@Alyssaerin996 I never tried lanolin. I'm sensitive to wool and just never wanted to chance it. I like The Honest Company nipple balm. It has calendula in it which is healing and I like that it's food grade so it's safe for baby. You can also hand express a little milk and let it air dry on your nipple.
How long have you been having issues with it? If it continues you might see an LC and make sure there isn't a latch issue going on. Then theread are just babies that suck hard. DS would strip the skin off my nipples so they looked scraped all the time. I just kept using the nipple balm and eventually they toughened up but I'll admit that it was a relief when I had to stop bf him.
@laurabwalker I've heard good things about the earth mama baby line. Maybe I'll check it out.
@Mizuiro007 we've definitely had some trouble with latch so we're still working through that. We JUST weaned off the nipple shield in the last 24 hours so the soreness isn't too unexpected. They're not cracked or bleeding, just so so SO raw that even touching the fabric of my bra is like a lightning bolt. I just wish they'd "toughen" soon! I'd try anything.
DD also slips off the nipple if I still have some lanolin on there, which shouldn't be funny but kind of is. She slides off and then just sort of stares and blinks for a second like "what happened??". It's cute.
Lanolin did nothing for me either. The hospital gave me an ointment called Dr. Newman's. I think it has an antibiotic or something in it and it works so much better than lanolin.
@RSB1982 It sounds like the hospital let you down on that. There's a lot they could've done that would've helped.
I wanted to add that if you aren't already, you might try practicing a lot of skin to skin. I did have a few weeks with my first while I was still bf him that my supply drastically diminished. I ended up staying in bed with him doing skin to skin and nursing him along with drinking as much water as I could get down. It helped a lot. I sometimes do the same with DD when I can, especially if she's cluster feeding. She nurses and when she's full just stays against my skin with a pacifier if she wants one.
Just reading some of the (great) tips and wondering if I am the only person for whom lanolin has done NOTHING!? I slather it on (which in itself is painful), and it doesn't help anything. What does it do for you?
The only thing I find remotely soothing are the Lansinoh gel stickies that you can put in the fridge/freezer. Those things save my life. i wish there was some sort of anesthetic cream that was safe for baby...
There is an all purpose nipple ointment that is safe for baby. Has to be prescribed to you.
What's the longest you're comfortable going between feedings/pump sessions? DD is 8 weeks and is now typically going from around 9:30pm until 3:30am between feedings and then up again at 6:30am. You'd think I'd be excited about more sleep but now I feel like I have to stay up and pump at like 11:30pm to keep up my supply and not get engorged from going 6 hours between feedings at night. Am I doing the right thing by pumping at 11:30pm? I'd really just rather take advantage of her sleeping better and go to sleep around 10:30 or so but I don't think that's a good idea, right??? Just trying to get some extra sleep when I can.
I should add in DD of course only eats from one side each session so if she eats from the left side at 9:30pm then she doesn't eat from the left again until 6:30 am. This is another reason why I pump at 11:30pm.
@JulieK79 We're block feeding so that might change things but I can't go more than 4 hrs. One thing that helped me the last couple times hubby took DD overnight to pump before I went to sleep. This way I was able to go closer to 6 hrs before I wake up from engorgment. I think if you're waking up because you're uncomfortable, then pump. Otherwise from what I understand supply regulates according to demand, not just amount but time.
@Alyssaerin996 I have the lansinoh brand lanolin and when i need a nipple cream it hurts to put on because it so thick and my attempts to warm it up to make it go on easier haven't helped much. I ordered every other brand of non lanolin creams that had good reviews. Earth mama, bamboobies boobease, mother love (from babiesrus, buybuybaby and Amazon). All 3 of these are much easier to apply and seems about the same to me (all have olive oil as the main ingredient and similar other ingredients beeswax, Shea butter etc.). I also picked up the only one my drugstore while waiting for the others to arrive. I also ordered the nuk and chicco breast pads because I thought the gel in the lansinoh ones was irritating me too. They are both bulkier, I like the bambobies better but I need a couple more to use them regularly (I go through 1-2 sets during the day).
@JulieK79 I pump both sides before I go to sleep until my flow slows down (even if I fed DS...and I did have oversupply concerns so I stop pumping once my letdown slows down). I only pumped at night when my boobs woke me up. DS is finally latching consistently enough at 4 weeks that he will latch for his middle of the night feeds & now even in the side laying position! He sleeps 3-5 hours between feeds at night (& wakes up just enough to eat). I pump when I get up too, on both sides. I generally get about half as much on the side DS ate off most recently. DS rarely eat from both sides, we sort of block feed.
I'd agree with @Mizuiro007 about 6 hours is what my boobs can take, I think she's my guru...she knows everything!
Anyone have a problematic latch on one side? (If I've posted something similar before, I apologize but I can't find it). I just weaned DD off the shield in the last day or two which is great but she's still killing me on the left side. I don't know what it is but I've got to do something or I'm going to be feeding from one breast only soon- I dread when it's time to go left! I've tried a couple different positions and her latch LOOKS good, it just really hurts and when she comes off, my nipple is completely flattened out. I can call the LC back but thought I'd put it here first see if there is something obvious I'm missing??
Anyone have a problematic latch on one side? (If I've posted something similar before, I apologize but I can't find it). I just weaned DD off the shield in the last day or two which is great but she's still killing me on the left side. I don't know what it is but I've got to do something or I'm going to be feeding from one breast only soon- I dread when it's time to go left! I've tried a couple different positions and her latch LOOKS good, it just really hurts and when she comes off, my nipple is completely flattened out. I can call the LC back but thought I'd put it here first see if there is something obvious I'm missing??
Henry latches different on my left side, as well. I had to do football hold on that side for the first few weeks have you tried different holds? If so, which ones have you tried?
Anyone have a problematic latch on one side? (If I've posted something similar before, I apologize but I can't find it). I just weaned DD off the shield in the last day or two which is great but she's still killing me on the left side. I don't know what it is but I've got to do something or I'm going to be feeding from one breast only soon- I dread when it's time to go left! I've tried a couple different positions and her latch LOOKS good, it just really hurts and when she comes off, my nipple is completely flattened out. I can call the LC back but thought I'd put it here first see if there is something obvious I'm missing??
Yes this happened to me! The latch can be good but the positioning might be off. I had to try some different holds and that fixed the problem. Football worked better than cross cradle.
Yes. I have to have DD on just right on the left or else I'm in a world of pain. I had to adjust the height of where I was holding her. I let my boob point down more and that helped. I will probably regret this in 10 years.
Thanks all! I've tried laid back, cross cradle and regular cradle, and side-lying. I just tried football hold again. She haaaates this position for some reason. I can't seem to get comfortable with pillows, etc which I'm sure has something to do with it. I finally wrangled her in cross cradle and after 14 mins (but who's counting...), she had completely stripped the skin from my nipple (sorry for TMI). This is so frustrating! I'll keep at it with different positions...
Thanks all! I've tried laid back, cross cradle and regular cradle, and side-lying. I just tried football hold again. She haaaates this position for some reason. I can't seem to get comfortable with pillows, etc which I'm sure has something to do with it. I finally wrangled her in cross cradle and after 14 mins (but who's counting...), she had completely stripped the skin from my nipple (sorry for TMI). This is so frustrating! I'll keep at it with different positions...
Oh no! Without being able to see it sounds like her latch isn't deep enough. Try to get your nipple further back in her mouth and then she won't be mawing down on it.
My boy has a hard time with football sometimes when he's super gassy and sitting upright is more uncomfortable. Sometimes I put him on my lap so he's straddling my leg and that works better occasionally.
LO and I have been breastfeeding very successfully for the past 5 weeks from the very start. No pain, great latch, no problems. Now he's almost 6 weeks old and all of a sudden something is different and every time he nurses there is a lot of pain and both breast are in constant sore to painful state. His latch looks good and I know he's still getting a lot of milk...any ideas what could be going on?
Thanks all! I've tried laid back, cross cradle and regular cradle, and side-lying. I just tried football hold again. She haaaates this position for some reason. I can't seem to get comfortable with pillows, etc which I'm sure has something to do with it. I finally wrangled her in cross cradle and after 14 mins (but who's counting...), she had completely stripped the skin from my nipple (sorry for TMI). This is so frustrating! I'll keep at it with different positions...
Oh no! Without being able to see it sounds like her latch isn't deep enough. Try to get your nipple further back in her mouth and then she won't be mawing down on it.
My boy has a hard time with football sometimes when he's super gassy and sitting upright is more uncomfortable. Sometimes I put him on my lap so he's straddling my leg and that works better occasionally.
DS sits on my lap too to eat. But helps when I'm sore.
When I pump I am getting about 3 ounces. Generally 2 from one side and 1 from the other. My LO is 3 weeks and 5 days. How are some of you getting 5 ounces during a pump session?! I feel behind!
@dmendo01 my daughter will be 5 weeks tomorrow and I generally get 4 oz a session if it's been a couple hours since she last nurses. 3 oz at 3 weeks makes sense since their stomachs aren't that big. Your LO probably only eats 3 oz in a session, so you're pumping what she eats!
When I pump I am getting about 3 ounces. Generally 2 from one side and 1 from the other. My LO is 3 weeks and 5 days. How are some of you getting 5 ounces during a pump session?! I feel behind!
That's how I was too. I pump every 2 hrs (for a couple days I did the cluster pumping) and I've been taking fenugreek supplements and tons of water. Now I'm ahead of him by 10 or so ounces!! Gonna start making a stash for when I wean off breastmilk.
@dmendo01 do you EP or pump and nurse? If you nurse and still pump 3 oz per session that's pretty awesome. If you EP you are getting a pretty decent amount for being three weeks in as that is probably what she eats.
@chewie5990 look into Thrush. I had a similar issue where latch was fine and I started having pain out of no where. We are both being treated for thrush even though she didn't have symptoms.
@Gingermom15 I pump and BF. So, I generally only pump once per day an hour after her evening feed and I can get 3 oz. I also use the milk saver and so I have about 21 oz in the freezer already. So I guess I'm doing okay. When I see ppl say they pump 5 ounces I get so jealous! Haha
@Gingermom15 I pump and BF. So, I generally only pump once per day an hour after her evening feed and I can get 3 oz. I also use the milk saver and so I have about 21 oz in the freezer already. So I guess I'm doing okay. When I see ppl say they pump 5 ounces I get so jealous! Haha
Heck that's awesome to get 3 oz while nursing! Don't stress over your supply, it sounds like you have a good one going. plus, you're only 3 weeks PP so it will increase as baby's demand picks up.
So my LC thinks based on my symptoms and struggles with latch that DD may have a subtle tongue tie (she checked when she was here last and there was not an obvious tie). She suggested I take her to see a dentist to have it looked at. Anyone have a LO with a posterior tie and any experiences to share? Or any kind of tie and your experiences? I really want to persevere with breastfeeding but I'm beginning to wonder if I should take all these issues as a sign instead...
So my LC thinks based on my symptoms and struggles with latch that DD may have a subtle tongue tie (she checked when she was here last and there was not an obvious tie). She suggested I take her to see a dentist to have it looked at. Anyone have a LO with a posterior tie and any experiences to share? Or any kind of tie and your experiences? I really want to persevere with breastfeeding but I'm beginning to wonder if I should take all these issues as a sign instead...
I'd love to add you to a breastfeeding group on Facebook. It is incredibly helpful in encouraging women through difficult breastfeeding situations. If you're interested, please PM me!
Alright ladies, would like some opinions here. I'm breastfeeding currently and supplementing but I would like just to breastfeed. Without making this post too long, a little background on my situation. After birth my dd was sent to the special care nursery for meconium. Due to some other issues, she remained there for 4 days. She had an iv while there and had pretty much zero interest in nursing. I was given a pump with few instructions, just told that if I got anything we could feed her with a syringe. Well long story short, she never did take to the breast at the hospital and we felt we had no choice but to supplement. Because of these issues, I believe I now have a supply problem. When I pump I don't even get a whole ounce. When I pump right after a feeding I get 10 ml if I'm lucky. Anyway, I'm drinking a lactation shake daily and taking fenugreek. I've been working with an LC who advised to pump 10 minutes after each feeding to build my supply. I guess I'm wondering if I am just screwed here. Any positive stories or advice for me?
