iHeartbaby#1
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I have a 4 week old and breastfeeding has been a very bumpy ride for me.
Sorry if this gets a bit long. I don't really expect anyone to read it, just had to get it off my chest.
It started out in the hospital when LO would fall asleep the moment he touched the breast..i had to keep changing him and stripping him down to wake him so that we could be sure the milk supply would come in. (He still falls asleep today around 5-10 mins after feeding!) My milk supply actually came in when i was still in the hospital and we noticed that LO would start sputtering and crying and releasing from the right nipple (which he also still does) Turns out my right nipple squirts more than the left and when i started pumping i noticed i would have 5-6 different milk streams coming out as opposed to the left nipples 1-2 streams!
Then 3-4 days later my nipples started getting really chapped and sore. They got these red blisters that would bleed and the pain was unbearable!! Everytime LO latched on i would either cry out or have to bite down on something to keep myself from screaming. Then the entire time i nursed I would have tears streaming down my face it hurt so badly. When LO was a week old i called the hospital asking for advice. They said it would probably be alright to pump and bottle feed to give my nipples a chance to heal. They also told me to use Lanolin and Hydro gel cooling pads. On the bottle he didn't fall asleep like breast and would drink 3-4 oz straight going longer periods between feeds. I was enjoying the break on my nipples so i didn't think anything of it My mistake!
So after a couple days when my nipples were healed i went back to breastfeeding. I made it until evening when my milk supply ran out! I called the hospital again and after hearing the situation they agreed LO wasn't getting any milk and told me i would have to supplement with formula. I've tried pumping and nursing more to get my milk supply back up but it doesn't seem to be helping. I have to use 1-2 bottles of formula a day - the rest is still breastfeeding.
So all this on top of leaky boobies, and having to shower with a bikini top on (or it hurts!)...well, lets just say i'm really stressed out and thinking about giving up completely! I really wanted to make it through this for the sake of my LO...but it's only been 4 weeks and i just don't know if i can do it anymore *sigh*. I know i'm gonna feel like a failure if i quit.
Wow sorry again this was so long. I guess i just wanna know if anyone's gone through multiple problems like this and still persevered. When does it get easier!??
Sorry if this gets a bit long. I don't really expect anyone to read it, just had to get it off my chest.
It started out in the hospital when LO would fall asleep the moment he touched the breast..i had to keep changing him and stripping him down to wake him so that we could be sure the milk supply would come in. (He still falls asleep today around 5-10 mins after feeding!) My milk supply actually came in when i was still in the hospital and we noticed that LO would start sputtering and crying and releasing from the right nipple (which he also still does) Turns out my right nipple squirts more than the left and when i started pumping i noticed i would have 5-6 different milk streams coming out as opposed to the left nipples 1-2 streams!
Then 3-4 days later my nipples started getting really chapped and sore. They got these red blisters that would bleed and the pain was unbearable!! Everytime LO latched on i would either cry out or have to bite down on something to keep myself from screaming. Then the entire time i nursed I would have tears streaming down my face it hurt so badly. When LO was a week old i called the hospital asking for advice. They said it would probably be alright to pump and bottle feed to give my nipples a chance to heal. They also told me to use Lanolin and Hydro gel cooling pads. On the bottle he didn't fall asleep like breast and would drink 3-4 oz straight going longer periods between feeds. I was enjoying the break on my nipples so i didn't think anything of it My mistake!
So after a couple days when my nipples were healed i went back to breastfeeding. I made it until evening when my milk supply ran out! I called the hospital again and after hearing the situation they agreed LO wasn't getting any milk and told me i would have to supplement with formula. I've tried pumping and nursing more to get my milk supply back up but it doesn't seem to be helping. I have to use 1-2 bottles of formula a day - the rest is still breastfeeding.
So all this on top of leaky boobies, and having to shower with a bikini top on (or it hurts!)...well, lets just say i'm really stressed out and thinking about giving up completely! I really wanted to make it through this for the sake of my LO...but it's only been 4 weeks and i just don't know if i can do it anymore *sigh*. I know i'm gonna feel like a failure if i quit.
Wow sorry again this was so long. I guess i just wanna know if anyone's gone through multiple problems like this and still persevered. When does it get easier!??