My poor boobs

Re: My poor boobs

• lewispm member

  December 2013

  We went through this with K. My issue was supply, but the supply issue stemmed from a nipple shield they gave me at the hospital as well as K being a very lazy eater.

  To fix it, I got rid of the nipple shield, pumped like crazy to get my supply up, and only fed him for 15 mins tops on each side. If he still acted hungry, I would wait at least 30 mins before offering it again. It was a huge pain at first and he was super fussy (but he was a fussy newborn in general) but eventually he figured out that he had to actually eat instead of just hang out and suckle for hours.

  I know my situation is a little different than yours, but maybe talk to your pedi or Lactation Consutlant about the possibility of him just being a lazy eater and wanting to suckle all day rather than eating until fullness and then stopping.

  

  

                                                                

   

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• EandIMommy86 member

  December 2013

  I'm going through this right now actually. LO is always hungry. My supply can't keep up so I have to give formula. I used to be able to pump out about two bottles worth, but he eats so much they would be gone in one feeding. Pumping can help especially if you like to measure out how much LO is getting. I have heard of people that pump like 8 times a day, which is insane and I don't even know how they have that kind of time. I would say pump to give your boobs a break unless LO really wants to nurse. If you have to supplement with formula it is completely fine as long as the baby is eating.

  
  
  
  
  
  

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• britbratjf member

  December 2013

  He may be using you as a paci rather than actively nursing. You could try and offer a paci to see if that helps? I wouldn't mess with pumping right now because it's so much additional work unless like @ JFresh said and you give a bottle.

  
  
  
  

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• snickersforeveryone member

  December 2013

  sarasansh said:

  This is how Robin ate for pretty much the first 3 months of his life. He was just a huge fan of cluster feeding and NOT a fan of sleep. In our case it just turned out that that was his style.

  This seems like what Nicholas is doing. He actively eats, falls asleep, I try to put him down, he wakes up and acts desperate to eat again. So we start over. I am going to call a LC as soon as DH can take over baby duty...I'm just so tired, and I knew you ladies might be able to help.

  
  
  
  

  

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• snickersforeveryone member

  December 2013

  sarasansh said:

  @eafogel I realize after re-reading that my response sounded kind of snarky...that wasn't my intention! I was bumping during a faculty meeting and trying to be discreet

  
  

  Robin would often do that, and I think it was less because he was hungry and more because he was desperate for the comfort that the boob provided him. Sometimes I would just keep nursing him, especially if it was in the evening when he tended to be fussier, or if we just didn't have anything to do. Otherwise I'd try to give him a pacifier and hand him to DH. Sometimes that worked, sometimes it didn't. DH figured out a jiggle-walk combo that was really soothing to Robin and helped him fall asleep, and also gave my boobs a rest.

  
  

  Have you considered trying to nurse him in some sort of baby wearing device, like a ring sling? That way once he falls asleep he would still have contact with you (and maybe be less likely to wake up?) but you could still have your hands free, at least a little bit.

  Oh I didn't take your reply as snarky at all! No worries there.
  
  The sling idea is interesting. I've always been nervous about them though, like the baby would tumble out or something. Maybe I'll look into them a little more thoroughly.
  
  I may also try the paci thing. I'm not really hurting as much as I am exhausted from feeding him all night and then needing to keep up with Em. But the idea of a break while DH jiggle walks sounds heavenly.

  
  
  
  

  

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• zyas member

  December 2013

  Hugs!! Oh I remember those days of nursing at the beginning and it hurt like hell! Question for you, is it any less painful nursing the second time around?

  My Blog: Loving Every Moment

  
  

  

  

  
  
  

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• snickersforeveryone member

  December 2013

  It's really not painful in the traditional "my nipples are going to fall off" sense. It's that he's eating so much that my milk is going crazy. I get engorged FAST, and it hurts like the blazes.
  
  In a way it is easier this time around because I know what a bad latch feels like and can correct it.

  
  
  
  

  

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• EandIMommy86 member

  December 2013

  I got engorged fast too and had to pump all of it out. My nipples were also bleeding and that's another reason why I had to pump for awhile.

  
  
  
  
  
  

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• sarahandeddiejune212008 member

  December 2013 edited December 2013

  Both my girls did this and my supply was fine. He is helping to get your supply where it needs to be. There is hope. He should start to slow down soon.
  
  ETA: there is a sling that is specifically designed for nursing. It starts with a k and was about $80.

  

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• aylafsu88 member

  December 2013

  Your supply will even out and adjust to meet his needs. It is normal to be engorged in the beginning so you do not want to pump at this point (it will just create an oversupply). It is also normal for him to nurse all the time.  I remember being stuck to the couch and nursing all day long! It sucked but it did get better. My LO loved to comfort suck so she would nurse, fall asleep and comfort suck then wake up to nurse again.  I spent a lot of time just holding her while she went through this cycle.  As for the pain that is normal to. It is an adjustment in the beginning and around 6 weeks it got better for me.  GL!
  

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