1st tim ebreastfeed need much needed help and support!

[bnts1993]

I had my baby 5 days ago and am worried about breastfeeding. 1st he wants to feed every hour and he only nurses for about 5-10 minutes and then falls asleep and usually I cant get him to wake up to finish, I think he is getting enough because he has like 10-12 soiled diapers and 10 wet diapers a day but since I have never done this before I wasn't sure if this is normal? I really hope it gets better because my breast are sore and they leak constantly. Also is it normal that when he first latches on that it kinda hurts almost like a pinching pain but then goes away as he suck? Please any advice I would appreciate it, I really want to breastfeed and dont want to give up! Tara

[FirstTimeMommy]

Welcome and Hang in there. These first few days are hard!!! Congrats on the little one.

It's normal to be a little sore and leaking. You shouldn't have any pain, maybe it's a bad latch. I'd unlatch him and start again.The number of wet diapers will change but that sounds normal to me, the diaper count is important in the beginning cuz then you know that he is getting enough to eat. Nursing often is also normal but he might be nursing for comfort too. You could try to get him all the way awake before nursing by taking off his clothes. I hope this helped, it's alot of troubleshooting in the beginning. Don't give up, you can do it!!!

[KristyDi]

Hang in there! If she's putting stuff out (diapers), something's going in.

If you're only kind of hurting when he's 1st latching on, you're doing better than I was. If the pain goes away or backs off after 10 seconds or so, people told me that was normal and would get better. In my case it turned out to be true.

The best advise I got was to express a little breast milk and spread it over the nipple and let it dry. Then put on some lanolin. That really helped me and both my nipples had scabs.

My baby is 18 days old and breastfeeding has gotten so much easier! If you're really worried about him getting enough, you could call your pediatrician and ask about bringing the baby on for a weight check. Mine will do it without an appoint and no charge.

Keep at it. The 1st days are rough, but they get better.

[Darcy_]

Very normal. Hang in there, for me bf really hurts in the begining, it takes about 2 weeks before my nipples "toughen up" So if you can make it that far, its cake after that!

It sounds as your little one is having plenty of wet and dirty diapers, just let him nurse as often and as long as he wants.

I would have to wake my second daughter to eat all the time. Thats normal in a newborn.

Hang in ther your doing awesome!

[madelsmama]

Everthing sounds 100% normal. It will take a few days for you nipple to adjust, but pain during the initial latch-on is quite normal and should disapate as time passes.

As long as baby is giving you 5-6 wet diapers, he's getting enough! Frequent eating (even every hour) is to be expected as their tummies are so tiny, and BM is easily and quickly digestible.

Keep up the good work!

[TayNRobbiesMom]

My son is 8 wks and rest assured hun, IT WILL GET EASIER! Hang in there.

As everyone else has said, all seems normal. If your breasts are sore, you can apply lanolin after nursing it will help. It doesn't have to be wiped off before baby eats. Its safe for them.

Also, if you are leaking alot, make sure to change your breastpads LOTS and allow your breasts to "air out" as much as you can to avoid thrush or other problems!

[RedheadbyChoice]

Everthing sounds 100% normal. It will take a few days for you nipple to adjust, but pain during the initial latch-on is quite normal and should disapate as time passes.

As long as baby is giving you 5-6 wet diapers, he's getting enough! Frequent eating (even every hour) is to be expected as their tummies are so tiny, and BM is easily and quickly digestible.

Keep up the good work!

ITA 110%. :)

Hang in there, sugar!

[caringarmsdoula]

ITA with the others.

As long as the pain goes away when he starts to nurse, you are probably okay, and it will go away. In the meantime, expressing some breast milk onto your nipples after you finish nursing, letting them air dry, and leaving them either open to air, with a breathable bra, or with a fresh, absorbent breast pad will help.

He is obviously getting enough, he's just getting it all in small amounts rather than big meals! That happens with newborns....and it WILL change. Some things you can do to help are:

- strip him down to his diaper
- have him skin-to-skin with you
- use breast compression when he stops sucking (you gently but firmly squeeze your breast like a sandwich, hold it while he sucks, and when he stops again, release, then compress again)
- burp him and/or change his diaper when he drifts off, then try the other side

Hang in there...the first few weeks are the hardest, then it's usually a piece of cake! :)

[ima062002]

ARe you supporting your breast all the while he is nursing? If not, please do. It serves several purposes - it makes it easier for your newborn to hold on to the nipple and tires him less and you can keep him even longer nursing because once he slows or stops you can (and should :)) gently massage your breast just until he is going again. Then stop and start again once he slows. You can grope around for milk pockets and move them down. Your ducts extend far up so it's not unusual to feel some milk way up next to your armpit. But just the downward motion usually gets things going again.

Hurting is an indication that the latch is a bit off and that your son corrects that after the first few sucks. Unless you have true flat (and not flattened because of your bra) or inverted nipples, bf'ing should not make you sore. You are still both learning but if it is very painful you might benefit from seing someone (LC or go to a LaLeche meeting).

In any case, nursing every hour is not unusual that early on; you are both learning to get the hang of it and frequent nursing will help you to establish a good supply. The soiled/wet diapers sound excellent and it doesn't sound like anything is amiss :).

[kelly-n-zoey]

I can't believe that no one recomended Playtex Soothies, they're the greatest thing ever for sore nipples, seriously. They're kinda pricey but well worth it! My daughter is going on 6 weeks and the first week or two were really stressful but I'm proof that really it will get so much easier! But for real you should definitley buy those! You can get them at Target! Best of luck to ya!

[Prettyskittle82]

All sounds normal to me. My baby did the same thing.... he would want to nurse every hour to hour and a half. We just mostly stayed on the couch and watched tv the first couple of days because it felt like no reason to try to put him down because he would just wake up in a few minutes and be hungry again. :) IF I did get some time between and felt like he hadn't emptied the breast, I would pump and save the milk... sometimes for nights when I wanted to sleep a little longer (which it didn't matter because i would drench the sheet in breastmilk anyway if i didn't get up) and sometimes I would freeze it for later, which has come in handy.

You sound like you are doing a great job! Hang in there. You'll be a pro in a couple of more weeks. It gets easier!!!!