Total breastfeeding mommies

[snowbear]

Hi, I've been total bfding - but fully expressed coz my dd refused to drink from breast - for 3 weeks now (dd was supplemented with formula at hospital).

but I've been in pain since i started bfding. My nipples have been sore and haven't got better, just worse. They were sore and then they cracked. And i get engorgement all the time! I just realised i got plugged ducts recently and i just saw the lactation consultant on tues to clear them - i actually think the pain is comparable to giving birth, was crying and screaming!

The lactation consultant taught me to latch bb again and i succeeded getting her to drink from my breast a few times before she rejected me again. She put up a fight and now i've got blisters on my nipples. I feel like i'm torturing myself every day and every time i pump. I cannot understand why anyone would enjoy bfding. It's so painful i can't really enjoy my daughter. Tempted to wean her off slowly but the guilt is killing me (but so is the pain). I keep crying when the pain and the guilt set in. sigh... what should i do?

[Orange17]

I'm still BF my son who jus turned 1 today. I enjoy BF him, very reluctant to wean. I'm now trying for #2, so may have to wean him if i need to, if not, would love to continue. I always love the BF time with him, jus me and him....

[leaf]

i bf-ed dd1 till she was 2 yo + when she self-weaned coz i was preggie with #2. now bf-ing dd2, with dd1 taking occasional snacks from me :|

[eeshern]

i am also 100% bf my child. At first the confinement lady forced me to give formula milk but after 2-3 weeks while she was ard i knew wht i wanted to do for my child and i kicked her out. Luckily my child could convert back to bf easily. Am happy tht my milk supply is enough for him.

[sleepymama]

Originally Posted by snowbear

Hi, I've been total bfding - but fully expressed coz my dd refused to drink from breast - for 3 weeks now (dd was supplemented with formula at hospital).

but I've been in pain since i started bfding. My nipples have been sore and haven't got better, just worse. They were sore and then they cracked. And i get engorgement all the time! I just realised i got plugged ducts recently and i just saw the lactation consultant on tues to clear them - i actually think the pain is comparable to giving birth, was crying and screaming!

The lactation consultant taught me to latch bb again and i succeeded getting her to drink from my breast a few times before she rejected me again. She put up a fight and now i've got blisters on my nipples. I feel like i'm torturing myself every day and every time i pump. I cannot understand why anyone would enjoy bfding. It's so painful i can't really enjoy my daughter. Tempted to wean her off slowly but the guilt is killing me (but so is the pain). I keep crying when the pain and the guilt set in. sigh... what should i do?

Hi snowbear

So sorry to hear about the problems you're encountering with breastfeeding. <Hugs>

I've given you my contact number via PM, feel free to call me if you'd like to discuss anything. I'll be glad to share my experience with you and what I've learnt through my breastfeeding journey. I also am prone to getting blocked ducts and had suffered two bad cases of mastitis.

My boy is coming to 27 months old in two days, and he was totally breastfed (EBM and latch-on) for 22 months. From 22nd mth, I had to supplement one feed, due to a bad case of stomach flu that caused my supply to plunge badly. From 25 mths, my supply continue to drop as I had to cut back from pumping twice, to once and finally none, due to work Now, I only pump once at night and he's on FM for about 90% of his milk intake. I should be 'retiring' soon from breastfeeding, as far as I can hang on!

Keep it up, things WILL get better!
Take care!

[gal711]

Originally Posted by snowbear

Hi, I've been total bfding - but fully expressed coz my dd refused to drink from breast - for 3 weeks now (dd was supplemented with formula at hospital).

but I've been in pain since i started bfding. My nipples have been sore and haven't got better, just worse. They were sore and then they cracked. And i get engorgement all the time! I just realised i got plugged ducts recently and i just saw the lactation consultant on tues to clear them - i actually think the pain is comparable to giving birth, was crying and screaming!

The lactation consultant taught me to latch bb again and i succeeded getting her to drink from my breast a few times before she rejected me again. She put up a fight and now i've got blisters on my nipples. I feel like i'm torturing myself every day and every time i pump. I cannot understand why anyone would enjoy bfding. It's so painful i can't really enjoy my daughter. Tempted to wean her off slowly but the guilt is killing me (but so is the pain). I keep crying when the pain and the guilt set in. sigh... what should i do?

Hi Snowbear

Hugs to you... I totally understand what you are going thru cos I had all these problem when I am bfg my first child. To let your sore/cracked nipple heal faster, you can apply your breastmilk on the nipples after the feed and air dry them. If not, you can also use the pure lan cream by medela. This is tested and confirm by a lot of mummies except using your breast milk. The sore/cracked nipple is most likely due to the poor latching of baby. My first child was also very bad in latching in the beginning and he was supplement with gulcose water by bottle in the hspt, therefore gotten nipple confusion. I also suffered for a month of cracked/bled/sore nipples, eposide of engorment and mastitis and finally I switch to be a exclusive pumping mum. And when he is older, he is able to latch on better and that is when I direct latch him on in the nite. And I actually breast-fed him for a year. Now I am blessed with another baby 3 weeks ago and I am also breastfeeding him with no supplement. In fact, I have indeed learn alot from my first child but I am still learning more and more abt breastfeeding now.

So believe in yourself and your baby. Breastmilk is the best nutrient for your little darling. Whenever you are not sure of anything or if you needed help, do not feel shy to ask.

following are some link for your reference:
Dr. Jack Newman ~ Breastfeeding Articles, Videos, Book, Bio
Newman Breastfeeding Clinic Videos

All the best and continue the lovely journey of breastfeeding.

[snowbear]

thanks for the words of encouragement sleepymama and gal711! things have picked up and i hope bfding can be a truly rewarding experience. Whenever i see that my baby has put on weight I always feel so happy to know that she's growing on my milk! :P

On a separate note, how do you breastfeed in public without nursing tops? I heard that can just lift up the top and unbuckle the nursing bra. But won't the breast pads be in the way then?

[sleepymama]

Hi snowbear
Although I used nursing wear, I still used a scarf to 'cover up' when bfdg outside. Too scared to accidentally be exposed and to prevent peeping toms!
There are also scarves specially for bfdg purpose that you can buy but I find a normal scarf would do as well.
Remove the breast pad before unhooking the cup to breastfeed, then you won't have to worry if the breast pad would fall off during bfdg.
Good to hear you're managing well.
Keep it up ya. You're doing a great job hanging on and overcoming the challenges

[gal711]

Hi snowbear,

Great to hear tat things are getting better

This time round, I din get any nursing wear. I just wear a normal tee and when feeding, I just unhook the bra front with my hand inside my tee then lift up the tee and latch bb on. I'm using the disposable breast pad so it will just stick nicely on the brafront.

At first, I also tot that feeding in public with norm tee is difficult, but after trying that out (just did that yesterday for the 1st time - was bfg ds when having lunch with hubby's colleague. Not much exposure. heehee) I realise it is actually similar to wearing nursing wear. U can try pratising at home first lor. Once u are confident, you will be able to do it at ease.

If you need any help in bfg, we are here for you. Jia you.

[snowbear]

I tried to lift up my shirt at home that day and let her look for the nipple herself but i think she's not very proficient at it yet coz she couldn't do it and got frustrated in the end. I think i need to continue to latch her till she gets used to latching on.

[gal711]

Originally Posted by snowbear

I tried to lift up my shirt at home that day and let her look for the nipple herself but i think she's not very proficient at it yet coz she couldn't do it and got frustrated in the end. I think i need to continue to latch her till she gets used to latching on.

Usually what I did is guide ds head to the breast cos my ds get frustrated very easily and he will turn all around to "look" for the breast. U can try supporting the bb neck while guiding the nipple to her mouth then when she start to open big, guide her head toward the breast.