ETA my dd is 3 weeks 4 days old.
I'm only just seeing this but I'm hoping I can give you some hope. My DD was born 3 weeks early at 2:50 pm. Shift change is at 3. My nurse immediately left me without doing anything, not even weighing baby or turning off my pitocin or epi. So no one helped me with attempting breast feed. After five hours of asking for help and not receiving it I was worried she was starving and fed her formula. Eventually a nurse helped me the next day but she wouldn't latch and I had to pump and supplement. For about 3 weeks I pumped and supplemented then I was able to exclusively pump. I pumped every 2-3 hours for 20-30 minutes. At 5 weeks I'd pretty much resigned myself to exclusively pumping and hadn't been very diligent about attempting to latch, it was hard and she would get too hungry and scream. But out of the blue I tried and she latched. So I kept trying and now she is exclusively breast fed. I know it's not really the norm but we're doing great with breastfeeding now.
@Gingermom15 I pump and BF. So, I generally only pump once per day an hour after her evening feed and I can get 3 oz. I also use the milk saver and so I have about 21 oz in the freezer already. So I guess I'm doing okay. When I see ppl say they pump 5 ounces I get so jealous! Haha
I've always been able to get more milk in the morning after DD has eaten because I'm still slightly full from not nursing as much during night.
Is this your first child? When I had my son I was always jealous about how some people could pump so much each time. I'd pump 3 ounces each time if I as lucky. This time around I have enough milk so that my DD only eats from one breast each feeding and when I pump once each morning I get 6-8 ounces each time. My pediatrician mentioned that since I nursed my son for a year not that long ago the cells (??? I think - I can't remember exactly how he described this) in my breasts are used to feeding a one year old so I have more milk this time. Who knew breasts were that smart?
I wish I had known that last time around. I would've gotten less frustrated about producing less than others.
@taysun omg thats awful! Did you make a formal complaint? Im sorry that happened to you! I am glad ppl at my hospital were on it. I wouldn't have had the slightest clue to say anything. I didn't know babies were suppose to be latched immediately or how detrimental it is latching/bf those first days until your milk arrives.
@taysun omg thats awful! Did you make a formal complaint? Im sorry that happened to you! I am glad ppl at my hospital were on it. I wouldn't have had the slightest clue to say anything. I didn't know babies were suppose to be latched immediately or how detrimental it is latching/bf those first days until your milk arrives.
To be honest I didn't realize I had such a bad experience until a week or so after when I started having visitors who asked about my birth experience. I was in labor for three days at the hospital and then there for three more after so I had every nurse that worked on L&D. Half were great and half were horrible and because I progressed so slowly I was often neglected as many other women arrived and delivered while I was there. At the end of it all we're both perfectly fine so it's not worth complaining. I'm just going to look at it as a learning experience for next time.
@taysun thank you for the encouragement! I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. My delivery went well for the most part, but the hospital really failed me on breastfeeding. I'm starting to worry my supply may just never come in. I have upped my water intake significantly hoping that will help. Yesterday I began pumping every 2 hours. I'm still only getting an ounce or less during every pumping. It's so discouraging. I wonder how long before I should see some improvement?
@taysun thank you for the encouragement! I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. My delivery went well for the most part, but the hospital really failed me on breastfeeding. I'm starting to worry my supply may just never come in. I have upped my water intake significantly hoping that will help. Yesterday I began pumping every 2 hours. I'm still only getting an ounce or less during every pumping. It's so discouraging. I wonder how long before I should see some improvement?
What I've read varies in how long it can take your body to adjust it's supply to meet demand. I've seen a few days up to two weeks. How long are you pumping? I would aim to go for 20 minutes. It also helps to massage your breasts to encourage a second let down once the first stops. Some people also see results from power pumping. However if you spend the next week or two doing all the methods suggested to increase supply and it doesn't happen, try not to beat yourself up about it. Breastfeeding/pumping is hard! Honestly the most important thing is that baby is being fed regardless of how you do it.
