Feeding On Both Sides

[sapphire20]

Hi Ladies,

Just a quick question, still struggling with getting her latched on im so tense as I can hardly stand the pain! I know it only last 20 seconds are so but finding it really hard and have a wee cry before i usually feed her.

However I am trying my best to carry on but wanted to know do you ladies feed on one side for the whole feed or do you offer the other once you are finished on the first side?

x

 

[Mervs Mum]

Big honey - you are doing really well. It wont be long before things improve.

I suppose it depends how long she's on for. It takes quite a while fir a new baby to drain a boob usually. I'd only offer the other side if she'd been on there an hour and my nips were needing a rest but she wasnt done. Some babies like tp have both. You need to play it by ear really x

 

[lyndsey3010]

I suspect you have to be super human not to cry at the sore nipple stage. I howled.

Cooper is only slighter older than Olivia and I certainly feel like we're getting there. I express now too to give boobs a break, one bottle a day, but many people feel its early for that, its your personal decision.

Also, I gave him a dummy for the first time yesterday as he was comfort sucking on my delicate nips too much and it was getting sore npt to mention time consuming when heres on thre for hours at a time.

As for sides, ditto mervs mum. (shes much better at this than me, just thought you might like some reassurance from someone who was very recently crying with boob and nipple pain)

Hang in there poppet X

 

[Mervs Mum]

I cried too darling....it's normal - Lyndsey is right, I think you'd have to be some kind of masochist not to.

Expressing will be an option soon - as Lyndsey also said it's not recommended too soon so your supply can establish and also because pumping produces depressingly small amounts to start with which can lead to mum's worrying how much their baby is getting - even though the pump wont get anywhere nexr as much as your LO will.

 

[mommyof3co]

I used to cry when I knew it was almost time to feed, but it REALLY does get better!

When they were newborn I would feed on one side for 10-20min just depending on how they were feeding, burp them then feed on the other side until they were done then I would switch and start on a diff side each time. Like if I started out on the left then switched to the right halfway through..the next time I would start on right and switch to left. Once he got older he cut back his nursing time to 5-10min and eventually even shorter so he would only nurse on one side per session

 

[sapphire20]

Thanks All, its really good to know others have been here aswell...I was gona give it up but my mum and OH have persuaded me to keep trying, sometimes I just cant face feeding her and I feel so guilty that I cant even go through the pain for my wee girl!

Its great to know you guys are here when im feeling low! x

 

[Blah11]

Hang in there, it gets so so much easier, and the pain eventually disapears completely. I agree with the other ladies, play it by ear. Even now Amelie sometimes prefers one boob to the other so if she fusses on one side, I place her on the other and 9/10 she'll settle.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Just think of the pain you went through to give her life. This pain isnt anywhere near as bad and I bet you'd go through labour all over again just to have your beautiful girl here and well.

It wont last long - we promise. And you dont know how lucky you are to have your mum and OH supporting you - that's wonderful to hear. Tell them I'm very proud of them too.

 

[Blob]

I feed Tabs one each time, only once or twice she's ever emptied one..It really really does get better, you'll not even remember what it was like to hurt. Just hang in there and keep thinking that it will get better Its the best feeling ever to have done this for your baby

 

[thelilbump]

On the bright side, the pain does end for most. It would make me cry aswell and i didn't think i could carry on feeding like that but it did stop thankfully. In answer to your question, i've always offered both sides, if she's full she just won't eat anymore.

 

[Bunrab]

Thanks All, its really good to know others have been here aswell...I was gona give it up but my mum and OH have persuaded me to keep trying, sometimes I just cant face feeding her and I feel so guilty that I cant even go through the pain for my wee girl!

Its great to know you guys are here when im feeling low! x

I'm with you all the way on this one .... Sophie is a week old now and I have really struggled with it too. My midwife suggested trying nipple protectors and they are helping me a bit. I didn't want to give up, but there are up times and down times with it, I'm just trying to persevere

 

[sam#3]

I know how you feel hun, i used to cry too, he spent the 1st month latching on with his gums and i literally used to dread every feed and i would cry everytime but within the 1st 6 weeks before i knew it it was better
It honestly will get better hun, iknow you dont feel like it will at the mo but i dont think any of us would still be doing it if it didnt!!
I only give one side per feed. The only time i would swap was back in the painful stages if i had really sore nips i would alternate between them during a feed to get me through it!!
Good luck hun stick with it and before you know it you will be a pro and it will be easy