Breastfeeding Advice - Herriman,UT

Hi there,

Good for your for trying again! I tried to nurse my 1st but he was born early and was very tiny, so they pushed formula at the hospital and he got nipple confusion. I probably gave up way too easily and just pumped for 8 months, but I missed out on all of that special bonding time with him, and I regret not trying harder.
With my daughter, I prepared myself by reading the breastfeeding book by Dr. Sears. I also asked tons of questions from my LLL friend and other moms who were / had breastfed.
I also didn't get out or purchase any bottles before my 2nd one came. I got in the mindframe that this was going to work and it did!
At the hospital, I made sure I had it completely down pat before I went home. There are lactation specalists that can help if you are having problems. Remember to use the cream if you get tenderness.
I am so glad you are going to give it another shot! I know you can do it!
Good luck to you!

Hi,
I have a 5 month old son who I am nursing and I plan to nurse up to a year. But I thought I would tell you I went through the worst pain of my life nursing for the first 5 weeks. Every time I would have to nurse I would end up in tears or screaming in pain. And then at about 3 months I developed a milk bleb or milk blister which was far worse than the pains of labor (and I went all natural) or any pain I have ever been in! It was awful and it was even worse when he had to eat! Anyways just wanted to say that if the problems you had in the past were from sore/cracked nipples, it will pass eventually the pain won't last forever you just need to push through it and know that it is the best food you could be giving your child! I also tried pretty much every product they make for sore nipples like the sheilds, the shells, all different brands of lanolin cream, and medela makes theses hydro gel soothing gel pads that are kinda pricey but worked...I also had to stop nursing him and just pump for a week to let them heal and I just pumped every hour almost to keep my milk supply up...Good luck!

my best advice? the pain is temporary. sure, it lasts longer than labor - way longer. but not as long as pregnancy. it does go away - and it toughens you up as well. the benefits to your baby far outweigh the discomfort of the first few weeks. this is your third child so you should know how quickly that first few weeks pass. after the initial discomfort to your nipple area, the feelings of comfort and joy when you nurse your baby can last months, even years if you stick to it. just rise above it - as a mother to two, you're used to putting the pain, fatigue, frustration out of your mind for a short while. think about not only the health benefits to you and the baby, but the economics of breast feeding (way less money than formula), convenience (your breasts are always with you, and the serenity of nursing (you need it - you have two others racing around, demanding your attention, etc.
good luck - the temporary pain is worth it! it stings and smarts for about two weeks - you have to proactively take care of your nipples and follow good guidelines for not letting them get too raw, but then, almost overnight, the pain subsides and there you are, with your baby, giving them EVERYTHING they need, with your own body, it costs you nothing and it it is the most fulfilling activity you will ever engage in.
good luck, go longer, try harder - the rewards will be obvious.

I agree with the other posters that it's often painful at first. It's wonderful that you are determined to try it again. I wish you much success this time around!

My story is that I *thought* my first son had nipple confusion and we powered through it (lots of crying from both of us!). We finally made it, though, and after I had son #2 (and insisted he NOT get fed anywhere other than from me) and he exhibited the exact same behaviors, I learned (lots of web research & talking to some friends...the IBCLC at the hospital never even suggested it) that I have oversupply/overactive letdown. I now believe this is condition is vastly underdiagnosed (my children's pediatrician hadn't heard of it even though she HAD it!!), which is why I mention it to you.

Both of my boys could complete a full nursing session (not hungry again for 4 hours or so) in 8 minutes. Total, not each side. And man, it *hurts* to have milk spewing out of you that fast!! ;) So if your baby's latch seems good and you're still having a lot of pain, you might consider the possibility of oversupply/OALD. Side-lying nursing helped a ton, as did block nursing, but it still took several weeks for the pain to subside. And if you have oversupply, DO NOT PUMP (until you get your supply sorted out) as it will only make it worse!

Anyway, just wanted you to have this bit of info in your arsenal. Again, I think it's awesome that you're giving it another go. By way of encouragement, after all that pain at the beginning, I successfully nursed DS1 to age 2 (he weaned himself then) and am at 21 months with DS2 so far. :)

Here are a couple of my favorite resources:
http://www.nbci.ca/
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/oversupply.html

Best of luck!

My first i tried to breast feed and he didn't take to it. My second took to it with no problems but I cried everytime. It killed me I have a fairly high tolerance to pain and couldn't figure out why I was curling my toes and clenching my fists everytime and bleeding too boot. I asked my breast feeding specialist at my hospital and she suggested getting something that has a hard shell but a hole for the nipple. I called them my turtles and boy did they help. I found them online I believe they are called Milk Savers and they do just that too! Hope this helps!

