Are there any mothers out there that have breastfed that have advice for a new breastfeeding mother?

Question

My baby boy doesn't like to eat for very long at all. He keeps falling asleep and then finally doesn't want to wake back up to eat at all. And then he wants to eat again a half hour later. I want to know if there is anything i can do to get him to eat more at one time. It's very painful for me to have to feed him that often. I am starting to crack and bleed again and scab up. I have lanolin that i put on but it doesn't seem to help that much. Also it hurts very badly to feed him, sometimes it feels like somebody is taking a knife to my nipples. Again, very painful. Please help...

By the way for those of you who remember me asking questions while I was pregnant and tried to help me with names for him I named him Aiden Oscar. He was born 7/27 at 8:02 PM and weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21 inches. I was in labor for 33 long hrs.

Answer 1

If you are cracking and bleeding, keep that lanolin on there all the time. It will help you heal. I'd also suggest calling a LLL Leader and/or a Lactation Consultant to check your latch.

To keep him awake longer-

Wipe his face with a cool, wet cloth.
Tickle his feet.
Do gentle "baby sit ups" by laying him across your legs and helping him sit up.
Undress him - if he's too warm he'll fall asleep
Change his diaper between breasts
Make circles on the middle of his forehead.
Dim the lights. Very young babies don't like bright lights and will close their eyes to shut it out and then fall asleep.
Talk or sing to him
Walk your fingers up and down his spine

Do breast compressions (basically hand expression) while you are nursing to help him get more hindmilk. This may help him to space out feedings a bit.

Keep in mind that, if I did the math right, he's about 3 weeks old. That means he's due for a growth spurt which means about 3-4 days of frequent feedings while he boosts your supply.

Answer 2

Hang in there, sweetheart. Most of my advice has already been mentioned by other people. I want to emphasize that what you are doing is so good for your baby and that you should be OK by the time he's 6 weeks old. That's how long it took me with my first child to get on a better schedule and for my nipples to stop hurting.

Here's some good news - I'm currently nursing my second child and we had no problems at all. He learned to latch on right away (maybe it was because I was more comfortable, too) and I didn't even have to use lanolin at all with him. My second one did the same thing though - wanting to nurse every half hour. Try using a pacifier between feedings. I use the Nuk brand and have never had a problem with my children rejecting the breast because I gave them a pacifier. Do you have a swing? Both of my kids would sleep in the swing. Try to get the feedings spaced out to every 2 hours to give your body a little break.

Good luck. Please don't give up. It will get better soon. If you need someone to talk to, e-mail me through Yahoo Answers and I'll send you my e-mail address.

Answer 3

There is a trick I just read about for a baby who falls asleep at the breast. Take your free hand and with fingers on the top of the breast and thumb on the bottom, squeeze your breast and push some milk into his mouth. It said that a baby who isn't done eating will start to suck again and if they won't suck at all, is done. I'm sorry you're going through this, it can be tough. I found a great product to use instead of lanolin. I didn't like lanolin and how sticky it was. It is called Breast Therapy by Gerber. I found it at Wal-Mart. You could try some neosporin between feedings and make sure it's washed off the next time he eats. Good luck.

Answer 4

Ooooooooooooh, I know how you feel...for your nipples, try purified lanolin...the brand I use is Lansinoh, you can find it at walmart. Also, get some "soothies" and pop those suckers in the freezer (they are little gel breastpads) and when your nipples hurt put them on...the painful feeling will go away after a while, its just that they need to be "toughened" and "conditioned" for the baby, breastfeeding is as new to you as it is to them so you'll both have to learn...if he keeps falling asleep make him a little uncomfortable, take away his blankie for a while, undress him, anything to keep him awake and if that still doesn't work, try tickling the bottom of his feet...

Again, if the breastfeeding is just waaaaaay too painful, pump it out and give it to him in a bottle...

Hope this helps! Goodluck

Answer 5

I have a 3 year old and a 5 week old. It does hurt at first, very bad. But that only last a week. My 5 week old nursed like that at first and I became engorged. Be careful that does not happen. If the lanolin does not work, try putting a little breast milk on your nipple and letting it air dry. Hang in there it will get better. Trust me. I nursed my 3 year old until she was 18 months. It is worth every moment.

Answer 6

Im breastfeeding now to a month old little girl. I would think that by now your nipples would have toughened up. My nipples didnt crack or bleed. I was afraid of that though.
Babies eat when they are hungry. When he is ready to eat he will let you know. My daughter always falls asleep when I feed her. The breast to them is a comfort. They feel safe because they know its you. My daughter sometimes cries just for me to "feed" her, but she only just sits there will my nipple in her mouth. I would either just try to tough it out or maybe you should seek a lactation consultant. They will be able to answer your questions more professionally. Call WIC, they have licenced LC.

Answer 7

If you're really adamant about breastfeeding, don't introduce a bottle yet - it's too early! You're both still getting established. Do whatever you have to do to keep him awake - it's normal for babies to fall asleep at the breast. Tickle him, blow in his ear, talk to him, or undress him - better cold and naked and eating than warm and dressed and asleep. Eventually he'll get the hang of it, and you'll also stop being in so much pain. If it's really painful, you may have latching problems. See a lactation consultant to make sure he's on properly.

Answer 8

You should make sure the mouth is on the nipple right. The whole nipple should dissappear in the mouth of the baby... My daughter would do that... I would hold off until she was completely sure she was hungry and them stimulate her while she was eating by talking to her. Keeping her looking at you while you feed you not only bond but she stays awake longer to eat...Good Luck you shouldn't give up It is hard for the first few months but it will get better if you keep trying
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Answer 9

All I can say is good luck.
I tried my best to breast feed both of my little ones. I couldn't do it. They both had breast milk for 3 weeks then I had to put them on formula. They weren't getting enough milk yet I was producing lots. My nipples hurt so bad and I put some medication that the doctor told me about but it just didn't seem to heal. It turned out that giving them a bottle helped me bond more with them. It wasn't a struggle and it was more relaxed.
Good luck.

Answer 10

Try to stimulate him while he is at the breast. This could include stripping him to his diaper and wipeing a cold wash cloth over him to keep him awake. Soon he'll learn that when he's at the breast it's feeding time not sleeping time because he won't want that cold cloth against his skin. Also pinch or tickle his feet, hands etc., talk to him, jiggle him ever so slightly, just keep him stimulated.

Never let him fall asleep at the breast, this could result in comfort sucking, if he falls asleep remove him immediately.

If he has fallen asleep and wakes in a 1/2 hr. then let him cry it out and extra 5 mins, then 10 mins. etc. (it's very tough to let your child cry it out) this way you know he is good and hungry and not just looking to be comforted again.

As for your nipples, squirt some of your breastmilk onto your fingers and gently rub it in. Also be sure to go topless and let the air at them every day for an hour or two. My girlfriend is going through the same situation right now with her nipples. Her midwife gave her little plastic cups to put over her nipples at night so that her bra does not rub against them and cause more irritation. You may want to consider pumping and giving him a bottle during one of his feeds, just to give your nipples a long rest inbetween feeds.

If you have in your area Breastfeeding Buddies or La Leche League in your area give them a call they could have other suggestions for you.

Best of Luck.