I'm really struggling

[Mandys76]

I'm finding that I'm really struggling with BF'ing at the moment. My little girl is 7 weeks old and in the last few days she's started really fussing at the breast.

She pulls off, yet seems desperate to get back on, screaming when she does it.

I know my flow is fast, but I can't seem to do any of the things I've been advised. I can't lay back while feeding, because my breasts are very large, and if I can't see what i'm doing then I run the risk of smothering the baby. I need two hands to feed, one to hold the baby, one to hold my breast up so she can get the nipple. so there's no hand left to apply pressure to my breast to slow flow.

Expressing before hand helps..but I'm afraid of expressing too much and not leaving her enough. At times when she's fussing it's like she's getting nothing at all.

At this stage the crying and fussing is getting so bad I dread each feed and just don't want to do it anymore.

How can I get over this?

[Sunnygal]

I am quite big boobed as well and couldn't lie on my back to feed, but I used to lay on my side with a face washer under my breast to 'lift' it up to bubs mouth and that seemed to work well! Or are you able to sit her up to your breast so she is upright?
You could try call the ABA for some advice as well, they were my lifeline and helped me to continue breastfeeding!
Im sure some of the other mums will have more advice for you!

[misskittyfantastico]

I'm not big breasted, so I can't really offer any advice other than calling the ABA and looking into a lactation consultant. I DID however have a really fast flow and it was awfully hard at times, but my flow and supply DID stabilise. :hugs::hugs:

[lovelymum]

Don't give up!! I had the same problem big boobs, fast flow & a tiny 5 pound baby (not a great combination) if she is getting stressed at the start because she is "drowing in your milk" just hand express to get things started. Let down by hand catch the really fast spray in a face washer or something & then when you slow down pop her on, as she gets bigger she will cope with that initial fast flow and as your feeding progressess you may find it slows down anyway (mine did). I tried a nipple shield as this can help with fast flow (the midwives recommended this) but I just found it too fiddly, but that is another option. If all else fails call the ABA they are fantastic, you can even email them & they will reply. Try not to stress, babies really pick up on it!!! Hope it all works out for you & your little lady :hugs::hugs:

[Miss_Vicki]

Im a G booby , Big girl an never under stood been on back but do the layin on side when im very full , works well for me

laction person told me even taking out 40 ml or so would help take the speed off without loosing supply :)

my lil girl sounds like yours in some ways , she is 6 wks today ,

[BabelFish]

This, combined with what you said in your other thread, makes me think reflux, reflux, reflux.

Go check out the RISA website and have a look at the symptoms list. I don't know if I just see reflux in everything because of my DD, but really, that doesn't sound right to me.

It wouldn't hurt for you to have a look and see if she has any of the other symptoms - my DD had them all, virtually, and was diagnosed with silent reflux at four weeks. Might help you with your arsenic hour, too.

[Mandys76]

i thought reflux too, but we saw the pediatrician on friday who said she doesn't have it. Its just really hard to watch her struggle so to feed. Oddly though, this doesn't happen during night feeds, though i feed her in the same way?

[cassvanm]

I'm also a heavily breasted BF mum - and it can be done!
:iagree: with the advice to call the ABA and also rest bub on the "natural pillow" that is your mummy tummy roll - that helps to keep bub elevated. Also, a rolled up burp cloth or facewasher under your breast will help you to pop the nipple up to bub's face.
Try to express off a little bit of milk to release the pressure/fast letdown, and just keep pulling bub off to burp - she may have a tummy ache. Also, if she gets really distressed, have a dummy handy to calm her down - I have found that works wonders with Piper if her reflux is causing her trouble. That way, if she can't reattach, she can still suckle on the dummy, and when she's relaxed, you can pop her back on.
Hope this helps, and keep up the good work! BF can take up to 3 months to establish, so keep perservering if you can. :thumbsup: