Problems with breastfeeding

I started off breastfeeding Courtney, she wouldn't feed that often but when she did feed so would suck for about 1-2 hours straight,non-stop. By day 3 this did a number on my nipples,they are blistered badly,so she can't drink from them now,so I started her on a formula that says its the closest to breastmilk. In the meantime I'm using nipple cream to help clear up the blisters. Is it going to be okay to switch her back to breastfeeding after its cleared up? And also will it effect her in any way switching from breastmilk to formula back to breastmilk again?

I had to start using formula because my milk didn't come in until the 1 week after DS was born.  When my milk came in I breastfed fine, but I found that I never made enough milk to exclusively breastfeed.  He had no problems going between breast and bottle.  He did however want to breastfeed every 2 hrs, but could go 4 hrs between bottles.

Have you consulted a lactation consultant?  I found it extremely helpful because I could never figure out the pictures in the books.

Is there any way you can express milk, or are you too sore?  You can buy nipple shields that really help for both nursing and expressing - they're a very thin silicone that covers your nipple.  They saved my life the first few weeks.

In terms of whether or not she'll take to the breast after a bottle, I don't know for sure.  I wish I could be more help there.  I don't think it will affect her adversely at all if you use both breast milk and formula - I have a friend who breastfed, but had to supplement with formula and her son did fine with it.  Worse case scenario is that she doesn't go back to the breast, but you can always express and feed her with a bottle.  I've known several women who chose to do this as their babies never latched properly.

The only correct answer is what will work for you - there is no wrong choice.  As long as she's getting fed, that's all that matters.

I know it's hard at first, but it does get easier.  I swear!!  Good luck and keep us posted!

I forgot to add that it's okay to take her off the breast.  After 20 min or so (depends on the person and baby) you're empty and she's sucking for comfort.  If it's making you sore, unlatch her by breaking the suction with your finger, and give her a pacifier or her thumb, atleast until your nipples feel better. 

The best thing for continuing breastfeeding is continuing breastfeeding. Your nipples need to toughen up, that is what is happening with the soreness, and the best/only way to do that is to continue breastfeeding. The nipplecream will help relieve, but you should be able to use a cream that won't interfere with feeding. It is also very soothing to put a cold compress on your breasts after feeding. When you start introducing formula, at this stage where you are still establishing your milk supply, it sends your body confusing messages about how much milk it needs to produce for baby. If you want to go back to exclusively breastfeeding, you will need to go through this temporary pain anyway, because it will continue as long as baby is feeding until your body adjusts.

But take heart! It does not last forever and will get better and easier with time. I know it is hard with being so tired and how demanding the baby can be, but it does get easier. The first couple weeks are the hardest, and after you get over that hump, the pain and soreness will ease. If you can grin and bear it, it will be very rewarding for you and your baby.

Here are some links for more information and answers to questions you may have and places for support, that I found helpful (my second child was born at the end of June):
http://www.lalecheleague.org/bfinfo.html
http://breastfeeding.kellymom.com/
http://www.breastfeeding.co.uk/
http://www.breastfeeding.com/

Good luck - you're doing a really special thing for your child!

He did however want to breastfeed every 2 hrs, but could go 4 hrs between bottles.

Breastfed babies will feed more often than formula fed babies, because the breastmilk is so easily digested (and their tummies are so small!). As baby gets bigger, around about the 3 month point, the feedings will start to spread out much more, because they can hold a lot more in their bigger tummies.

I forgot to add that it's okay to take her off the breast.  After 20 min or so (depends on the person and baby) you're empty and she's sucking for comfort.  If it's making you sore, unlatch her by breaking the suction with your finger, and give her a pacifier or her thumb, atleast until your nipples feel better. 

Yes, do follow your baby's cues and when you sense she is sleeping rather than feeding, ease her off - at that point she will most likely not even notice but have a dummy at hand in case she does. You'll notice a rhythm to the feeding and when it begins to taper off, jiggle her foot or rock her a little to see how she responds. Most likely she will start sucking a little harder for about 3 tugs and then stop -- that's when she's asleep and you can put her down.

