The Breast Feeding Support Thread

Ginger Ail

First time poster!

Just wanted to say that my baby was the exact same. She is 9 weeks today and the last 3 weeks have seen a huge improvement. She was described as a "ferocious feeder" by the midwife in the hospital and that continued for a number of weeks, where it felt like I was googling the possibility of growth spurts every single day not to mind every week!!

As I said she is only 9 weeks, so I am by no means an expert, but 2 things that worked for me:
After feeding my little girl I used to wind her on my shoulder and cover her with a blanket. Then when putting her into the Moses basket I would leave the blanket behind her and then cover it over her front. I think this just made the transition easier that she wasn't being put on to a cold surface.
Also, I used a soother, just for that moment of when you put her down and she wanted to suck again. I know some people don't recommend them (and some babies won't take them) but I knew she was just sucking for comfort rather than feeding. It worked for us anyway.

Best of luck with the next few weeks, hope it gets easier. Don't forget to drink plenty of water!

Cunning Stunt

Thanks so much for the responses! Today was mostly another couch day but i got out with the pram for some food shopping and air. Baby slept well last night so my energy is better. She's still feeding like crazy and is welded to my boob as I type but she didnt mind lying in her chair earlier so that I could play with the toddler. All going well today so, thk god

Cunning Stunt

Ha it seems i am haunting this thread but I have another question. Did someoe in here mention a 6 week sleep regression? My baby is 6 weeks now and her sleep is very weird the past few days. She can be awake for 6/7 hour stretches. In that time she will fall asleep a few times and i will put her to bed only for her to wake 5 mns later! She is draining my boobs when shes awake so long too.

cyning

6 week growth spurt! That I didn't stop breastfeeding when my first little girl went through it it passes after a few days and is completely normal their little way of upping your supply.

How Strange

6 week growth spurt was by far the worst. On my son I fell asleep sitting on the sofa from pure exhaustion as he thumped me and screamed for more milk. It lasted for a few days, on and off. I was so so relieved when it was over. With my daughter she calmly but determinedly fed constantly for 36 hours. Maybe she slept for an hour here and there.

However it'll start getting much easier from now on. That's your big reward for sticking with it through the hellish growth spurt

Cunning Stunt

Thanks for the info. Its midnight here and i am still trying to get her to sleep! How can she be awake the entire day like this its mad! Shes not even hungry anymore, just comfort sucking

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Ooh yes the 6 week growth spurt. I've heard that it's a make or break time in bfing and if you survive it, you'll survive anything. Breastfeeding just kind of clicked for me and I found it got easier after it

bauble1

Cunning Stunt wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Its midnight here and i am still trying to get her to sleep! How can she be awake the entire day like this its mad! Shes not even hungry anymore, just comfort sucking

Hi, I know it seems like she is comfort sucking but she is actually building up your milk supply. It is all sooooo exhausting and like you say when we have normal adult sleep patterns is is mind boggling that the little baby is not also wrecked. But it is nature doing it's thing. Well done mama. It will all come good. Prop yourself up in the bed with the baby and doze if you can. I also learnt on my second to try and not look at my phone as much during the night as I would've on my first as it woke me up more. When I fed in the dark, it helped me feel more rested.

Cunning Stunt

So today she's making up for the lack of sleep yesterday and meanwhile my boobs are in pain and feel like they'll explode. Why do they build up the supply when they then don't use it? Will have to dig out the pump...

lazygal

Cunning Stunt wrote: »

So today she's making up for the lack of sleep yesterday and meanwhile my boobs are in pain and feel like they'll explode. Why do they build up the supply when they then don't use it? Will have to dig out the pump...

