https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:20:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1648243 Tue, 20 May 2014 22:09:11 +0000 lady grey 1648243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: give us an update! How are things going now? Better I hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1645440 Mon, 19 May 2014 19:00:59 +0000 AprilK 1645440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: I had the nipple everter when my daughter was a newborn and loves it! Would highly recommend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1644914 Mon, 19 May 2014 14:03:44 +0000 gilmoregirl 1644914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: not more than an ounce or two. Just enough to soften the breast slightly and draw out the nipple so he can latch. A hot washcloth on the breast before baby eats is also helpful. </p> <p>We discussed reflux as well but we (and the dr) don't think medication would help. We've been using positioning instead. Unless his symptoms change, I think I'll just be doing a lot of laundry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1644315 Mon, 19 May 2014 10:36:42 +0000 fussygal 1644315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfortunately I don't have any advice on some of the questions, but I can say that my nipple pain comes and goes. Just when I think it's getting better it starts to hurt again. </p> <p>I hope things get better for you soon! BFing is such a pain sometimes :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1644187 Mon, 19 May 2014 09:53:01 +0000 lady grey 1644187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with trying the nipple everter and also pumping a few mins before feeds can draw out your nipples and also help with over active letdown. You could also try getting LO started breastfeeding, when you feel your letdown coming, delatch her and let it spray onto a wash cloth. Then put her back on and hopefully she can handle the flow better.</p> <p>When do you go back to work? If it's not for a few months I would hold off on dealing with the refusing bottle issue until everything else settles down!</p> <p>Also find a certified LC. Lots of them have drop in support groups for $10-$15 which is much cheaper then a home visit. Or find out if you have a local Le Leche League, the leaders are super knowledgable about this kind of stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1644116 Mon, 19 May 2014 09:32:30 +0000 LovelyPlum 1644116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: @locavore_mama: thank you!</p> <p>@gilmoregirl: yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm about to ditch the block feeding. I slept on an ice pack last night because I was so engorged, and it did nothing. Not happening anymore. Thanks for the positioning suggestions. G's pedi has mentioned reflux, but we are going to wait until her 2 month appointment to reevaluate. In the meantime, I'd like to see if I can get the spitting to stop in other ways. How much do you pump before you feed B?</p> <p>@nana87: I'm pretty sure we are in the wrong size. I have been measured for flanges,and I need the 27 mm ones of those. But nipple shields are supposed to be sized to baby's mouth, and there is no way she needs 24 mm. I'm thinking of running to target today for some 20 mm ones. I'm glad to hear the 16 is working for you and R. Have you ever tried nursing without? We have, but so far, no dice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643931 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:18:57 +0000 nana87 1643931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gilmoregirl: I agree, mastitis sucks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643928 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:18:04 +0000 gilmoregirl 1643928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh and let me add that we've backslid a little recently. I was nursing pain free when he hit five weeks but by six, I've got some nipple pain again (this is the result of him clamping though) and the engorgement returned for a few days as my supply adjusted. As of today, it looks like maybe we are past that. So hopefully You're going through something similar that will resolve in a few days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643927 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:17:54 +0000 nana87 1643927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My flat nipples have been making bfing a challenge too! I'm not so helpful bc mine cracked at first and haven't dully healed ever, but I found this helpful on shield size: <a href="http://www.medela.com/IW/en/breastfeeding/good-to-know/right-size-of-breastshield.