Hello
I’m having sore and hard breast what to do? My baby is completely on my feed. How many times should I feed in a day? Should I wake him and feed? He is having poo 3-4 times in day is it ok?
Sorry for so many questions
Re: sore and hard breast
Feed on demand. Whenever he is hungry, nurse him. It will help relieve the pressure in your breasts and establish a good milk supply. The more he nurses, the more milk you will produce. For the hardness and pain, make sure he is latched on correctly (you can google images for a correct latch). Also, warm compresses/wash cloths help to release and relieve the pain/hardness. If you just had your baby May 3, then likely the hardness and pain is your milk "letting down"...it will subside, just keep nursing!
And about waking the baby...no, don't wake him to nurse (unless he was a preemie/low birth weight and your doc has you on a feeding schedule). Infants don't need to be woken up to feed..follow his cues. Also, if you need to, you can pump while he's sleeping to help release some breast pressure/pain.
Re: sore and hard breast
The pain might be because you're full...like you need to express milk/feed him or pump the milk.
Re: sore and hard breast
you might have mastitis, which is an infection and needs anti biotics. See a doctor.
Re: sore and hard breast
Hey, you had the baby, congrats! Post your birth story. Was the baby's weight ok? It's normal to have a dirty diaper in almost every change for the first 6 weeks that is poo as you describe it. After that it would be once a day or so. Make sure you feed the baby on both breasts on each feed. This is very important and switch the breasts each time eg if you started on the right breast then on the second time start with the left one. But do try to feed from both breasts . Baby will fall asleep usually while feeding but try to do at least 10 minutes on each side.
Baby would feed every 2-3 hours for the first 6-8 weeks usually.
Re: sore and hard breast
^I think the lactation specialists advise differently? You are supposed to stay on one breast until the baby has fully fed from it so that they baby gets both the foremilk and the hindmilk. They don't recommend continued switching. Sometimes the baby will be satisfied without even being offered the other breast and sometimes they will only want a little from the second breast. If the baby has only had a partial feed from a breast and had enough.. I think you are supposed to continue with that breast on the next feed. If the breasts are getting too hard and sore between feeds, the OP can express (even hand express if you don't have a pump) to relieve the pressure. It's also a good idea to keep the baby awake during the feed if it has a habit of falling asleep (tickling feet, blowing on face) until baby has fully fed and then baby should sleep well for 2-3hrs.
Re: sore and hard breast
I actually got the above from La leche league meetings. I went there every week without fail for the first 4-5 months after my son was born.
Yes, despite best efforts sometimes, baby will fall asleep during feeds, that's why you remember to start the feed on the other breast the next time. I had breast feeding issues with my first one but went on to successfully nurse him for 2 years. There are fore milk and hind milk arguments with people arguing that hind milk doesn't take that long to come. That's why you don't switch after 5 minutes because baby will get just the fore milk from each breast but 10 minutes on each should be good if your baby falls asleep.
The latest I believe is there are no set rules as long as both sides are being utilized. Some moms tie a ribbon on their nursing bra to remember which side to start next. Some lactation consultants do advice to nurse on one side but I have heard both sides mostly so was advising the same.
^I think the lactation specialists advise differently? You are supposed to stay on one breast until the baby has fully fed from it so that they baby gets both the foremilk and the hindmilk. They don't recommend continued switching. Sometimes the baby will be satisfied without even being offered the other breast and sometimes they will only want a little from the second breast. If the baby has only had a partial feed from a breast and had enough.. I think you are supposed to continue with that breast on the next feed. If the breasts are getting too hard and sore between feeds, the OP can express (even hand express if you don't have a pump) to relieve the pressure. It's also a good idea to keep the baby awake during the feed if it has a habit of falling asleep (tickling feet, blowing on face) until baby has fully fed and then baby should sleep well for 2-3hrs.