If you pump that might make things worse, as your body might think there is a baby feeding and produce even more. I found hand expressing relieved the worst of it, but the fuller feeling would go away really quickly.

spottybananas

Yeah if you pump only do enough to relieve discomfort, if you drain them your body thinks baby has done it and needs more.

texas star

Hi just wondering about the expressing.I'm bf now 3 months exclusive if I start to express will my body produce more milk or is my milk supply established by now?Thanks

bovril

texas star wrote:

Hi just wondering about the expressing.I'm bf now 3 months exclusive if I start to express will my body produce more milk or is my milk supply established by now?Thanks

Hi,
If you start to express you will produce more milk. You might not get much the first few times you try until your body thinks it's producing for another feed so don't worry about it if you only get a few mls. I found the best time to express for me was first thing in the morning. It's also important that you express at the same time each day so your body will regularly produce for the 'express feed'.

jlm29

Hi everyone! Second time breastfeeder here- my new boy is a week and a half, and loves his grub. I've a ginormous crack on one nipple, that has improved, but only a bit. Feeding is so so uncomfortable on that side. His position and latch look ok, and the PHN thought the same, but felt he might have a posterior tongue tie. Just wondering if anyone has come across a tongue tie before that only affected feeding on one side? It seems a bit peculiar to me, but I'm hoping it's something like that that will be easy to solve!

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Congrats I can't help with the tongue tie but I know that Lansinoh balm worked amazing for me when my nipple would crack. Mine only ever happened on one side too but had nothing to do with tongue tie, it was the feeding position that was making the baby latch awkwardly and causing the nipple to crack. Ouch. Hope it clears up for you soon, it's not a nice thing to have

bovril

jlm29 wrote:

Hi everyone! Second time breastfeeder here- my new boy is a week and a half, and loves his grub. I've a ginormous crack on one nipple, that has improved, but only a bit. Feeding is so so uncomfortable on that side. His position and latch look ok, and the PHN thought the same, but felt he might have a posterior tongue tie. Just wondering if anyone has come across a tongue tie before that only affected feeding on one side? It seems a bit peculiar to me, but I'm hoping it's something like that that will be easy to solve!

Hi, I had a problem feeding my baby from the left hand side and developed a cracked nipple. The nurses at my bf support group checked for tongue tie but couldn't spot anything. In the end a friend who is a counselor for friend's of breastfeeding came to my house to check things out. She also didn't suspect tongue tie but there was an issue. She suspected my baby's neck might be stiff. Anyways to cut a long story short she showed my the rugby ball hold and I would use this on the left side. It gives a deeper latch and baby's neck was at a different angle. This worked for me. She also showed me laid back which I used now and again but I was more comfortable with the rugby ball hold with a little practice. Use the lansinoh cream too and air will help with the crack. Best of luck.

jlm29

Thanks guys. Have been using lanolin, and letting the air at them as much as possible, and while there's been an improvement in how my nipples look - ie, the cracks have healed a bit, the pain on my right is still very significant. Have been using the rugby ball hold, I too find that the most comfortable- lying down was best previously, but now I find I can get him on and feeding faster in sitting up- when we were lying down he used to fuss an awful lot.
I'm going to ring the hospital this morning and chat to the lactation consultant. Hopefully we will get sorted soon! It's a good job he's my second, and I know what "normal" is- if he was my first, and I thought this was the norm, I'd have thrown in the towel by now!

How Strange

I had latching issues with my second too. I went back to hospital LC and she showed me how to hold a newborn. She said it was quite common in mothers who fed babies for a few months. I always did the cradle hold, keeping tummy to tummy and folding the breast backwards into her mouth. It took a couple of weeks of vigilance but once I got the latch sorted the very sore nipples healed in days using the lansinoh.

jlm29

Met the lactation consultant this pm- no tongue tie anyhow! It's a latch issue. She was able to get him on, and feeding, with minimal discomfort (which is due to the crack that's already there). I've tried since I got home, and I couldn't quite get it, but I will persevere! At least I know now what the problem is!

