Breastfeeding Probs

HELP!! Am having lots of trouble getting Hannah to latch on properly on my right boob. I have tried a couple of positions (tummy to tummy and under my arm) and in different chairs and with different pillows etc. but not having much luck. About a week ago I had a cracked bleeding nipple on that side so m/w suggested expressing off that side for a day and just fed off left. Seem to have heaps more milk on left now Sometimes she does latch on but then slips back and chomps instead or she turns her top lip under. She gets soooo worked up after a while it makes it even harder. Tried for half an hour last feed and still couldnt get it - both of us ended up bawling our eyes out (again!). It is getting sooo frustrating and I am beginning to dread feeding time cos the more I try, the more painful it gets. She also tends to go to sleep after about 5 mins so have to change her nappy, take her legs out of outfit etc every time to wake her up. And she very spilly. Everything else is going so well and if we could just get this feeding sorted out I would be so much happier.

Sorry about the long novel, but looking for a bit of advice before I go mad and give up. I really want to keep breastfeeding, but this has been going on for almost a week now. Midwife coming tomorrow to try and help, but wondering what you all think.

sorry to hear your both (you and hannah) having problems with feeding. when jack was about 4wks i had trouble getting him latched properly on the one side and it was getting so painful i was in tears the whole feeding time
so i rang the la leche league and a lady came around and showed me how to get him on properly. they are sooooooo helpful!!!! don't know what i would've done without her! gone mad i'm sure!!
your midwife will probably have the ph no.
hang in there sweeets!

AimeeJoy, I feel for you. Jake didn't feed off me for 6 weeks, so I expressed and bottle fed for that time. I had help from my midwife and lactation consultant, and , at 6 weeks, he finally decided to come to the party and breast feed. The six weeks before that had been full of tears, frustration and exhaustion. If Hannah's feeding well off one side, at least you can take some comfort in knowing that she can do it! In those first few days after Jake finally decided to feed, latching was painfull, so this is my little tip. I held my breast in between thumb and forefinger, making it into a kind of triangle (behind nipple quite a bit, about 5 cms), held his head in other hand, and pointed nipple up so it would go on the roof of his mouth. I basically put all that into his mouth and held on untill I could feel him sucking, then relaxed with my fingers on breast, he would go back a little, but was not "nipple" feeding, which was causing all the pain. Jake never curled his lip in, so sorry, no advice there. Hope my novel is some help to you. It does get easier and better, so hang in there, it is an awsome experience once you have it sorted!

Me again... I have to agree with Janine about the get her comfy and slide her over to other breast in same position thing. I had to do that with Jake the first few times he b/f, because he wouldn't go on other side otherwise.
Go easy on yourself, you are doing an amazing job!

lol jacobsmama. Aimee,have u tried lying down n bed feeding that way??? My right nipple cracked and bleed also and i dredded feeding  Harmony then i rung LLL(le leche league) and they were helpful.if theres some ladies in danevirke call them and i am sure they can also spend the day there with you to see wots goin on etc.hope it gets better but as Janine said breastfeeding takes time to learn for both u and baby.if u r expressing the right side try it in the shower so that ur nipple is nice and moist rather than hard and cracked.also is there like a lil white coating of milk????(i had that)could be blocked duct?? im no expert lol.ring LLL,they should help

abby wouldn't feed off my right side either, and I think it's because I did hold her differently, all I did was feed her her first feed from the right everytime, and after a while she excepted it, now and 10 months she won't stop breastfeeding. I used Lanisol breast cream from unichem it's dear but so worth it, it works within hours of putting it on. Good luck, I know it can be frustrating but you'll get there!

Ana, that is the CUTEST pic!

I had no end of problems with one of my breasts when it came to feeding either of my kids. I had minor surgury to remove a breastlump, and they did it by cutting a third of the way around the edge of the darker skin (can't remember what its called ) then popping the lump out. The problem was, the dissolving stitches dissolved too soon, and when my mum was changing my dressing my nipple fell forward. Stung like anything! Anyway, Mum put it back but we think its now misalligned slightly inside, so it's actually harder for the kids to get the milk out as the "tubes" are partially blocked - like having a narrowing straw. The scar tissue probably isn't helping either.

I had to start Josiah on that side, and I would feed him either both of us lying down, or I would lie him on a tri-pillow on my knee, facing as if he was going to have the good side. Sometimes I ended up really twisted, as his head would be near one breast but I would be leaning over so he'd feed off the other one.

I suggest you check with your midwife, maybe look into la leche, and remember: we understand!

Sorry about the novel.

Edited by becca.l

Thanks guys Midwife came yesterday and we played around with some positions and I have now got her feeding well off both sides (fingers crossed!). She is having wind problems as well whichdoesnt help and we were up most of the night cos she had a sore tummy (I think!). Tried gripe water with some success, midwife has also suggested cutting out dairy ( ) but I'll try anything that helps. Feel a lot more positive than when I first posted.

Yay for you! Infacol is great, too, I had a bit more sucess with it than the gripe water, but they all help! I'm pleased it's getting better for you, its all worth it in the end. One of my fave sayings is it will be alright in the end, if its not alright, it's not the end.