Breastfeeding dilemma...

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I am the proud mum of my fourth baby, who is three days old and absolutely gorgeous:A

He is fully breastfed, as I did with my three others, and in a similar vein, got off to a good start with feeding.

However... I am currently suffering from the sorest (sp?) nipples I have ever experienced! They are agony - I have had soreness to some degree with all of the others right near the start, which I have considered normal, and keeping a good eye on the latch and positioning has always helped, but this is like nothing I have felt before, I swear it feels like that 'sharp scratch' when you have an injection repeatedly over and over for the duration of the feed. I was in tears last night as it was so painful and tbh I dread him wanting feeding.

I have some Lansinoh and as ever am keeping an eye on attachment and how he latches on, but my nipples are cracked and sore and not healed.

We went out earlier and I bought all the expressing gubbins I have used when expressing for my others when babies, thinking as my milk is currently rather abundant, I could express some off to give in a bottle and give my nipples time to heal.

Thing is (and I feel rather guilty for even thinking about this - I am sure there are mums out there who will get where I am coming from) we bought a couple of cartons of the ready-made formula in case things get worse before they get better and I find the pain unbearable (which is something I have thought about as they feel that bad right now.) I have breastfed my other three for varying lengths of time, the 'shortest' being a year, and have never ever given any of them formula, ever, which is something I have been really pleased about. Thus the guilty feelings that I am actually vaguely considering it when this is my fourth and I've 'been there, done that'!

So I suppose I'm asking if anyone's been in the same position and what did you do, did you power through, did you express, did you give formula? How did it work for you and would you do it again, or not?

I'm just off to sterilise the pump so any experiences to read over would be great!

Edited to add: I fully understand the potential problems with giving formula feeds to a breastfed baby at this stage, and also how it can change the balance of the baby's tummy, which is a consideration for me.

belfastgirl23

Sorry can't help at all but congrats on the new addition

Kit_Kat_Kate

Hi, Cabbage leaves is good for sore nipples. I had pain like you say, I BF twins. The pain for me lasted about a week and then that was it.

BF should,t hurt could you talk to your HV/ CMW? Are you getting home visits? As baby is only days old? Ask them to put you in touch with BF co-ordinatior!

Keeping_Positive

Congratulations I wondered if babe had appeared.


Its a while ago for me since DS is now 8:eek: but I was sucessful with DD1 - half and half with DD2 and a complete failure with DS. He was just lazy and wouldnt latch on. I wouldnt stop like the midwife told me :mad: but do try a bit of both. Even if he doesnt ever quite get there every bit will count but on the other hand he will be fine without.

Do be careful with latching I think I was too cocky with the second two after the sucess of DD1 so that didnt help.

My three are all healthy and I cant tell any difference if fact DS is the brightest - still lazy though!

Keeping_Positive

Oh forgot to add I did go through a sore phaze at around a week with DD1 but the midwife helped with postioning and I never looked back so it could be just that as he is so young.

cte1111

I had that level of pain with breast feeding my DD. I persevered and sorry to say it did not get better. I feel like it affected my initial bond with her as I associated her with pain. I think it does depend on the baby rather than your 'technique' sometimes. Whatever choice you make, please don't feel guilty. I'm not sure pumping will help, but hope you have a more positive experience than me.

tiamai_d

The thing is, you know that giving some formula (which will fill their belly and give you a break) will cause some problems unless you have a LOT of willpower not to give more so the choice is yours. I have nothing against formula at all and I don't see it as being a bad thing, it's food.

You sure you don't have thrush?

I'd firstly try expressing and give whatever you get, if need be I'd then give some formula but not any more than that.

It kinda sounds like a painful let down reflex too, which hopefully should ease off in the next few days.

Don't feel guilty, you have 4, you just don't have time to mess about and it's not all about baby when there are 3 others needing your attention too.

There is also nipple shields, I've never used them myself but I do know that others have found them very useful. Both during feeds and just to let your nipples have a rest without being in contact with pads/bras etc.

yummymummy1987_2

Hi, Congrats on new baby! its lovely having a little one in the house :j.
With my 2nd son i had severe pain in the first few days of bfeeding which seemed so strange after feeding ds1 till after a year with no problems.
My nipples actually peeled it was sooo painful, he was correctly postioned even got 2 diff mw to check even though after my previous experience i felt i should know what i was doing!!!!
In the end the pain subsided and i think it was partly due to his size (11lb 10oz) and being so hungry to get the milk so fast he sucked too hard.........well anyway we managed to make it past 13 months bfeeding and not a oz of formula.
Not saying good or bad either way if you do decide to give formula, just wanted to let you know others have felt severe pain and continued.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and most importantly just enjoy bubs we all know how fast they grow up

tiamai_d

Meant to ask, along with the pain, do you get that 'punched in the stomach, twisting, gut clenching' feeling too? If you do, I'd say it was probably the let down reflex being a bit hay wire right now.

sarahevie

With my first daughter I was in agony. The first 2 weeks was hit and miss, but after that she really hurt me. It was when the midwife was teaching me the 'rugby hold' and she went on wrong and that was it.

I was gushing with blood everytime she fed, she ripped the ends off my nipples, then everytime she fed she ripped the scabs off. I was desperate to give her formula but MV, HVs all said breast is best persevere. I tried nipple shields but it was still agony.

In the end I expressed off my right side (the worst affected) every feed for four weeks, whilst breast feeding off my left. After 6 weeks I was all healed and continued to feed until she was 16 months.

I'm glad I didn't go down the formula route in the end, friends of mine once they have started introducing formula they have stopped BF pretty quickly after. That's not a problem if you want to, just something to consider.

framie96

I had similar problems with my first and found that using nipple shields for a few days really helped. Good luck, hope things calm down!