[AFWife]

I've been breastfeeding for all of 5 days now. The nurse said his latch looked good and he took to it naturally. In fact, he's nursed regularly since the start and eats like a champ.

I do have a few questions though...

1) We have a harder time with the right breast. Like, pain wise and getting a good latch. The latch looks and feels the same as on the left breast... Normal?

2) The same breast seems to engorge way faster than the left. Normal? What can I do about it?

3) lol same breast... the nipple (not areola, actual nipple) is starting to crack and bleed a bit...normal?

4) How long is he supposed to nurse? I've been letting him just go until he's full on whichever breast we're on at the time and switching back to the other at the next feeding. Is this the wrong way to do it? Should I pull him off after a certain amount of time and make him switch?

5) We have no real schedule. I've been nursing on demand. Which means that at night it's usually every 2 hours or so (last night it was every hour) and every 3 or so during the day. (His days and nights are still switched...but he IS only 5 days old afterall) Will he develop a schedule?

6) I've been taking Motrin to help with the pain (the initial latch takes my breath away...especially on, you guessed it, the right breast) Is there anything else I can do or do I just need to suck it up and let my body adapt?

Thanks in advance!

 

[eirual]

My brain's a bit tuckered, but one thing that comes to mind is switch up nursing positions- if you've been doing cross-craddle, try football and vise versa. If you're feeling brave try nursing lying down (my life felt so much easier once I mastered that one...and it took us a while).

Be sure that you're bringing baby to breast and not breast down to baby, just like you're likely doing on the other side.

Good luck mama! Don't forget you can apply some of your breastmilk to your nipple and let it air dry to help with healing.

 

[Burnindinner]

It sounds like something's up on the right, but I don't have advice (I KNOW others will on here!).

I wanted to chime in on the ones I do know...

#4 - I did that with DS and it worked fine. He still only eats on one side at a time. He nurses til he's done then stops. He isn't hungry or I'd offer the other side.

#5 - That should be fine. DS ate a lot pretty much every 2-3 hours for a few weeks, then got himself a bit more regular. But he never eats on a "schedule" just when he's hungry.

 

[AFWife]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I wanted to add: I bought a breast pump today...should I try pumping the right side to relieve some of the milk and see if that helps? Or just make him nurse there more often until they even out in size again?

 

[goodmomma76]

i'm no bf expert but i think having him nurse more on that side will increase your supply even more...

i thought my latches looked the same too but the lc told me to watch her bottom lip, it should curl 'out' a little. That made all the difference for me. I was having the pain and cracking and bleeding before that too. She also told me to pump on the side to let it heal, and told me it may take a day or 2. GL

 

[desamom]

I would say if it hurts when you first put him on, then there might be an issue with the latch. As PP said, check that you are doing the same thing on the right side as the left (no pain on the left, right?).

As for one breast being more engorged, my left breast has always been bigger, always got engorged quicker, always seemed to have more milk, always had a stronger letdown. When my DD found the letdown to be too much (i.e. she would choke and sputter) I would just take her off until it slowed down and then put her back on.

Perhaps your baby is latching differently on the right side because there is more milk coming faster? I think babies sometimes clamp down to help slow the flow of milk. You could try expressing a bit (2 minutes or so) before latching him on to see if that helps, especially if you're engorged then it will make it easier for him to latch.

Just some thoughts. Sorry if they're scattered!

 

[jeminijad]

The pain at latch was still taking my breath away at 5 days. It drastically improved at maybe 9 or 10 days. At 2 months she still hurts me a little if she has been cluster feeding or doesn't open her mouth wide enough, but it is totally manageable. Pain does not always mean you are doing something wrong, for sure.

I use my little Isis manual pump to take the edge off of my engorgement in the middle of the night. I would pump 1/2 oz from the harder, fuller breast because if I didn't I would wake up in the AM with rocks on my chest and DD couldn't latch. If you are uncomfortable this may be the best way without stimulating MORE milk production like an electric may do. Some women can hand express for relief really well, too, although I am not good at it.

Congrats on the new babe!

 

[_betsy_]

For me, the pain at latching peaked at 14 days. I went out and bought a nipple shield, otehrwise, it was going to be formula. I was DYING. Toe curling, make me cry just thinking about feeding her again type of pain.

Turns out, I had flat nipples. Who knew? DD1 nursed exclusively for over 6 months, and kept going for 19+ months even while I WOH ft since 7 weeks PP.

DD2 has been much, much much easier. Dramatically different. She was a natural born nurser, grew out of the tight-latch phase after a week or so - I think DD1 was ALWAYS a tight latch. DD1 took care of those flat nipples, so with DD2 it's been smooth sailing.

Anyways, all that sounds normal to me. It's totally normal and very common to have one breast that you and/or baby prefer, and one side that produces more. It's so very early into BFing for you two, you'll find you get a little daily routine and things will get more predictible as the days and weeks go on.

Try different holds to help with painful latch, and try using Lanolin after nursing. Many women find it helps with the pain and heals the skin. Remember, your skin just isn't used to being wet so frequently and being treated so roughly. Baby's mouth will get bigger and the latch will get easier. Your nipples will get used to it, and your supply will regulate within a few months.

Keep with it - sounds like you're doing great! Usually around 6 weeks, it magically all gets a lot easier!

 

[MeepyCat]

It sounds like your right breast is more active and reactive than the left (and possibly squirting the baby harder), and like you are doing great. Feeding on demand, one side at a time - all totally right. If he's still hungry after one side, he'll let you know. Having one more productive breast is completely normal.

I would recommend lanolin for the cracked nipple - lots of it, applied after every nursing session. You might also consider block feeding (offer the same side for 2-4 hours, then switch sides). A little hand pump or hand expression might make initial letdown less forceful, which might make initial latch easier - time should also help with that.

It really does sound like you've got things basically right, and a little more time will help work out the kinks.

 

[*MamaJen*]

I second the lanolin recommendation.

 

[AFWife]

Thanks so much for the encouragement!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by desamom I would say if it hurts when you first put him on, then there might be an issue with the latch. As PP said, check that you are doing the same thing on the right side as the left (no pain on the left, right?). As for one breast being more engorged, my left breast has always been bigger, always got engorged quicker, always seemed to have more milk, always had a stronger letdown. When my DD found the letdown to be too much (i.e. she would choke and sputter) I would just take her off until it slowed down and then put her back on. Perhaps your baby is latching differently on the right side because there is more milk coming faster? I think babies sometimes clamp down to help slow the flow of milk. You could try expressing a bit (2 minutes or so) before latching him on to see if that helps, especially if you're engorged then it will make it easier for him to latch. Just some thoughts. Sorry if they're scattered!

It does hurt with the left side...but not nearly as much.

I didn't think about the strong letdown. He will kind of try and back off numerous times with that breast if it's particularly engorged...I'll try the expressing to see if that helps.

 

[Peony]

Many woman have one breast that produces more milk then the other one, you may be more engorged on that side which can make latch on a little harder. Nursing on demand is what you should be doing, some babies will eventually fall into a schedule, some never do and that is fine. Newborns should be nursing every 2-3 hours, there may be one longer period during the day or night where they may go 4-5 hours. Let him come off of one breast by himself how ever long that is, offer the other one. He may want it, he may not, it is common for babies just to nurse off of one breast at each feeding. You just nurse on the other breast at the other feeding.

It sounds like you are doing great! Congrats!