Breastfeeding bites the big one
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4311
Printed Date: 02 October 2025 at 12:05pm
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Topic: Breastfeeding bites the big one
Posted By: emeldee
Subject: Breastfeeding bites the big one
Date Posted: 02 November 2006 at 11:50am
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Okay, so I'm almost past the hating breastfeeding part but I thought that I should just mention that I completely forgot how ghastly breastfeeding is over the first three to six weeks. OUCH. Cracked nipples, engorged breasts, public leaking, everyone thinking that it's okay to come up and make faces at the baby two centimetres away from your breast while your feeding.
That being said, now that it is established, I am starting to enjoy (okay so wrong word but I'm too sleepy to think of another) the process. Well, it's easier than it was and since I have no choice with the allergies etc. it's much better than it was three weeks ago. I still don't agree with the breastfeeding militia that expect everyone to breastfeed or else - but I did want to post something slightly reassuring to those of you with cracked nipples, achy bits and other issues in the first four weeks...it does get better - and seek help with breastfeeding sooner rather than later - Plunket family centres are great - and if you don't like the advice or support from the first place, seek another. Oh - and my tip for soothing sore nipples - get an aloe vera plant or a bottle of aloe vera juice, apply liberally and expose nipples to air at every chance you get (my neighbours are either getting used to it or have recovered). Lansinoh is my lanolin of choice. ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 02 November 2006 at 12:30pm
I am with you on the cracked nipple thing!! I have actually found a couple of remedies to help in that area i.e. nipple shields and also the Lansinoh cream as you mentioned. I hope that the next few weeks get easier too but I must admit I do find it quite special having your baby so close to you when feeding  ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 02 November 2006 at 1:26pm
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My midwife gave me some clear gel thingies which they use for burn patients. Oh they worked a charm! They make cracked nipples feel cool and moist. Apparently they are really expensive so ask your m/w first before going to the chemist
I am so with you on the b/fing thing Maree. It's tough when you're starting but it becomes so easy... eventually. (I b/f 11mos x2) Keep it up  -------------  |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 November 2006 at 4:28pm
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Thanks for the encouragement Maree - I'm coping ok during the day but at night when everyone else in the house is asleep and I am watching trashy TV and expressing gallons of milk formula looks like such a good option! It seems so wrong being awake when the babies are asleep!
I do remember the cracked nipples etc. settling down with Maya, so I'm holding out hope that they'll heal this time round too coz atm no one is allowed near me. I'm going to Family Centre on Tues but if my nipples haven't healed a little it'll be a waste of time coz no snappy jaws are going to touch them till they have! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 02 November 2006 at 11:46pm
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You poor things, I really feel for you. I remember those days -- it took me and Emma Rose a good six weeks I didn't tense up and hold my breath every single time she latched on. Now that she has two teeth, she likes to hold my nipple right between her upper jaw and her teeth and just grin at me, as if to say, "Don't even THINK about unlatching me, because I will BITE DOWN!" She is a monkey! I was lucky to have lots of breastfeeding support, and got pretty used to whipping my boobs out for this and that midwife at Birthcare. By the end of our stay there, so many strange women had handled my boobs, my poor husband wasn't sure whether to be turned on or freaked out. As he said the other night, wistfully, "Those boobs haven't been mine for more than 8 months now." Hey, honey, they haven't been MINE either!!! Hang in there, Maree! I was a PureLan addict, and someone gave me Palmers Cocoa Butter Nursing Cream, which felt lovely and soft as well. You're right, it DOES get better, but it doesn't help to have people in your face (and handling your boobs) making you feel bad if breastfeeding isn't going fabulously well all the time. You need to do what's best for you and your baby, and it sounds like you are doing just that! |
Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 10:34am
Hahaha Katherine, what is it about men & boobs? My man is upset because my boobs have been *working* for two years & he wants them back. I don't think so!!!! Not for at least another two years. Hehehehehehe!!!! Tell that to your Hubby & maybe he won't think 8 months is "quite" so bad  ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 11:24am
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LOL Katherine - Willie is slightlu disturbed by the sight of me expressing, but compared to watching the gremlins being born I think he is coping ok... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 12:00pm
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Hehe Emma, when I was expressing for Ella my Hubby was fascinated! I had a hand pump and often when my hands got tired he'd take over for me!
This time he's just amazed when I get my boobs out, at how huge they are  I keep telling him not to get too attatched though, they'll be gone in a year or so  ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 12:15pm
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Even I am amazed by how huge my boobs are. They were never this big last time round... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 12:25pm
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lol I'm usually little too, I bet he just loves this last trimester when I'm full but not leaking or sore... ------------- |
Posted By: MILF
Date Posted: 03 November 2006 at 1:09pm
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i am another lansinoh convert here, it was the most fantastic stuff, i have two tubes ready and waiting this time ( not that i will need even one whole tube, but i like to be prepared )
I cant remember the stage you are talking about maree, i think i must have blanked it from memory.... give me 8 weeks and i will be here going "oh yea, i remember now, OUCH!" ------------- Lyla - mum to Xanthe - my big 4 year old 
and Jordis - 1 year old 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 12:19pm
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I used up a whole one of those little tubes of lansinoh I had to use the big one. Yeah it does suck at the start it took me months to get over the pain I lived on panadol. Think of all the benefits your bubbies and you are getting its so worth the pain. A friend of mine who ff fed her first and is bf her second said she has found bonding so much easier.
