Breastfeeding dilemma...

madtrekker

Yay - good news about the MW visit. Fingers crossed that you will soon be pain-free.

Gingham_Ribbon

Agreed. B/F shouldn't hurt at all. It's a wonderful feeling once everything is going as it should.

Jo_R_2

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

I had this problem (due to bad latch) with my first. I couldn't sit up so he was having to feed from the side of me while I was lying on my back. You can imagine! Not good at all.

Anyway, I got over it by (look away any men reading this) being bare breasted ALL THE TIME!

Lanolin creams are good but think about it. When you have a scab/scratch/sore you don't leave a plaster on it or it doesn't heal properly. You leave it to the air and it quickly heals. I would personally lay off the cream altogether for a few days.

Letting milk dry on it and letting the air get to it is highly recommended - as is seeing a BF counsellor to make sure he is latching on properly and there isn't an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

Congratulations!

There is a theory behind such use of creams etc, it's called something like 'moist wound healing'. I can't remember the specifics as to how it works but I believe Lansinoh and other similar creams work on that sort of healing - sure someone else can explain it who knows a bit more?

Yesterday's optimism was unfortunately short-lived:( Although I have plucked up the confidence to unlatch baby and try latching him on again (ouch ouch ouch), I still can't seem to quite get it as the MW did. I can see how my posture and positioning was off; it's just the actual latching him on I can't seem to get spot-on.

I feel in a terrible dilemma. I'm such an ardent bf'er that to give up, partly or wholly, is almost unthinkable to me. Although at times it does seem like a very viable option given how painful feeding can be, I am 100% sure that I would be more miserable if I actually did.

However, I do not have much confidence in myself at the moment and I dread feeds still. For something that has previously been very easy for me, to suddenly find myself faltering is very difficult to deal with and I don't want to say I am feeling depressed, but I am certainly feeling very unhappy and tearful all the time:(

Add to that feeling very sleep-deprived (not OH though - he's been asleep on the sofa all morning:mad:) and am not feeling great today.

sir_monster

Hi jo, congrats on new arrival and sorry you are having a hard time.

I had a boy just over 6 weeks ago and I have mainly bfed him, however as he was small he had hypoglycemia and was in the scbu for a week and had to have formula type 'top ups' from the start. We have continued with top ups in the evening and sometimes in the night because it does give me a break, as since we brought him home he has wanted feeding every 2 hours or less and to be honest I'm not sure I can cope with that night and day. It hasn't affected my ability to bf and do try to express (when I get 5 minutes!) to keep up my supply. Good luck, but if you need a break please don't beat yourself up at the end of the day a happy baby needs a happy mum!

Stargirl12

Jo_R wrote: »

There is a theory behind such use of creams etc, it's called something like 'moist wound healing'. I can't remember the specifics as to how it works but I believe Lansinoh and other similar creams work on that sort of healing - sure someone else can explain it who knows a bit more?

Yesterday's optimism was unfortunately short-lived:( Although I have plucked up the confidence to unlatch baby and try latching him on again (ouch ouch ouch), I still can't seem to quite get it as the MW did. I can see how my posture and positioning was off; it's just the actual latching him on I can't seem to get spot-on.

I feel in a terrible dilemma. I'm such an ardent bf'er that to give up, partly or wholly, is almost unthinkable to me. Although at times it does seem like a very viable option given how painful feeding can be, I am 100% sure that I would be more miserable if I actually did.

However, I do not have much confidence in myself at the moment and I dread feeds still. For something that has previously been very easy for me, to suddenly find myself faltering is very difficult to deal with and I don't want to say I am feeling depressed, but I am certainly feeling very unhappy and tearful all the time:(

Add to that feeling very sleep-deprived (not OH though - he's been asleep on the sofa all morning:mad:) and am not feeling great today.

You say that you would be more miserable if you did give formula...is this because you would see it as a faliure?

my DS was bf up to 7 months - i felt so much pressure to bf and by 6 weeks i wanted to start combined feeding but felt guilted into sticking with the sole bf...after this his weight dropped as did my mood until 5 months when he completely dropped of the weight chart and i started anti-depressants.

we tried to introduce formula whilst his weight was dropping but he refused so bf was the only option.

Currently expecting number 2 and will be combined feeding from the start...well after a couple of weeks. Never again will i place myself in that situation.

I echo what other posters have said. yes breast milk is the best for your baby...but so is a happy mum. even if you introduce one bottle a day which your OH can do (you said he really wants to help and his needs shouldn't be overlooked) and it gives you, and your nipples a break!

what ever you decide - good luck!

Gingham_Ribbon

Sorry you're feeling bad, Jo. This is a hard stage and I hope your OH understands and is supporting you. This is definitely a 2 person job!

There are ways round this, Jo, if you really want to breastfeed your baby. Have a think about letting the wounds dry the more usual way - with your milk on them to help.

Take all the help you're offered. This is a tough time, regardless of how you're feeding your baby.

skintchick

Jo, I felt the same way as you. I would have been utterly gutted had I ended up giving formula, even 'just' one bottle. So I got help, from everyone, I called all the helplines lots of times, I went to the local Bfing cafe, I called a friend who has BF three babies (and is now on her fourth), I cried through feeds and gritted my teeth and was just bl00dy-minded about it.

And at 10 weeks, the pain went.

Now that I am training, I can see that despite the help I wasn;t really positioning her right, and that was probably the cause of the pain, so please do get loads and loads of help.

ultimately you decide what matters most to you, and should that change, then there isn;t any shame in giving some formula, but having said that I totally understand why you don;t want to and can only say I have been there and got through it.

As gingham says, naked boobies work well - I sat with my top undone all the time at home and that did help, but I also used creams sometimes.

Hope you can get it sorted, are you able to go to your local BF cafe?