other tucked in to my bra top. I used to drip at least 10mls and it could not be wasted. I would cry if i wasted any. Now i just use a towel but waste all that milk for backup in the freezer. I am going to look in to them now for my "one day i might leave DD with DH and go to the movies" stash!

I stopped wearing a bra after a few months and wish i had stopped sooner as it feels much better.

Thanks for sharing.

[Barb Glare]

Hi there,

Good on you for sticking at your problems and overcoming them - and sharing with us.

It is common to experience some ups and downs in the early days of breastfeeding - and parenting in general. The truth is nearly every breastfeeding problem can be solved.
It's best to get onto it as soon as possible - and get knowledgeable help when you need it (as opposed to the other sort of help - usually along the lines of "just put him on the bottle")
I hope you have a long and enjoyable breastfeeding relationship

[Jaans]

Thanks heaps, its amazing how hard breastfeeding its, it really is a skill you have to learn. But very worth it.

Jaans xox