@RSB1982 I am so sorry your hospital really dropped the ball on helping guide you through breastfeeding! If it helps at all I have been guided through this whole process and am meeting my 4th LC (2 in the hospital, 1 through the Pediatrican, and now 1 through my midwives) this week and I still feel lost and overwhelmed by the whole thing. People may have mentioned this before but my brain is so foggy so here it goes. I have been up and down with my supply. I was pumping every 2 hours at night but once I started filling enough bottles I would skip pumping and just bottle feeding her expressed milk. Then I saw my milk supply slowing down so I went back to pumping every 2 hours. If I breastfeed (we are having latching issues) I still try to pump after to drain as much milk as I can so my body will "restock" the supply. I also drink mothers milk tea everyday and have oatmeal every morning for breakfast. And I even have had a few Guinness beers since they are meant to up your supply. It took awhile for it to come back but it slowly has. But I also second what @taysun said and please don't beat yourself up about any of this. It is so easy for us to feel we are doing something wrong but we really need to be kinder to ourselves. (And also stress does not help our milk supply) and know that as long as your baby is getting fed that is the most important thing you can do for them. Good luck!!! Xo and I will let you know if LC give me any good tips when I see her on Thursday.
So my LC thinks based on my symptoms and struggles with latch that DD may have a subtle tongue tie (she checked when she was here last and there was not an obvious tie). She suggested I take her to see a dentist to have it looked at. Anyone have a LO with a posterior tie and any experiences to share? Or any kind of tie and your experiences? I really want to persevere with breastfeeding but I'm beginning to wonder if I should take all these issues as a sign instead...
@Alyssaerin996 my DD has a subtle tongue tie which means that she doesn't latch very deeply. They told me about it in the hospital but said since she was able to eat they don't correct it because it will correct itself as her tongue muscles grow stronger. I can really notice it when DD cries (more like screams) with her mouth open. The tip of her tongue makes a slight V shape. I'm sorry lanolin doesn't work for you because it's been a life saver for me! I use it sparingly. DD is 5 weeks old and the first 2 weeks were really painful but it passed and I've healed. I exclusively pumped and bottle fed for a few days when my nipples were really bad. Then I started breastfeeding a few times a day with nipple shields until I fully healed. Now I usually pump and bottle feed during the day and breastfeed at night. I do breastfeed during the day sometimes too and I'm trying to cut back on pumping because I think I have an oversupply. My freezer is already exploding with milk! I have to correct her latch (gently pulling her mouth open with my finger so her bottom lip pops out and her latch deepens) at every feeding but after I do that we are both fine! Don't give up!
@taysun I am pumping for 20 minutes now. I have tried the breast compressions but I never seem to get a second let down.
@Nycbk Yes, please let me know if you get any good tips! I am thinking about making an appointment with a different LC.
I told myself throughout my pregnancy that I would try to breastfeed but that if it didn't work out, no big deal. I was a formula fed baby and I turned out just fine. But I am struggling to let go of breastfeeding. I hate failing at anything, and I know 'breast is best'. I am doubtful my baby will ever be EBF at this point, but I would still like to increase my supply as much as possible so we supplement less and less. Thanks for the encouragement ladies! I'll keep at it.
@Alyssaerin996 I had the exact same situation. We ended up getting it clipped at an ENT. It was a short procedure LO barely cried. For us though his latch went to hell after so after a week of trying I am now EPing and supplementing with formula.
Re: Breastfeeding advice, questions, ect
How long have you been having issues with it? If it continues you might see an LC and make sure there isn't a latch issue going on. Then theread are just babies that suck hard. DS would strip the skin off my nipples so they looked scraped all the time. I just kept using the nipple balm and eventually they toughened up but I'll admit that it was a relief when I had to stop bf him.
@Mizuiro007 we've definitely had some trouble with latch so we're still working through that. We JUST weaned off the nipple shield in the last 24 hours so the soreness isn't too unexpected. They're not cracked or bleeding, just so so SO raw that even touching the fabric of my bra is like a lightning bolt. I just wish they'd "toughen" soon! I'd try anything.