Tonielis how did Alex cope with bf while you were preg? Did your milk run out or anything? What happeded when Blaire was born did Alex wait til your milk came in or did he continue to have feeds? Did bf hurt as much second time? Sorry for the qs just noone really has any answers for me |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 12:32pm
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As far as the breastfeeding hurting with subsequent kiddies - sorry, I'm on baby #3 and they hurt just as much as with #1. In fact, #1 hurt less - I think it was because he was smaller and didn't feed as much as the latest monsters.
LOL about the men and boobs - hubby and I were cuddled up in bed asleep and he was most unimpressed to wake up to find that the boobage had overflowed and leaked onto him. After being a boob guy, he's treating mine with a very wide berth at present. ------------- |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 12:40pm
| nuts I was hoping once you get over the pain with number one you never get pain again. |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 2:21pm
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Rach... if you continue to feed you might not have the same probs with the new one. But then again, most of the probs with breastfeeding are the way the little ones latch and their sucky little mouths. So even if you feed the whole way through it might be sore for a while...???
If you want to tandem feed I say go for it!! There are a few mums on EBB that do it don't they? |
Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 4:25pm
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Hi Rachael. Alex just keep feeding while I was pregnant. He was pretty good at curling around my big belly by the time I was due! Milk supply dropped abit but I definitely still had plenty to satisfy him so that was ok. When I went into hospital to have Blaire he went to my mum's (he was 19 months old by then) & they came to visit at the hospital, he jumped on to have a feed. I had plenty for both boys so it wasn't a problem. I found for me personally that bfing second time around didn't hurt "as bad"....I had Alex to get rid of that swollen feeling so if Blaire didn't suck it all back I would encourage Alex to finish it off.
If your looking at tandem feeding feel free to ask me questions, I don't mind. I pretty much had to figure it out by myslef because not many people do it & there isn't that much info out there about it. Hahaha I was told that bfing while pregnant would take nutrition away from my growing baby!!! Pffttt whatever! If that was true I wouldn't have had two 9 pounder babies in a row. LOL! I've pretty much weaned Alex now that he has turned two but booby is still available to him for when he is cranky or sick. Oh & another thing, my boys looked so cute feeding at the same time & holding hands. It certainly has been worth doing the tandem feeding if only to see that ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 4:28pm
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Lol sorry for such a long post I tend to waffle on abit ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 5:32pm
| Oh yip cool I would really like to continue bfing for a while I just don't want to get my hopes up in case Jack weans himself but he has always loved boob so I really don't see him ever saying no lol. When did your milk start to drop a bit cos mine has seemed to increase. How many feeds was Alex on past one? and how many when Blaire was born? Do you think it made it easier for Alex to cope with a new bub? I remember sitting feedin g Jack for hours soI'm kind of worried how he will copw with that. Thanx for answering questions |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 8:42pm
I'm also one of these ones who gets pregnant while still b/fing. But I am of slight build and "eating for three" doesn't work well for me  So both of my kiddies have been weaned mid-first-trimester (basically when I find out I'm pregnant). The milk had no difference, both girls were still happy to feed.
On reading some info from La Leache League I heard that when tandem feeding, the milk produced is according to what little bub needs and the older child just gets the benefit of it. You can contact them and ask them for their brochure "Feeding for Two, Is it for You?" for more info. ------------- |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 November 2006 at 8:46pm
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I was going to say that with baby #2 I was *more* sore than with #1. Because I had fed Hannah until 11 1/2 mos, I forgot the newborn stuff and just popped on Briona like a 6mo or something. Also I was more tired at night (we all got really sick in the first week) so she was left to self-feed a bit while I drifted in and out of sleep...... hence cracked nipples came like a vengeance and I hadn't had those with #1.
This time around I'm gonna make sure I remember that Krystiana doesn't know how to feed herself yet lol ------------- |
Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 07 November 2006 at 4:04pm
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Sorry I haven't been back on here for a few days. Now....I think from memory (digging deep here LOL) that my supply dropped in the third trimester. Not a huge drop because it was still enough to keep Alex happy. I feed Alex on demand even after he turned one but it was basically about 3-4 feeds a day plus extra if he fell over or was grizzly or something. My boss (ex-midwife) calls it a "Cure-All" which is so true. When Blaire was born Alex was 19 months & was still getting at least 2 feeds a day, usually in the morning & before bed at night plus sometimes he would have one before and/or after his afternoon sleep.
I do think it made it easier for Alex to cope. He quite liked to have a feed at the same time as Blaire, just because he wanted to know it was still okay. He is very cute with Blaire too, he always wants to cuddle him, hold his hand & he just loves having "Gobbledegook" talks with him & Blaire chats right back. Another thing which I found amazing is that Alex has the ability to make Blaire smile & laugh just by talking to him even if Blaire is screaming or really grizzly. I think it has something to do with me feeding Alex & Blaire being able to hear him from in the womb or something. They have quite a special bond. If you do tandem feed then get your head around the idea of having to feed them both at once on occasion. I used to do it in bed by lying on my side, putting Blaire down beside me & feed him on one & then Alex would kind of come in from the other side & drape himself over the top of me so he could get to my other breast. Also I would feed them both on the couch with Blaire on my breastfeeding pillow, lying on my lap & Alex would lie beside me with his head on Blaire's feet so he could reach too. I have noticed that I have a letdown rush when Blaire cries but I don't get it when Alex cries & my milk seems to be different for him too. It's like my boobs know who is feeding & adapt each feeding session. Oh & when I had Blaire I definitely had to relearn how to feed a baby because I was so used to feeding Alex & having him put himself on. But it is like riding a bike, only takes a little while to get back into the swing of things ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |