Pumping - Coatesville,PA

Hi, M.:
Massage your breast while she nurses. Keep your nipples exposed to the air as much as possible so they don't stay wet. Use oil olive on the nipples to keep them from getting irritated. Wipe the oil off before the baby nurses.
Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

Have you checked to see if you have thrush? I had that with my son, and it was extreemly painful. Have your daughter's mouth checked for the blisters, and maybe have the dr check your nipples, too. They can treat it if it is thrush, then it should heal pretty quickly. I did start pumping when we had thrush (we kept passing it back and forth), and I've always had a good let down, so I just pumped without having him eat first. I keep it in the fridge up to 48 hours (you might want to research it a bit more) but you might be able to keep it longer. Good luck, and I hope you start to feel better!

I did the same thing for my DD... I just pumped instead of nursing (hand express a little milk first to rub into your nipple to avoid chafing with the pump...) I put her to breast once a day just so I could be sure that she "remembered" how to nurse. I usually fed her a bottle of milk, then when she was done I would pump her next feeding...It was a pain in the butt for a while, but not too bad. As she got older I put her to breast more and more often, and now at 3 months she is mostly on the breast. I usually pumped until my breasts were empty... and this link is the best I have seen for storage times. It has a chart on how long you can store fresh milk, and another chart for how long it is good after it has been used or thawed. GOOD LUCK! :)
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t026900.asp#T026901

If you are able to continue nursing for just another week or so you will probably find the pain to be quite a bit less. I just had my 4th child two weeks ago. I nursed my other three each for a year, but even though it is my 4th time to do this, each time it starts out painful. For me it lasts about two weeks, so it is coming to an end for me. In fact, today has been noticeably better than even yesterday. This past week it is the initial latch that hurts, but about 1-2 min into the feeding it feels better. If you do not have a cracked nipple and the latch is good it should not hurt throughout the entire feeding. Check your nipple carefully for a crack, look in the crease where the nipple meets the areola, that is where they most commonly occur. If you do have a crack there is a lot you can do to help it heal, I would consult a lactation specialist or find a local Le Leche League for support. I always find using a lanolin cream to be soothing and it helps prevent cracks by keeping the nipple supple and moisturized. If you are not using any yet I would definitely pick some up ASAP.
I personally find pumping to hurt even more than nursing when I am sore, so that may not help much. If you don't have to, I would avoid switching to a pumping only situation. It is a lot more work in the end and can be difficult to maintain an adequate milk supply. If you planned to do some of both, I know that many lactation consultants discourage bottles this early because it can interfere with effective nursing and potentially cause more problems than it solves. But ultimately, you have to do what works best for you.
I would encourage you to continue to seek help/support from an LC or LeLeche League, and the website www.kellymom.com is a wonderful and safe online resource. I know it hurts right now, but if you are able to stick it out just a little longer it will probably be so much better in just a week, it will be so worth it in the end. I wish you the best of luck.

I am sorry to hear you are hurting so much right now. I did not finding pumping to be any more comfortable than nursing...it just creates a different sort of pain. My opinion is that you keep at the nursing to establish a good supply and teach you both how to maximize the relationship.

It might hurt, tingle, be numb, etc...but it shouldn't be agonizing. Have you tried the football hold? This is where the baby is sort of tucked between your arm and body with her feet toward your back. You support her head with the arm and hand closest to her and use your other hand for adjustment...a bed pillow (or Boppy) under her will help keep her at the right level.

I would also suggest using a warm, wet compress a few minutes before nursing. It will help stimulate your milk to come down and keep your baby from "working" the breast so much. Massaging the breast from your arm pits forward will also help.

After nursing, allow your breasts to dry naturally (or use a blast of warm air from a hair dryer) with a layer of milk. Add some lanolin or other nursing cream and then use good, breathable breast pads.

Your baby, at a week, is likely experiencing the first of many growth spurts. Sometimes it will seem as though you've grown an appendage.

Try to find a La Leche League group. You'll get lots of ideas to support your success and most welcome older children so you don't have to worry about leaving your older child.

