My boooooobs huuuuurt

[Mumswang]

DD is 2 and a bit days old.

She is feeding well, I think the latch and positioning is good (I bf DS so am not a complete amateur, although I do feel a bit of one)

Yesterday she fed pretty much solidly all day, I think my milk is just coming in. My god my boobs hurt. The latch on bit is toe curling, it's making me cry

Last night I gave her some formula, from a syringe, it made me cry. She still wanted boob though, so I gave her some, and it made me cry

Thinking of trying some nipple shields, I know I just need t get through these first few days but it's hard

Congratulations in your DD

Can you explain the pain a bit more? Is it just an initial toe-curling pain when the milk lets down lasting for about 10 seconds or is there pain throughout the feed? Are your nipples squashed/wedge-shaped/blanched/ridged or cracked in anyway?

Or do you have heaviness and disco forth throughout your breast?

Thank you(sob) It's like a pinch pulley pain as she suck suck sucks, it eases once she's latched on although with each pull she takes it hurts a bit but not nearly so much

My nipples are a bit misshapen, one has a ridge that looks sort of a bit blistered.

It's the same pain I remember from first time around, although she's definitely more efficient and staying on better than DS did

She's a 10pounder and I think she's just very very hungry. I think it's the sheer amount attention my poor unaccustomed boobs are getting vthats contributing to it

The actual breast feels ok, it's just the nipple and areola that feel a bit mangled. Breast definitely feeling more full now so I think my milks just beginning to come through

Thanks for listening, I think

Errr not sure what that last I think is doing there, I really am glad to have you listen

It does sound ke the latch could do with some tweaking. It really shouldn't hurt throughout the feed, and certainly not with every suck.

It would be worthwhile getting someone truly knowledgeable to have a look. As I'm sure you know MWs are not necessarily trained to deal with any problems, so is there a local support group with a breastfeeding counsellor you could get to to have a look?

Have you tried different positions? Sometimes mums who find the traditional cradle/cross cradle uncomfortable find that they can get unimproved latch and pain free feeding in the biological nurturing position. It is a sort of laid back feeding position, really easy to try in the bath.

Also, do get some lansinoh to put on your nipples, it helps create a moist healing environment if there is any damage and doesn't need to be washed off between feeds.

I will come back and kink to some support groups soon. Just need to get DS's lunch sorted.

Link

This happened to me. However, the pain slowly got less and less, it took about a week before the cringing agony went. I used lanisoh and also, put clean sanitary towels in the freezer then when they are frozen solid use them as a cold compress after feeding to cool the tissues of the breast.

If you use lanisoh it will be about 2 weeks before it all calms down and your boobs get used to it.

My mate's MIL told her to "harden her nipples up" prior to birth with surgical spirit. When I started BF I realised what she meant!!!!

Thanks so much

I've got some Lansinoh and have tried a few different positions

I've got a leaflet of the times of local support groups but there are none on a Friday

I do have the number of the local Nct BF counsellor but I think its her home no, and i feel awkward phoning it. I winder if I call the Nct helpline they could ask her to call me when it's convenient for her?

No, don't feel awkward! If she isn't in she won't answer but do leave a message. Breastfeeding counsellors do this as they have a passion for helping mums. Really, I'm serious, ring her!

If you ring the NCT helpline you will get whoever is on duty and they will answer or ring back. It is worth a go but they can only give you help telephonically.

I've just spoken to the Nct helpline. They were lovely (and made me cry....seeing a pattern here?)

She gave me some pointers regarding positioning and actually it really rang a bell with what helped when I had problems with DS. I'm holding her too far over towards my armpit I think

The whole aligning nose with nipple thing, I know it but in parctise I find it difficult. I hold her nose by my nipple, she opens wide, tips her head back but my nipple is still no where near going in her mouth So I move me nipple into her mouth and then it gets squashed. I think that is the problem

Congratulations & best of luck. If you choose to mixed feed or just FF, DO NOT cry over it. Do whatever you can manage. It's all OK and your baby will thrive regardless.

I had this the other day when dd was 3 days old. I also have a ridge in one of my nipples and through trying to persevere through the pain, ended up with both nipples cracked. Was advised to use breast shields by midwife but by that point the damage was done! I ended up feeding expressed milk throughca syringe (this made me cry too!) and then gave myself 12 hours respite using lanisoh and feeding expressed milk. We are now back on the boob and the only pain I now experience is a couple of seconds when she latches and for about 5 mins at end of feed. Its nothing like the pain I experienced a few days ago though and I cried throughout too (which is very unlike me-I rarely cry). All the very best with it. You are doing the right things and you will get through this (something I never thought would happen at the time).

This guide is brilliant, if you look on page 7 at the information on attachment, it could very well help.
It certainly sounds like its the latch or attachment that needs work.

Thanks all, it's amazing how much some kind words and a bit of advice helps.

Silly hormones have got me weeping like a wreck and being doom and gloom about everything

That guide is really helpful. Thanks timewasting

I am so glad you managed to get help on the helpline. It is completely normal to feel a bit weepy when struggling with feeding (or anything really) and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. You're packed full of hormones and exhausted as well as busy caring for your precious new baby.

Good luck and don't worry about calling any of the helplines or the BFC or popping into the support group or askbf for help on here if you need to in the coming days and weeks

have no idea where the jealous favelas come from. Sorry

You're most welcome Mumswang. Someone linked to it a few weeks ago and I remember thinking how I wish someone had told me about it in those early days.