The Breast Feeding Support Thread

LegacyUser

Haha!we've had a few nights like that too, where the wind just will not come out and she flails around the place for the next few hours (well til I have to get up with her sister at 7am).It's a nightmare.
Congrats on the milestone Lucuma.I'm the same, in total uncharted territory here.My breasts are softer the last couple of weeks and seem a bit smaller-they dont get quite so painful when full-but there's plenty in there.I have a very fast flow and it sprays everywhere if she hasnt fed in a while.I use M&S bras, I find them very comfy myself.
Do others leak too?it was good to see those posts.I am waking up soaking still.I thought it would stop now too.

ja1986

Can anyone advise me about my milk supply? I am 6 days post partum and was breastfeeding until yesterday. I'm suffering with dry cracked nipples. The pain of feeding my baby is making me physically sick .I tried to feed her again from the boobs today and my bad one started bleeding into her feed and dripping onto her clothes. It's just horrendous. My boobs are so fu and heavy and sore so I tried to pump earlier and only got half an ounce between the two boobs. So I can't even give her breast milk from the bottle.

Should I pump now again or leave my boobs calm down? I'm just wondering if I leave it a whole day of not breastfeeding or pumping will I not produce milk anymore?

Thanks for any help/advice

bovril

ja1986 wrote: »

Can anyone advise me about my milk supply? I am 6 days post partum and was breastfeeding until yesterday. I'm suffering with dry cracked nipples. The pain of feeding my baby is making me physically sick .I tried to feed her again from the boobs today and my bad one started bleeding into her feed and dripping onto her clothes. It's just horrendous. My boobs are so fu and heavy and sore so I tried to pump earlier and only got half an ounce between the two boobs. So I can't even give her breast milk from the bottle.

Should I pump now again or leave my boobs calm down? I'm just wondering if I leave it a whole day of not breastfeeding or pumping will I not produce milk anymore?

Thanks for any help/advice

Hi, can you give one of these women a call? http://www.cuidiu-ict.ie/supports_breastfeeding_counsellors
They would be best placed to advise you. Hope you get some relief soon.

tinkerbell

ja1986 wrote: »

Can anyone advise me about my milk supply? I am 6 days post partum and was breastfeeding until yesterday. I'm suffering with dry cracked nipples. The pain of feeding my baby is making me physically sick .I tried to feed her again from the boobs today and my bad one started bleeding into her feed and dripping onto her clothes. It's just horrendous. My boobs are so fu and heavy and sore so I tried to pump earlier and only got half an ounce between the two boobs. So I can't even give her breast milk from the bottle.

Should I pump now again or leave my boobs calm down? I'm just wondering if I leave it a whole day of not breastfeeding or pumping will I not produce milk anymore?

Thanks for any help/advice

Call a lactation consultant immediately:
http://www.alcireland.ie/find-a-consultant/

Or call a Ciudiu or La Leche League counsellor for advice:
http://www.cuidiu-ict.ie/supports_breastfeeding_counsellors
https://www.lalecheleagueireland.com/groups/

I'd recommend getting a lactation consultant to visit you at home (costs about €100 and is covered by health insurance usually - you can claim it back).

You poor thing, it will get better - just need some professional help to get you sorted.

RentDayBlues

ja1986 wrote: »

Can anyone advise me about my milk supply? I am 6 days post partum and was breastfeeding until yesterday. I'm suffering with dry cracked nipples. The pain of feeding my baby is making me physically sick .I tried to feed her again from the boobs today and my bad one started bleeding into her feed and dripping onto her clothes. It's just horrendous. My boobs are so fu and heavy and sore so I tried to pump earlier and only got half an ounce between the two boobs. So I can't even give her breast milk from the bottle.

Should I pump now again or leave my boobs calm down? I'm just wondering if I leave it a whole day of not breastfeeding or pumping will I not produce milk anymore?

Thanks for any help/advice

The baby is best at emptying the breast, I know it's not what you want to hear. Fresh air and lanishon cream (sp?) will really help. I had cracked nipples on both of mine, it's horrendous. I just went topless for days, made sure to moisture regularly. Use the breast milk itself as it will help

In the meantime maybe nipples shields might help

yellow hen

You poor girl, that's awful. I don't know much about it so won't attempt to offer advice other than nipple shields. They saved me. Definitely worth a go before you give up. I got boots own brand if that's any help.

