Breastfeeding

[Leic]

Hi, I'm really hoping someone can help. I'm a first time mum. My little one is now 5 weeks old. From day 1 in the hospital I have tried to breastfeed her, she had a lot of problems with latching on due to my nipples being small. The midwife in the hospital helped me to try and get her latched on for 3 days but was very difficult. She just wasn't having it. I was then told to buy nipple shields which I did the very next day & she latched on fine. Now every time I breastfeed her I have to use these nipple shields and it takes so long to feed her, I ger so tired from sitting and breastfeeding her. I wouldn't even be able to use these whilst out in public. I have tried to get her to latch on without the shields but she gets frustrated which then stresses me out. I dont want to use these shields as want help with breastfeeding without as feeding will be quicker. Can someone please direct me on where to get help and what I can do tc.,? Thank you

[Cheekymonkey85]

Well done for getting this far, breastfeeding in the early days can be so hard. Here is a link to try to help you find your nearest support worker to phone

laleche.org.uk/find-lll-sup...

Also there is a fab Facebook page you can join called uk breastfeeding support.

[Lou9]

I could have written this post myself a few months ago. My daughter was born with quite a severe tongue tie which meant she could hardly latch onto my nipples and when she did, the pain was unbearable. Has your daughter been checked for tongue or lip tie? I was also given nipple shields about two weeks in by a midwife and they were a complete life saver. I completely understand what you mean about the time it takes to feed though, the shields definitely make it harder for the babies to transfer the milk they need and I rarely felt like my daughter was full. I even struggled to do basic things like go to the toilet or make a cup of tea because she would cry to get back on the breast. It really isn’t easy and you are doing brilliantly persevering. For the first couple of months I was too scared to feed in public as I worried about discretely putting the shields on but eventually I found ways. If I knew I was going somewhere where I would be feeding my daughter, I would quickly pop the shields on before I left the car so they were ready and in position or I would nip to the toilet and put them on. Eventually though I would just wear a scarf or breastfeeding cover and subtly slip them on. I totally sympathise with how you feel because at times I felt like I’d never get out again and felt very confined to my house, but it does get easier. I got myself quite stressed trying to wean my daughter off the shields, whenever I tried without them she would get distressed so I tried to accept that we needed them at that time to be able to continue to breastfeed. I’m not sure if you have access to an Infant Feeding Team at your local hospital but I asked them to come out and visit me a few times and they offered me some useful tips to help when feeding with shields - positions to try to help with milk transfer, etc.

My daughter is now 7 months old and she is still breastfeeding, she weaned herself off the shields at 13 weeks. She started to fuss at the breast so I tried removing the shield and she latched on, I couldn’t believe it - I honestly never thought we’d get rid of the shields!

Remember, you are doing an amazing job and it really isn’t easy. I hope you’ve got people around you to make you a cup of tea and bring you snacks. If I can be of any more help then feel free to send me a private message. Xx

[Kata89 in reply to Lou9]

I can second this! I’d suggest going to a support group, or talk to your health visitor about talking to a breastfeeding specialist. They can look for tongue tie or other reasons you’re finding it hard. My daughter is nearly 7 months I still find it very hard at times, however it gets easier.

[Lovefood1984]

I could have written this about me too, my daughter would only latch on with shields (my nipples didn’t protrude enough I don’t think), I hated when she’d pull off and the milk in the nipple would go everywhere! I wish I could say I stuck with it but during her 3rd week I managed 6 days of exclusive breastfeeding but she wasn’t getting enough so I got told to top up and express, by then my husband had gone back to work and I lost the plot with sleep deprivation (what we didn’t know at the time was although we’d moved our daughter onto hypoallergenic milk she still had a milk intollerance which made her fussy and a bad sleeper). There was a great breastfeeding support group weekly that I went to and the woman was lovely and said getting her off the shield at some point would be doable, is there something like that near you? Given you’ve made 5 weeks looks like you’ve got a good supply established. You’re doing great, the housebound feeding every 5 minutes will end, I know I found it hard at the time too. My daughter is 14 weeks old (although not breastfed) is now going 3-4hrs between bottles with only 2 overnight vs feeding every 2hrs when newborn. Hang in there! x

[Kempton]

It is generally hard at the beginning but usually within a few months you will have a good breastfeeding routine. Also the baby will start feeding less often.

Have you considered expressing? That way when you are out you can offer a bottle instead.

Or if you just don't feel confident feeding with a shield when you are out, maybe you could get a breastfeeding cover? If it'll make you feel more confident. I used one for a bit because I was so nervous feeding. Now I just whip out the nip!

I'm not sure my advice has been very helpful but trust me, it'll get so much easier and feeds will get shorter too. But you're doing so great so just persevere with how it is, and as she gets older it'll become second nature.

[H_m_t]

Fine your nearest breastfeeding cafe (usually at children’s centres) they are great! Lots of support, no judgement and a cup of tea at the same time! Xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to H_m_t]

We don’t have breastfeeding cafes round us unfortunately but our children’s centres do do breastfeeding drop ins. Your health visitor should be able to direct you to what’s available in your area or you can pay to see a private lactation consultant- it may seem expensive but not when you consider the cost of formula.

[Katrinascanlan]

My dd is almost 8 months and is breastfed. It took about 3 weeks to get it right, she couldn't latch too and it made me bleed and I was almost at breaking point. Try different positions and have you tried a nursing pillow? When I struggled I put her in the 'football hold' and feed and she took to it in no time 😊😊😊

[Cl473]

First of all, well done for keeping going so far. So many mothers (me included) find breastfeeding really hard work at first, for so many different reasons. The good news is that in most cases - even more difficult ones - it does get easier as time goes on. Even if you need to persist with the shields for a while, feeds should get faster as your baby becomes a more efficient nurser. Mine is nearly 5 months now, and it's still difficult sometimes, but a lot easier than it was.

The support around varies from area to area, but your health visitor should be able to tell you what's available near you. In addition to the suggestions above, you could try looking for a lactation consultant. Some of them are private, but others are NHS or voluntary. You can search (and filter by type) here: lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/ If you talk to a professional, you might want to ask them explicitly to check your baby for tongue tie. It's by no means always the answer, but in my case it was missed until my son was 3 months old and everyone up to that point said that the issue was with me - either nipple shape or under-production depending on who I talked to.

If your priority is to wean her off the shields as soon as you can, then I'd suggest continuing to give feeding without a go some of the time. Not every feed, if that would drive you up the wall, but at least sometimes. You could set a time limit to make it feel more manageable, and try not to stress too much about whether it works on that occasion or not. You could also try starting with the shield and then try without after a bit when her hunger is a bit less intense. Trying on a feed when she is half-asleep might also work - I usually find that's when my son latches on best. If by 'small' nipples, they mean 'flat' ones, some of the tips on this page might be worth a try: llli.org/breastfeeding-info... This site also has advice on weaning from breast shields (and is just generally awesome on all things breast-feeding). kellymom.com/ages/newborn/n...

In terms of going out, as previous posters have said, there are work-arounds you could try. If you're comfortable with putting on the shields, there's no reason you can't nurse in public if you want to. If you use a cover, no one will see the shields. And I found that people look away from nursing mothers in any case to give you your privacy. There are also nursing rooms available in some places - e.g. many large shopping centres - where you could go if you're not comfortable using them in public. You could also (as others have suggested) try expressing milk and giving it in a bottle when you're out. Not everyone finds expressingll easy, but for me it's been a sanity-saver.

Sorry for the long post - I hope at least some of it is helpful!!