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Infant feeding

Desperate BFing problems, any help welcomed

18 replies

Familyof3or4 · 01/09/2015 19:36

I have always breastfed my 10mo. Over the last 7 weeks as her teeth have grown bigger her teeth gave started to graze my nipple with each suck, so that although she doesn't bite, it is causing me a wound that is incredibly painful. It has got worse and I was planning to stop over the next couple of weeks (although I wanted to go to a year) but today I can't bear to let her feed it was so painful. She's just gone to sleep without anything as she refused formula and cows milk from a bottle or sippy cup. (I can't express milk either)
I tried nipple shields and have even plastered up my nipples with plasters and blister plasters around the areola which worked for a few days but she now refuses the breast with them on.
To make matters worse she only feeds on one breast anyway so I can't get a rest while she feeds on the other side.
I have also tried lying down with her both ways but this just means I basically have an open wound all the way around.
I don't know what to do as I can't carry on with the pain, but she is refusing anything else. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Sorry for long post.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/09/2015 19:53

So sorry you are in pain. My only advice would be, make a Brew, take some painkillers and phone one of the Bfing Helplines. Have you got the numbers? Thanks

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Familyof3or4 · 01/09/2015 20:02

I didn't realise there were any, I was lucky with my first to bf easily for 14 months and with this dd there were no problems until recently. I will google for helplines, unless you have any particular ones you can recommend?

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TheYellowWallpaper · 01/09/2015 20:05

La lecherous league should be able to help. Hope it gets better soon.

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TheYellowWallpaper · 01/09/2015 20:06

Thanks autocorrect! La leche league

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/09/2015 20:06

They're here. I've phoned ABM, not and National Bfing Helpline and they were all good. They are all staffed by fully trained BFCs who have bf for at least 6 months Smile

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/09/2015 20:07

Grin at yellow.

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FreeButtonBee · 01/09/2015 20:09

On the healing side, I've found the silverette nipple cups really helpful. They are expensive but definitely make a difference.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/09/2015 20:10

There's some info on teeth scraping here. Hth.

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Familyof3or4 · 01/09/2015 20:46

Thank you for this all, I would love to manage to continue to feed, I felt like I'd let her down when I offered her formula today. She loves to be so much and she was so upset at bedtime. I'll ring the helplines tomorrow

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anothernumberone · 01/09/2015 20:50

Owwwwwie you poor thing. Have you tried feeding in a completely different position maybe lying on a bed and feed diagonally. I had a lot of this with ds he had a shite latch. Hope they get better soon.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/09/2015 18:16

How are you getting on today? Did you manage to call one of the Bfing Support lines? Brew

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Familyof3or4 · 02/09/2015 19:46

I called 2 helplines but they couldn't suggest anything I haven't already tried. I did at least manage to feed her tonight but am now wandering around topless in order to air dry the bleeding wreck that was once my nipple. I have ordered a medela pump coming tomorrow to see if I can express with this pump (mine is a lot crappier than medela) and I hope she will take expressed milk. I am dreading the morning feed but hopeful that when the pump comes I can have a break and she still gets her milk.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/09/2015 19:54

You poor thing Thanks

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daisydalrymple · 02/09/2015 20:11

Have you tried lansinoh? I have always used this, but at the beginning of bf with cracked nipples. If you're sore it might help with healing? im also still bf dc3 at 10mo. He's been testing a couple of bites with the current teething, little nips, but painful! Obviously hurts him to feed as a couple of nights he's hardly taken anything, then stirred an hour or so later and fed whilst more or less asleep.

I did have a jaws like clamping bite off ds1 and ended up with antibiotic cream after it became infected.

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Familyof3or4 · 02/09/2015 20:29

I might try to get done antibiotic cream tomorrow thanks for that thought. Lansinoh not great as there are 2 actual holes and it's difficult to put it onto it as its wet with blood and weeping (gross, sorry)

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Booboostwo · 02/09/2015 20:31

That sounds very very painful.

I don't have much to suggest but it might be worth working on the latch. Have you tried the exaggerated latch? If that works then, for a while, you'll have to stop her every time she scratches you and re-establish the latch until she gets into better habits.

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daisydalrymple · 02/09/2015 20:44

Oh that sounds similar to my wound from the jaws clamp. Hole through it and kept crusting. Seriously felt like he was feeding through broken glass. Gp said as the wound was deep it was crusted inside and at each feed the milk was breaking through the healing.

Yes, trip to your gp might be an idea to get it checked out. Have you tried the old rubbing milk in and air drying?? (Just no point me apologising for tmi and the image of my saggy bf boobs hanging out to dry on a thread like this Grin )

You have my sympathies, hope it heals soon.

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ThatsNotEvenAWord · 02/09/2015 20:54

I had something similar recently, only on one breast but I was crying with pain when he latched so you have my sympathy.

I was advised to smother the lansinoh on, apparently keeping the wound 'moist' is actually really beneficial. I'd been trying to leave it to scab over. Once I kept up with the lansinoh it started to heal.

I was also recommended these nipple compresses here (sorry if it's not a clicky link) www.amazon.co.uk/Multi-Mam-Compresses-Intensive-Treatment-Breast-Feeding/dp/B005KJ3DSC?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Could you see if there are any bfeeding support groups in your area so someone can actually look at your latch to see if they can make any suggestions? Good luck Flowers

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