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Breastfeeding your Newborn

post #1 of 55
8/8/08 at 2:44pm
Thread Starter 
Thought this could be a good place for anyone to ask questions or just talk about how the BFing is going with your NB. So how is it going for everyone?



We are 2 weeks today and it has been "an experience"!!! But she is currently EBF and I am thrilled. The first week was REALLY hard but now it is getting much better pain wise. Currently she is really fussy at the breast and it started about 3 or 4 days ago. Poping on and off and just in general not being happy there. I think it has to do with my Over active letdown but it is really hard to tell. I just keep putting her back on. It is frustrating for both of us. But is seems like she is pooing and peeing enough so I try not to worry.

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post #2 of 55
8/8/08 at 3:39pm
W00t! Have you checked Kellymom and the breastfeeding issues forum for how to tell if there's overactive letdown and what to try? Sounds like you two are doing just fine anyway, but might be nice not to have that frustration. Oh! And any chance that she's needing to poop/pee when she does that? The EC folks say that popping on and off is something they noticed being connected to having to eliminate.
post #3 of 55
8/8/08 at 5:13pm
2 weeks is very typical for this sort of reaction. It is growth spurt behaviour. She is doing this to get your body to start producing more before she starts growing. Just go with the flow, keep up your fluid intake and nurse her how ever often she wants.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...e-nursing.html
post #4 of 55
8/8/08 at 5:16pm
I'm just at day 3 now but having really bad engorgement issues here. Baby is nursing almost always on the right side since the left nipple is flat - the nipple shield I'm using is huge in her mouth so I'm not sure what to do. Getting really engorged on the left side, pumping but not much is coming out for some reason.

I don't remember any engorgement with my son and the new baby seems to be nursing even more than he did - every two hours at least and lasting up to 45 mins or more even... any ideas?
post #5 of 55
8/8/08 at 9:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BakerALM View Post
We are 2 weeks today and it has been "an experience"!!! But she is currently EBF and I am thrilled. The first week was REALLY hard but now it is getting much better pain wise. Currently she is really fussy at the breast and it started about 3 or 4 days ago. Poping on and off and just in general not being happy there. I think it has to do with my Over active letdown but it is really hard to tell. I just keep putting her back on. It is frustrating for both of us. But is seems like she is pooing and peeing enough so I try not to worry.
Dd did as you describe. I had a really quick/strong letdown reflex and TONS of milk. Poor thing had a hard time keeping up for awhile. It can be frustrating, but it sounds normal (at least from my perspective of what you describe.). I hadn't though of the ec connection. This could also be something to check out. (or air in the tummy).

You're doing a great job!


Quote:
Originally Posted by ashley1972 View Post
I'm just at day 3 now but having really bad engorgement issues here. Baby is nursing almost always on the right side since the left nipple is flat - the nipple shield I'm using is huge in her mouth so I'm not sure what to do. Getting really engorged on the left side, pumping but not much is coming out for some reason.

I don't remember any engorgement with my son and the new baby seems to be nursing even more than he did - every two hours at least and lasting up to 45 mins or more even... any ideas?
Is your nipple very flat? My mw suggested not using a shield to draw my nipple out and to rather let baby dra it out, they're good at it . Try and nurse on the flat side as often as possible. did your son nurse fine on that side?

can't wait to join you guys!!
post #6 of 55
8/9/08 at 1:04am
NAK-ing

Our dd is 3 1/2 days old too and I am in engorgement city!!! OH MY! She doesn't have any problems latching on, but just isn't pulling enough out each time to lessen the swelling. She sleeps like crazy, too, so I wish she'd nurse more frequently. I am taking her in for a weight check tomorrow afternoon and if she isn't gaining I am going to be more aggressive at waking her to eat. She's a great little nurser, she's just so small that she isn't eating a lot at a time.
post #7 of 55
8/9/08 at 1:29am
Don't forget the chilled cabbage leaves for sore engorged breasts and nipples! They rock!

Good for you ladies, keep up the great work!
post #8 of 55
8/9/08 at 1:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lil_earthmomma View Post
Don't forget the chilled cabbage leaves for sore engorged breasts and nipples! They rock!

So, just for future reference, do you cook the cabbage first? Or use chilled crispy cabbage?
post #9 of 55
8/9/08 at 2:10am
Chilled crispy ones, Kirsten. They get cooked in your bra, ha ha ha!
post #10 of 55
8/9/08 at 3:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lil_earthmomma View Post
Don't forget the chilled cabbage leaves for sore engorged breasts and nipples! They rock!

Good for you ladies, keep up the great work!
But don't do this if you are at all concerned about supply.