How Strange

The LC told me that newborns are taught how to latch so if the latch is wrong from the start you have to teach them again. I really had to be very vigilant for 2-3 weeks especially at night when I was tired. I didn't feed lying down until we got the latch right. I kind of semi propped myself up in bed with pillows under my elbows and she slept on my chest.

jlm29

How Strange wrote: »

The LC told me that newborns are taught how to latch so if the latch is wrong from the start you have to teach them again. I really had to be very vigilant for 2-3 weeks especially at night when I was tired. I didn't feed lying down until we got the latch right. I kind of semi propped myself up in bed with pillows under my elbows and she slept on my chest.

Yes, we're a bit better tonight! I'm just sorry I didn't pick up the phone a week ago! I've been avoiding feeding lying down the last few days anyhow, I just found I haven't got enough control there- he was too inclined to latch on with a shallow latch. Hopefully I'll be good as new in no time!

Marz66

If you could get to a BF group, you could ask the leader to check the latch at the next meeting, and the following meeting too until you're sure it's good.

I know that feeling of trying to get the latch right after the LC has left! Thankfully my LC ran a local support group as well. YouTube videos can help. I watched a "flipple" technique one which tries to latch baby on deeply. Also this link has instructions too

http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-WL

Good luck

jlm29

Marz66 wrote: »

If you could get to a BF group, you could ask the leader to check the latch at the next meeting, and the following meeting too until you're sure it's good.

I know that feeling of trying to get the latch right after the LC has left! Thankfully my LC ran a local support group as well. YouTube videos can help. I watched a "flipple" technique one which tries to latch baby on deeply. Also this link has instructions too

http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-WL

Good luck

Thanks a mil- I don't know of any groups in my area, but I must check. Part of my trouble is that I'm so nervous now about the pain, that I'm faffing around- that's why the LC got him on so well yesterday- she wasn't a bit nervous about getting bitten!!!

bovril

jlm29 wrote: »

Thanks a mil- I don't know of any groups in my area, but I must check. Part of my trouble is that I'm so nervous now about the pain, that I'm faffing around- that's why the LC got him on so well yesterday- she wasn't a bit nervous about getting bitten!!!

Your PHN might know of a group in the area or the hospital LC might know either. I know in my area the clinic that the PHN works out of run a group. I also got details of nearby groups from the hospital I was attending before and after the birth. Other than that have a look online for La Leche League, Cuidiu and Friends of Breastfeeding and they should let you know of anything in your area.

I know the fear of anticipation of pain when latching on only too well. I used to almost cry thinking about that latch when I had a crack. I hope in a few days time it's a lot better for you.

Marz66

On www.breastfeeding.ie you can put in your county and a list of the support groups in that county comes up

jlm29

Thanks you guys. There's a new group started near me, the PHN posted me the details today.
Small bit better the last couple of days... The crack is shrinking, though every now and again I let my guard down and jaws does a job on it again!!!
Has anyone had any success in reducing wind in baby by cutting out certain foods? I have a feeling I may need to start by eliminating chocolate...

Marz66

I tried to cut down on chocolate and onions but can't say I noticed a difference. I think we can blame what we eat but it may not make a difference.

Small babies will have wind! Frequent winding should help (obviously).

If you're concerned you could have the latch checked just to make sure babs isn't taking in too much wind that way.

Glad to hear things are getting better.

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Yes, cutting out dairy made a huge difference to our little one wind/nappy/eczema wise. Turned out she had (and still has) a cows milk protein allergy and I was eating bucket loads of choice

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Has anyone used the Canesten pessary while breastfeeding? I bought the Canesten combination pack earlier after looking it up online and reading that it was fine while breastfeeding. Just read the instruction leaflet there now and it says to discontinue breastfeeding during use. Wtf does that even mean It's only a single dose pessary so would I just not breastfeed for the few hours after using it? I will ring dr in the morning to clarify but I was really hoping to use it tonight

spottybananas

Bella Most Rubble wrote: »

Has anyone used the Canesten pessary while breastfeeding? I bought the Canesten combination pack earlier after looking it up online and reading that it was fine while breastfeeding. Just read the instruction leaflet there now and it says to discontinue breastfeeding during use. Wtf does that even mean It's only a single dose pessary so would I just not breastfeed for the few hours after using it? I will ring dr in the morning to clarify but I was really hoping to use it tonight

You could ask on Extended Breastfeeding in Ireland fb page?

jlm29

If I were you, I would ring your local maternity ward, wherever you had your baby. They're awfully helpful- I rang mine on my last when I needed to take an anti histamine. Either that or your local out of hours doc, Caredoc here, but whatever you call them!

