I'm scared of the next feed - Page 2

[Halfasianmomma]

Can you tell I'm an emotional postpartum mess? I was crying while reading all the responses to my post

Thank you mamas for your support. It helps a lot knowing I'm not alone, especially after being trapped in my tiny 2 bedroom apartment for the past week.

[berkeleyp]

Just wanted to add to the chorus of yes- btdt. With my first, I was crying over cracked nipples for the first few days but then my wonderful midwife came and worked with me and the baby to fix the latch for like an hour and after that it got a lot better. I had similar problems this time around but this time I knew what to do and was able to fix the latch without help.

Contrary to popular belief - breastfeeding should NOT hurt. If it does, there is a latch problem. I hope you get the help you need.

Also here is a link to a similar thread:http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=920782

[happyhippiemama]

It WILL get better!! We promise. Hang in there.

[aswbarry]

Originally Posted by kltroy

Can you get some of those gel pads - soothies gel pads i think they're called? If you can get something similar at a drug store, stick them in the fridge and use them on your breasts after you nurse - it helps.

This is my third time BF and it hurt for the first few days. The hospital gave me these and they were a lifesaver!

I hope you can get some hands on help. Can you contact a post-partum doula to help with some eyes on/ hands on help and reassurance?

Hang in there!

[turtlewomyn]

Not in your DDC but saw your post title and had to respond. I was there, it is tough, I was screaming in pain at latch on. In my case, it turned out to be tongue tie, which was easily fixed and made a world of difference for me. Please get help sooner rather than later, and keep on getting help until you don't need it anymore.
It will get better.

Good luck

[Calidris]

I had horrible pain the first couple weeks. I really does go away eventually, if latch and positioning are good.

You said latch looked OK, what about positioning? Baby should be facing you to feed, and at breast level, don't slouch down or bring your breast to her, use pillows under the baby (or a Boppy type thing) to get her to the right position.

Something like Lansinoh helps sometimes. And rub a few drops of the hind milk on the nipples and let them air dry (ie under t-shirt or whatever, but not in the bra) after each feed. Your milk is good for more than just baby

And try to get out a bit, even if it is only for a few minutes. The fresh air and sunlight are good for baby too.


oops, just realised this was a DDC, sorry for crashing.

[ladyelms]

((ham))

[beanmakes3]

GL w/ getting assistance. It sounds like that expert clinic SKG recommended is the way to go.

I am always bothered when people say that breastfeeding should not hurt. I am very, very fair skinned - so much so that prior to having children and BFg my aureolae were almost invisible - and it hurt for a short while w/ all 3 kiddos. by far, it was worst w/ #1 - he was trying to suck my nipple in like a straw! With the MWs help we got that fixed, but that was only the first day. After that he got it and had no latch problems, but my nipples still blistered, cracked and bled. Once they got used to the friction, etc, BFg took off like great guns.

BFg can hurt, esp. for first time nursers. But, hopefully w/ a skilled LC or a referral to that clinic, you will be able to look forward to the next feeding, not dread it (but having BTDT, I understand the feeling totally).

[Aries1985]

I had some horrific nursing pain in the beginning too. My nipples were cracked and bleeding and hurt like nothing else whenever she'd latch on. Honestly, a lot of it was my own fault. I had a c-section (totally unplanned) and was in too much pain and couldn't move to really care about positioning her properly. She was born on a Saturday and I saw her ped. on Wed. The ped is an LC and she immediately referred me to her on-site LC for the next day. I went home that night and looked at pics, read a ton of how to position and really worked with my boppy. That seemed to really fix everything! I was just bound and determined to stop hurting.

I know it's so hard, but try not to think about the pain. It hurts and it's not fun, but it can and will go away!

[Mommy2Haley]

I was in the same position as you and I promise, it got better. So much better, in fact, that I'm now nursing a 15.5month old!

Take the poster that lives near you up on her offer and see someone (even if she's not a professional) sooner rather than later.

Breathe when baby latches and try to relax. If you dread the pain it makes it 10 times worse! I forced myself to concentrate on relaxation when I latched and it made things so much better. Before I was doing that I was experiencing toe-curling, scream-inducing pain ...

Good luck - you CAN get through this and you CAN do this. The first few weeks are always the hardest.