Help - cracks, blisters, agony.

[dublinmom]

I thought I knew what I was doing! This is my 4th dc and although I really struggled with the first, i have managed to bf all 4. Always tough at first but this time it's agony!

Please help me! Here are my woes:

1. A massive crack on my left nipple - actually more like a crevice. You could sail a P&O to france in it! There used to be a blood blister but it came off.
2. Smaller crack on right nipple.
3. A bit of a white ring around the crack. Thrush or blister?
4. Wincing eye-watering pain on latch, that recedes to just pain after 20 seconds.
5. Pain after feeding -- not in nipples, but on side of breasts (alongside sternum) a hot tingly pain, but not engorged. Pain in back too (like directly in line with nipple).Worse when ~I'm cold.
6. Nipple does the lipstick shape after feed.

And the baby (12 days old)...
1.Hasn't done a poo in 2 days

1. Has what i think is a sucking blister on top lip.

3.Tongue is whitish but no curds.

I've been using lansinoh (peeling nipple off bra when lansinoh sticks, ow ow) taking nurofen round the clock, tried cold compresses (made worse).

So what now? Doc would be hard to convince if thrush, and don't know if i could get an appt. this afternoon. I think the latch is ok (4th dc) but maybe not? Nipple shields? OTC thrush cream?

DH is saying give the left side a rest and supplement with bottle, but will i just have to go through it all again when i restart?

I really don't want to give up, but i'm in agony and it's upsetting everyone, especially older dc.

Hellllllllllllllp. Tell me there's hope.

Hi there
Just wondered if you could try some jelonet on the cracks- there was a post recently about it and it really seemed to help.

It does sound like thrush I agree, but there's a good leaflet on the Breastfeeding Network website that will help you more.

Sorry for rushed post but suppoesd to be making supper and DS is squawking at me.

ow painful, remember I got to the point where I would rather have let the ds howl with hunger than breast feed him. Gave formula in a bottle every other feed to give boobs time to recover. the midwife said he would stop breastfeeding if I did that but better than letting the poor chap starve, and as for giving up breastfeeding? hmm would like to have words with her 2yrs on when he is stll begging for a feed.

hope you sort something out, good luck.

Am not an expert but sounds like it could be the latch. Even if its your 4th I presume they could all have different mouths etc.

I found using the softest breast pads with lots of lansinoh lessened the likelihood of leaving my nipples on the bra.

I presume you are in Dublin? Here are the La Leche contscts, they may be able to talk you through some holds or ways of giving the cracks a break. Think they are cool about being phoned at odd hours.

www.lalecheleagueireland.com/co__dublin.htm

ps think the lip blister is said to be a good sign that they are feeding lots.

Dublin - definitely sounds like your latch is not quite right, the bliser/crack/nipple shape issue certainly points that way. Can you get your MW or HV to check it for you? if not do you have a local BF group where you can talk to someone and get them to check it for you?

I am suffering some of what you describe - the pain when baby latches on is toe-curling agony - and it last for a good minute or so before settling into discomfort. The latch has been checked and is fine....but I do find myself trying to prolong periods in between feeds because of the pain. I also have dark spot on my nipples which are like scabs I guess (except they're soft) and yes, the tearing away of you bra/top....OUCH! I have been applying lansinoh frequently, but otherwise, don't know if I need to just grin and bear it until my nipples harden off or something!

Tanmu - get your latch checked, a simple change in latch and it can all be more or less painless. Your nipples won't harden off to a bad latch they will just end up cracked and even more painful.

Ow you poor thing. Loads of great advice, but just wanted to mention that as well as putting Lansinoh on your nipple spread some on a breast pad as well so less chance of your nipple sticking to bra/breast pad. It was only when I started doing this that the nipples started healing. The constant trauma of unsticking the nipple just makes the wounds worse. Breast shells also helped as the nipples get some air.

Lipstick shaped nipple def. means your latch isn't right and the combination of pain / trauma / shape could also mean that your baby has a tongue tie. Does the baby seem to slip off the nipple and / or "click" when it feeds? If you google Tongue tie you can see what you are looking for and have a look under the baby's tongue yourself. It does sound like it might be thrush - have you had antibiotics at all? Do you have an infant feeding coordinator at your hospital? Or a bf counsellor? Give them a ring and get someone to help. Hugs in the meantime as it can be agony.

I think as much air as possible to the nipples is supposed to be key to healing?? Possibly continuous creams and covering up with pads etc might not be best route? An old MW's solution is to use tea strainers under your bra so you still have support for the boobs but the nipples are getting air. Also, cold, clean cabbage leaves on the breast - another old MW's suggestion, supposed to be v healing and soothing. I know these sound utterly bizarre and also mean you have to give yourself time to sit around with your nips out, but my mum (the old MW in question!) is utterly serious about them working.

I wonder if you are running around a lot with 4 DCs and maybe you need some more support with everything else to give you the time to concentrate on you, your boobs and the baby?

When they are this cracked current practice is moist would healing hence the suggestions of Jelonet (?sp) and Lansinoh. Cabbage leaves are good for engorgement but not thrush. Def. have a look on the breastfeeding network site a their thrush leaflet.

well there you go, sorry to be confusing! You have my complete sympathy by the way, sounds rotten.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I got some compresses called multi-mam, seems like they're a bit like the jelonet, and they are great. Soothing gel and a barrier between the nipple and the bra.

It's still painful on latching, I had assumed because I know what I'm doing everything would be all right but of course it's all new to the baby, isn't it? She does slip off during feeds, especially at the beginning, so maybe it is tongue tie?

The advice to contact MW or hospital breastfeeding clinic is funny! Not much health care support for breastfeeding in Ireland! My dh is wonderful though and has been looking after the older 3 so I can concentrate on the baby.

Does anyone have an opinion/advice about the white ring around the nipple crack?

Tongue tie images can be seen here: www.google.co.uk/images?q=tongue+tie&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&pwst=1&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=WHrMTICqBsq6jAf_m-XWBw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CBQQ_AU&biw=1024&bih=653

And support here: www.breastfeeding.ie/support/county/Dublin_North

So sorry you are having such problems finding some support