Cracked nipples, started bleeding in real pain :-(

[littlestressy]

I have been breastfeeding for 9 weeks now, had lots and lots of problems (tongue tie, thrush, latching problems) and thought things were getting better but no.

Over the past few days I noticed both nipples getting very sore again, thought maybe I was getting a bit lazy in latching properly so have made a big effort every feed to get my son on right. But today when he went onto my left breast it hurt SO much and the nipple started bleeding :( He wasn't too bad on the right side, maybe because he wnet on there second.

What am I still doing wrong? I've been to lactation nurse and breastfeeding counsellor so I (think) I know what I should be doing. My left breast was very full when he tried to get on; do very full breasts stop baby latching on properly? If so, what should I do about it before feeding him?

Can anyone help? I really want to keep breastfeeding but I was literally yelling in agony earlier.

You poor thing! Well done for sticking it out so far, and hang in there -as long as you feel is right for you and your baby.

For nipple pain, try rinsing your nipple after each feed, and a good smear of lansinoh. As long as they're this sore, I'd suggest a clean breast pad every feed, making sure they stay clean and dry.

If they're very full, that can affect latch on. You can try hand expressing a bit before you put baby on. This gets you past the first painful letdown, and if you let it spray into a cloth for a bit, you relieve the pressure in the breast, making it easier for baby to fit it in their mouth. You can also squeeze the breast a little flatter, so it is not so wide for baby to fit their mouth around. You're not supposed to hold your breast compressed like this for too long, but when I had oversupply problems, I was holding for the first few minutes, until baby had emptied out enough to make the breast more "squashable".

If you're worried about quantities, you can express the first milk into a clean (sterilised) container and bottle feed that at the end of the feed.

It does get better!

If your breasts keep getting overfull before each feed, look up oversupply on Kellymom. If that fits your situation, they have good tips for management. I had to go down to one breast each feed, and same side again if he wanted to feed again within 2 or 3 hours. It helped a lot.

Can you call one of the bfing helplines? It sounds like you need help today.

It might help to try exaggerated latch (also known as the 'flipple' or deep latching) - some links here, here and an animation here (this is in Russian though so don't think your computer has crashed!)

This is helpful with lots of tips on getting a good latch.

Sorry should have also said, if you have deep cracks try moist wound healing (this doesn't allow scabs to form - when scabs get sucked off by the baby a deeper wound is formed if this scabs over it will make an even bigger wound when the baby sucks it off at the next feed). Moist wound healing works by the skin healing from the inside up to the top - you can either slather a lanolin cream on or use a preparation like Jelonet (paraffin wax on gauze) which you can get from pharmacies.

Thanks MrsMeeple and TruthSweet for all your advice, I have smeared very generous amounts of Lansinoh all over my nipples regularly and they feel slightly less sore today. I also held a hot flannel to my boob before my son fed last night and it helped as the boob wasn't so full.

That last link with tips on getting a good latch is fantastic; I relaxed, curled my son around me, stopped tucking away his hands and just let him 'feel' his way onto my nipple and breast, he took a really big mouthful with no problem and I didn't have to stroke my nipple under his nose or on his top lip at all, he found his own way there; why couldn't all the midwives and health visitors have shown me that one!!

Thanks again for all your help, hopefully I will be able to continue breastfeeding for as long as I want to, fingers crossed!

I'm really glad the last article helped and it's good to hear your nipples are starting to heal up quickly and I hope you do get to bf as long you want to