LO is 3 wks old and just now on the breast: Questions!

[oolongtea]

The short version of this long story is that they got me to pumping at the hospital after my surprise C-section, but the flanges were the wrong size for me and I used too aggressive a pump setting -- I ended up killing a lot of tissue on my nipples. Got home, got the right sized flanges, and spent the past two weeks healing and gently pumping so LO could drink breastmilk. Yesterday I transitioned him to the breast (using a shield to help him bridge the divide between bottle nipples and skin and protect my still-healing nipples). So even though he is 3 wks old, I have breastfeeding newbie questions that most websites aren't answering. Hope you guys can help!

1. I sometimes feel that tingly prickly feeling that people tell me "let down" feels like. But I never get that feeling while I'm pumping or while I've been nursing -- I just get it at random times, and sometimes only in one side at a time. Is this normal? Should I be using that feeling as a cue to pump or feed the baby?

2. After I pump or feed the baby, how long till there will be milk again to offer the baby? I don't want him to get frustrated because I'm offering him the breast if I only have a tiny bit of milk.

3. Is it normal that latching on is exquisitely painful and then settles into sort of an intense feeling (not quite pain) from that point onward? If latching on is painful, how do you know when the latch is bad, before you injure yourself? Since my debacle with the hospital pump, I am wary of doing damage by just powering through any pain.

[GoGoGirl]

Well for me, that tingly prickly feeling means my breast is getting too full, and I do use it as a cue to nurse or pump. I don't feel let down though, so I can't compare the feelings.

(I hope someone with better answers for you comes along )

[kiara7]

That tingly feeling is probably milk as breasts are getting fuller. Usually a good reminder to feed the baby.

There is always milk to offer the baby. Breasts are like factories, always making milk so there is always milk for the baby.

Don't know much about latching, but it's never been painful for me.

[kriket]

nak

i'm not an expert,our los are the same age, but i get the tingly nipple too, and the "intense" then more comfy latch too. i would love to know if the latch thing is normal

[MissyLissa]

I think feeling pain when baby first latches on is normal as long as it doesn't last throughout the nursing session. It should only last maybe 30 seconds or so. You're probably hurting more than normal too because the pump tore you up and you're still healing. Once you're all healed, nursing should be comfortable. I would think the intense feeling you describe means the baby's latch or tongue motion is not quite right. My new baby appeared to have a good latch from the outside but she tore my nipples up really bad so she was doing something on the inside that wasn't right that the LC couldn't figure out (my guess is that I allowed a few too many lazy latches when I wasn't being as careful about making sure her latch looked good). Even when I was very raw and got past the initial pain at the beginning of her nursing session it didn't hurt so I would be wary of being uncomfortable the whole time.

[Lindsay1234]

Whoa, almost same situation here! I JUST discovered (like an hour ago)that the flanges were the wrong size even after having an LC tell me the smaller ones were fine! I too was working my pump on a high setting but now Ive been getting the same results from a lower setting now.

DD2 will just be getting her first bottle of BM tomorrow (at 2 weeks, 2 days old) because shes in the NICU. Im going to buy some shields because Im a little worried about the transition!

[Carita]

you can always offer your child the breast, even if it doesn't have much - just switch sides often

and i guess as far as let down, it could definitely be different at the pump or breast, but the tinglelyness is most likely that. i would get that if ds was fussing and hungry or even if he did something really cute

do you have a clc that can check your latch or an LLL leader?

[Altair]

my baby does get frustrated if I've pumped recently and I try to BF him-- so I really have to focus on only pumping AFTER he eats. Yes, it's true that breasts are always making milk, but my baby will only nurse when it's coming out in streams at first, he won't nurse when he has to work for it at the beginning of the nursing.

Yes, you can always offer the breast-- but it also doesn't hurt to get in the habit of pumping after nursing him rather than waiting.

[musiclady]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

DD2 will just be getting her first bottle of BM tomorrow (at 2 weeks, 2 days old) because shes in the NICU. Im going to buy some shields because Im a little worried about the transition!

pak

another nicu mom- the lactation ladies at the hospital gave me some shields.

she also told me to use lansinoh on my entire nipple area BEFORE and after pumping. reduces friction and helped me heal faster too. safe for baby and just really made it not so irritating...

the flanges for me were the wrong size too- when i was pumping colostrum, they were 24's. tore my nipple. so they gave me 30's. too much of the areola was being pulled in. so they gave me 27's. so now i have 3 sets...

but the 27s helped me produce more than the others. and more comfortable.

good luck.

[Lindsay1234]

Originally Posted by musiclady

pak

another nicu mom- the lactation ladies at the hospital gave me some shields.

she also told me to use lansinoh on my entire nipple area BEFORE and after pumping. reduces friction and helped me heal faster too. safe for baby and just really made it not so irritating...

the flanges for me were the wrong size too- when i was pumping colostrum, they were 24's. tore my nipple. so they gave me 30's. too much of the areola was being pulled in. so they gave me 27's. so now i have 3 sets...

but the 27s helped me produce more than the others. and more comfortable.

good luck.

Thanks! Im using 27s when the LC told me to use 24s. I noticed I was using wrong ones after glancing at a pumping tip sheet in the nursing room and saying "Yikes! my nipple is a 'dont' on this sheet!" Now pumping isnt painful and Im expressing more. Im going to try the lanisoh trick. My nipples have been so sore lately!!!

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

Thanks! Im using 27s when the LC told me to use 24s. I noticed I was using wrong ones after glancing at a pumping tip sheet in the nursing room and saying "Yikes! my nipple is a 'dont' on this sheet!" Now pumping isnt painful and Im expressing more. Im going to try the lanisoh trick. My nipples have been so sore lately!!!

do you have a link to the chart? i'm having trouble getting anything with a pump

[Lindsay1234]

Originally Posted by kriket

do you have a link to the chart? i'm having trouble getting anything with a pump

No, it was a pamphlet at the hospital BUT heres a video someone posted and its AWESOME!!! I got twice as much when I pumped today using these massaging techniques!!!

http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastf...roduction.html

Wait, youre in my ddc right?! Go to this weeks chat thread and theres tons of tips the women gave me for successful pumping!!!