Sligo1

Yep definitely just ring your maternity hospital or maternity ward. And you can ring them now if youre hoping to take it overnight. They will have a list of medications that are allowed or otherwise contraindicated during breastfeeding.

jlm29

Things going better here! Still have a crack in one nipple, but it's improved a bit, and it's only sore for initial latch now, but not throughout feeding. I realised yesterday I've been a bit slack in applying lanolin, because it's improved, so I need to get my act together. Baby still inclined to have a shallow latch if he gets away with it. I think maybe my supply is a bit too much for him, and my letdown is a bit strong, so I think he's been clamping down to try and slow it down.
He was awful unsettled the last couple of days- I thought maybe it was a growth spurt or something, but I've been block feeding since yesterday afternoon, and it's made a big difference, so I assume he wasn't getting any hind milk, and was getting hungry again very quickly. I was explaining my theory to my other half earlier-"you know like, when you eat a McDonald's, and you're satisfied leaving the building, but then you're hungry again after an hour? Well it's like that I think"!

tinkerbell

Bella Most Rubble wrote: »

Has anyone used the Canesten pessary while breastfeeding? I bought the Canesten combination pack earlier after looking it up online and reading that it was fine while breastfeeding. Just read the instruction leaflet there now and it says to discontinue breastfeeding during use. Wtf does that even mean It's only a single dose pessary so would I just not breastfeed for the few hours after using it? I will ring dr in the morning to clarify but I was really hoping to use it tonight

Go to the page The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk information service page on Facebook. It's run by pharmacist Wendy Jones who specialises in what drugs are safe in women who breastfeed. She tends to respond pretty quick if the info you are looking for isn't on her standard factsheets.

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Brilliant thanks ladies I messaged the breastfeeding network and while I was waiting for a reply, I rang the mat. Both of them gave the same answer, saved me a lot of hassle

Cunning Stunt

I am still breastfeeding and she will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I know its not a huge amount of time but I never thought I would get this far. For various reasons, I only managed 2 weeks with my first child so i am thrilled. This time 3 weeks ago we had challenges that made me think i was ready to switch to formula, but we got through. Her need for constamt feeds has just gone suddenly down too which is weird but friends tell me its normal. Anyway thanks all for your encouragement. I dont know how long i will end up breastfeeding for, i just take one day at a time, but i am happy with the journey so far

madeinamerica

Well done CS. Each journey is so different.

jlm29

Cunning Stunt wrote: »

I am still breastfeeding and she will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I know its not a huge amount of time but I never thought I would get this far. For various reasons, I only managed 2 weeks with my first child so i am thrilled. This time 3 weeks ago we had challenges that made me think i was ready to switch to formula, but we got through. Her need for constamt feeds has just gone suddenly down too which is weird but friends tell me its normal. Anyway thanks all for your encouragement. I dont know how long i will end up breastfeeding for, i just take one day at a time, but i am happy with the journey so far

Well done! My boy is 6 weeks this week. I can't believe it! Am preparing my self for the infamous 6 week growth spurt! There's a local (ish) cuidiu group in the morning, so I'm hoping to make that.

emer_b

Well done Cunning, the hardest part is behind you now. You can keep going as long as you want, it will only get easier.

annamarie2013

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

aughannalady

annamarie2013 wrote:

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

I have 13 wk old who is just coming out of this phase. I don't think I did anything specific but rather he sort of grew out of it as he got hardier and is more satisfied now that my milk is established. For night time feeding I found the only way was just keep him in the bed with me or pump a few ounces so hubby could feed him.

