Want to give up on day one

[highlandbird]

DS2 just been born on Monday eve, DS1 was an absolute dream to bf, never really had any issues and was really looking forward to doing it again.....but having a nightmare so far. He's pretty much been on the boob since lunchtime, they're cracked and agony but he screams if he's not feeding, I don't know what to do but I've had about four hours sleep since Sunday I'm so exhausted I want to cry, not sure how much longer I can keep this up, any words of wisdom??
Also he won't settle anywhere except on me, completely normal at this stage I know but I think he can smell milk and that's all he wants! I need to sleep.....DS1 is a tiring boisterous 2 year old to deal with in the daytime!

[Cravingdairy]

Have you got lansinoh? That helped me with the pain. Are you taking paracetemol? Is your bed set up so you can co-sleep safely? Are you at home? Do you have a partner who could take the baby for a while to give you a break? Have you tried a sling - some babies find being cuddled up to Daddybin a sling very comforting.

Your MW should be able to have a look at your latch if she is visiting tomorrow in case there are any problems.

Could your baby have a tongue tie -can he stick his tongue out?

Best thing would be to ring a BF helpline, they may be able to arrange for someone to come round and see you and discuss the issues.

You will get through this. Congratulations on your new baby!

[Rulesgirl]

Hi , your milk wont have come in yet so hes probably just a hungry baby. My first one was like that. I did give her a little formula just to help me out till my milk came flooding in. No problems with the second who was a little boy. He was quite and just wanted cuddling. I fed both my two for 3 years each.

[Rulesgirl]

OR.....what about a dummy. Sometimes they just want to suck.

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

There's a wet plaster thing called jelnet you can put over your nipples to stop them drying and cracking. Got me through the first two weeks.

[highlandbird]

Yep to lansinoh and paracetamol, we came home couple hours after he was born, he did sleep not too badly last night but I was on a bit of a high so didn't take advantage of it, stupid I know but he also slept on DH for an hour at tea time and I had a bath instead of sleeping like I should have.
Have a stretchy sling which will save me in the daytime I'm sure, co sleeping is the only option but DH sleeps so heavily it worries me, l can't really relax properly in bed and still uncomfortable after the birth.
No bf support here we're right in the sticks and miles up a dirt track so no chance of anyone coming out, also no mobile reception so would have to sit in hallway on landline right outside DS1's room to talk to counsellor at night, cordless phone doesn't even work here as phone line so crap, miles from exchange!
Mw coming out in the morning so will get her to check latch, I just feel like my nipples need a couple of hours to recover they are so so sore, he's a big boy almost 9lb so I suppose he is just hungry.

[TanteRose]

Congratulations on DS2

where is your DH/DP? he should be looking after the boisterous toddler during the day (and night, if necessary) so you can concentrate on your newborn.

your milk will come in soon and DS2 will hopefully get a bit more satisfied after each feed

hang in there

[highlandbird]

X posts sorry there was only one reply when I started typing, thank you all for your advice! He's just fallen asleep on my chest, going to try and shut my eyes for a bit....

[TanteRose]

hope you get some rest, highland

[Sunshinewithshowers]

Hi OP, My midwife has arranged the breastfeeding support worker to come & visit me, from the surgery.

Also there is a group in my nearest town.

Im rural also, only 3 houses out here. If the postman, midwife ect can get to you, insist the support worker does.

If you are in Cornwall, private message me.
Im day 7 & have cried every day now with pain x

[Cravingdairy]

Hope you are getting some rest OP. We did a lot of chest sleeping!

[Marcheline]

Hi OP, I really feel for you. DD2 is 9 weeks old now and I felt very much the same as you for the first 2 or three weeks. I'm also not good at sleeping when she sleeps but DH has been insisting that o go to sleep when he has the baby and DD1, so I am getting a bit more rest.

It is totally normal for babies to suckle like mad in the early days, to stimulate your supply. Once your milk comes in, it will hopefully get easier. As for your nipples, j used breast shells for the first few weeks - they allow air to get to your nipples and stop them ribbon anything, they were a godsend and I'd have stopped bfing months ago if it wasn't for them.

I have to keep reminding myself that they're little for such a short space if time. It really will get better, and quickly. I'm rural too but like the poster above says, if the MW can get to you, so can a bf support worked

Good luck and lots of chocolate.

[highlandbird]

Both just got a couple of hours sleep so feeling a bit more positive now, thank you so much for your replies its good to know I'm not the only one to struggle, I just assumed it would be so easy the second time round!
DH is on toddler duty and is desperate to look after me too, I think I need to let the control freak in me chill out and concentrate on getting this baby feeding properly.
Will ask mw about breastfeeding support tomorrow morning, postman delivers our post 3 miles from our house so don't fancy my chances but you don't ask you don't get!!
Breast shells - need to look these up, can't even bear my clothes touching my nipples they are slathered in lansinoh baby's face is very greasy!

