(Mom's ONLY Please) Any Suggestions?

[~PICKLE~]

As some already know, I had my baby girl on Sat. and my choice is to breast feed. Only problem is.... she's killing me. Waking up every hour, which is okay, but my boobs hurt sooooooooooo bad. Any ideas so I can at least lessen the pain. It really only hurts at first then it eases up. But still my twins look like bruised lollie pops.

 

[TCapp]

Are you engorged? Sometimes putting a bag of frozen peas on 'em helps ease the pain. Lots of nursing to drain them will also help. After a few days they'll calm down and it will be easier.

If it is not engorgement, then I do not know what to say.

 

[TCapp]

After rereading your post, it might be a powerful let-down. I know I have that. Mine hurt when B starts sucking and the milk "rushes" down. After a moment, though, it stops hurting. There's nothing I can suggest about that, if that's the case. But like I said, time will usually help things calm down.

 

[Evening Mist]

It can be painful at first. Sometimes adjusting the way your baby is positioned can help a lot. She should be level with your breasts, and turned to be facing you. So that your bellies are against each other. NOT cradled -- but facing you. Also, make sure her latch is correct. Her lips should cover your entire nipple/areola. (I have a feeling that those words are going to be bleeped out. Sigh.) She shouldn't be getting air through her mouth -- that could cause cracking/bleeding for you, and gas for her.

Try laying down to nurse (Still facing her.) It might be more relaxing and less painful. Also, you can snooze with her there beside you if you are not on any pain medications. If you need tips for making the bed baby-safe, feel free to send me a PM.

Hopefully, this phase will pass quickly! It helps if you can have another mom around who has breastfed to help you with positioning and answer your questions. If you don't have anyone that fits that description, please don't hesitate to PM me.

Your baby is fortunate to have such a devoted mommy!

 

[Tangnefedd]

My daughter had a very painful let down response when she breastfed her son. She hated breastfeeding but knowing it was good for him continued for 12 months. I think breast is best, but I am also of the opinion that if it becomes too traumatic it is not good for mother or baby and the formula option should be explored.

 

[karla]

I hate to say it but you need to just bear with it. I know that it hurts, been there twice, but in all honestly it does get better. If it is a powerful let down maybe you want to try to hand express some of the milk before you latch her on. They will be sore for a while, but eventually your body adjusts to how much milk she needs and regualtes how much it produces and your nipples will toughen up as they become use to all the feeding. Feed her as often as she wants during the day, waking her every couple of hours to feed and then at night let her sleep as much as she will. Hang in there. Although it can be very stressful in the beginning, the benefits so out weigh it all. I loved breastfeeding my children and have to say that it was a little sad when they weaned. Good luck. Also here a website that has tons of information on breastfeeding: www.breastfeeding.com

 

[~PICKLE~]

Waking up tp feed me doesn't bother me, she has to eat, don't want her to strave. When she latches on -----oh my gosh!! It eases up though, The nurses at the hospital said I was doing it right, so I guess I'll have to grit my teeth the first 3-4 mins. and I'll be okay. But wow, my son didn't hurt me like this. I guess my twins have been out of practice for so long, that they have to toughen up again. Oh well, thanks for the suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hisbloodformysins]

I can kind of relate, I ended up only breast feeding my son for two months, actually strictly breast feeding one week. The pump (which is more hastle than just breast feeding). I personaly dragged it on for two months- and since then I have regreted it. Here is my two cents for what's it's worth.....

1. Don't make the mistake of introducing a bottle- because you'll be spoiled by how easy it is- and during this stage it will make it easy for you to just give up I think.

2. I heard it gets easier over time, my son is 2y.o. now, and I still have a wish I could breast feed him now at times for the sweet bonding.

3. As for pain?? Hmmm, I don't know- I guess that it's not supposed to hurt if your using the right position (but I heard that it does still hurt). I would suggest using pain relief measures inbetween breast feeding. Maybe only nurse from one breast with each feeding instead of trying to do both like is suggested- if you get engorged you could pump from other- put that gel stuff on inbetween. Take warm bath. I didn't realize it then, but since then I've been reading a breast feeding book, and I think I was engorged in one side, or atleast had some duct blockage, because though it felt so full, seemed that less came out sometimes. If this happens they recommend a big tooth com with baby oil to run over breast to help break up the block and warm wash cloths, and warm baths- maybe go braless and shirtless and just let them leed freely if that's a problem- well, I hope it helped.

 

[Evening Mist]

Could it possibly be thrush? Do you feel sharp shooting pains that start at your nipple and radiate toward your chest?

Here is something about thrush:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t028100.asp

You can usually see it, but not always. Some women just experience the pain part.

Did you have antibiotics in labor? That would increase your chances of contracting thrush, since antibiotics kill off the bacterias in your body that control yeast.

