Hi,
Calling any experts here. My first child was early and I really struggled with bf but after determination I managed it for 8 months. My ds was full term and is now 2.5 weeks so presumed things would be easier. . . Not so.
From the start all MW and the HV said the latch was great, he only lost 2 percent of his birth weight in the first week and recently put on a lot of weight after regaining birth weight quickly . However I kept working at the latch as my nipples seemed to com out lipstick shaped and was experiencing a lot of pain. I just can't get him to take the nipple far back in his mouth. He is also a day time cluster feeder and as we are going through this early stAge I am demand feeding. Sometimes, particularly in afternoons he will feed for five hours stretches much to DC1's dismay. I have had cracked nipples from the start and now the pain is excruciating. My right nipple is the issue as it seems quite small and just a small bump when my breast is very full so I think I am struggling with latching correctly. It is now in a state, a large crack that opens easily(expressed milk is sometimes pink). When I try hard to push it right in his mouth the suction he has on my areola is very strong and when he comes off I can see a red indentation where his mouth has been. It is now all getting worse. The areola looks swollen, especially after I couldn't face feeding from it last night and had to express. This made my normally pale nipples/areola go purple. In the past few days i have done everything to try and allow my nipples to heal saline, lanisoh, round the clock painkillers, hAnd expressing, giving them air . I even wore a shield when feeding over a day. This did not effect latch as got him back on in fear it would effect supply. Last night was awful thoug, I did not want to use the shield(which now hurts anyway) but could not feed him properly and DH gave DS some formula as I was in pieces. I expressed instead but in tears as I hadn't given formula until now. I fear that I can't solve the sore nipple issue , even my left nipple has a crack now and it would break my heart if I had to give up bf. . . After all that effort and hours of cluster feeds too. Any advice most welcome. . And apologies for long message, just wanted to get it all down. Thanks.
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Infant feeding
Swollen and painful but don't want to give up bf, please help.
39 replies
FifiFerusha · 07/08/2015 07:50
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