You may want to look into getting a nipple protector? should be able to find it at retail stores. Hospitals, lactation consultants often advise against them, but if you've been completely unsuccessful you may want to try it. I used one for three months after my son (mostly because he couldn't seem to figure out how to latch on) was born and then i didn't need it any more, it just helped him, and spared me some pain, to get the hang of things. I didn't even attempt to use it when my daughter was born and things were fine, It hurts in the beginning but it does go away.
-- I absolutely hated seeing a lactation consultant they were more harm than good, I know a few people who have had major complaints about them, they can be helpful I understand but for me it was just better to go a different route.

Yea, D.! I'm glad you're wanting to try again. There has been a shift in lactation and positioning, where now we know to use the baby's natural reflexes to facilitate latching. A wonderful book that explores this is "Breastfeeding Made Simple." I'm curious to know what, specifically, the problems were with your first two. If there is muscle weakness in the cheeks, or lips, etc., babies often cannot feed well until this is corrected. Many IBCLCs are not familiar with how to do this. If you have trouble with the next, try an IBCLC. Make sure she's board certified, not someone just calling themselves a lactation consultant. If it's not getting better, see if she can suggest a Speech Language Pathologist or Occupational Therapist who works with pediatric feeding. Feeding problems are easy to fix when caught in the first week or so. Good luck!
A., mom and IBCLC
www.BreastandBottlefeeding.com

Hooray, D.! You're awesome. I don't even know you and I feel proud of you and happy for your children to have such a devoted mother. :)
I second, third and fourth the suggestion to be in touch with an IBCLC. That's the highest level of certification for a lactation consultant, and there's a *big* difference between someone who is board-certified and someone who has read a book or two.
That said, La Leche League is a terrific resource, too, and LLL Leaders are accredited and usually know their stuff. (Many IBCLC's started at LLL Leaders.) All LLL's services are completely free, and in my experience, Leaders do not hesitate to suggest a mother see an IBCLC if she has tricky problems that need professional attention, so it's not risky to start there. You can find your local Leader at www.llli.org. Also, attending a LLL meeting would be a great thing for you to do now, while you're pregnant and worrying in advance. You'll meet friendly, experienced moms who will have helpful, accurate information. LLL has saved my sanity as a mom on many occasionas. I have noticed many of the mothers who attend their meetings have paid their dues to breastfeed, and it didn't just come naturally to all of them. I've heard several stories at LLL meetings from moms who have had trouble nursing one baby and then feel like they "got it" with a subsequent baby, so you're not alone.
It really is worth the hassle. You're so smart to plan ahead--being proactive is not "jumping the gun" at all. I, too, am curious about the trouble you encountered. . . attending a LLL meeting and seeing an IBCLC and describing your past trouble may help you prevent similar problems in advance and build up your confidence before you are under the fatigue and pressure of caring for a newborn.
My sincerest best wishes to you, and congratulations on your growing family!

D.,
I would go with the other suggestions and first try working with a lactation consultant. If it is still too painful, you might try a nipple shield. I know that Medela makes them. The hospital LC's should have them, and they are sold at Target and Babies R Us, also. The shield salvaged my ability to continue nursing both of my children when it was so painful in the beginning. Just keep it in mind that you want to continue making attempts to nurse without it after a few weeks. (My second son had a lot of difficulty nursing without it, although my first one did not.) Good luck to you!

I was unsuccessful at breastfeeding at first with my child (low milk supply); however, with perserverance, we figured it out. These are things I wish I had known beforehand:

1. There is pain for about the first 3 or so weeks when the baby latches on (for the first several seconds)- This pain is temporary and will go away totally by the end of the first month. I have heard that you can toughen up your nipples beforehand by placing tea bags on them that have been soaked in hot water a couple of times a day.

2. Latching is tricky at first. If they aren't able to latch right away - pump! Nursing/pumping frequency is what will make your milk come in without having to deal with issues, such as a low milk supply.

3. Don't bother with a hand-pump, a double sided hospital-grade pump (rented at Babies-R-Us or some hospitals) is helpful in maintaining and boosting your milk supply. This is particularly helpful if baby happens to be a sleepy feeder.

3. Don't follow anyone's suggestion to limit the amount of time the baby nurses (like when they tell you 10 minutes a side). Newborns can take 45 minutes or longer to nurse.

4. Drink lots of water and make sure that you are getting sufficient iron from your diet.

With my third baby, my Dr.gave me All Purpose Nipple Cream. Nursing was VERY painful, the first week like NOTHING else. It was bad even beyond that. So, what I did was pump a lot the first week (even in the hospital he was getting some formula b/c I was so sore). He would not open wide enough, so we really worked on that. Even after seeing a LC, I don't know if that helped. I think once the nipple toughened up that made it work just fine. Now he opens up on his own since he's not a newborn.