 

[Tangnefedd]

While breastfeeding is best, I do think some folk get too evangelical about it, to the point where the mother feels guilty if she has to give up, which is wrong. I could not breastfeed my first two children and managed to breastfeed the third until she was four months old. The older two have not suffered for not being breastfed, in fact it was my youngest daughter who got eczema in spite of my best efforts.

My youngest daughter is breastfeeding her 4 month old son. She is starting to wean him as she will be going back to work in April and will not be able to express enough milk to keep him satisfied, he is a very big lad. Fortunately he has always been happy to take formula from a bottle in an emergency.

 

[mamaneenie]

I think every mum has problems breastfeeding at first. I am sure that since you b/fed your son (am I right) it seemed that way from one of your posts. Do you remember how to latch your little girl on properly. I remember that when my son was attached properly it didn't hurt.

I do agree with what the others have said about the powerful let down and engorgement.

Also, I think since she is only one week old, it should be OK to feed her every hour, but how long does she feed for, I remember someone saying that longer feeds are better than shorter feeds, because the fatty, more sustaining hind milk is at the end of a feed.

I also agree with what Tangefedd said about the whole breastfeeding thing, if you can't get around it after exploring all options, there is always formula, using formula doesn't make you a bad mum.

 

[Newly Blessed]

I have to agree that it sounds like a strong let down to me. I had very strong let down with my 2nd son and it hurt terribly for the first 5 minutes or so. The best thing I found was to use a warm heating pad or towel to help let down more quickly and then latch him on afterwards. It also stopped him from gaggin all the time. If it's engorgement, then it would most likely hurt all the time until she nurses long enough.

 

[Tigermom]

Hi,

I had also been told to "just bear with it" and "it gets better." But I had mastitis, a very painful breast infection. So DON'T decide to "bear with it" until you've seen a doctor. It's very likely you have one the conditions described in this forum (mastitis, thrush, engorgement, blocked ducts), but even if you don't, your doctor will be able to give you some tips to feel better. If your doctor doesn't, then you might have to do what I did: see your baby's pediatrician. I am currently breastfeeding my 2nd baby and doing just fine. For my 2nd pregnancy, I went with an OB/Gyn partly because of what happened with my first. Breastfeeding was horrible and my gen physician didn't know what to do. It was so bad that I was ready to quit and made an appt. with my baby's dr. to work on that. The pediatrician knew a lot about mastitis, why it occurs, how to get rid of it, ways to prevent it, etc. etc.

So I don't know if you have one of these conditions or not, but think about this: if breastfeeding is making you miserable, then you're not helping your baby. Baby rearing is so much more than feeding, it's also about changing, playing, cuddling, singing, and so much more. Good luck and let us all know what you find out. :->

 

[Tangnefedd]

There are breast feeding helplines you can ring in the UK, which is fine, but the advice has to be sensible. My daughter's friend had her nipple badly bitten by her baby when it had teeth. On phoning the helpline she was told that if the baby bites her she must not flinch as this might upset the child, and must carry on feeding at all costs, however it was permissable to file down the baby's teeth!!!!! As you can imagine my daughter's friend promptly gave up breast feeding!!!

I find it strange that some women go on feeding their child when they are way past the weaning stage. Wasn't there an extreme case in the US a while back, of a woman still breast feeding her 8 year old son? The courts ordered her to stop as it was of course abusive. I cannot imagine wanting to feed a two year old, let alone an eight year old!

 

[~PICKLE~]

I'm not sure about the 8 yr old case, I diffently not gonna go any futher once she has teeth. Sorry, if some disagree, but I value my twins. I can't even image getting bitten there. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Things are bad anymore, it doesn't hurt, I think my twins have toughened up. She's a good eater though.

 

[mamaneenie]

There are breast feeding helplines you can ring in the UK, which is fine, but the advice has to be sensible. My daughter's friend had her nipple badly bitten by her baby when it had teeth. On phoning the helpline she was told that if the baby bites her she must not flinch as this might upset the child, and must carry on feeding at all costs, however it was permissable to file down the baby's teeth!!!!! As you can imagine my daughter's friend promptly gave up breast feeding!!!

I find it strange that some women go on feeding their child when they are way past the weaning stage. Wasn't there an extreme case in the US a while back, of a woman still breast feeding her 8 year old son? The courts ordered her to stop as it was of course abusive. I cannot imagine wanting to feed a two year old, let alone an eight year old!

Just wondering what do you think is weaning age?

My son happily fed until he was 16mths. He weaned himself. I wasn't too worried, because by that stage it was only 10 min first thing in the morning. He was never a biter, he did it once and my reaction scared him enough so that he didn't do it again! EVER. lol.

I did hear about the case that happened in the US.

It depends on the culture, really, because in some third world countries, they are still b/feeding until 8. It's not my personal choice, but that is what other people do in other countries. I think in the developed countries such as US and Australa, well, 8 is too old.