You can also get in a warm/hot shower and hand express just until you let down. That will allow just a bit off to relieve pressure without affecting your supply.
post #11 of 55
8/9/08 at 9:04am
I find hot showers been worse for me they get bigger instantly as soon as the hot water hits my breasts. DH filled up the tub for me with cold water the other day (also because my vulva needed cold water) and I hand expressed the breasts for a while, wow! it felt a lot better than the hot water I first took. Then every time I breastfeed and put cold packs right after. It calms down my swollen breasts :

I have to admit that I love my big boobs

I honestly try to avoid cabbage leaves, I don't really want my milk to go away even though I know I will never have that problem but I won't take any chances. I just keep nursing, nursing, nursing.

I highly recommend everyone to get a little bottle of Lansinoh at least just for the beginning. It help with sore nipples and baby won't even taste it. It has saved me with my 3 babies!
post #12 of 55
8/9/08 at 11:21am
Im on day 5 and my milk still hasn't come in. Not even colostrum. I keep trying to put him on the breast and his has great sucking and all but nothing comes out. I try for abou 5-7 min on each but he gets so frustrated and hungry that I have to give him formula. Even pumping doesn't get the milk to come in. My boobs are pretty sore today so maybe their fillingup? My mom told me to hang in there and keep trying.
post #13 of 55
8/9/08 at 1:43pm
you usually don't notice colostrum coming out.

Have you talked to La Leche League yet?
post #14 of 55
8/9/08 at 2:22pm
Monique I agree. You need to contact LLL right away and/or a lactation consultant. It might be beneficial at this point to get an SNS so that at least baby is at the breast while getting the formula. You can not notice colostrum, and the baby is going to be a MUCH better way of getting your milk to come in. The pump is not nearly as beneficial.

If you can get him to stay on the breast for long lengths of time that will help.
post #15 of 55
8/9/08 at 4:44pm
I just wanted to confirm that with colostrum I never actually notice it. Also, my milk didn't actually come in until day 4 or 5.
On the sore nipple subject, mine are finally not making me cringe during latching on and it's been 2 weeks now! Man oh man, with my first two kids I was on pain killers for weeks afterwards and I didn't realize that along with killing the pain from the csection & other trauma that they killed the nipple pain. Well, now I know. Breastfeeding is not such an easy start sometimes, but well worth it in the end :
post #16 of 55
8/9/08 at 7:40pm
Yay! I am a happy momma now! Ella is gaining weight AND her bili levels are down! She was 6 lbs 7 oz when we left the hospital and today she is up to 6 lbs 11 oz. Not a huge gain, but it's in the right direction. Oh and before her bili level was 11.5 and today it was 9.1, so no worries there! I can't believe this little girl has done the absolute opposite of what the dr's expected due to our isoimmunity issues. My baby rocks!
post #17 of 55
8/10/08 at 7:09pm
Thread Starter 
Wondering how many wet & Poopy diapers your babe is having on a daily basis? My babe (who is 2wks) is having between 8-12 soppy wet diapers and 4-7poopy diapers. Also does your babe have EXPLOSIVE poops. I can hear it from across the house, seriously they are so loud!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know it is normal but wow they sound devastating from such a small being.
post #18 of 55
8/10/08 at 7:17pm
Monique! Maybe try these folks, too.

http://www.breastfeedingatlanta.com/

Hang in there mama, and keep trying!
post #19 of 55
8/10/08 at 9:15pm
Milk is definitely in (came in on day 5 going into day 6) but he doesn't stay latched on. I've tried everything, checked every site. I'm pumping but I'm getting next to nothing out. I'll keep trying to put him on both and see if he can stay on for at least a minute but now it's more like 30 seconds and that's it. As soon as I give him the bottle he goes for the gusto. This kid was a helluva latch when he's on the breast.

I've gotten a few suggestions on how to get him on there and stay but others are welcomed.
post #20 of 55
8/10/08 at 10:31pm
Monique it sounds to me like he has nipple confusion, or more so nipple preference. He doesn't want to work as hard on your breast since it is so easy from the bottle. I suggest if he wont stay on is to try to get ahold of an SNS (supplemental nursing system). SNS at Medela

this will give him the expressed breastmilk he wants without having to be patient, but will have him working on his latch and his sucking will increase your milk supply and eventually you can do away with the sns. but to make it work you will have to ban the bottle.

I highly recommend contacting someone from La Leche League, you do not have to be a member and you do not have to pay, they will help you though this. I know what you are going through, I went through it with my first and ultimately gave up to formula. But it can be reversed but you need the support and tools to do it.

Here are some links on nipple confusion: Nipple Confusion at Breastfeeding.com
Ask Dr Sears - Nipple Confusion
Dealing with Nipple Confusion

I hope this all helps.
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Archives › Pregnancy Archives › August 2008 › Breastfeeding your Newborn