Introduction and BF Question

jsp430 · July 2012

Hi!

I've mostly lurked on these boards throughout my pregnancy, getting some great advice and feeling like I'm not alone through all of the crazy trials of giving birth to twins

My son and daughter were born May 4th via c-section (after water breaking at 38 weeks, planning on natural vaginal delivery, laboring at home for 12 hours, fully dilating, finding an uncooperative transverse twin, then getting an epidural while pushing on the operating room table...) at 5 lbs 15 oz and 6 lbs 6 oz.

I breastfed my older daughter until she was 16 months old. I figured the main issue this time would be building up my supply for 2 babies. It has just been entirely rough - so much more difficult than I anticipated, and I'm at the brink of giving up everyday. It's not so much because of supply, so I feel lucky for that. After fenugreek, goat's rue, blessed thistle, lactation cookies, and 8 weeks, I'm finally there with supply.

The whole time I've just been struggling with pain from my son's nursing. My nipples have been in tatters. Triple Nipple Cream prescribed by my OB helped, but even with that I had to pump exclusively for a week in pain just because I couldn't nurse him any longer. I'm on my third round of mastitis, 2nd round of antibiotics, and my entire breasts constantly burn and have shooting pains.

I am not really sure what his problem is - he gets what appears to be a good latch, sucks a couple of times, then clamps down hard. Sometimes it's just several clamps, other times it's biting throughout a nursing session. I'm sure I'm not letting down well from the pain. He has a strong suck and empties several ounces off my breast with ease, even through the biting. But often I can't make it through a session with him.

I've thought he's hypertonic because he has tight musculature, tenses his jaw, and arches his head back a lot, while nursing or just being held. I've taken him to get accu-pressure, spoken with lactation consultants (who agree his latch and mechanics are fine and that's 'just his nursing style'), tried to make sure he's relaxed for nursings, etc. Nothing seems to work. 8 weeks has felt like an eternity.

Does anyone have experience with a really bitey nursling that got better? I think I would feel so guilty nursing one twin and not the other, but I find myself so mad at him. Any advice is SO appreciated - I'm at the point of giving up altogether because it has emotionally and physically taken its toll.

LottaLattes · July 2012

I have no idea since he is getting milk, but I wanted to send some *hugs* I nursed my second son and overcame a lot until he was 2, and have finally given up and gone to EPing these two. It was heartbreaking but just so much harder than I thought it would be. I'm not sure hoe long I will be able to keep up supply-wise, but do what you need to to stay sane and happy.

Generally clamping is either the milk isn't coming or it is coming too fast. Does your milk continue to letdown after it stops? Or sprays? Take care and good luck!

jsp430 · July 2012

Thanks I really enjoyed my time breastfeeding my daughter, so I feel especially sad that I may not get that bonding experience with the babies. How were you able to keep up with pumping with your twins? Every time they would nurse or less times a day? I feel like I can never quite keep up when I just pump, but that might be because pumping with the hospital pump doesn't yield as much milk?

I've thought a lot about letdown, and know that I'm probably not letting down effectively or quickly because of the pain, even if I try hard to relax or keep him calm before latching. I'm sure that it doesn't help once he bites down, which only seems to inflame the nipple tissue, probably causing milk to come out slower from blocked ducts? The side he bites on more is also the side I currently have mastitis in, so maybe that doesn't let down well either. BF is a mystery. Thanks so much for your support!

emschott · July 2012

I have a biter, but nothing to the extent you're describing. I don't really have much advice besides a cream that my lactation consultant described when we all had thrush the first time. I believe it's called Dr. Newman's Nipple Cream, and it's not super common. Only one pharmacy in my area compounds it. I have the shooting pains when I have thrush, and my nipples were also in really bad shape for the first few months, and that stuff really helps both issues. Like you, I've also had mastitis multiple times, and I get a horribly clogged duct every 10 days or so. When that happens, I put a hand warmer (the kind you keep in your gloves for winter sports) in a sock and put it on the painful boob. That helps too. I can't help with the biting but maybe the cream and handwarmers will help you be more comfortable. Good luck!

ColleenS629 · July 2012

My boys bit randomly but more recently, one of my sons was biting all.the.time... as he was getting teeth so he was drawing blood. The only way I could get him to not bite was nursing him right as he was about to fall asleep. It was a PITA because our routine is Eat, Play, Sleep but I had to alter it for a few weeks to get through the biting phase we were going through. He's getting better now but still bites sometimes.

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