new mum feeding: help

[blueberrybaby8]

Anyone else finding breastfeeding hard..I'm persevering but oh my, it's a struggle sometimes. my little boy is only 2 weeks old now, but he's a very hungry baby and wants a feed nearly all the time. everytime he wakes, before and after nappy changes, when he's unsettled..
My nipples are so sore, each time he latches on it feels like blades I have lanolin nipple cream but doesn't seem to be easing the discomfort. They've bled also, and I don't feel the skin has hardened in anyway.
I'm currently only feeding from one side, and expressing the other. it got so hard and full that he wouldn't latch, now I think he didn't fancy feeding from it again, even after all my attempts to continue with it. I express purely for my comfort and the let down and give him the odd bottle from it, but all the other feeds are from my left breast which seems to be plenty enough.
I'm going through so many tops with leaking and they get so sore!
Im so lucky to have a baby who feeds so well and is hungry, but he really is a greedy guts and it's exhausting! I find it really tiring with feeds being out and about too..wearing the right clothes and the pads, and the pain..ouuuch.
Currently up every 2 hours with my newborn in the night for a feed before and after nappy change ..hello sleep deprivation!
Anyone else feeling the same or would like to share some tips or advice, anything greatly appreciated Xx

 

[El1en]

The first four weeks of breast feeding really are the toughest. Well done for continuing even though you're suffering. I remember my little girl wanting to feed all the time at that age. Just try and go with it it doesn't last forever. Keep going with the lanolin cream and where possible let your nipples air dry

I don't know for definite, others may help more but I don't think you're helping supply by feeding from one side and expressing the other, I think you're encouraging your boobs to develop an oversupply maybe? I would be trying to encourage baby to latch to that side. Could you see a Dr or lactation consultant?

I'm sorry you're finding it tough but you're doing great. It gets so much easier after the first few weeks. I remember begging my oh to buy formula at one point but he refused and I'm so glad he did

 

[MrsT2011]

You're doing really well Hun but yes it is tough. We're only on week 1 of breastfeeding but with my first born I had such trouble latching him I exclusively expressed for 3 months.
I promised myself I wouldn't do that again this time as it really is hard work especially as baby will gradually want boob less but you would still have to express every 2 hours and throughout the night to get enough milk.

I've found the more she's feeding the sorer I get so I now only let her feed off one side at a time as that way the other nipple gets a break until the next feed.

Even when she unlatches herself I put her back on so she gets as much as possible meaning I get a bit of a longer break after.

Have you contacted any support groups at all?
My friends a peer support worker and I message her daily for support but also to celebrate the small achievements such as feeding in public.

I've done 2 skin to skin days since she's been born and stayed in bed with lots of snacks and fluids and Netflix.

Just think in the next 2 weeks it's going to get so much easier but I would defo get some support and give yourself a pat on the back x

 

[Maud]

Massive well done for pushing through the difficult early weeks. They are hard and exhausting but totally worth it long term if you can continue. The best thing to keep in mind is that frequent feeding is totally normal with a vreastfed baby (I lost count of the number if times someone told me my first couldn't possibly be hungry again yet!). But the pain and bleeding aren't going to make things easy for you so I definitely recommend seeing a breastfeeding counsellor to check baby's latch as they may be able to suggest little changes that make big improvements to comfort. x

 

[Jajis]

Well done on starting and persevering, you're doing an awesome job I'm sure It is tough in the beginning, but it really does get easier, and although it may not feel like it now, I believe they say that overall bf mum's end up with more sleep because you don't have to faff around making up bottles in the middle of the night!

The feeding frequently is probably just normal newborn behaviour - they feed a lot in order to build up your supply With regards to the other problems you're having the absolute best thing would be to get down to a local support group to get somebody to look at your baby's latch and check for tongue tie. There are also some awesome facebook groups which have breastfeeding peer supporters as admin (I'd highly recommend both 'Can I Breastfeed In It? Off Topic Discussion' and 'Breastfeeding Support and Information UK').

 

[MrsT2011]

How's it going Blueberry? X

 

[blueberrybaby8]

thank you for your kind replies ladies..I know I've been persevering, but I'm still struggling. it's getting me really down. still only using the one breast, the other seems to have stopped milk supply and has gone back to its smaller softer self. the other I'm using for both feeding and expressing, Jacob is such a hungry baby I'm finding I'm constantly feeding, which is agony. I can't express enough or in time to get a supply going, to feed him from to give the breast a rest.
nipple is sore, when he latches on it's like blades, it now continues throughout feeding the pain. I'm actually gritting my teeth most the time. I can't cope.
I know it's the best thing for him, that's why I was so adamant I wanted to breast feed, but I'm really struggling. my partner just sleep through me feeding and I'm sat there in pain wanting to cry but at the same time I'm giving baby the best.
I'm going to call the breast feeding number I have tomorrow to see what they say.
I know there's combined feeding..any thoughts on this? I'm thinking it will fill him up more, give my breast a break in between and involve my partner more, he says there's not much he can do at the moment with feeding.
what formula is best to do this with? Xx

 

[MrsT2011]

Ahhhh Hun that's sounds really tough. You're much stronger than me I don't think I could carry on with that amount of pain.

Glad you're going to ring someone and get advice. They may be able to give you advice on combination feeding.
I think the idea is to start with breast then top up with formula but seeing as you're using one breast maybe formula every other feed to give nipple a rest?

As to which formula I think it depends on baby and what suits.

 

[Maud]

Sorry you're finding it so tough. I remember how horrid it was in the first weeks and I almost stopped but I'm so glad I didn't as once we'd got through it it got so much better. I still feed my toddler and am planning on breastfeeding my new baby despite all the issues we had in the first weeks so please don't think it won't get any better.

Having good support is really essential though so definitely call the helpline but please also talk to your HV about the breastfeeding services in your area as face to face advice can make a real difference. Some hospitals offer clinics, nct groups often have breastfeeding counsellors available (and you don't need to be a member) or specialist feeding clinics and some towns have mother and baby cafes with breastfeeding support. Does your OH know how hard you are finding it? Mine helped a lot by team tagging overnight so that he got her out of her crib, did nappy changes and got her back to sleep in the crib afterwards. Helped ensure I got a little bit more sleep in between.

 

[Maud]

How are you getting on blueberry? Did the helpline help? x

 

[kumber]

I strongly, strongly recommend going to a lactation consultant. It sounds very much like TT which my boys have. You need to get back onto feeding from both sides for a decent milk quality, a helpline is often limited in their advice so please contact a qualified lactation consultant if you haven't already done so

 

[Birdie]

Pain and frequent feeding can be warning signs of a tongue tie - especially if someone has checked your latch and its good. I echo what Kumber says and recommend that you get your baby checked for a posterior tie (this is done by feeling under the baby's tongue - not looking in the mouth) by a qualified lactation consultant.