Keep trying and you will definitely master it very soon.

Happy breastfeeding!

[doraemon]

1. sleepymama - for 14+ months
2. stonston - for 8+ months
3. little_twin-stars
4. mommy dearest - for 5+ months
5. jlimdan - for 8+ months and my elder one still drink my bm.
6. dendenmushi - 14 mths
7. elaine01 - 21 mths & going..........
8. bluechin - still bfg 4 yo Javier and 2 yo Janelle. dunno when they will stop
9. doraemon - 1 month for Amber and also giving excess bm to 3 yr old Alden

Sleepymama: can you share how you get rid of your mastitis? did you bf when having it? my gynae said that i can still bf and give emb even when taking the Clomovid (amoxicin) antibiotics and 2 other types of pills. I had to take 2 boxes before my mastitis cleared. Luckily, I had no fever nor pus but really had a scare as thought I have to stop bf or something had to be taken out of my left breast.

[NG HO]

Hi, sorry to hijack this thread... I dont know how to start new thread..

My son is 2 months old and am on total breastfed, the problem is.. recently he started to sleep through the nights or at least 4-6 hours without a feed, I have been waking up to express in the middle of the night as Im worried that my supply will go down.

But I am going back to work 2 weeks later, do I still need to do that to maintain the supply or has the milk supply been established already?

[belindang]

ve been breastfeeding my 2nd boy for abt 4 mths.. 1st boy only lasted 1 mth due to pressure & tierd.

trying to last as long as i can for 2nd boy. i also drag myself to wake up in the middle of night to pump once.. coz afraid tat supply 'll drop. but many many times i over sleep till abt 5am/6am in the morning, even tho i set the alarm clock.

will milk supply really decrease if i dun pump once in the nite?

[AngelLove]

Hi sleepymama,

Can you please give me your contact number for me to discuss bfg with you. Thanks.
AngelLove

[snowbear]

My daughter is almost 2 months old and started sleeping 4-6hr stretches at nite since she turned 1 month old. I've not been pumping in the middle of the nite. I just feed on demand. She tends to drink for a very long time for the last feed and drinks more frequently during the day. I think supply is still maintained...

[snowbear]

Originally Posted by NG HO

Hi, sorry to hijack this thread... I dont know how to start new thread..

My son is 2 months old and am on total breastfed, the problem is.. recently he started to sleep through the nights or at least 4-6 hours without a feed, I have been waking up to express in the middle of the night as Im worried that my supply will go down.

But I am going back to work 2 weeks later, do I still need to do that to maintain the supply or has the milk supply been established already?

My daughter is almost 2 months old and started sleeping 4-6hr stretches at nite since she turned 1 month old. I've not been pumping in the middle of the nite. I just feed on demand. She tends to drink for a very long time for the last feed and drinks more frequently during the day. I think supply is still maintained...

[dany]

still fully bfing . my son is 21mths.. quit my job, 21mths ago cos he refused bottles.. bt i enjoy every sec being there for him.

[NG HO]

Originally Posted by snowbear

My daughter is almost 2 months old and started sleeping 4-6hr stretches at nite since she turned 1 month old. I've not been pumping in the middle of the nite. I just feed on demand. She tends to drink for a very long time for the last feed and drinks more frequently during the day. I think supply is still maintained...

Yes, he also drink extra at night before he sleeps.. I gave him EBM as he tend not to dozed off with the bottles.. 150ml (1.5x more than normal feedings).

good luck to our beauty sleep!

[snowbear]

Originally Posted by NG HO

Yes, he also drink extra at night before he sleeps.. I gave him EBM as he tend not to dozed off with the bottles.. 150ml (1.5x more than normal feedings).

good luck to our beauty sleep!

Enjoy! Not many mummies are blessed with babies that can sleep 4-6hr stretches at nite, so dun do yourself the disservice by waking yourself up.

[danjuan]

I'm total bf my son 14 mths already.