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.medela.com/IW/en/breastfeeding/good-to-know/right-size-of-breastshield.html</a> I think it's about pumping shields rather than nipple shields, but the graphics made me think about trying a different size and it's helped a lot with the pain! I moved from a 20mm shield to 16mm and it's so much better: too much areola was being pulled in before and that was really painful after awhile. </p> <p>Also I've thought about getting one of these but haven't yet <a href="https://www.lansinoh.com/products/latchassist-nipple-everter?mkwid=sLTxEiKeB&#038;pcrid=31827668596&#038;MatchType=e&#038;pkw=lansinoh%20latch%20assist&#038;placement=&#038;pdv=m&#038;utm_source=google&#038;utm_medium=cpc&#038;utm_term=lansinoh%20latch%20assist&#038;utm_campaign=Brand+Products+-+G&#038;gclid=CMmVo6GJuL4CFc1QOgodhlsA9Q" rel="nofollow">https://www.lansinoh.com/products/latchassist-nipple-everter?mkwid=sLTxEiKeB&#038;pcrid=31827668596&#038;MatchType=e&#038;pkw=lansinoh%20latch%20assist&#038;placement=&#038;pdv=m&#038;utm_source=google&#038;utm_medium=cpc&#038;utm_term=lansinoh%20latch%20assist&#038;utm_campaign=Brand+Products+-+G&#038;gclid=CMmVo6GJuL4CFc1QOgodhlsA9Q</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643921 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:14:28 +0000 gilmoregirl 1643921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No experience with the nipple shield but I've got over active letdown. Poor B gets sprayed in the face on the regular and is also super spitty. He's had a couple scary (to me) vomits as well. </p> <p>I've avoided block feeding bc it's meant to reduce oversupply and I'm not ready to go there yet. Can you pump off an ounce or two to make latching easier? My nipples are so flat when I'm engorged that he struggled to latch. If I loosen things slightly we are much more successful. </p> <p>Also positioning has helped him learn to manage my letdown and spit a little less ( he is a still a frequent spitter but his dr isn't concerned). So I feed him with his head higher than his belly, but I also try to position his head above my breast which forces him to work against gravity. </p> <p>And here I'm just being flip, but don't get mastitis. It sucks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643907 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:08:21 +0000 regberadaisy 1643907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm no help in the flat nipple department. But I've read from other bees about pumping a bit before nursing to help with overactive letdown. </p> <p>GL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643896 Mon, 19 May 2014 08:05:33 +0000 cmomma17 1643896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bumping this up for you! :heart: </p> <p>Any chance you can pay a visit to an LC?<br /> I had struggles around the 5-6 weeks mark, but they differed from yours a little. It was such a frustrating time. We went to the LC and pediatrician and tried a million things but I honestly feel like it was a phase and time helped the most in our case.<br /> I had some oversupply issues and also needed to learn to burp LO better to deal with gas issues. </p> <p>Hang in there! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bfing-issues-suddenly-at-5-weeks#post-1643860 Mon, 19 May 2014 07:47:30 +0000 LovelyPlum 1643860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 5 weeks old now, and though we've been doing pretty well in the feeding department, the last few days have been a challenge. Examples:</p> <p>*I've got flat nipples, so we have been using a shield since the LC gave us one in the hospital. For a while, it looked like my nipples were starting to get drawn out, but now I can't even get them to stay in the shield unless she is actively sucking. Also, they hurt like crazy again for the first time in weeks. We try every few days to latch without the shield, but there is literally nothing for her to latch onto without it.</p> <p>*I have been pumping from the beginning as well, and LO has been OK to this point with Avent bottles. The last few days, though, she will at h her back and swat it away. This is bad news, because she needs to take a bottle when I'm at work.</p> <p>*I've been crazy engorged, and LO always gulps and gasps when she's eating. I've been reading Kelly Mom, and her description of overactive letdown sounds like us to a tee, especially the frequent spitting and gas. So to correct it, I've been trying block feeding for about 5 days. I have to say, though, that it just seems like I'm asking for mastitis with how hard one breast will get when I don't use it twice on a row.</p> <p>The good news is that we were at the pedi this week, and LO is gaining appropriately. She is making enough wet /dirty diapers, and she doesn't have lip/tongue tie. But I am frustrated! I'm wondering if I need a smaller shield (the hospital only had 24 mm ones), a different bottle, some more patience, or a combination of the three. Any insights would be appreciated! </p>