[maxwill129]

I hate BFing. My babe is almost 3 days old. We are having the same issues I had with my DD. I started out not having him latch right and so I got sore. Things were better when I realized what was going on. I started getting the latch and my nipples were getting less sore. Then my milk came in. I am so freaking engorged and now he's not latching right and I hurt so bad I cry when I have to nurse him. Besides that, I have an overactive let down and he is SO SLEEPY. I have problems getting him to stay awake to nurse. He'll nurse and get so much milk at once he comes off and promptly falls asleep, so I have to try and wake him, get him back on, and repeat the process.

So as far as engorgment goes, I had to end up pumping just a bit to relieve my breasts. They were hurting really bad. I have so much milk I could seriously nurse two babies off of one side per feeding and still have milk left over. I don't want to pump the extra, I just want my body to stop producing so much. How do I do that? Usually if I nurse off of the right breast, two hours later I put him on the left, but by that time my right breast if already rock hard again. Am I doing something wrong?

I see our ped again tomorrow for my older DS, and he is AWESOME about encouraging BFing, so I know he'll get me help, but until then I am in some serious pain and very close to quitting...If I had any formula or bottles in the house right now I would be done...

Help!!!

Shannon

 

[eirual]

eeks, then no going to the store!!

I have no experience with over-supply, but I do have experience with being incredibly frustrated and in pain and wanting to quit. Hang in there mama, you know this is best for your baby, IT DOES GET EASIER and IS worth every ounce of pain and frustration in the beginning.

Stay strong, get as much positive support as you can IRL, and just get through it one feeding at a time, you CAN do this, your body was MADE to do this, these are all just bumps in the road that you can iron out if you stay with it.

Hang in there- you're doing great even if you don't feel like you are right now

 

[tsfairy]

Please hang in there and know that it will get better. I also have experience with the incredible pain of early nursing. In our case it lasted a lot longer than was normal, but it did get better.

Can you call LLL in your area? Maybe they have some tips or recommendations for an LC or can just give you someone to talk to.

 

[mhr1406]

My ds2 had problems with latch at first too. It took us about a week to get comfortable. Try pumping before you offer him your breast to make it easier for him to latch and relieve some of the pressure. My ds is 7months old and is starting to sleep longer at night so I am getting engorged a little in the am since he is a one sided nurser too. I use a cloth diaper soaked in cold water. (you could also put it in the freezer)

You are doing nothing wrong!!! The begining is challenging but it gets easier and it is worth it.

Good luck!

 

[Galatea]

You just have to push through the first days/weeks of frustration and pain. My ds2 was like your new baby - always sleeping, wouldn't latch, etc. I was crying all the time b/c of this. But after about 2 weeks, it slowly got better. Now he is a great nurser! Just keep trying. You will regret it if you quit now.

 

[Lact-o-Mama]

On average, it can take a womans body up to 4 weeks to level-out in terms of milk production. Just keep on doing what your doing, one day at a time and before you know it, your breasts will seems as though they've de-flated ( but they will no-doubt still fill up and feel a little hard when your body tells you its time to nurse ).
Now is the critical time and its most important that you avoid ALL supps/artificial nipples etc. Any interference with yor bodys mechanisms at this point cold jeopardize your supply.

Good Luck Mamma, you'll be just fine

 

[alegna]

Hang in there! Make a commitment to stick with it for 6 weeks. Most problems clear up by then. I know how hard those first days can be.

We had all sorts of problems- MAJOR nipple damage. But by 6 weeks I was enjoying it once in awhile!

-Angela

 

[Hey Mama!]

The early days are so hard! Just take it one feeding at a time. I used to commit to just one more day during the first couple of weeks. And, do not go buy bottles/formula, it will just be sitting there tempting you.

 

[SabbathD]

Have you thought about switch nursing for the sleepiness? It kinda makes nursing an event, but worked pretty well for my DD. Because she was ALWAYS tired at the breast, we did this. Feed your babe for however long they will eat on the one side, and when they start to fall asleep, switch over to the other side, and when they fall asleep again switch them back to the other side. Just keep going until you feel like they have eaten enough. I usually counted on between 10-15 minutes, and one time had to switch her 15 times. But if your baby is only 3 days old, there is a great chance that he is still in that post birth sleepy days and will get a tiny bit more aware here in the next day or two. I would take lots of hot showers to relieve the engorgement, use ice packs between hot showers (lots of evidence that you don't want to use heat ANYWHERE except in the shower to relieve engorgement).

I am just getting over this initial breastfeeding hump. I had overactive let down, one side seemed to have an overabundance of milk over the other one, and baby wouldn't stay awake. I had flat nipples and was directed in the hospital to use a nipple shield and (stupid me) starting using it to discover now that she won't nurse without it. (to be fair, even with a breastpump and an evert it used every nursing for the past 4.5 weeks, we haven't been able to draw my nipples out enough for her to nurse on). I had toe curling pain whenever dd would latch on, in part due to a bad latch, but also because if you have never breastfed before there are adhesions on your nipples that just need to be released and it takes weeks for a lot of people (myself included) for them to do what they are supposed to do. I am at 4.5 weeks postpartum. It has gotten so much better. Please, do what you can to make it through this hard time, and not so much for her, but for you. It is a rewarding thing to do, formula and bottles are such a pain in the arse, and IT WILL GET BETTER VERY SOON I SWEAR. DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO to get through your engorgement, and do whatever makes you feel better about this. If that means pumping to relieve pressure that's great (on a side note - that may mess with your supply and make leveling it out a bit harder, so moderation.If you are already having an oversupply issue, doing this extended my oversupply on that one side. It was only when I went to block feeding, and stopped pumping extra that it leveled out). Let us know how it goes, and keep coming on here to talk about it! Got me through those first few weeks for sure!