He is now three months and a nursing champ. No pain!

After I was unsuccessful at breastfeeding my first child, I was able to breastfeed my second child almost exclusively for 13-months. The first three months were really hard and painful and I wanted to give up every day, but I was bound and determined that I would nurse my child for a year. Eventually we found our rhythm and it was great and easy. I was never able to be a "covert" nurser, meaning it was always obvious when I was nursing, but I didn't care. It was more important that I was doing what I set out to do.

Don't give up and keep trying and get as much help as you need. For some people, nursing is very difficult. My SIL said to me, "Nursing may be natural, but it doesn't always come naturally." See a specialist before your baby comes to get some instructions and book suggestions; learn as much as you can before the baby is here. You CAN do this if it's really what you want to do. Of course, I'm not against bottle-feeding, I just think if it's something you want to do, then give it 110%!

Good luck and best wishes!

All I can say is that it does hurt for the first few weeks. For me, six weeks seemed to be the magic time that things got better, although they were much better after three. And every time you nurse at first, you have the nipple pain as well as the after pains (from your uterus contracting) and blood gushes whenever you nurse. I cried for the first three days almost every time I nursed, and it got better and better. If it were me, I would just expect it to be tough and hard and challenging for a few weeks, and hang in there. A LC can help with positioning and latch, and be a huge help if you are having issues. Best wishes. They say that the third time is the charm.

I haven't read all the other posts, but I would say that your determination will go far. I don't have experience with a failed attempt, but I did nurse with damaged nipples, and persevered. I was so determined that I was going to do it, that I just kept going. For awhile I was on narcotics (started with the c-section, and my very unhelpful doctor gave me more after the damage because she didn't have any other real help for me), and yes it hurt, and yes I cried. You may also look into some of the HypnoBabies techniques. Being able to take a deep breath and get through it, and realizing that I could handle this for the health of my baby really helped me, and allowed me to continue. Good luck, and make sure that you have some friends, or another lactation consultant to talk to and cry to and vent to, and that will still encourage you to continue anyway. Good luck!

I had terrible pain with both my kids when we first starting nursing. Not sure where you live, but Debbie at St. Alphonsus in Boise is a fantastic nursing consultant. With both my babies, I had to make appointments to see her after I left the hospital. If you don't live in Boise, try making an appointment with a lactation consultant after you leave. When they come to your room while you are at the hopsital they tend to be in too big of a hurry to be much help. Good luck!

Breastfeeding can be so difficult - I wish I had known that before my son was born! We had a problem with his latch, he sucked his tongue in utero and didn't know how to stick his tongue out which caused a sore that I referred to as the Grand Canyon and resulted in lots and lots of tears and frustration. I was back and forth with the hospital lactation consultants, our son was jaundice so he had to eat every two hours for the first couple weeks and every single time he latched on I was in tears from the pain. It was like this for the first month and a half. Finally I was ready to be done, I just couldn't go any longer and they finally put me in touch with an occupational therapist who also happens to be a lactation consultant. The company is called Cozy Nest in Bozeman, MT and if you don't live there you may still be able to call and perhaps they can help over the phone or suggest someone. She was out of town when I called and was able to give me a type of therapy over the phone (and I was very ready to listen and listen hard) so we had great success! That was on a Friday and by Sunday we were doing so much better it was a miracle. I strongly suggest finding someone with a little more expertise in the area! It truly saved our sanity and it took about three weeks for my open wound to finally heal and I had to use a prescription medicine called Newman's Nipple Cream. It was one of those nightmare scenarios that no one should have to go through - I wish you all the best!!!

I have two daughters and I breastfeed my first until she was 12 months old, my second is only 10 months and we are still going strong on the breastfeeding. With that said let me tell you it has not been an easy road. With both of my girls about the first month of it was the most painful thing i have ever had to do. With both I got mastitis within the first 2 weeks and with my first I got mastitis about 4 times through out the first year. Breastfeeding is not any easy thing but like you I was bond and determined to breastfeed this little ones so I just put up with the pain and even thought it's hard I got through it. I mean I had it all the sore, cracked, bloody nipples but I just kept at it until after about a month I started feeling better. I think for me one thing that helped was that I don't substitute with formula at all. I don't even keep any in the house so no matter how bad it hurts I can't just give up and make her a bottle. I'm sure some of the other girls have told you ways to sooth your breast while they are in so much pain and that will help. But if you really want to do it this time you can. Just stay strong and after a while it really will stop hurting. Good luck!