DD also slips off the nipple if I still have some lanolin on there, which shouldn't be funny but kind of is. She slides off and then just sort of stares and blinks for a second like "what happened??". It's cute.
I wanted to add that if you aren't already, you might try practicing a lot of skin to skin. I did have a few weeks with my first while I was still bf him that my supply drastically diminished. I ended up staying in bed with him doing skin to skin and nursing him along with drinking as much water as I could get down. It helped a lot. I sometimes do the same with DD when I can, especially if she's cluster feeding. She nurses and when she's full just stays against my skin with a pacifier if she wants one.
I should add in DD of course only eats from one side each session so if she eats from the left side at 9:30pm then she doesn't eat from the left again until 6:30 am. This is another reason why I pump at 11:30pm.
I'd agree with @Mizuiro007 about 6 hours is what my boobs can take, I think she's my guru...she knows everything!
My boy has a hard time with football sometimes when he's super gassy and sitting upright is more uncomfortable. Sometimes I put him on my lap so he's straddling my leg and that works better occasionally.
Edited because no sleep
My DD was born 3 weeks early at 2:50 pm. Shift change is at 3. My nurse immediately left me without doing anything, not even weighing baby or turning off my pitocin or epi. So no one helped me with attempting breast feed. After five hours of asking for help and not receiving it I was worried she was starving and fed her formula. Eventually a nurse helped me the next day but she wouldn't latch and I had to pump and supplement.
For about 3 weeks I pumped and supplemented then I was able to exclusively pump. I pumped every 2-3 hours for 20-30 minutes. At 5 weeks I'd pretty much resigned myself to exclusively pumping and hadn't been very diligent about attempting to latch, it was hard and she would get too hungry and scream. But out of the blue I tried and she latched. So I kept trying and now she is exclusively breast fed.
I know it's not really the norm but we're doing great with breastfeeding now.
Is this your first child? When I had my son I was always jealous about how some people could pump so much each time. I'd pump 3 ounces each time if I as lucky. This time around I have enough milk so that my DD only eats from one breast each feeding and when I pump once each morning I get 6-8 ounces each time. My pediatrician mentioned that since I nursed my son for a year not that long ago the cells (??? I think - I can't remember exactly how he described this) in my breasts are used to feeding a one year old so I have more milk this time. Who knew breasts were that smart?
I wish I had known that last time around. I would've gotten less frustrated about producing less than others.
At the end of it all we're both perfectly fine so it's not worth complaining. I'm just going to look at it as a learning experience for next time.
Some people also see results from power pumping.
However if you spend the next week or two doing all the methods suggested to increase supply and it doesn't happen, try not to beat yourself up about it. Breastfeeding/pumping is hard! Honestly the most important thing is that baby is being fed regardless of how you do it.
I'm sorry lanolin doesn't work for you because it's been a life saver for me! I use it sparingly. DD is 5 weeks old and the first 2 weeks were really painful but it passed and I've healed. I exclusively pumped and bottle fed for a few days when my nipples were really bad. Then I started breastfeeding a few times a day with nipple shields until I fully healed. Now I usually pump and bottle feed during the day and breastfeed at night. I do breastfeed during the day sometimes too and I'm trying to cut back on pumping because I think I have an oversupply. My freezer is already exploding with milk!
I have to correct her latch (gently pulling her mouth open with my finger so her bottom lip pops out and her latch deepens) at every feeding but after I do that we are both fine!
Don't give up!
@Nycbk Yes, please let me know if you get any good tips! I am thinking about making an appointment with a different LC.
I told myself throughout my pregnancy that I would try to breastfeed but that if it didn't work out, no big deal. I was a formula fed baby and I turned out just fine. But I am struggling to let go of breastfeeding. I hate failing at anything, and I know 'breast is best'. I am doubtful my baby will ever be EBF at this point, but I would still like to increase my supply as much as possible so we supplement less and less. Thanks for the encouragement ladies! I'll keep at it.