Best of luck to you, Carly. My sister was only able to breastfeed my niece for about three months, and I don't think my niece was ever on the breast exclusively. At first, she felt pressured to ONLY breastfeed, since it seemed like that's what a lot of the other mothers she knew had done with their children. But, unlike most of those other women, my poor sister has breasts about the size of footballs, so the baby just usually fell asleep when placed up against all that warm skin 

Do you have access to a breastfeeding expert through the healthcare system at all? I think at the hospital where my sister had her baby, there was someone available to help the new mothers with their questions (or course, that was in Georgia, not England.) The most important thing is not to feel like you're the ONLY mother in the history of the universe to have trouble and that sometimes nursing doesn't go perfectly for every mom and baby.

</end breastfeeding advice from the non-mother>

I wish I knew then what I know now! 

I had the same problems you had, Carly.  Unfortunately, I started Aillidh on a bottle and never looked back.

Lanisoh cream will help the nipples and does not interfere w/feeding.

FunGirl's suggestion is a good one, too - nipple shields and expressing CAN and do work if you find it just too painful to carry on w/her at the breast, and don't feel badly if you do!  It can hurt.

K, it's a nightmare and doubles the work, but I know mothers who have express-fed exclusively.  True, they had to express and then feed by bottle, which as I mentioned doubles the work, but especially as you don't have another child to look after this is a workable option. 

You need a counsellor or experienced mom who can help observe how Courtney is latching on when you're ready to put her back on the breast. 

Another thing is the dummy like Stella mentions.  Some babies just like to suck.  Nuk makes some that look like a backwards teat, but buy a few dummies with different kinds of teats and see if she'll take one of those.

Yes that is another thing, getting the latch right - your midwife when she visits you should be able to help you sort that out. A good latch is a lifesaver, a bad latch will make more hurt than you have to go through.

Have you seen your midwife  yet??? the health visitor should come soon and she'll give you some more pointers! The clinic I was in had breastfeeding sessions but I don't know if that is nationwide ask the midwife or HV.

What the other ladies have said is correct.. one of the things that worked for me is to massage the breast before putting Jess on. Make sure that Courtney is latched on properly you should be able to feel it if she is. If can express the milk and continue giving her breastmilk it would be ideal.  

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/general/8792.html

Yes call on your visiting midwife or HV for help.  I had to start Ethan on formula at 3 weeks because he wasn't gaining enough weight and once he'd had the bottle he didn't want the boob any more.  Don't beat yourself up, whatever happens, you're doing your best.

Another thing is the dummy like Stella mentions.  Some babies just like to suck.  Nuk makes some that look like a backwards teat, but buy a few dummies with different kinds of teats and see if she'll take one of those.

The flat ones rather than the cherry ones tend to work great for breastfed babies.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I haven't seen the health visitor yet, but I spoke with my community midwife but,all she said was use the cream. She really didn't give too much advice on it
We just started her on a pacifier last night,she loves it! We decided to give it to her because she was always trying to suck her thumb without success,and she'd get upset by it.
 When I first started breastfeeding her,she couldn't latch on correctly,she'd sit there with my nipple but she wouldnt suck,she even had problems sucking a bottle as well,but the next day she picked up on it. I most likely have the blisters because like I mentioned earlier she'd suck for 1-2 hours each feeding. I'm gonna wait until the blisters have cleared up and try some of the things mentioned here,thanks again

Just a word of advice, like I said earlier, the blisters/soreness are part of your nipples toughening up. I know it's hard, but waiting won't help that much because you will just go through it again by giving them a break, and you will be interrupting establishing your milk supply (has your milk come in yet, btw, it should have around last night or today - the more you feed the sooner it comes in, the less you feed the longer it takes), so the more you are feeding the better it is for you and your milk.

Your milk will help soothe your nipples, too, btw.

The first couple days your breasts are making what's called colostrum (could have that spelled wrong), which is very nutrious and kinda yellowy/thick. As your supply establishes, the actual milk starts to come in - you will notice that by an even bigger swelling of your breasts (hard to believe but true) and the milk will change to a more white-ish, thinner liquid. That is your regular milk supply.

Don't be afraid to ask your mid-wife/health visitor questions and about local breast-feeding support groups - there are many! Also, Boots is very supportive of breastfeeding and may have information about local groups in your local Boots (they do at ours). So it may help to check out what they have in the Parents' Room, there is a bunch of leaflets and informational booklets in our local Boots'.

I would be concerned that you are stopping the feeding to let your breasts heal, really, in my experience you need to keep feeding, your breasts will toughen up and heal for feeding that way and your milk will become established, and you and baby will both get better at it too. It's really hard but it will ease up after a few days, honest.

But whatever you do, congrats!