My daughter had anything but what would be considered an ideal latch. She would suck in her bottom lip, not take what was considered enough of the areola, never nursed for more than 18 minutes TOTAL (and it was usually more like 10-14 for both sides). I never experienced any cracking or bleeeding...soreness, yes, but never anything agonizing.

Try switching up your positions a bit, keep yourself uber-hydrated, and take your time.

Good luck!

Have you asked the lactation consultant about white spot or thrush on your nipples? Both problems could cause pain in your nipples even though the baby is attached well. both can be taken care of fairly quickly and you can get back to feeding your baby without pain (well not much anyway!). Also make sure that your baby is getting both foremilk and hind milk at every feed so that her tummy is full (that means spending at least 15-20 min on one breast before you move to the other) than she should be able to go longer between feeds.

Yes nursing does hurt at first even if you have a good latch. If you can hang in there even for another week your nipples will get used to it and it will be so much easier. In the meantime you can try occasional pumping for a break (althoguh that might not be really comfortable either). Also the Lanolin or Lansinoh cream helped. You can also try a nipple shield, they sell them at Babies R Us.

The pain you are describing could be thrush which you might need a perscription anti-fungal for. Contact your lactation consultant or doctor.

For pumping, you can do many different things. You can nurse her and then pump (though this will not give you a break- this will actually make your nipples more sore!). You can pump instead of nursing her and then bottle-feed what you pump. Keep in mind that a pump is not as effective as a baby's suck, so you will not get as much milk out by pumping as she can get while nursing. If it hurts for her to nurse it will probably hurt to pump as well. Pump for 15 minutes each time you pump. If I remember correctly, fresh breastmilk can be stored in the fridge for 7 or 8 days, but it's been a year so I'm not 100% sure. I would recommend that you contact your lactation consultant to ask about the thrush and get recommendations on how to pump and she can tell you about breast milk storage.

you can either pump after feeding her or every 2 hours, breast milk can be stored 4 hours out of fridge, 4 hours in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. it is normal to feel the pins i did with my second and after a few weeks it was gone, apply some breast milk to your nipples after feeding and pumping and let it dry on their , the milk helps to soothe and heal the cracked nipples. i hope this helps. it does get easier i promise!!! hang in there its worth it!

Hi Mama!!

First, congratulations on making the decision to try and nurse/breastfeed. Second, good for you for asking such important questions!!

I have nursed both my children, and I am preggers with number three. My daughter, our first child, was by far the hardest for me. I had a ton of pain also; however, everyone who observed us said she was latching well. I was at a lost too.

What I learned was that I had microscopic tears or cuts in the breast tissue. I did a few things that allowed me to heal and improved our nursing relationship.
(1) I ditched the nursing pads - they were keeping too much moisture against the breast. I purchased these "sports-bra-like" wrapped-styled nursing bras that were cotton and very thin. (I hated the idea of being "uncovered"). You had to pull one side over at a time to nurse.

(2) After she was done nursing, I would rub the residual milk over the nipples and then I applied a triple antibiotic ointment. This I carefully washed off immediately prior to the next session.

(3) I also used Medela Soft Shells for Sore Nipples (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/183-###-###-####-###.... These helped because it allowed the milk to drip and while the breasts stayed dry.

(4) I also used "Gerber Warm Or Cool Relief Packs" in order to numb the breast tissue and reduce the pain I was experiencing. I could not wear them too close to a nursing session as the cold reduced my milk flow but they helped immediately afterwards.

Now, as for being hungry 10 minutes after feeding, I learned about something called cluster feeding. My little girl LOVED to do this to me! Basically it means that she can feed for 10, rest for 10 and come back immediately for more. Continue to offer yourself to her. Your body will adjust accordingly. This is apparently common, but noone ever seems to tell new nursing Mamas about it! I was shocked. Google it. You'll find some comforting info.

And, lastly, pumping is a great thing. To build a frozen supply, especially before your body "regulates down", I would pump after a session (assuming she is not cluster feeding). You may not get much - just an ounce or two, if you are lucky. Don't worry. It will pick up. I also used my pump to reduce engorgement. This usually means a huge amount of milk. I use the "rule of 5" for storing milk - 5 days in the fridge, 5 weeks in a freezer attached to a fridge and 5 months in the deep freeze freezer. We are lucky enough to have an upright deep freeze freezer so we put all the extra in there for when I go back to work.

