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[Seoul]

I could use some help. This is my 4 th baby and I successfully breastfed my other three but this time around my nipples are super sore cracked and bloody. Ive been nursing through the pain but thevpain isn't getting better and last night when i pumped i was pumping large amounts of blood i switched back to nursing her and her spit up and even her nose and upper lip are all blood tinged.
Im using gel soothies to help and lanolin. I pumped last time and the bleeding just has stayed at the surface not sure if I should keep pumping exclusively for a bit the problem is that she is just 5 days and I am still working on my milk supply which I don't want to hurt. I just gave her 2.5 ounces of expressed milk and she wants to continue eating. I don't think her latch is great as she doesn't seem to open her mouth so wide so i think that she may be getting mostly just the nipple and not the areola. Ive tried many different kinds of holds but It is still pretty painful the whole time she nurses. Any advice or tips would be really appreciated.

 

[lynnikins]

I'd give your mw a call and see if you can get put in touch with the local bf support for your area, it sounds to me like baby might have a tt or upper lip tie causing latch issues

 

[Left wonderin]

Does sound like a latch problem . And now your nipples are cracked they will be super sensitive , check each time she is tummy to tummy and nose to nipple . Keep using lanolin after every feed . Sounds like those nipples need time to heal and should if her latch improves . I'd rule tt out . Good luck with it

 

[GraceER]

Hi all, I see this thread has been inactive for a while but I'm hoping for some tips! I'm 20 weeks pregnant today and starting to think seriously about when the baby comes. I have endometriosis and therefore really want to breastfeed for a full year not just for baby's benefit but mine too. I want to combination BF/express so my OH can feed too, I'll be going back to work full time after a few months.

Basically all I'm hearing from friends/family/other users is how tough breastfeeding is and how I might not manage it! I'm hearing a lot about cracked nipples, poor supply and tears which is making me anxious. It seems to me that breastfeeding requires a lot of knowledge and support so my question ladies is what can I read/watch/buy between now and my baby girl's arrival to help us get off to the best possible start? There's so much conflicting advice and negativity out there I just really want to feel prepared and confident. I don't know any mothers my own age and my own isn't amazingly positive about her BF experiences. All tips much appreciated .

 

[Left wonderin]

Hi comgratulations on half way the next half will fly ! The most important thing with bf is to RELAX . Seriously it sounds easy but is hard . My number one tip is get lanolin cream and use it from the very begining before there is a problem or sore nipple in sight . Lash it on after every feed . It it a wonder

Try find a Brest feeding support group and go to a few sessions before baby comes along . The ladies there will have lots of tips the other advice I would give is not to expect to be brilliant at it straight away . Its a new skill both you and baby are learning so give it time . Don't panic and give up at the first blip . Its worth persevering .

Good luck with it xx don't listen to all the horror stories you will do great

 

[staralfur]

Breastfeeding was really tough for us the first few months but even still I'm very glad we stuck with it and I'd say it paid off a million times over.

I also think I could have avoided a lot of the stress in the early days had I first and foremost knew what to expect from a breastfeeding newborn, and secondly if I had GOOD support.

I didn't know anything about clusterfeeding when my LO was born and spent weeks thinking I had a low supply or that there was something wrong with me/her because she was feeding so often... but it was all normal. I believe that had I known that going into it I could have avoided a lot of stress and planned for ways to make it less overwhelming.

We also had a bad latch but the nurses at the hospital were pretty much useless and gave me minimal help and basically told me to give up and move on to formula. It would be worth looking up lactation specialists or nurses in your area beforehand so that if you DO run into problems you can speak with and see someone who is actually interested in helping you through it and not just trying to rush you.

I would also look into safe bed sharing as it saved my sanity during night feeds. It takes some practice to master feeding while laying on your side but once you get it there's nothing better than just popping a baby on your boob and going back to sleep right away. I can't imagine how I would have coped with waking up to make bottles.

It also allows for much more convenient feeding because of that - you don't have to worry about sterilizing, washing, preparing, mixing, etc. - you just whip out a boob and you're done.

Kellymom.com is a great resource for any breastfeeding questions you might have, and of course this forum as well.

It was a tough journey in the beginning for my LO and I but we ended up nursing until she was 3 and I look back on it very fondly. It's so much more than a food source and that's something you'll probably pick up very quickly!

 

[xQuinnx]

I could do with some advice/support...

My little girl is nearly 3 weeks old and at the moment is having breast milk from the breast occasionally and a bottle, she's also having some formula. I'm trying to express as much as I can but only managing about 6 times a day and I'm barely covering half her feeds. She's been very hit and miss at the breast, sometimes she's fed great but others she latched for a few moments and pulls off. I think there is some nipple confusion going on but I want to really try and persevere to get her to take the breast. I didn't with my first for lots of reasons but this time I really enjoy breastfeeding when I can.
Is there anyway to help nipple confusion? Or is it too late to establish breastfeeding now? If so is any breast milk better then nothing?

 

[Left wonderin]

I could do with some advice/support...

My little girl is nearly 3 weeks old and at the moment is having breast milk from the breast occasionally and a bottle, she's also having some formula. I'm trying to express as much as I can but only managing about 6 times a day and I'm barely covering half her feeds. She's been very hit and miss at the breast, sometimes she's fed great but others she latched for a few moments and pulls off. I think there is some nipple confusion going on but I want to really try and persevere to get her to take the breast. I didn't with my first for lots of reasons but this time I really enjoy breastfeeding when I can.
Is there anyway to help nipple confusion? Or is it too late to establish breastfeeding now? If so is any breast milk better then nothing?

Hi and congratulations on your little girl can I ask if there is a reason you a pumping rather than putting her on the breast ?

 

[xQuinnx]

I could do with some advice/support...

My little girl is nearly 3 weeks old and at the moment is having breast milk from the breast occasionally and a bottle, she's also having some formula. I'm trying to express as much as I can but only managing about 6 times a day and I'm barely covering half her feeds. She's been very hit and miss at the breast, sometimes she's fed great but others she latched for a few moments and pulls off. I think there is some nipple confusion going on but I want to really try and persevere to get her to take the breast. I didn't with my first for lots of reasons but this time I really enjoy breastfeeding when I can.
Is there anyway to help nipple confusion? Or is it too late to establish breastfeeding now? If so is any breast milk better then nothing?

Hi and congratulations on your little girl can I ask if there is a reason you a pumping rather than putting her on the breast ?

I pumped with my first and thought I would do the same with my second until I realised I actually like breastfeeding lol. At the minute I'm pumping because she's not really taking the breast at the minute and I'm terrified of her being starving and loosing weight
I try to put her on the breast first but if she gets really agitated I give her a bottle