******************************

******************************

I'm not sure, but it sounds like it could be a clogged duct. Try applying heat to your breasts and make sure you nurse/pump often to keep the milk flowing. And get some lanolin if your nipples are sore/cracked!

It takes 3-6 weeks for your breast to "settle down". Right now it will fluxuate between really full to not so full. Just put that baby to the boob! =)

For me, as a woman with big breast as well, if you feel you are not draining the breast all the way. You should feed on one breast for two or more feedings and that should help your over production. Then switch to the other. The more you probably drain the better your breast will adjust and the less likely you are to get a clogged duct. Message them in the shower to help easy the pain and if you have to express JUST A LITTLE BIT to help ease the pressure on the other side, that is okay too.

The pain for a second is actually normal. It's when the pain persist that its not. This will go away too. During let downs as well, when your milk kinda squirts out super fast, that can hurt a bit too.

Sounds like you are doing a great job though.

Quoting ♥GarciaMommy:" It takes 3-6 weeks for your breast to "settle down". Right now it will fluxuate between really full to ... [snip!] ... as well, when your milk kinda squirts out super fast, that can hurt a bit too. Sounds like you are doing a great job though."

Thanks so much!

I know that most of the women in my family have had issues breastfeeding and I was hell bent on not being one of them, I'm absolutely determined to give my LO the best start I can.. I just didn't realise it'd be as hard as it is. And we're only four days in! Hoping to god they soften up soon before I explode lol.

Quoting SulleyNZ:" Thanks so much! I know that most of the women in my family have had issues breastfeeding and I was ... [snip!] ... didn't realise it'd be as hard as it is. And we're only four days in! Hoping to god they soften up soon before I explode lol."

Just make sure you express all the milk from one side completely. This is called block feedings. It also helps the LO get all the nutrients from the milk. The foremilk is more watery and the hindmilk is higher in fat content. If you notice green poop and baby is super gassy, that is because she's drinking too much of the foremilk and not enough of the hindmilk. Just keep that in mind for later down the road, just in case... Breastfeeding is definetly a challenge. Mine screamed for 3 months straight. lol But trust me, once you get the first baby out of the way, it should be a lot easier down the road. Good luck. If you need anything you can message me. Its late so I'm sorry if this is all over the place. My thoughts aren't organized right now. lol

Quoting ♥GarciaMommy:" Just make sure you express all the milk from one side completely. This is called block feedings. It ... [snip!] ... anything you can message me. Its late so I'm sorry if this is all over the place. My thoughts aren't organized right now. lol"

I feel your pain with the disorganized thoughts.. Having baby waking up every few hours at night is exhausting lol. I don't even know if he's getting hindmilk, I can't feel anything coming out when he feeds. The only way I can tell he's getting anything at all is because he spits it back up onto me lol. Are you meant to be able to feel the milk coming out as they're feeding?

Breastfeeding is so much harder then it looks!! My milk took till week 8 to sort itself out, until then I was leaking everywhere and stuff, it was gross. Its normal to hurt at first, but if the pain doesnt go away after about 10 secs there might be a problem. Some women say they can feel their milk coming out, I cant, its just feels like a slight heavy achy kind of feeling. The biggest thing is persistance, just keep going and I promise it will eventually get easier! I cant remember how many times I said to DD YOU'RE GOING ON FORMULA TOMORROW, SmUrf BREASTFEEDING! Because she wouldnt latch properly through the night but then in the day she would latch fine, so I just stuck it out and its as easy as breathing now, and it will be for you too eventually!

Quoting SulleyNZ:" I feel your pain with the disorganized thoughts.. Having baby waking up every few hours at night is ... [snip!] ... at all is because he spits it back up onto me lol. Are you meant to be able to feel the milk coming out as they're feeding?"

No. You don't feel it coming out. You will see milk gathering on the sides of the mouth. But it's okay if you don't. Remember this, this is key, "As long as she is getting her wet and bm diapers, everything is OK!"

You might want to burp him often while he's this tiny. I know they have a hard time swallowing all the milk during a let down that they suck in some air, which causes spitting up. lol It might hurt his tummy but it may not effect him at all. it will just help with the spit up.

Oh and also, while baby is feeding massage the lumps and they should go away

Quoting MiloBaby:" Breastfeeding is so much harder then it looks!! My milk took till week 8 to sort itself out, until then ... [snip!] ... the day she would latch fine, so I just stuck it out and its as easy as breathing now, and it will be for you too eventually! "

You are soooo not kidding! The midwife came over today, and she checked the lumpy bits and showed me how to massage them out before a feed so they feel HEAPS better now. Now that you mention it, he latches so much better during the day.. Maybe it's because I feed him on the couch and I can't get the positions right when I'm in bed. Maybe should stop being lazy and feed him in the lounge but it's too cold to get outta bed :S My body seems to be adjusting to being a mum fairly well, hopefully breastfeeding is the same and it doesn't take too long to settle down  

Quoting ♥GarciaMommy:" No. You don't feel it coming out. You will see milk gathering on the sides of the mouth. But it's ... [snip!] ... which causes spitting up. lol It might hurt his tummy but it may not effect him at all. it will just help with the spit up."

I burp him fairly often, but it's not easy to get that wind out lol. I keep at it til something comes up though, I worry about him hiccuping and choking on my milk or something lol. He does that quite often, it's like the milk comes out too quickly and he chokes on it  

ALSO - hopefully people are still reading this..

If LO gets hiccups should you pull him off the boob and wait until they pass or just keep feeding?
And will expressing help with the leaking or will it just encourage more milk production? My left boob seems to be pouring out with milk while the right only leaks a little and I've had to change shirts three times today already lol.

Quoting SulleyNZ:" ALSO - hopefully people are still reading this.. If LO gets hiccups should you pull him off the boob ... [snip!] ... to be pouring out with milk while the right only leaks a little and I've had to change shirts three times today already lol."

Nah, just keep feeding through the hiccups. The more milk you take off the more milk your body will make, its ok to express a little bit if its uncomfortable but if you express a whole lot it will encourage your body to make more. Which isnt always a bad thing lol

Quoting SulleyNZ:" I burp him fairly often, but it's not easy to get that wind out lol. I keep at it til something comes ... [snip!] ... choking on my milk or something lol. He does that quite often, it's like the milk comes out too quickly and he chokes on it  "

Sometimes if you know they have to have a burp in there and it wont come out. If you place your hand behind his neck and another at this bottom. Lower your hand that is behind his neck so that is bottom is slightly more elevated above his head. Like tilt him so the air bubble will move up. Don't do it a whole lot though because it may actually just help him spit up. lmao

And for the hiccups... don't worry about them. They bother you more than him. Just keep feeding. Choking isn't harmful either. I mean, of course stop immediately and pat back gently... but my son would choke from the let downs I would get. lol Poor baby. lol The milk would be pouring out and he'd be like ahhh. lol If your let down is too strong, I always found that it helped to lean back while you have the let down so that gravity kinda slows down the stream.

Cool, thanks so much!! First time mama getting panicked over everything haha