Shields or pump to allow nipples to heal?

[LoveAfternoonTea]

Feeding 2 week old tongue tied DD2 has left me with one seriously painful nipple and one not so bad. Had the tongue tie snipped today, but I don't think I can cope with the initial pain on the bad side any more. I need to give it a break to heal, then can hopefully establish lovely pain free breast feeding. So, anyone have experience of this? Would you choose shields or pumping? Can I feed only from the ok side, pump the other but throw the milk away to avoid introducing bottles? DD1 was a super feeder, so I have no experience with shields, pumps or bottles. Desperate to make breastfeeding work this time....

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

These nipple shields are suppposed to be good Love but not cheap. Might be worth trying her with a cheaper pair first. What do you think?

[LoveAfternoonTea]

Yikes, they are expensive! Feeding has been a little better today after a rough night (think I cried more than the baby ). Hopefully the tongue tie snip has made a difference. I'll maybe give it a couple more days and see if it continues to get better. Thanks for your help though.

[ZZZZ1111]

Nipples heal surprisingly quickly! You could give your bad side a break for a couple of feeds probably and pump like you suggest. Lots of lanolin and let them air dry / cover in cling film!

[PoloZolo]

Why throw the milk away, you could freeze it?
Also agree nipples heal quicker than you think, you might not need a very big break to enable you to feed, even a day and it might be pretty bearable again.
I'd go for expressing for a few feeds and see how you get on

[Duckstar]

I went with nipple shields (cheap ones from boots). Loads of lanolin and they healed in a couple of days (once DD had her tongue tie snipped). Still feeding her a year on. I did find DD did want to nurse constantly once she had her tongue tie snipped. I spent literally a weekend feeding constantly.

[pizzaparty]

You can get relatively inexpensive healing pads from the pharmacy. They work rapidly to resist damaged nipples. I've used them with both of my kids. The brand I currently have are called 'multi-mam'. They're seriously effective. Will try attach a pic. I only used them for a day or two and the problem was solved.

[pizzaparty]

Resist should be *repair

[BathTangle]

I used silicone nipple shields for this reason and they were great - the ones I had were butterfly shaped, though I can't remember what make. A quick search shows that Medela and Avent make them though. Best of luck!

[BrieAndChilli]

I have flat nipples so getting feeding started with all 3 of mine was hell, I spent the first few weeks crying and clenching every time I fed, my mains advice is to take it a day at a time and don't give up just yet, 4 weeks seemed to be the magic number for me when it went from hell to 'hey this is ok and much less faff than bottles'
I used lanison (sp?) cream, some shaped breast shields which kept all the clothes from rubbing against my shredded nipples and also let them air when they were at thier worst, and I also had some gel medicated patched from the midwife.
I did keep pumping a bit even if I didn't feed off a side for a day as with DD I didn't as nipple was shredded and I got mastitis which was horrible so I would suggest a small amount of pump just to keep the milk flowing (or if nipple is too sore just try to hand express to stop the breast getting too engorged)

[BathTangle]

BrieandChilli - was the cream Lansinoh? Another one that I found good is Kamillosan, which is chamomile cream. DS2 is now 8 and I have even found a new use for Kamillosan - it works brilliantly on the chapped skin on his face and doesn't sting!

[JC23]

I would try nipple shields first. Much easier.
I had awful pain and fissures with DS1 and only just got through it thanks to my trusty nipple shields.

[LoveAfternoonTea]

Thanks all. I think I will give shields a go. Initial latching pain is a little better, but still miserable, and just feels like healing is impossible at the moment. Will also try the multi-mam pads pizzaparty, they sound good.

[Nickname1980]

I sympathise had the same thing (horribly painful due to bad latch) every single time! (I have threeDC).

With DC3 I took a break and pumped while they healed. They did heal, but my supply dropped so I spent ages getting it back!

Better bet is the medela nipple shields for sure.

I also have those silverette cups that jiltedjohn mentioned and they definitely helped speed up healing. Expensive though. Now they're just sitting there as I don't need them anymore!

Also liked those multi mam healing strips that pizzaparty mentioned.

But I think the most effective thing for me was just carrying on feeding with the medela shields until they healed.

They're not always pain free though! They were worn DC1, not with DC3.

You'll get there, DC3 is three months now and it's pain free!