The one thing to note is that pumping may give you a break from physically being connected (and give Daddy or someone else a chance to hold baby and bond while getting her use to a bottle!!); but every time your baby feeds, you will need to pump. This is a good rule of thumb to maintain your suppply. For this reason, I generally took the night feedings since I would have needed to pump anyway and it did not make sense to me for both of us to be sleep deprived (especially once number 2 was here! LOL.)

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me. I think BF-ing is the greatest gift in the world and am more than happy to help out another Mama.

~C.

Hang in there. With my first child nursing was very painful for the first two weeks but then the pain subsided and it was a breeze. I found the lanolin cream to be helpful as someone already suggested.

My son gets fussy about 10 minutes after nursing and its cause he is gassy and wants his pacifier. As far as the stabbing pain, he proly latched on wrong once and thats why it hurts. My son did that to me, put on a nipple cream, like Lansinoh, after every nursing and just keep trying! It should get better! I personally think pumping can be more painful when my nipples are already sore,but if you do try it then pump after nursing to help build up supply then start pumping in between nursing. If you want to give her a bottle instead of nursing her then you should still pump to keep up your supply.Good luck and it should get better, it just takes a little time! My son is 2 months today and my nipples have been fine for awhile and he was my 3rd so I had already done this!

I nurse all day and allow one bottle about every other night. When I allow the bottle then I try to pump that milk to save. I don't have a whole bunch saved up yet, but am on my way. By also allowing the bottle my husband and other kids get to feed too! This also allows me and my boobs a break every now and then. To me pumping produces the same pain as her sucking. I have found though that if I let my boobs get really full I can just squeeze them to get a little of the milk out. Good luck I too am really struggling with this. I know it is much easier to do formula, but I know the breast milk is better for her (and cheaper too!). Feel free to send me a message if you want to.

I am pumping for my preemie son for the last 5 months. My son would latch but never gets enough (I guess he got used to the bottles from the time he spent in the NICU). I have no experience with nursing AND pumping, but If you decide to go the pumping route,make sure you pump every 2-3 hours to make a total of 8 times/day. It is very important that you nurse/pump frequently until your supply is established. Renting a hospital grade pump also might be a good idea.

Here is some info on pumping:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/

Good Luck!

Hi! Congrats on your new little one! It probably is the way she is latching on. It should not be painful. I am a breast feeding councelor. Since I can't see what's going on I am going by what you are explaining. Try a different position for latching on. And always bring the baby to the breast. The initial latching may be painful but that should only last a second. If it hurts unlatch, using your pinky finger to break suction, then try again. As for milk storage, it varies depending on the temp of your refridgerator. Freshly pumped 6 hrs rm temp. Refridgerated, 2 days. Frozen milk, 3 mnths in seperate freezer/ refrdg and 6 to 12 mnths in a DEEP freezer. If you thaw milk do it in warm water and use within the hour and never microwave breast milk!
Feeding and nursing is not to hard. To give youself a break feed on one side and pump the other. Or pump early in the morning before a feeding or late at night after a feeding this is when your milk is at its fullest. Then substitute a breast milk bottle at a feeding. Try to pump some at that time when someone else is giving that bottle. When done pumping let your nipples air dry. This will toughen them up! Try not to use soap on your nipples as well this dries them out. A little long winded but hope this helps! If not have a breastfeeding consultant come and sit through a couple feedings with you again.

You've gotten lots of advice, but I just wanted to add that with my first son, he would often tuck his lower lip in, which hurt a lot. I would have to help him flare it out (kind of like a fish mouth) like it's supposed to be. I think he would get plenty of milk either way, but with his lip tucked in, it was painful for me. Also, as others have said, it may not be completely comfortable at first, but it will get better. But I don't think it should feel very painful, which is why I thought of the lower lip thing. I have a 9 week old now, and he didn't do that at all, so I guess just some babies do. Also, I wouldn't assume that she's not getting enough just because she gets upset 10 mintues later. I think a lot of people think this, so they start to supplement, their supply goes down, and then eventually the breastfeeding ends. Both my boys, but especially my first, demanded to be fed a lot. I think a lot of it is just for the comfort of sucking. I think it's just the way some breastfeeding babies are. They become very attached to their mother, and they constantly can smell and sense your milk. Plus, she might be upset because she has gas after eating or she's tired and upset that she can't fall asleep (and maybe wants to suck to fall asleep.) Hope this helps.
M.