 

[Trishy]

I had very similar problems at the beginning too. The first two weeks were the worst and then it slowly got better. As far as pumping goes, just pump off enough to relieve the pressure, you don't have to pump yourself empty. I hand expressed when I went through it so I would not have to wash the pump.

Make sure you use lots of Lansinoh or some sort of nipple cream to help with the nipple soreness.

You can make it through this. I know it is so hard but you are doing great.

 

[turtlemama77]

Do you have some in real life support? If not, please contact LLL (www.lalecheleague.org) and talk to a leader. The problems you're having are very fixable! Please hang in there...you'll be glad you did!

 

[annekevdbroek]

Do try to hang in there. I had oversupply issues and it took a while for that to calm down. The first 3 weeks of BF were very hard on me and I was so close to giving up on it. It does get much easier. The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is that post-partum hormones do a huge number on your emotions for the first 1-2 weeks, making normal challenges of BF seem intolerable. If you can hang on through that, and recognize it is the estrogen crazziness and not BF, not you, and not your baby, things may be easier to tolerate.

Once your nursing is established there are lots of things to do to help with oversupply - cabbage leaves, nursing one side only, etc. It is much easier once the baby wakes up some and a bit of a pattern has settled in.

 

[muckemom]

I wish so badly every single day that I had not given up in those first fews weeks... I know that it hurts and it sucks but from what I understand, it gets easier.

Sending tons of good vibes your way!!!

 

[cdmaze]

Try to hang in there..we'll all behind you...it's hard and it hurts, I had similar problems with my first and I am SO glad I hung in there. I just cried...that seemed to help and then I got lots of help.

 

[nfpmom]

Hang in there mama... He is only three days old. Give him the gift of your patience and understand that it is going to take him a little bit of time to learn. Do not give up on him just yet!

The engorgement will get better. With both my kiddos I have had rockhard bowling balls on my chest that huuuuuuurt for about 10 days. I have had oversupply issues and spraying and leaking of milk everywhere. Then it calms done. At 6 months it calms down some more. At 1 year it calms down even more.

What I would do since you have such a fabulous supply is go to one sided feedings... Feed on one side only for a period of three hours (not three hours straight, but everytime he wants to nurse in that three hours, but him back to the same boob). After the three hours on one side is up, switch to the other side for the next three hours. This will help your supply calm down. Get cabbage leaves to help with the engorgement and warm moist heat as well. Additionally you can take an ibuprofen to help with the pain and inflammation. It WILL get better.
If he falls asleep, don't sweat it... feed him when he wakes up unless its been a long stretch of time. With your nice big supply he will have plenty to eat when he wants it and he will get what he needs quickly. Don't look at the clock. If he only wants to eat for two minutes, that's fine.

With your fabulous supply you are going to have a big ol fat baby very soon and then you are going to feel so proud: "look what I made!"

 

[maxwill129]

Mamas, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your replies. I feel so much better today- feeling like we CAN do this! This is my 3rd child, the second one I BF, but this time the problems seem worse. I know it would be silly to give up- many more women have bigger problems than me and overcome them, so I know I can overcome this initial period of time.

I also have a lot of support in real life. My best friend is fabulous at support and she just came to visit today and will be here next week when DH goes back to work. DH is very supportive, too. He won't let bottles or formula in the house (last child when I bought formula and bottles he hid them after I went to bed!). My aunts are all HUGE BFing advocates, plus Gabriel's ped is SO INSISTANT that I keep BFing- he's actually a big help.

I so appreciate the good vibes, advice, and encouragment. I don't think I would make it through this without you!!!

Shannon

 

[danibu98]

YOU CAN DO IT!

It gets easier!

For engorgement/soreness, I loved a bag of frozen peas, put right on my boobies after a feeding- it realllly hurt with nursing the twins, b/c if one side hurt really bad I still couldn't let it 'rest' kwim?
Also, they sell soothies, these gel patches for breasts- I loved mine- got a free sample from the hospital, but then I went to go buy more and it was like $11. ouch!

Danielle

 

[LoveChild421]

I had oversupply and overactive letdown too- here is what my LC told me:
When you get engorged pump only enough to relieve the engorgement- when you aren't in pain anymore and the breast isn't rock hard stop pumping- don't try to drain the breast like you normally would when pumping.
Feed from only one breast per feeding (this will teach your body to regulate the milk supply and help your babe to get the hindmilk he needs) and pump just enough from the other to relieve any discomfort.

I agree with pp, make a commitment to stick it out for 6 weeks. Take it one day at a time- things will get better- you are in the hardest part and it can't get any harder, only easier. Print this out, tape it to the fridge, and read through it everyday- it helped me so much- http://www.promom.org/101/index.html

 

[kezoo]

Hang in there - you will be so proud of yourself and happy with your roly-poly baby if you do! It sounds like you have awesome support to help you through. And, remember, it has only been 3 days - nobody is good at anything after only 3 days, LOL! Good luck.

 

[maxwill129]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveChild421 Print this out, tape it to the fridge, and read through it everyday- it helped me so much- http://www.promom.org/101/index.html

Awesome! Thanks!

Shannon