Painful left nipple - what to do next ?

[beamel]

DD is 4 weeks old and EBF. Found BF difficult in the beginning, but we stuck with it and with help from midwives, HV and a breastfeeding counsellor I am now feeding comfortably on the right side but the left is still really painful for the first 5-10 minutes of each feed.
The problem seems to be that the skin of the areolar is damaged and lumpy, although not cracked.
The midwife/HV/BF counsellor all agree that her latch is fine, and we have seen the GP who has given us treatment for thrush as a precaution.
I am at the end of my tether ! The only thing I can think of is to just try and rest the painful side to allow it to recover. If I were to do this I was wondering whether I should try and express that side so that my supply won't be affected ? Also if I were to do this should I just keep feeding her on the other side, or give her the expressed milk via a bottle and risk nipple confusion ?
I would be really grateful for any advice or suggestions. I am enjoying feeding her so much on the good side but normally end up in tears when I use the damaged side.
Thanks in advance.

Sorry just to add - sometimes the pains lasts all through the feed rather than just the first part, and I am still a bit sore on that side all the time.

Hi Beamel

poor you a sore nipple can be soul destroying! I breastfed both my babies and each time I had trouble with my right nipple. the good news is that eventually it settles down. to help ease the pain I used to just feed with my left and express from my right (this prevented engourgment and also kept the flow going). I really found this the best way to let the nipple heal and my babies never had any problem with latching on to that nipple when it was better. I know so many people who had the 'good' breasting feeding breast and the tricky one. Hope this helps and good luck!

I had exactly the same, I tried nipple shields and they helped a little but after going back to bf the pain/split came back. I ended up expressing that one side for 1 week to allow it to heal completely and I gave ds the expressed milk rather than just the good breast to avoid the risk of the good side over supplying if you see what I mean? I nursed my poorly boob with lanolin and soaked in hot baths. After a week I tried again and although it was tender to begin with it never got bad again as i allowed it to heal and now it is fine. I remember how tough it was, really feel for you. Xx

Thanks for the speedy replies and the reassurance that it will get better eventually. Also that I'm not the only one-sided one !
Martha - how old was your ds and how did you give the expressed milk ?
The BF counsellor said to try and avoid using a bottle for another couple of weeks if possible, but there's no way I can hold out that long ! Not having much luck pumping the bad side, only got a tiny amount but will try again.
Thanks again !