Tips to help with really really sore nipples.....

[KaylaC]

Hi, my ds is 4 weeks old and I have been struggling to feed him since birth really, it's been very up and down, wouldn't latch onto one side then wouldn't latch at all, anyway I have continued to feed him and had been managing to get him to latch and he's gaining weight but I have really sore nipples, I saw a bf specialist on friday who diagnosed tongue tie and snipped it there and then - he has been latching on so much better but I am still in a lot of pain with cracked/bleeding nipples, I'm using Lansinoh after each feed but so far not much help.
Has anyone got any advice on how I can help fix them as its agony! Mainly when he first latches and up to 30 seconds, it then goes away until he's almost finished.
Any advice welcome- thank you

Hi KaylaC, good news that ds tt has been snipped. There is a really good facebook group (tongue tie babies support group).

Ds had cranial osteopathy after his snip as he was 'restricted' this was a combination of birth issues and tt. One side was MUCH sorer than the other and the Cranial work really helped.

I also used laid back breastfeeding to help get a good latch. Also exaggerated latch technigue where you sort of shape nipple/areola/boob to assist Ds in getting a deeper latch. For my ds it took about a fortnight for feeds to become painfree but he was snipped much later than yours.
Also re Lansinoh, a LC advised to be careful with using a lot of lansinoh as it can make nipple and surrounding area slippy so babe might slid off easier.
There is also a good section on fb group about stretching the area, we didnt know about this at the time and wound has healed quite tight. I remember the pain, toe curling agony. All I can say is you are super mum for feeding for four weeks and if you can keep it up for a wee bit longer and maybe get some more real life help you will hopefully start to enjoy pain free feeds.

Get some breast shells - they allow air to get to them and stop clothes from irritating them further. I barely took mine off for the first month! Medela ones were good.

Hi,
Thank you so much for your advice, I've just sent a request to join the fb group. Because of the problems I've had already I do have to sort of shape the nipple,especially on the left side as he wouldn't latch on there at all at one point. Thanks for the tip about Lansinoh, I guess that makes sense.
Thank you so so much for your kind words!! Fingers crossed the pain eases in the next few weeks.

Thanks for that monkey - I'll go get some tomorrow, my breast pads keep sticking and making it worse...

most wound healing will heal them quilter then letting the air at them. If you want to stop the breast pads sticking put some cream on the pads or Vaseline works just as well, a well as on your nipples.

Thank you MigGril

It took me over six weeks before I could say I was actually comfortable, but I'm really glad/proud I toughed it out. Has thrush been ruled out which may be causing ongoing pain? Also, my breastfeeding specialist got me doing gentle breast compression - i.e. gently squeeze right boob with right hand, or left boob with left hand - while feeding to speed up the whole process and thereby reduce wear and tear.

Hi Mandinga, noone has mentioned thrush, so I'm guessing I don't have it....
It's been a week since the tongue tie was clipped and the pain isn't really any better, it did seem to improve but is now just back to what it was before :-(

I can't really add anything but sympathy. I had no idea it could still hurt at 4 weeks but I was still in tears nearly every time I fed DS! If you can stick it out a little longer it really will be worth it.