John Mason

annamarie2013 wrote: »

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

She is a little baby who is scared of the world and wants her mammy close.
Babies don't/can't form bad habits until around the 4 month mark'ish.

Give her want she needs now, how I would love to have the tiny baby snuggly time back

RentDayBlues

annamarie2013 wrote: »

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

Baby is just 3 weeks, no such thing as bad habits at this stage. If it helps everyone get sleep then there is no harm. Mine did the same til around 6 weeks and now at 2 hates sleeping in anyone's bed but her own

lazygal

annamarie2013 wrote: »

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

There are no bad habits at three weeks. I took both of mine into the bed and co slept safely. There is a 'fourth trimester'-once I read up on it it made perfect sense. They've barely known not having you so close they can hear your heartbeat, they need gentle adjustment to the outside world.

How Strange

At that age there is no such thing as a bad habit. If co sleeping helps the baby sleep then it helps you. How can that be a bad habit?

As lazygal said, this is the 4th trimester and they just want to be close to their mother.

tinkerbell

annamarie2013 wrote: »

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

A 3 week old newborn only wants to feel safe and secure and that place is with their mum. They have been in your belly for 9 months, they are only in this world for 3 weeks. Somebody also mentioned babies only create bad habits at 4 months - I don't believe this is true either. A 4 month old is still tiny and is not capable of bad habits. I find it sad that people think so

Anyway, like others said - Google the fourth trimester.

Besides, as I read somewhere else - you don't give birth to a digestive system. You give birth to a tiny human being with feelings and needs. Just because they are fed, have a clean nappy on, etc doesn't mean that they should just then lay in their cot quietly. They need comfort and security too. Hold your baby, cuddle them, enjoy this time. It goes by very fast. And don't let anybody ever tell you you're giving your baby bad habits or are spoiling them.

John Mason

tinkerbell wrote: »

A 3 week old newborn only wants to feel safe and secure and that place is with their mum. They have been in your belly for 9 months, they are only in this world for 3 weeks. Somebody also mentioned babies only create bad habits at 4 months - I don't believe this is true either. A 4 month old is still tiny and is not capable of bad habits. I find it sad that people think so

.

I worded my post badly. By "Bad habits" I meant at around 4 months babies start to recognise routine's i.e. realise certain things happen at certain times.

Routines makes babies feel safe and secure as they know what is happening i.e. if i am lonely/afraid and I cry someone will get me and things will be better. there no such things as "bad habits" but associations do begin to form at around this age.

JR6

annamarie2013 wrote: »

Anyone got tips for a three week old baby who loves being held most of the night if she can get away with it?? After feeding, cries when put down? Really don't want to give a bad habit of bringing into bed. Any advice gratefully accepted.

Put a hot water bottle down in her moses basket/cot while you're feeding her. Then when you put her down she is not going onto a cool surface so shouldn't wake up. Worked for me!

madeinamerica

Has anyone experienced increased night waking in a toddler? Any advice?

My son is nearly 17 months and breastfeeding 3-4 times a day with 2 bottles of bm or cows milk when I'm at work, more breast feedings on my days off. He has been waking about once a night for a few months but went back to sleep very quickly after a feed. in the last two weeks he's been waking around 1-2am and not going back to sleep until like 6am when he'll sleep soundly till nearly 10 if we don't wake him. In the middle of the night he wants to feed all the time and gets very upset if I take him off even though he is half asleep. I bring him into bed with me as I can't function otherwise, too exhausting! He had two colds since Christmas so I was putting it down to that, but he is over them now and still waking. He has been eating less solid food and getting picky about what he eats.

tinkerbell

The Wonder Weeks say that a developmental leap is happening around the 17 month mark, mic, so that would explain it!