Today (he's 13 days old) we went in to see the LC. It turns out that I've had thrush all along. If you have it, get treated -- it's not worth waiting with that kind of pain. Supposedly it is a severe case so we're going with the full meds, but I'm already noticing improvement and am looking forward to enjoying feeding my child again.
I have a 9 day old. It was my intention to feed on demand and I spent the first 3 days in the hospital (c-section) half naked with my little one on the boob. I loved it! We were the naked patients; nursing all the time. We continued this at home for a couple more days. Now my nipples are cracked and I'm trying to preserve them and my supply at the same time. I know the nipple trauma will resolve, but sometimes it's so bad (made me cry... worse than my 4 day labor). He roots and wants to nurse constantly. I logged 40 times once. SO, I'm trying to stave him off with a finger, but feel pretty badly about that. I nurse every two hours now. He has switched from 10 minute sessions to 30 minute ones since then. I try to get him to stay on for "hind milk". Is this wrong? Will it hurt our nursing future? We can soothe him in a sling with my finger in his mouth but I know he'd rather be sucking on me. And I'd rather be feeding him, too. Advil helps and I've added in the football hold together with the clutch? hold. His latch is as good as I can get it. We stop if it hurts. I keep reading all the good info but just can't find anything about non-stop suckers in the books/sites. Also, he pees and poops a ton. And I never really got engorged much -- he sucked it all out pretty quickly. Thanks for any help/opinions.
Absolutely, totally, completely, without a doubt normal.
Those first few weeks are hard. DD shredded my nipples (textbook perfect latch though- high palate, strong suck) the first few weeks. Hang in there. Let him nurse as much as you can stand whenever he wants to. He needs to.
Look at his latch- make sure the top lip is flared out and the bottom lip has the tongue over it.
I think it's VERY normal to have non-stop nursers. It was for me, anyway. There are many growth spurts in the first few months (3 days, 6 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks), so factor that in as well. It WILL get better, I promise, and good for you for hanging in there!
Are you asking if it's normal to nurse that often? Yes. Or if it's normal to nurse for 30 minutes at a time? Yes. If you switch breasts each time he nurses, he should be getting plenty of hindmilk. What you do want to watch for is that he is actively swallowing as long as possible, not just sucking. Breast compression can help with that, to get another letdown so that swallowing will begin again.
Yes, it's normal for newborns to nurse that much. It seems constant. Sounds like you are doing an awsome job letting him latch as much as you can handle it. Babies grow SO FAST. They need tons of calories and tons of comfort. It DOES ease up, it DOES get more comfortable. Your body WILL heal. And in the meantime, get some Lansinoh if you haven't already been using it, that stuff is like gold.
I'm a first time mom here, and I was shocked at how much my baby nursed. I basically sat on the couch for 6 weeks and it felt like I nursed non-stop...and yep, it's normal! I just wanted to pass along some hugs and encouragement to keep with it!
We're at 11 weeks now, and the last couple weeks he's really calmed down...I don't know what to do with myself when he's not actually eating or sleeping!
Hi,
my son is seven weeks, and I still have some pain in one nipple and still a crack. At first I was using Lanolin but the cracks were SOOO huge that it just stayed in there even after a shower. My LC said to dilute some hydrogen peroxide with water and put it on the cracks to help dry it up. (I did that at first but now I just use it without diluting it and it works better). I was in so much pain I almost quit but stick it out it will get better as everyone here will tell you!!
Oh, came back to add that breastmilk is very healing. It can help a lot if when you are finished a nursing session, squeeze out a little milk and spread it on your nipple. (you can also squirt it up babies nose when he is congested to help loosen things up
Hello! I just wanted to chime in and say that my boys both nursed that often when they were newborn. In fact, they pretty much never let go!
Definitely normal- the nursing and the pain, though it would likely help to see a lactation consultant just to be sure that everything s as good as it could possibly be.
With my first it was very surprising and I was very sore for a couple of weeks, but it did get better. With my second, I was expecting it, and it wasn't so bad. I did get some relief from a good nipple cream- I used Lansinoh, but I'm sure there are others out there.
are you open to trying some craniosacral therapy and chiropractic on your babe? if you are in or near the portland area, pm for the names of some great practitioners. see here for more info about it: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/cst.html it really helped our older child with general nursing issues and stiffness. i'm a huge proponent of craniosacral for all babies since laboring is a huge body stress for both mama and baby, regardless of vaginal birth or surgical birth.
you could nurse in a baby carrier (I do it in a mei tai); this way U can move, walk, do things with the hand which is not supporting the nursing boob, etc... my DD can nurse for more than 1 hour but I'm able to live my life thanks to the mei tai. When she's done, she just comes out of the nipple and sleeps on my chest: this is perfect!
In the first month I used only breastmilk for my sore nipples (it got better after this first month).
good luck and enjoy those relaxing hormones that nursing is giving you
I don't know if anyone has recommended this, but extra virgin olive oil can help cracked nipples (and diaper rash...like a charm!). You are amazing for sticking this out....one awesome mom!
Originally Posted by coop_mom
I basically sat on the couch for 6 weeks and it felt like I nursed non-stop...and yep, it's normal!
Yes, and yes!
What's more, someday you will probably look back at those early non-stop nursing weeks and miss them! The memory of the discomfort/inconvenience fades, but the memory of snuggling with your babe stays with you forever.
My dd's first few weeks of life are a blurr to me of nursing and catnaps, and changing diapers. I remember feeling like all she did was nurse. And she did. And it was normal. Hang in there, momma!
ALso, you can nurse one side for 2-4 hours and then the other side for 2-4 hours. THat will give each side a chance to rest and heal a little. It should start getting better in a couple days. If it doesn't, you may have thrush.
I haven't seen this mentioned and I don't know if others approve, but the gel nursing pads called Soothies really saved my nipples. I got them at a maternity store but I think they have them at CVS. That said, I had nipple pain for a good couple of weeks (for the first 10-15 seconds of each nursing session).
Nursing will get so much better soon and you will be so happy you did it! Good for you!
the sling suggestion is great, but make sure you don't start too soon since you are healing your own body from surgery. just rest and sleep and nurse and do about 70% of what you feel comfortable doing so you don't overdo it. just heal.
I agree with all pp's in saying it is normal, the first few weeks can be tough. I can remember a few nights of crying and saying I couldnt do it anymore. What really helped me was to see a lactation consultant. She reassured me, gave me some tips on positioning my body/baby, and taught me some things about breastfeeding. It really helped save my nursing relationship. I say if you can, go see a LC or LLL leader. dd1 nursed for 4 years and when I had dd2, I still went to see the LC, even though I thought I knew everything about nursing. Hope you find comfort soon.
Thank you all so much for your replies. Funny thing is, he has slowed down over the last couple of days! He went from 40 to 20 to 8 - 12 times per day (like the books say!). Now he nurses every two to three hours and it's still hard, but I can tell that the nipples will be on their way to recovery.
I won't be surprised if this is a phase and he goes back to nursing more, but I'm enjoying the nipple healing for now!
I should have added, around 2 weeks old is a normal growth spurt, then again at 6 weeks.......so that was probably also a cause
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