jlm29

If you want to keep breastfeeding, you really need to figure out why it's sore- it shouldn't be. It might be something very correctable like a lip or a tongue tie, could be baby's position, or a shallow latch.
It's not really advised to pump before 6 weeks unless under the guidance of a lactation consultant - it may cause supply issues.
You should contact a cuidu counsellor, or else get onto your maternity hospital and see if there's a lactation consultant you can see.
Well done for looking for help, and good luck.
PS- my first couple of weeks were very tough (lots of pain because of cracked nipples)- I got sorted, and now we're flying, and I'm so glad I stuck with it.

ja1986

It's actually really getting me down I think I'm getting the baby blues over it. I have constant tears coming down for the last few days and I really don't have time to be depressed over it because I have a toddler. Public health nurse told me to pump and give baby formula until I'm ready for the nipple again,she was afraid the baby wasn't getting enough food. After I wrote the first post I sat down to pump a bit because my boobs were so full and I actually expressed 2 ounces which is a lot compared to my half ounce this morning. I know it's silly but it really lifted my mood! I have the doctor tomorrow morning as I am getting stomach cramps the last few days after my c section so I'm going tell her everything she may have some advice.
My partner is after taking the night feeds the last two nights and wants to do tonight again so I think il leave him do it and wake up with a fresh mind tomorrow and put on my nipple shields and battle the day!!
Thanks everyone x

angeldelight

Lucuma you might have already mentioned but do you use a sling? My little girl had terrible wind when she was tiny but a few minutes walking around in the sling and she'd get loads up, and usually farts too

tinkerbell

ja1986 wrote: »

It's actually really getting me down I think I'm getting the baby blues over it. I have constant tears coming down for the last few days and I really don't have time to be depressed over it because I have a toddler. Public health nurse told me to pump and give baby formula until I'm ready for the nipple again,she was afraid the baby wasn't getting enough food. After I wrote the first post I sat down to pump a bit because my boobs were so full and I actually expressed 2 ounces which is a lot compared to my half ounce this morning. I know it's silly but it really lifted my mood! I have the doctor tomorrow morning as I am getting stomach cramps the last few days after my c section so I'm going tell her everything she may have some advice.
My partner is after taking the night feeds the last two nights and wants to do tonight again so I think il leave him do it and wake up with a fresh mind tomorrow and put on my nipple shields and battle the day!!
Thanks everyone x

I know this is not what you want to hear but at this stage, you really really cannot afford to allow your partner do the night feeds. I don't want to sound alarmist but it will really reduce your supply and you will have hard work ahead of you to re-establish your supply. Are you pumping at night when he's doing the night feeds?

Do not take any further advice from your PHN - she is useless. I'm actually angry for you at her crappy advice of giving formula, she just isn't bothered and actually knows feck all about breastfeeding.

Regarding nipple shields, it is not advisable to use them unless under guidance from a lactation consultant as again, they can inhibit supply.

Regarding not getting much from a pump - babies are far more efficient than a pump. Pump is no indication of supply.

Most doctors are not qualified in breastfeeding so if you expect to get answers from your doctor tomorrow, you will probably be disappointed and / or given pretty bad advice. Unless you know your doctor knows how to help with breastfeeding issues.

The only way you'll get this sorted is if you get in touch with someone who knows what they are talking about - lactation consultant preferably, ciudiu or la leche counsellor. You'll get advice straight away and possibly get a home visit within 24 hours. Since you're in so much pain, a tongue / lip tie may be the problem which can be diagnosed by a lactation consultant. Please pick up the phone and call one of the numbers in the links I posted above. No need to suffer needlessly when a solution is there for you. And like you said, you have a toddler so you really need to get this sorted ASAP. Good luck, hang in there.

PS
I hope you don't think I'm being a bit harsh - not trying to, just trying to give you the facts. I'm very passionate about breastfeeding and want women to get the best possible support, the right support and early intervention as the reason most women stop breastfeeding at this early stage is due to no support and bad advice from health professionals who don't know enough about breastfeeding to advise properly (eg your PHN). You've already mentioned that you're very stressed about it so with the right help, you can get back on track and be able to breastfeed without difficulty.

yellow hen

Tinker bell I know your advice is really useful and I've valued it in the past but I disagree with you over the introduction of formula. I genuinely think a happy mammy is as important as a happy mammy. I introduced one formula bottle per day when my little one was 1 wk old as I was finding the bfeeding really hard going and it at least gave my boobs a brief break. It also allowed my husband some of that special one-one time which they often don't get in the early days. In my case, I was sore because my daughter was biting. I wasn't cracked or bleeding and her latch was great but it was excruciating. That one bottle of formula gave me the strength to keep going and we're now feeding for 7 weeks. Once she stopped biting, I dropped the formula bottle and thankfully my supply has been enough to fill that gap. This is of course my opinion and perhaps it is the wrong approach but I just wanted to (respectfully) point out that some other options are sometimes right for that person at that time.

