Breast Feeding - Philadelphia,PA

Do you have access to talk to a lactation consultant. I went for weeks after having my kids. They work wonders, and help and can tell you if the latch is still right after the beginning.

This is a new process to both of you. Don't give up. Keep strong.

It hurts to breast feed for the first 7 weeks. It just does. There is a certain amount of "just suck it up" necessary.

See a lactation consultant if you think baby is having feeding problems, otherwise, you need to wait for the nipples to harden a bit, and then the pain isn't so great. After nursing, wipe breast milk on each nipple. That helps.

breast pain is totally normal the first few weeks... I can remember literally holding my breath and crying with my 2nd and 3rd, and telling myself "relax deep breaths relax deep breaths", get some lanolin and put on your nipples after EVERY feeding. if you have fever/redness, see your doctor, but some degree of pain(even quite extreme at some points) is quite normal unfortunately :( also, there's these silicon gel things that you put in the fridge and wear on your nipples between feedings that I found very helpful in the first few weeks... also make sure he has a good latch, not just the tip of your nipple in his mouth. good luck, hang in there, I know it's rough!

You might have a breast infection. Any fever? Maybe need a doctor, but you could try taking a lot of vitamin c. I did that once on the advice of a natural doctor and it worked. He said take up to 1000 mg per hour. Of course ask your dr if this is ok if you're not sure. And btw, breast feeding is the best way to get over the infection even if it hurts. Keep nursing but get help for the infection. It's soooooo good for your baby and it WILL get so much easier!

Can you describe the pain at all?
Nipple pain could be you and baby getting used to the new latch (use Lanisoh). It could also be thrush - check for white patches in the baby's mouth.

Pain a few minutes into nursing that feels like pins and needles, or kind-of like squeezing contractions can be let-down pain. This usually only lasts for 2-3 minutes during nursing on each breast, then goes away, and it's normal. It can be intense in the first few weeks, but becomes milder, ending up as more of just a tingling sensation, over time.

go see a lactation consultant right away. I ended up with a yeast infection from babies mouth on my nipples and it was torture! Did your baby get antibiotics after the tongue clip? This makes mouth thrush (yeast infection) really common and it can be transferred to you. It has to be treated with medicine. Does baby have white thrush in the mouth? But nipple pain is pretty common no matter what in those first few weeks. Formula at night will ruin you milk supply and your body will stop making what the baby needs. So if you do need to use the bottle, then you need to also pump even at night for the sake of your milk supply.

The only way to do this is to have someone help you at night. Can husband give the baby expressed milk or formula while you pump? If you don't have a supportive partner who gets up at night with you, you are likely on what I came to feel was my "sinking ship of breast milk supply and failure". Switching to the bottle is your choice and I cast no judgment. I have both succeeded and failed at BF. I have "sucked it up" through pain and I have thrown in the towel.

Maybe this is just me, but I was not able to get over the grief and guilt I carried having failed to BF my first. So from that perspective, I urge you to "suck it up" for the first month because the first month is damn hard. I wish you the best. Hang in there, but more than that, get some help and support to help your odds of success. If for your sanity, you need to give up BF, then do it. But make sure you have tried all you can or you may really regret it. Welcome to motherhood (and the mom guilt that comes along with it).

(I cannot stress enough, in these first weeks, you need to feed or pump 8 times in 24 hours or more or your milk supply will dwindle and you will not last long at BF. Sorry its so hard. But for some of us , its just really hard. I sat next to a gal at the lactation office and she confessed that BF was the hardest thing she had ever done. I asked her what she did, and she said she was a medical doctor. I said, "so bf was harder than your medical residency?" She thought for a moment and said, "yes.")

http://kellymom.com (here is a great BF resource)

Hang in there mama. Its hard! But if you are able to recruit support, especially night time support and professional help, your chances of succeeding will be really good.
If succeeding at BF just does't seem as important as your sanity, then you will likely have a perfectly healthy formula fed baby.

Your breasts probably need to get used to the difference in breastfeeding and pumping. If I were you, I'd continue breastfeeding during the day and formula at night. Since your baby is okay doing both, you don't want him to turn down bottle/formula in case you can't get past the pain (I believe you can, by the way).

My children both breast fed and supplemented with formula together. No nipple confusion problem.

Breast is better, so give it some time. Bottle of formula will hold baby better at night time so that maybe you won't have to get up so often. Nurse every 2 hours (from the start of each nursing session to the start of the next one) during the day. See the ob about your breasts if it doesn't get better before you throw in the towel.

Good luck!!

Breastfeeding is SOOOO hard in the beginning. I promise it gets easier. I would find a local lactation consultant (start by asking your hospital or OB for referrals) and make sure nothing is wrong (like a clogged milk duct). Sometimes the let down can be painful, especially in the beginning if you're making a lot of milk.

As long as he is latching well now and you're producing a good amount of milk, I wouldn't give up yet. Tell yourself just to make it one month, then to two months, and when you get to two, say "I just have to make it to three months." Once you get to three, it is SO much easier (it gets easier along the way, but by three months, you should be pain free, it should be easy, he should be pretty quick and efficient, etc). Try to stick it out if you can. If not, he will still be a happy, healthy, strong boy on pumped milk and formula.

I'm glad you found out about the tongue tie early... my grandson had a lot of problems nursing, and finally his M. gave up, and went to formula... turned out he had a minor tongue tie! Her second had no problems, no tongue tie, and did just fine..... she nursed until just a few weeks ago, for almost 17 months.

Talk to a lactation consultant. Some people just need a little help and sometimes breast feeding just does not work. Do what is best for you

Your son might need a new latch taught to him now that his tongue is fixed. Please see an LC about this. You can also talk to her to see if you might have an infection or what OTC meds (like a little Tylenol) you can take. Pumping and formula will start to lower your supply long-term, if you don't nurse often.

Breast pain is very normal the first 4-6 weeks. I remember holding my breath and urging myself to relax. The good news is that as long as his latch is good, things will get better. Within weeks it will be completely pain free. I nursed my first two for about 2 years each and am currently still nursing my 21 month old. Breastfeeding becomes so easy and convenient quickly. Hang in there!

I would recommend not pumping. Your breasts will adjust more quickly. Your baby is much more efficient than a pump. Also, baby's suck and the pump are different. Your body needs to acclimate to breastfeeding.

If you aren't certain that he has a good latch you should see a lactation consultant. They can be a huge source of information and support.

Give it time and use lanisoh cream if you notice any nipple cracking. You may just need to adjust to it and that takes time. I breastfed my three boys and with each one, the first 3-4 weeks were pretty tough, then it magically got super easy. I remember bracing myself for some pain and white knuckling through some feedings in those early weeks. I fed them all for 1-2 years so clearly it got better or I wouldn't have done it for long and done it again and again. Hang in there - these are definitely the hardest weeks! Watch for signs of thrush and definitely get that treated if you think you have it.

kellymom.com is an AWESOME website for all things breastfeeding. Congrats on your baby and good luck!