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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

How can I help my sore, bleeding nipples meant to heal when DS2 is feeding so often?

28 replies

wasabipeanut · 27/06/2012 15:34

DS2 is a week old today and has spent most of his first week in this world attached to a boob. I assumed I had this bfing lark sorted after DS1 and DD both fed well and with minimal pain. However this time round I have little blood spots on both nipples and have found feeding excruciating. It's getting a bit better now as only painful at the beginning of the feed but my nipples just aren't healing.

I've bought hydrogel pads which feel lovely but only have enough for another 24 hours and am liberally applying Lanisoh after each feed.

I had a midwife check the latch and also for a tongue tie. Both fine apparently, although she advised I stop, slow down and go back to basics re latching which I have done. It is obvious from nappy output and initial weight gain that DS2 is getting plenty of milk. You can hear him chugging it down.

Any other ideas to promote fast healing? I am coping without painkillers today for the first time in several days but it's still really sore :(

OP posts:
Original poster
wasabipeanut · 27/06/2012 15:35

Just realised my thread title doesn't actually make sense. I am sooooooo tired.

OP posts:
sc2987 · 27/06/2012 15:51

Is she very experienced in checking for tongue tie? As posterior ones are sometimes not even visible and can only be palpated. My daughter's was missed by all the NHS staff. She was also getting enough milk, but it was very painful for me till it was snipped.

You could try nipple shields if she'll latch with them on. They aren't a long-term solution as in theory they can interfere with supply, but you should be OK for a short time just to help you heal at this early stage as you'll probably have an oversupply. Medela Contact ones worked for us (very thin and with a cut out section so they can smell you).

sc2987 · 27/06/2012 15:51

He, sorry

babyblabber · 27/06/2012 15:56

i'm a week ahead of you and getting better now. one nipple did get so bad at the weekend that i literally could not feed through the pain so i just fed from the other side for a day, pumped the sore side to prevent engorgement and keep up supply. the next day i did the first few feeds on sore side with nipple shields and then managed without although it's still my sore side 2 days later so i tend to favour the other boob a bit.

no real advice but just keep going if you can, i barely even have pain on the latch on my good side now.

Original poster
wasabipeanut · 27/06/2012 15:57

Thanks SC. She was, in the nicest possible way, a mature midwife - I was reassured she knew her stuff. She had a good feel around the little fellas mouth. I'm sure some posterior ones might be missed - but who do I get to check if I can't trust experienced midwives?

I thought about nipple shields but have been scared of buggering up supply. Some HCP's seem dead set against them. Supply isn't an issue at the moment - if anything engorgement is more of a concern. I started dripping milk in the shower this morning. The joys of bfing.

OP posts:
NineTailors · 27/06/2012 16:05

I'd pump a couple of feeds to give your nips a break. Also, when you apply the Lansinoh after every feed, are you applying it to breast pads too? That can make a decent difference to healing & overall comfort. It WILL pass.

Original poster
wasabipeanut · 27/06/2012 16:08

I had thought of pumping but introducing a bottle at a week seems a little early? I thought they could get confused?

Thanks for tip re Lanisoh & breast pads....

OP posts:
ladyinthelibrary · 27/06/2012 16:11

Nipple shields will help tremendously - the feeling of anticipating the agony of latching on is awful. Also calendula(?) cream (used to be good). 'They' also say to rub some breastmilk around the nipple to help it. If you have somewhere discreet to sit, fresh air (and sunshine if you have any) might help. Hope this helps ..... my daughter is now almost 21 and I can STILL remember those early days of b/f!

NineTailors · 27/06/2012 16:13

Ah, sorry - I skipped his age!

The pads trick was passed onto me by a midwife, and I recommend it. Keeping everything moist - i.e. not dried & glued to bra - does seem to make a difference.

suziez · 27/06/2012 16:15

You have tried change of position? feet towards your back? I had this and used breast shields, and the baby was fine...no confusion...it will get better, hang in there...

