I've decided the breastfeeding just isn't going as well as I hoped.. little man is very hungry and only 1 boob is producing... I'm guessing if I don't feed him from the boob they will just dry up. is there anything I can do to speed it up... feel guilty but my nipples r too sore.. I've tried every cream going x
@suzie80, I have the stabbing pains.. he's feeding at the mo. so will check for thrush later... advice is so welcoming its nice to be able to talk to people in the same situations... I love his little face while I feed him something my body has worked so damn hard to produce.. he settles so much better after a boob feed... just the enjoyment he gets is pushing me to carry on.. I will deffo get some cabbage.. what a smart idea... deffo worth a try xx
You can! So many people don't have the right support see scabs hanging off there nipples , breast pad stuck to the scab and no one tells u it can be like that early days. My experiences of breast feeding have been similar but different each time. I've had mastitis three times too and let me tell u the determination it takes to carry on through that is something. A fever of 40 hallucinations and my boobs are huge bruised and lumpy and feeding made me scream. But I got through it because I did it once before and knew how it goes. I've had the baby with tongue tie who just doesn't seem to feed oroperly too. It's such a learning curve and I'm sure even this next time I'll have sights of the formula in my back cupboard when my nipples are agony and still think about giving the baby just one bottle of formula in a moment of weakness lol. I'd recommend Savoy cabbage out in freezer for 1 hour the individual leaves and place in your bra or leave in fridge and do this. Can help with many breast complaints :) also several brands do nipple things u put in fridge and place on boobs with the gel stuff in them. Keep an eye baby doesn't have thrush in its mouth too as that can give u really bloody sore nipples and stabbing pains too.
@mrsmowmow, @suzie80 thankyou so much ladies.. I'm gonna troop on... thanx for words of wisdom. I can do this!!! xxx
It does get better your nipples just take a while to harden to it. No matter how long or how many babies u have we all go through it. I've had blisters on my nipples I've bled into the breast pump my nipples had big scabs falling off too. Keep starting on the boob that feels less full. As u start to regulate your boobs will feel cool and empty but it's because your body isn't storing milk u for. Need but producing as u feed. Early days your just full of milk till that happens. Plus baby has growth spurts and will cluster feed demand more and more and it's there way of being in tune with your body to say oi produce more. Always eat or drink while feeding. U would be suprised how much u need to drink to bf. Nipple shields are great for those times where your grimacing crying out and curling your toes from pain when they latch on. If u get over these few weeks it's a breeze. If your wanting to carry on and struggling see a breast feeding consultant there's often drop in local to people. Good luck x
@winterbaby95, I have nipple shields but I've not tried them might give that a try.. yes will try the breast milk too... doesn't seem to be tongue tied... xx
@donzi.harri Rubbing the breast milk around your nipple can help too :) Have you tried nipple shields? xx
yes @winterbaby95 recently tried coconut oil too... nothing seems to help... :( xx
thankyou @karenb1601 my boob feels like its gonna explode... think I may let him suck and just keep reducing gradually... its so hard... xx
i agree with @tam77 hun. i has to stop after 4 weeks as one boob wasnt producing as much as the other and jacob was so hungry that he was feeding every 45 mins in the day and every hour and a half at night. i was so exhausted and so was he. with regards to yr milk drying up it can take a couple of weeks. only express if yr really uncofortable to prevent blocked ducts or mastitis and only a little at a time. and dont be hard on yrself cuz u tried it at least and u have to do whats best for u both @donzi.harri x
@tam77, I've been pumping but it seems its the pump that's making my nipples sore... I love feeding him and the close ness and how he relys on me, but its the constantly feeding that's hard work... think I will mull it over for the next few days before I make a full decision... I haven't fed him this morning now they r rock hard... think I'm gonna have to give in and feed... its quite hard to give up .. I thought I would give up easily xxx
Having a newborn is hard enough no need to make even harder by adding the pressure of feeding. this is my 4th ive tried breast feeding 2 out of 4 and i now have the balance right for me, i formula feed but i express and top up with breast milk so baby is still getting the best of both but isnt hungry every half hour which seems to happen with breast fed babies. It works for me and thats the most important thing minimise the stress on both mum and baby xxxx
thankyou @tam77 its my first time feeding my first 2 boys I didn't have the confidence... but I'm so sore.. midwife checked the latch many times and said its good... he just sucks so hard, an he's very greedy... he will have breast for 40 mins to a hour then a 4oz bottle of formula. its just to hard... xx
all you can do is wait it out. try not to stimulate them in anyway. Dont feel guilty you've given it ago and aslong as baby is getting fed it really doesnt matter. Everyone puts so much pressure on themselves to breastfeed but a well mummy and full baby is the most important thing xxx.
Make sure it's savoy and not white lol it's the crinkly looking darker green one. And the thrush can make u sore as hell. Some nystatin drops or similar from the doc will clear it up. Are your nipples red at all? Baby might have white plaque in there mouth tongue or cheeks if they have thrush but it can make them fussy as time goes by as there mouth gets as sore as your nipples. Try and keep them dry and clean and change pads very regularly and get some air to them boobies. Sit topless when u can in this heat I wouldn't be suprised if u had a touch of thrush. It's real painful @donzi.harri