jlm29

Both of you are right in a way! I've not given formula myself, but if introducing a bottle a day saves sanity, and doesn't have an effect on supply, then that's grand- each to their own. I know plenty people combo feed successfully. Taking full nights off night feeds wouldn't be a great idea though, because it would likely have a bad effect on supply, especially at that early stage.
Ja1986, I really hope you've had a better day today!

ja1986

Thank you everyone for the advice.No your not being harsh tinkerbell il ring them straight away in the morning. I had to put the baby on formula or she wouldn't be fed for the last few days over the issues I'm having. Planned on breastfeeding for the day with shields but am currently in hospital with a suspected infection in my womb so wouldn't have been able to feed again,so she needs her formula. I hope to God I have milk still for her tomorrow .

jlm29

ja1986 wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the advice.No your not being harsh tinkerbell il ring them straight away in the morning. I had to put the baby on formula or she wouldn't be fed for the last few days over the issues I'm having. Planned on breastfeeding for the day with shields but am currently in hospital with a suspected infection in my womb so wouldn't have been able to feed again,so she needs her formula. I hope to God I have milk still for her tomorrow .

If you want to maintain your supply, you could ask the staff for a pump. They should have a good hospital grade pump that you can borrow

tinkerbell

Ja - tell them in the hospital that you need the use of a hospital grade pump immediately. You'll have to buy the parts (around €25 I think) in the hospital shop but they can give you the use of the pump. Is your baby with you?

ja1986

tinkerbell wrote: »

Ja - tell them in the hospital that you need the use of a hospital grade pump immediately. You'll have to buy the parts (around €25 I think) in the hospital shop but they can give you the use of the pump. Is your baby with you?

No left the baby at home I'm just in waiting rooms etc prob be home tonight if nothing serious. Should I have brought her?

kandr10

tinkerbell wrote: »

I know this is not what you want to hear but at this stage, you really really cannot afford to allow your partner do the night feeds. I don't want to sound alarmist but it will really reduce your supply and you will have hard work ahead of you to re-establish your supply. Are you pumping at night when he's doing the night feeds?

Do not take any further advice from your PHN - she is useless. I'm actually angry for you at her crappy advice of giving formula, she just isn't bothered and actually knows feck all about breastfeeding.

Regarding nipple shields, it is not advisable to use them unless under guidance from a lactation consultant as again, they can inhibit supply.

Regarding not getting much from a pump - babies are far more efficient than a pump. Pump is no indication of supply.

Most doctors are not qualified in breastfeeding so if you expect to get answers from your doctor tomorrow, you will probably be disappointed and / or given pretty bad advice. Unless you know your doctor knows how to help with breastfeeding issues.

The only way you'll get this sorted is if you get in touch with someone who knows what they are talking about - lactation consultant preferably, ciudiu or la leche counsellor. You'll get advice straight away and possibly get a home visit within 24 hours. Since you're in so much pain, a tongue / lip tie may be the problem which can be diagnosed by a lactation consultant. Please pick up the phone and call one of the numbers in the links I posted above. No need to suffer needlessly when a solution is there for you. And like you said, you have a toddler so you really need to get this sorted ASAP. Good luck, hang in there.

PS
I hope you don't think I'm being a bit harsh - not trying to, just trying to give you the facts. I'm very passionate about breastfeeding and want women to get the best possible support, the right support and early intervention as the reason most women stop breastfeeding at this early stage is due to no support and bad advice from health professionals who don't know enough about breastfeeding to advise properly (eg your PHN). You've already mentioned that you're very stressed about it so with the right help, you can get back on track and be able to breastfeed without difficulty.

While your advice is sound generally, advocating not listening to a phn or doctor is crazy. They look at the overall situation when giving advice, ie how tired/stressed/worried the mam might be and how hungry/unsatisfied the baby might be. Your advice is text book for successful breastfeeding but you can't follow something to the letter when there might be other issues.

tinkerbell

kandr10 wrote: »

While your advice is sound generally, advocating not listening to a phn or doctor is crazy. They look at the overall situation when giving advice, ie how tired/stressed/worried the mam might be and how hungry/unsatisfied the baby might be. Your advice is text book for successful breastfeeding but you can't follow something to the letter when there might be other issues.

When ja went to her PHN, the PHN should have advised she get specialist support and not give her crap advice which has the potential to end breastfeeding for her. It's no coincidence that breastfeeding rates are so low in this country when no proper support is given.