[highlandbird]

Sunshinewithshowers we are in highlands so opposite end of the country!! Hope things improve for you soon, am very close to crying here but I remember how great it feels when bf is established and going well.....we'll get there soon! X

[TanteRose]

highland - why not have a good cry and let it all out!
remember, its day 3 after the birth, so your hormones suddenly plummet and everything feels overwhelming

hopefully you'll feel better in the next few days, especially when feeding gets a bit easier

{{hugs}}

[MrsHoarder]

Highland why not leave your top off then mine was only worn for visitors. And let your dh look after you and do everything for both dc except bf.

[highlandbird]

Tante.....thank you, I'm scared to let my emotions show too much I suppose, I had really bad pnd with DS1 that started 5 days after he was born and feel a bit like everyone is just holding their breath for it to kick in again.
Mrshoarder, yep I need to let dh look after me you're right, and this is what he's telling me as well. And clothes are off, but occasionally stuff brushes past...ouch! Breast shells on the list now!
Just had another hour or so of sleep fingers crossed we have a better day today, feeding wise, thank you all so much for your kind words and support last night....I may have felt overwhelmed but certainly not lonely. X

[uksmurf1981]

Hi, This is my first ever post, my baby boy was born on Friday 19th and I am having major feeding problems that are really getting me down, I came home on Monday after a 4 days stint in hospital, they kept me in because he wasn't latching on, it was turning into a 2-3hr battle, I was frustrated and upset, he was upset... vicious circle!

The problem is I'm producing a HUGE amount of milk, I started getting in on the evening of day 2! I started expressing in the hospital and on the first attempt got off over 100mls. I was then regularly getting 120-140mls every 4hrs whilst in hospital.

As he was still not latching on we decided to try and continue with breastmilk but to just express and then feed through a breast flow bottle in case I could get him back onto me when I got home.... I was also advised to express "until empty".... ok, not going to work, I was at home and thought ok let's do this, 2hrs and 400mls (!!!!) later I decided I was never going to be empty and I had to stop.

Since then my breasts have been massively engorged and are painful all the time to the point where I can't really hold littleun to me as I can't bear my breasts being touched. I am still expressing but for some reason am now struggling to get what I was originally. On top of this his demand has risen.

Both myself and my husband have been up every hour since 11pm with him as he just keeps asking for food!!

I'm getting to the end of my tether, I keep crying because I know I've got milk and really wish I could give it to him but feel it's really interfering with me being able to just be a mum.

We've got an hours appt back at the hospital today to sit down with a breastfeeding specialist but to be honest I'm really just considering moving him onto formula. We can't plan to do anything or go out as I either need to express or he needs to feed and then we have the issue of storage of milk whilst out if it's kept in fridge, we need to make sure it stays at right temp etc.

I don't really know what advice I'm looking for, I know I have the support of my husband, friends and family if I did decide to move him over but I just feel so guilty as it's only just day 5 and I feel like I'm failing him by not giving him what I'm supposed to.

I think I just need to get this off my chest and try and work out what's best for lifestyle aswell as health wise but I'm just in such a dilemma about what to do

[ExBrightonBell]

Oh, uksmurf, you sound at the end of your tether!

I hope your appt today goes well and that you get some helpful advice.

I would say that breastfeeding does get easier over time, and then going out is so much more straightforward. You don't need to take any stuff with you for feeding and you can feed wherever and whenever needed.

If you start your own thread in this section you'll get lots of support and advice

[tiktok]

uksmurf do start a new thread. Just click on Start a new thread and copy and paste your post. That's a better way f getting help than tagging your story on to the existing one....and you will get more replies!

[tiktok]

And I"d add, uksmurf, that whoever told you to 'express till empty' with no further explanation or caveat, has NOT helped you at all` :(

[DoodleAlley]

Hi with both dc I have got painful nipples and ended up expressing for 12 hrs and giving the milk in a pipette in order to allow the healing to start and then going back to breast feeding.

It's not a midwife sanctioned approach but it worked for me.

[highlandbird]

Uksmurf that sounds like a really difficult situation, I think if you keep expressing though you will just keep producing more milk as it is produced on demand.....keep posting on mn and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice, there are some amazingly supportive people here I've discovered in the last couple of years, hope things improve for your really really soon, I don't mind you tagging into this thread at all but I think you'll get more helpful advice if you start a new thread.
Good luck xx

[highlandbird]

Doodle that sounds like a good idea, I'm desperate not to give up but just feel like my boobs need a break. Feeling much more positive this morning, middle of the night is the worst time!
Need my milk to come in now, he's so hungry!

[DoodleAlley]

It's harder at night but that's when I've done the expressing thing best. Then sleep with your breasts out and doused in lansinoh.

Don't go crazy on the expressing but it can also help your milk come in.

Got suggested this by midwife with DS and then when same thing happened with dd just shot out of hospital to go home and do the same again.

Also be prepared for let down to be more
Painful as you mend but the key is that the pain subsides as your dc feeds. But this is only really relevant when your milk comes in I have found.

And hold in there, you are most likely doing far better than you expect. It will pass. These are difficult emotional times anyway and not helps by issues like these. And you are not unusual in experiencing this. The early breast feeding days are, in my experience and from chatting to
Friends, very rarely a breeze.

[Sunshinewithshowers]

I have been advised to put cabbage leaves in my bra!