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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

One nipple cracked and too sore to use - what to do?

13 replies

titferbrains · 15/09/2011 22:28

Ds is 5do and poor latch, poss tt and tiny size have already damaged my nips. Just managed about 10 min on sore boob. Really like hot daggers etc. Shall I just feed from the less sore side tonight? Tried to follow j newman instructions for good latch but ds gets frantic at boob and his arms never stop moving so very hard t o catch a good gaping mouth.

Hope to get tt appt tmw and hoping that snip might help.

OP posts:

RitaMorgan · 15/09/2011 22:34

Have you tried biological nurturing position to get a good latch? It can be easier working with the head bobbing/arm waving than against it iyswim!

Iamjustthemilkmachine · 15/09/2011 22:38

I'm not an expert and have no experience of tt which will make things harder. I do know that lanisoh works for cracked nipples, as is staying away from breastpads. Do see someone soon though, good luck!f tt which will make things harder. I do know that lanisoh works for cracked nipples, as is staying away from breastpads. Do see someone soon though, good luck!

SeniorWrangler · 15/09/2011 22:55

Try things like this:

Lie back and put him on top of you to feed, to see if he gets a better latch.
Express from the sore side and give it a bit of a rest. You can freeze the milk for later use. Don't leave milk in the sore side because you'll get engorged and mastitis will follow shortly afterwards if you are not careful.
Start him off with a bit of expressed milk in a bottle if he's starving and then move to the breast once he's not quite so frantic (risk of nipple confusion outweighed by risk of stopping bf altogether).

Original poster

titferbrains · 15/09/2011 23:07

Just off to look for bn video. Think I will leave sore side for a bit too.

OP posts:

SeniorWrangler · 15/09/2011 23:12

Don't leave it more than four hours at this early stage. Have you got a pump?

SeniorWrangler · 15/09/2011 23:13

You might be able to hand express a bit into a jug if necessary. It needs a bit of skill but there might be advice on the net somewhere.

WhoresHairKnickers · 15/09/2011 23:18

If you can afford THESE they work very quickly. In under 24 hours (put them on at 16:00hrs, wore them right through and the following morning, my cracked and very sore nipples were 95% healed. I kid you not. They are worth their weight in silver!

SeniorWrangler · 15/09/2011 23:26

They look impressive, but OP won't be able to get them immediately and it is very important to keep milk moving through the sore side to avoid mastitis!

WhoresHairKnickers · 15/09/2011 23:40

Absolutely, though they did come through very quickly.

FetchezLaVache · 15/09/2011 23:42

I came on to recommend silicone nipple shields, but I have no idea whether they're recommended in the case of a tt- anyone know? They sorted my DS's poor latch at about the same age, FWIW.

BertieBotts · 15/09/2011 23:56

Feeding using nipple shields is better than not feeding at all - any stimulation/removal of milk is better than none.

Quickest healing thing for nipples which you're likely to have around is to rub some of your milk into them after a feed and give them as much air time as possible. For supply and avoiding blocked ducts, best to keep feeding on that side unfortunately, if you really can't face it and don't have any shields then do try hand expressing - this should be less painful than using a pump as you don't have to touch the nipple at all. You can save the milk if you want to, but it's less stressful to just do it into a muslin or towel and not worry about trying to aim it into anything or sterilise a bottle etc.
www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/knack.htm

Some links about the "Marmet technique" for hand expressing (feel free to google for more)

In the end though, even if you end up reading this too late, you will be able to come back from this point - this advice is just to make it as smooth as possible and try to avoid any problems. See if you can get a midwife out tomorrow and call one of the BF helplines. Also send DH out for emergency supplies of Lansinoh!

Swaddle him, BTW, keeps the flailing arms out of the way! I used to pin DS' arms between his body and mine but this does take your free hand away.

planetpotty · 15/09/2011 23:56

Hello :) my DD was tt but at the time of diagnosis by the mw they said "hmmm she may possibly have tt and thats whats giving you problems" aaaanyway we get to the mw who deals with the tt (and choppyostomy jobby - sorry cant remember the medical term!) and she said nearly ALL the referals she gets the Mum says "oohh im not sure the mw said it MIGHT be tt or mild tt".

Have you been reffered to the specialist mw - if you have maybe ring and try and get the appt brought fwd?

Once we had the choppyostomy (very quick and seemed surprisingly not too painful for DD) she imediately fed properly and my poor nips got better very quickly :)

SeniorWrangler · 16/09/2011 08:55

FWIW I personally have a tongue tie that was not diagnosed until my doula noticed (she is also a bf counsellor). My poor mother had soldiered on for a whole month before giving up bf me. I think it really does make sense to get them looked at - I hate the thought of my mum having suffered so much.

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