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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Sore nipples, again

20 replies

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 02:09

I had a terrible time feeding ds. Nipples got badly cracked then infected and feeding was very painful for three months. Made it through with support from this board.

Home now with dd, born yesterday and I am having similar problems. My right side is ok but my left is sore. Stayed in hospital overnight so midwives could watch me feed and they all said it was fine latch wise.

My left nipple was actually sore when I was pregnant too so I wonder if their is scar tissue from last time. I want to prevent it from cracking. Using lots of lansinoh and am favouring my good side.

Just looking for support/suggestions.

OP posts:

ascouser · 29/01/2011 02:30

different feeding positions?
Hand expressing the sore side and feeding whatever you can gather (teaspoon)?
When are you experiencing pain ? between feeds, on first latch ? or during a feed?
Does the pain subside any?
Do loads of skin to skin and perhaps DD can 'find' her way to the breast for some biological nursing.
Pain is the body saying there is something not quite right. If it's painful throughout a feed then the latch may not be right. Little finger in DD's mouth to break the latch and try again. That nipple has got to be pulled to the back of her mouth so that her tongue is pushing it up agains the soft pallete. If it's not all the way in and she's pushing it against the hard pallete behind her gums...man , that's gonna hurt.

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 03:17

First bit is the worst but it is sore throughout, the latch looks the same as the side that doesn't hurt so don't know what could be wrong. It was the same last time. Fed ds for over 2 years in the end but the start was awful.

OP posts:

ascouser · 29/01/2011 03:33

Got'cha..
Another thing to look at is..what shape is the nipple when it comes out of LO's mouth? is it mis-shapen or white/paler? That can also be an idication of a difficult latch.
Got any peer support / NCT / laLeche near you to contact to come out and see you? Is your midwife coming out today? I would have someone else come 'look'.

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 03:33

OP posts:

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 03:35

Ops don't know why that happened. Midwife will come tomorrow. Should the nipple be totally round when it comes out? Both sides are a bit flat on one half of the nipple.

OP posts:

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 13:14

Been trying to follow this guide here:

www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:sore-nipples&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

It looks better but still hurts. Hard to tell about nipple shape, mine are a bit funny to start with.

I am dreading tonight :(

OP posts:

MoonUnitAlpha · 29/01/2011 13:17

Can you see a BF counsellor? They'll be better able to help with latch than a midwife who may have very little training.

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 14:34

Midwife just been said latch looked great. I had the Nct out with ds1 and she just said the same, latch ok. It's exactly what happened last time.

OP posts:

liquoriceandtomatoes · 29/01/2011 17:31

I had massive problems with cracked nipples and yes, you can look into the latch, thrush, raynauds etc which I think I might have had a combination of but I cannot recommend highly enough - silverette nipple guards which I got off the internet, I think from breast angels. They're a bit pricey but worth every penny as I think they're the reason I'm still bf at nearly 4 months.

Lots of luck, the first few months really can be very hard

louby78 · 29/01/2011 20:12

I had something similar - terribly sore nipples - the tops of the skin had come off and they were agony. Everyone said it was my latch then when they watched they said my latch was fine which was really frustrating. Got thrush after mastitis and a bacterial infection as a result of them being cracked so had to have AB. After this (about 5/6 weeks) they started to heal and have been fine every since. My latch hasn't altered so it must just have been one of those things. If I get sloppy like when I feed on a night I can tell when I'm not doing it quite right and they do get a bit sore but this wasn't what was happening in the beginning. I guess you need to ride it out but i do recommend (k)camilisan (not sure if I spelt it right)for helping them to clear although you need to wash it off before feeds but it really closed up my peeled off skin!

Good luck and stick with it.

Original poster

neepsntatties · 29/01/2011 20:16

Thanks. I had silverette the last time but didn't work for me, I sent them to someone else on here in the end.

Just need to get through these nights until it settles down I think.

OP posts:

Montifer · 30/01/2011 00:24

Congratulations on DDs arrival

Sorry to hear you're in pain with bf again.

I had a similar time with DS1 a couple of years ago and recently with DS2 (now 10 weeks) although thankfully didn't get infected.
I get toe curling latching on and deep pains after feeding which radiate through to my back / shoulder blades, also extremely sensitive nipples if I go out in cold (despite wearing plenty of layers)

I had latch checked and confirmed to be ok too.

Posted on here and got some good advice / reassurance.

I've been taking paracetamol (and ibuprofen if needed) and using loads of Lansinoh and finally in the last couple of days it's suddenly getting easier although my nipples are still sensitive and get odd pains in breasts / nipples during and after feeds sometimes, am no longer curling my toes.

Have come to the conclusion that my babies have 'difficult' mouths when they are tiny and / or my breasts take a while to settle into the feeding but it does get better eventually and is worth persevering.

Are you taking painkillers?
It did make quite a difference to me and am not usually keen on taking pills but knew it would only be for a relatively short time.

With DS2, knowing that it got better eventually with DS1 and how much I enjoyed bf him has helped me to get on with it and it's definitely getting easier now.

Good luck

Original poster

neepsntatties · 30/01/2011 05:03

Thanks. It's 5am now and dd has been feeding since 1am. My god the sleep deprivation! I am coping though and so far no cracks. I hope my milk comes in soon though.

It was so worth it with ds so I won't give up but it is hard for sure.

OP posts:

strawberrylace · 30/01/2011 06:28

No advice but just wanted to add my support. the early days/weeks are definitely the hardest - as you'll know from before. i found that mentally i had to just take it one day at a time. good luck - you can do it x

Original poster

neepsntatties · 31/01/2011 02:55

Left side is agony now. Right ok. Might try and express tomorrow. Feel quite down, trying so hard to do everything right. Really thought it would be different this time.

OP posts:

Montifer · 31/01/2011 10:40

neeps, sorry you are having a difficult time

you are where i was 9 weeks ago, definitely worse than the birth ime

it will get better

have you tried some painkillers, it took the edge off for me

is mw coming to visit, can you get any help from her or ask her to arrange visit / appointment with bf counsellor?

keep plastering on the lansinoh and you'll get there

hope you're managing to get some sleep

Original poster

neepsntatties · 01/02/2011 21:05

Had another midwife out today who also said latch was fine. Got the breastfeeding specialist out tomorrow though so see what she says. Expressing a bit and feeding from good side to try and give it a break. Mainly I feel very tired.

OP posts:

Original poster

neepsntatties · 03/02/2011 16:38

Just to update that things are getting better. The breast feeding councilor was supposed to come and see me yesterday but was too busy in the end, she is out tomorrow. Think I am almost there though, if the crack on my left nipple heals ok. Fingers crossed!

OP posts:

Montifer · 03/02/2011 21:58

That's fantastic neeps, sounds like you're on track in less than a week (has taken me nearly 10 )

Hope things continue to improve and DD is thriving

Jen2727 · 04/02/2011 16:28

Have you tried nipple shields? They completely saved me .... feeds went from agony to bearable and now are painless. It gave my nipples the chance to heal. People say that they can damage supply but i don't think there is anyhting wrong with using them short term, particularly if it means you will continue breast feeding. Try them. I felt better after a day!

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