I have 3 bf children, with each of them the first few weeks was incredibly painful. The pain was so bad I thought I'd throw up. They were all latching correctly, but something about my nipples needing to be trained (& re-trained) to be able to nurse comfortably. It does go away, just hang in there!!
I'm actually glad I'm not the only one....everyone always says how easy bf'ing is, but not for me!

The little bee stings you describe could just be part of the sensation of your milk 'letting down'. Mine didn't feel like that but my mom says it did for her when she nursed me. Hope things are going better. Hang in there! Breastfeeding is work but it is worth it in the end!!!!

I pumped while nursing my son. I would have him feed from one side while I pumped the other. Then I would switch sides. I built up my supply and was able to store some in the freezer for emergency use. Just be sure every time your daughter is given a bottle you pump to keep your supply up.

It's going to take some time for your daughter to learn to be an efficient sucker and your breasts to learn that this is what they were made for. The initial pain won't last long, I promise. Good on you for keeping with it.

My daughter wasn't latching properly, her pediatrician figured it out for us. Some kids just don't. If she is in fact latching and it is hurting, use one of the recommended nursing creams.
I'm all for nursing, but highly discourage pumping, unless you just have to for work or something like this. Pumping depletes your milk source very quickly and it also deteriorates your breast tissue...I pumped for 5 months-all meals and it was a struggle. Call me superficial, but it destroyed my breasts, as it did several women I have met.
I was told to alternate feedings with pumping. Basically if you pump at noon, nurse at 2pm, pump at 4pm and nurse at 6pm. ETC. Use what you have stored to supplement at the nursings. You can store milk in the fridge for one week and the freezer for 3 months. You can also mix breast milk with formula-make the formula at say a 2 ounce portion and mix with your 2 ounces of milk to make a full 4 ounce bottle.
Here is a website to look at or you can search the net further. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregna...

When I started breastfeeding my first, I felt the same way you do (the tiny knives description is exactly how I described it at the time.) It took about 3 weeks of breastfeeding before the pain went away, but it did go away completely.

I used to nurse my daughter, then pump afterwards. I would nurse her until she had stopped swallowing (she'd keep suckling for hours if I'd let her.) Then I'd put her down and pump. Pumping afterwards will also increase your milk supply so it might benefit you in that your daughter may nurse longer, then go longer between feeding. As for breast milk storage times, check out this link:

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/1...

Good luck!

I agree with posters below that this could be thrush. Please talk to your pediatrician about it - she/he can give you a prescription for you and the baby (cream for your nipples and liquid for her mouth). You can also ask for something called "All purpose nipple ointment". You need a prescription for it, but it's great - it has an antifungal in it for the thrush, and also powder ibuprofen and some other things for pain relief.

As for the eating every 10 minutes, it could be cluster feeding which someone below mentioned. It could also be that she's comforted by suckling, which is totally normal. Or it could be that she prefers to snack all day instead of eating really well at each feeding. Although it's not standard advice for breastfeeding moms, I used a pacifier with both my babies. After they finished eating, if they fussed soon after, I used the paci to make them wait at least 30 minutes before eating again.

Sometimes the paci was all they needed, because they weren't really hungry and just wanted to suck. If the paci didn't work, after 30 minutes of fussing I would give in and feed again. This helped 2 ways: it gives you a little break between feedings and if means that if your little one is hungry, now she's really hungry and more likely to eat well and not just 'snack'.

Like I said, some breast feeding advocates don't like pacifiers at an early age, but I used them with both my sons from day 1 - the 1st was breastfed for a year, and I'm 6 months in with son #2. I felt that it helped get us from a snacking habit to really eating.

Good luck, and let us know if you have more questions about nursing!