What exactly is textbook breastfeeding? I don't think there is such a thing. Most, if not all, women encounter difficulties while breastfeeding, myself included. The solution to these problems is to get someone who knows what they are talking about to help you. And someone who suggests pump, give formula until ready, is not someone who can help a woman who wants to breastfeed. She should have checked latch, checked for lip or tongue tie etc and referred her on. The PHN basically implied to just see if the pain goes away after pumping for a while. When she puts baby back on the breast then again by the time the pain is gone, she'll have the same problems all over again because the cause of the problem was not investigated properly and she may have the added problem of baby refusing breast due to preferring fast flow of bottle.

I hear of this all the time. Women seeking support from PHNs or GPs, many don't know enough about breastfeeding to advise properly and the end result is that breastfeeding ends when they don't want it to end. My advice was to go see someone who is actually qualified and has actual experience - lactation consultant, counsellor from ciudiu or la leche league. To call that crazy is just baffling.

Ja - hope you get some help this morning when you make the phone call, let us know how you get on. Sometimes you've to shout from the roof tops to get breastfeeding support, unfortunately but hopefully someone will be able to help you today and even give you a home visit.

Jen44

I think some of the advice here is a bit harsh!! Not everyone's breast feeding journey goes the same way!! This thread is a support thread and nagging at someone because they don't feed the way you feed doesn't help anyone!! I think breast feeding rates are low enough in this country without making people feel bad because they feed in a different manor! Asking hubby for a dig out is perfectly fine!!! I would say to you to try pump when he gives a feed both sides it doesn't matter how much milk you get just lets your body know you still need milk at that time! I doubt any expert would tell any mom who's nipples were bleeding not to use nipple shields! Again anything to encourage breast feeding is surely best!! The very best of luck to you it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job and really doing your best for your baby!! You will get there don't worry too much my hubby gave a bottle of expressed milk every single night from around 7 weeks and I fed my little one for 6 months plus had a load of frozen milk from expressing that time! I was delighted to have it when I got back to work! Good luck!

tinkerbell

ja1986 wrote: »

No left the baby at home I'm just in waiting rooms etc prob be home tonight if nothing serious. Should I have brought her?

Hi Ja, ah I thought you meant you were staying overnight in the hospital. How are you feeling today? Did you get home last night? Another option is to call your maternity hospital and ask to see their lactation consultant (they should have one on duty).

spottybananas

I've seen plenty of people have to ignore a gp or phn's advice, many of them believe outdated information. A locum gp told me that if my son wasn't back at birth weight by 3 weeks that he'd have to have top ups and to feed more than his 1-2 hour preference. I did, and all it achieved was him throwing up precious feeds so I stopped that as it was stressing me out and making him puke/waste milk. My own gp then said that was bad advice from her, as obviously if I started top ups my supply would dwindle, the reverse of what was needed. I think advice from a specialist bf source, Cuidiu or a lactation consultant is much better than outdated phn or a general practitioner. Phn's and gps routinely tell women to use hungry baby formula, some of them haven't a clue.

yellow hen

tinkerbell wrote: »

Hi Ja, ah I thought you meant you were staying overnight in the hospital. How are you feeling today? Did you get home last night? Another option is to call your maternity hospital and ask to see their lactation consultant (they should have one on duty).

Depending on your hospital, the hospital lactation consultant might be a no go. I tried that with the Coombe and she was too busy to meet me. They're desperately understaffed for lactation consultants.

melissak

kandr10 wrote: »

While your advice is sound generally, advocating not listening to a phn or doctor is crazy. They look at the overall situation when giving advice, ie how tired/stressed/worried the mam might be and how hungry/unsatisfied the baby might be. Your advice is text book for successful breastfeeding but you can't follow something to the letter when there might be other issues.

They certainly mean well but they seem to not have a huge amount of experience with breastfeeding. I giess the levels are low so that is not their fault. Maybe more qualified breast-feeding phns? Or nurses who breastfeed?

Neyite

Mod:

We would prefer it if posters didn't advise going against medical advice. A public health nurse even a seemingly useless one, is still a medic with the requisite training and qualifications and gives their best advice based on a face to face consult with their patients and also knows the patient history.

By all means, do suggest additional things that the poster could try or different consults that a poster might get a second informed opinion from, but please don't tell a poster to disregard what a healthcare professional has advised them to do.

