Several newborn issues

[Mommybree]

I'm having several challenges with my newborn (1.5 weeks old). He has a horrible latch, and I have cracked, sore, and bleeding nipples that I am trying to work on. It is incredibly painful to get him to latch, and then I have to spend a minute correcting his latch each time. Any tips on how to get him to open wide?

Second, he is the sleepiest baby ever. He will seriously sleep for 3-4 hours at a time, and waking him to try to get him to nurse is just useless. For the last 2 days, he only nursed 7 times, when I know he is supposed to be nursing at least 8-12 times at this age. I have tried dressing/undressing, changing diapers, tapping feet, rubbing forehead, etc, to get him to wake up to eat, and he just won't wake up to nurse. I stopped taking the meds from my c-section (another rant for another day), because I was afraid that they were causing the sleepiness, but now I still have a sleepy baby and chronic pain at my incision site. It's not that I mind that he sleeps, but I really want him to nurse more.

Third, my breasts just don't feel the same as they did with my daughter (who I successfully nursed for 25 months, and just finished nursing in June). They used to be full, but they just feel flabby now with this baby, and I don't feel the same strong letdown I had with her. I know he is getting milk, because I can see it when he spits up, plus he is peeing and pooping, but I just wish I had the sense of "fullness" then "emptiness" that I had with her when she was a newborn. I feel more like I did once I got to the 4-6 month mark with my daughter. Is this normal for breastfeeding a second kid?

Any input would be appreciated!

[nummies]

I don't know much about second babies but for my babe, I had to pull down on his chin with my finger to get him to open his mouth wide enough. I also had to point the nipple straight up toward the roof of his mouth to get a proper latch. Have you seen an LC? Maybe they could help you with the latch issues.

As far as the sleepiness, have you tried getting in the bathtub with him? When DS would not wake up fully, we got him undressed and we got in the bathtub together. That seemed to help. We also used a cool washcloth and rubbed it on his hands and face.

I am not really sure about the fullness feeling. But I would say that as long as he is gaining well and having plenty of wet diapers you should be ok. Good luck mama!

[delphiniumpansy]

Do you have access to a lactation consultant. I was surprised that my insurance paid for one for me.

[newbad]

Have you tried skin to skin? I would place him naked inbetween my breast about a half an hour before the next feeding is due. And just see if this gets him going on his own. With my second and third, I didn't get the same intense engorgement I got with my first. However I did experience it some. It sounds like you might have some delay in milk supply, which is common post-c/section. Also if you had a large amt of blood loss, your supply will be effected. I've also found that just laying them down unswaddled on their back tends to wake them up.

BTW, take your pain medication (atleast the ibuprofen, at high doses it is a anti-inflammatory and actually helps more then the narcotics) you just had major abd surgery. If you are in intense pain all of the time, this will effect your supply IMO.

[Mommybree]

Just popping in to say a belated thank you for your advice. Things are going better, and I appreciate your help.

[stacyann21]

The nipple soreness will get better with time. In the meantime continue working on getting a proper latch. Do not allow him to nurse hanging off the tip of your nipple, LOL. Simply break suction gently with your finger and start over. Are you using any type of cream on your nips between feedings? I loved Earth Mama Angel Baby's nipple butter. I found lanolin to be too sticky and greasy.

My son never really nursed the recommended 8-12 times a day in those early weeks. Offer the breast every 2 hours or so during the day and at least every 5 hours during the night. That's really all you can do. As long as your babe is having 6-8 wet diapers a day, he is getting enough milk.

Your breasts really shouldn't feel "full" after the first few days. That would be engorgement, which is a sign of being out of synch with your baby. It's perfectly okay for your breasts to feel soft before or after a feeding. The milk is produced while your baby nurses, in a series of let downs which you may or may not be able to feel.

Hope that helps!