Whirliwig72 · 27/06/2012 16:22

The fact that the pain is subsiding after the initial latching on is a good sign. Means your latch is probably good. Signs to check are lots of wee's (tick), nice rounded cheeks when feeding, more nipple above top lip than below, wiggling ears / signs of swallowing. I'd suggest getting second opinion on tongue tue just in case and keeping up with applying lanolin balm. Also keep nipples exposed to air as much as you can to speed healing. Your nipples are made to heal pretty fast so if no improvement in 24 hrs or so you might want to see a dr just to rule out thrush. Congratulations on your new baby and good on you for Giving them the best start in life Grin

Sam100 · 27/06/2012 16:23

I feel your pain! I had the same thing with dd2. I ended up going back to see the breastfeeding nurse at the hospital and found out I had my positioning all wrong! Blush Despite having successfully fed dd1 with no issues! I had obviously forgotten all the advice in the interim period. So my tip is go back to the beginning - tummy to mummy, nipple to nose and all that! Let your poor sore boobs have as much air as possible. I found Lansinoh helped. Ask someone experienced to watch you feed and to correct your positioning if necessary. I had to hold dd2 completely horizontally across me at boob height in order to get a latch that did not hurt. It did settle down after a few weeks.

Sulb · 27/06/2012 16:23

I used nipple shields and couldn't (I don't think) have carried on without them - was bleeding, scabbed and the mw was shocked at the state of my nips... ds was possetting blood... I think my supply dropped, but I built it back up after i stopped using them so it was ok! I had medela ones and they were great. Am still bfing ds now at 15 months, really glad we got through it!

Wants3 · 27/06/2012 16:23

Must be a third baby thing as I had same problem after successfully feeding two others. Let your boobs out in the open as much as possible. Concentrate on the latch. It will get better:)

Sulb · 27/06/2012 16:24

ooops also meant to say I hope it gets better for you soon!!!

ShhhhhGoBackToSleep · 27/06/2012 16:35

Have you tried biological nurturing? Can help babies whose latch is not great in cradle hold.

HumphreyCobbler · 27/06/2012 16:38

if there are cracks, don't let them air dry. They will scab over and then crack from the bottom each time the baby latches on.

If you use jelonet (from any chemist) over your nipple in between feeds it will stop the scabbing and they will heal.

I had a massive crack that was agony, and it only went away when I followed this method thanks to the advice of my lactation consultant.

Original poster
wasabipeanut · 27/06/2012 16:45

Thanks for the advice guys. Will get some of the Medala shields & Jelonet ASAP. Maybe it is a third baby thing - midwife said same happened with her third!

OP posts:
slothprincess · 27/06/2012 16:57

Ooh you poor thing wasa. I had terribly cracked nipples in the early days of feeding DD. The things that helped me were:

Letting the air get to my nips as much as possible. (I basically walked around topless and I'm sure I gave my neighbours an eyefull, but I didn't really care by that point!)
Putting vaseline on my nipples once they were perfectly dry. This stopped them scabbing and stopped my poor little baby sicking up my blood. This was advised by midwife and apparently is safe for baby if they ingest some.
I fed DD in the rugby ball hold for a few days so her mouth was completely avoiding the damaged bit of my nipple.

Every day I could see that my nipples were a little bit better so as Whirl says, if it's not improving quickly, get someone to have a look.

Good luck and hope it gets more comfortable soon,

MrsHoarder · 27/06/2012 17:00

If at all feasible, spend time topless. Get you and LO into bed, feed, apply Lanoish (or other cream) and don't let your nipples get stuck/rub against to your bra/nursing pads.

I had this with my first and they only recovered when DH got rid of visitors for a few days so I could spend more time undressed.

MrsHoarder · 27/06/2012 17:01

x-post with slothprincess!

HumphreyCobbler · 27/06/2012 20:24

really though, moist healing is better than air drying for the reasons I stated above.

jelonet will stop any rubbing against bras etc.

bouncysmiley · 27/06/2012 20:45

Breastmilk! My breastfeeding counsellor recommended squeezing a bit extra out at end of feed and rubbing in. Worked a treat.

MrsHoarder · 28/06/2012 07:12

Yes to moist healing, I used lanoish regularly. But no friction/sticking between feeds helps too.

lilbreeze · 28/06/2012 07:20

I had this with all 3 babies. With dd1 switching to a rugby ball stopped the pain and allowed me to heal but I found it very awkward.

With dd2 and dd3 I didn't try that - just continued feeding as I had more faith it would improve on its own, which it did after about 10 days.

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