This is an excellent thread, and one of the few breastfeeding support forums online where there is a balance of support if a mother chooses to supplement or switch to formula if they feel they need to. We should never lose that balance and continue to make it a thread that is inclusive and welcoming to all mums who want to give breastfeeding a shot, whether they do it exclusively or not.

jlm29

yellow hen wrote: »

Depending on your hospital, the hospital lactation consultant might be a no go. I tried that with the Coombe and she was too busy to meet me. They're desperately understaffed for lactation consultants.

My local maternity hospital doesn't even have one. Isn't that a disgrace. I keep meaning to leave a comment on the hse "your service your say". This has just reminded me again.

melissak

Neyite wrote: »

Mod:

We would prefer it if posters didn't advise going against medical advice. A public health nurse even a seemingly useless one, is still a medic with the requisite training and qualifications and gives their best advice based on a face to face consult with their patients and also knows the patient history.

By all means, do suggest additional things that the poster could try or different consults that a poster might get a second informed opinion from, but please don't tell a poster to disregard what a healthcare professional has advised them to do.

This is an excellent thread, and one of the few breastfeeding support forums online where there is a balance of support if a mother chooses to supplement or switch to formula if they feel they need to. We should never lose that balance and continue to make it a thread that is inclusive and welcoming to all mums who want to give breastfeeding a shot, whether they do it exclusively or not.

The problem is that introducing formula too early often leads to lowered milk supply which can make breastfeeding difficult, or impossible.

Neyite

melissak wrote: »

The problem is that introducing formula too early often leads to lowered milk supply which can make breastfeeding difficult, or impossible.

And its ok to tell an OP that. Or to suggest that she goes to a Lactation consultant for a second opinion, or talk to her doctor/ midwife. Or to suggest ways to resolve a breastfeeding issue that are not contrary to the medical advice she has received.

What is NOT ok is to tell her to disregard what a medical professional has advised. They have examined the OP and presumably the baby, read their charts and are aware of any other factors that may be relevant (pre-existing or suspected medical issues for example).

Medical advice is not permitted on Boards. Telling a poster to disregard their nurse's advice is giving medical advice. It's as simple as that.

melissak

Neyite wrote: »

And its ok to tell an OP that. Or to suggest that she goes to a Lactation consultant for a second opinion, or talk to her doctor/ midwife. Or to suggest ways to resolve a breastfeeding issue that are not contrary to the medical advice she has received.

What is NOT ok is to tell her to disregard what a medical professional has advised. They have examined the OP and presumably the baby, read their charts and are aware of any other factors that may be relevant (pre-existing or suspected medical issues for example).

Medical advice is not permitted on Boards. Telling a poster to disregard their nurse's advice is giving medical advice. It's as simple as that.

It is just that the phns maybe need to have someone with hands on experience of breastfeeding. They are doing their best of course but due to the low numbers of breastfeeders in the country they get less experience of the different problems etc so they are not able to help as much as they would like

rainbow kirby

The hospital I had my son in has two separate groups of breastfeeding peer supporters (one for Islington and one for Haringey) - local women who breastfed their own children and volunteer to help new mothers on the post-natal ward and in the community. I found them fantastic - I was having real trouble with getting my son to feed after he had to go back into hospital at 3 days old with jaundice and I had to give formula top-ups to get his blood sugar up, they came to his room and stayed with me until we got sorted and he was feeding properly. They did a home visit 2 days after we got home too to make sure everything was ok. They also run drop-in sessions at the children's centres.

kandr10

melissak wrote: »

It is just that the phns maybe need to have someone with hands on experience of breastfeeding. They are doing their best of course but due to the low numbers of breastfeeders in the country they get less experience of the different problems etc so they are not able to help as much as they would like

How do you know that that's not the case for this phn? I just hate the way they're all tarred with the one brush. Yes some are considered useless but it's not all.

To answer your question tinker bell, when I said text book breastfeeding, I meant a case where there are few problems latching, it's established quickly with no problems generally. Your advice may work in that case but as you rightly pointed out, it's so different for everyone. If I had followed your advice back in the day I wouldn't have got as far with feeding. I needed to give a few bottles of formula and to have all feeds given by bottle for the first 3 weeks, by my husband while I pumped. I used nipple shields unsupervised and pumped from the start rather than waiting 6weeks. I was also told to feed every 3 hours from the start which goes against a lot of advice but it was necessary in our case. When I saw that feeds were being spat up I stopped and consulted with my phn who supported my decision since weight was climbing. I needed her support as she was able to check weights and health of my baby generally to confirm I was looking after her ok.

Now would I give all that advice to a friend? No! It was a very particular circumstance and I don't know what may or may not be going on with other people. The only advice I would agree on is to see a lactation consultant as early as possible.