Help! Please!!!!

[Phantaja]

A good girlfriend of mine just had a baby. I helped with the birth, I can help with infant care, but I know NOTHING about breastfeeding.

We called the lactation consultant at the hospital and several area LLL leaders but no one is answering the phone.

If you're feeling helpful, could I maybe PM someone my phone number and could you please, please, please give us a call and maybe walk us through this?

Thanks a million!

[goldenwillow]

I would be glad to help! What is it that your friend needs help with? I feel I am an experienced breastfeeding mama! Going on 14 months!

[Phantaja]

She's saying that it hurts alot and that her nipples are bleeding. She doesn't know how to get the baby to latch properly and neither do I. She said that even pumping is uncomfortable. She was a reluctant breastfeeder to begin with and I really don't want her to stop because she's having a hard time right now.

[goldenwillow]

IMHO, I would say to not pump and allow the baby to nurse, however, it may be painful but less painful than a pump.

Check this out and see if there is any help for her.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

[jellybeanmumma]

I'd only pump if really engorged and then only enough to make it easier to latch. Kelly mom site mentioned above is really awesome and helped me lots. Pure Lanolin (wool fat) available at the drug store is best for cracks. It is ok to leave on when bub feeds. Also keeping top off after feeding. Unfortunately I can't call you as I live in Australia. I never had a lactation consultant - a friend who had breasfed told me to jam my nipple as far into the babies mouth as possible even if it meant squeezing my boob to get as much in there as I could. I ran with that and it worked. For the first few weeks the focus needs to be on feeding and they feed a lot! DS is still nursing at 15 months and it is soo convenient and he's way healthier than other bubs in town so I'm glad we persisted but it is hard. Again. Lanolin. It really helps with the cracks. I think it saved me! Your friend is lucky to have you helping out

[sosurreal09]

if she is a "reluctant" BFer anyways im not too sure she will have the strength to keep it up.

its her baby and BFing is whats best but if she doesnt want to do it you can not force her...

besides that number 1 rule do not supplement it will ruin everything! 2 let the baby nurse as often and as long as wanted. (first six weeks i nursed DD every hour for 45 mins no lie) 3. do not let baby latch unless the baby fully opens his mouth period. she is teaching him HOW to nurse so if she teaches him the wrong way then he will keep doing it wrong, its hard and can be painful but once hes fully openeing him mouth and latching the nipples will heal and the pain will subside.

good luck!!! you are an amazing friend.

[Parker'smommy]

I would continue to call the Lactation consultant at the hospital or get her to a LLL meeting asap. There is just no substitute for hands on, mother to mother help, imho. The LC can help teach her how to latch baby correctly and then her nipples can heal

www.kellymom.com has lots of illustrations to show a good latch and how to latch correctly. You need to sandwich her breast, get baby to open WIDE, and then RAM ( rapid arm movement) the breast in the baby's mouth so that babe has most of the areola in his/her mouth. DOn't let baby suck on just the nipple. Then, babe should do LONG drawn out sucks...open <pause> close mouth. You can gently pull on the baby's chin to encourage this.

GOOD LUCK!

[jellybeanmumma]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09

if she is a "reluctant" BFer anyways im not too sure she will have the strength to keep it up.

its her baby and BFing is whats best but if she doesnt want to do it you can not force her...

besides that number 1 rule do not supplement it will ruin everything! 2 let the baby nurse as often and as long as wanted. (first six weeks i nursed DD every hour for 45 mins no lie) 3. do not let baby latch unless the baby fully opens his mouth period. she is teaching him HOW to nurse so if she teaches him the wrong way then he will keep doing it wrong, its hard and can be painful but once hes fully openeing him mouth and latching the nipples will heal and the pain will subside.

good luck!!! you are an amazing friend.

especially the bit about the frequency of nursing in the first 6 weeks. DS had a permanent growth spurt. DH would leave drinks and snack all round the house b4 he went to work because I basically spent all day nursing initially. It is a big commitment but so worth it.

[ameliabedelia]

I know this is a couple of days old, but for future reference, most lll leaders are very good about getting back to you very quickly if you leave a message.
Or, try the LLL breastfeeding helpline.
8774laleche

[Asiago]

There are some great instructionals- just google 'breastfeeding latch videos'. A visual is often easier than words.

Ameda video on latch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zln0LTkejIs