6 weeks in and nipples are still cracked and painful, bfing hurts...

[MadMonkeys]

Since day 2 I have had sore nipples which became cracked after a few days. I persevered and for no apparent reason the pain begab to subside at about 4 weeks and the cracks looked like they were getting shallower, but in the last week the pain is back and the cracks are getting worse again. Everyone says DD2's latch is good, alhough the HV came out yesterday to watch her feed (she refused to feed and slept all morning instead, grrr, so hv didn't actually see her feed) and suggested that maybe DD2's latch isn't deep enough. I've been trying to get DD2 to latch on deeper but she just won't open her mouth any wider. Any tips? I'm so disappointed, I thought after all the initial pain, mastitis etc we were getting somewhere, but clearly we aren't. DH isn't really that supportive.

I tried nipple shields but DD won't feed with them. Tried tonnes of lansinoh, vaseline, kamillosan etc, rugby latch instead of cradle, using cushion, not using cushion...

Meant to say DD2 is putting on weight well, there is obviously no problem from her perspective!

I'd like tips on this too, though I am going to keep seeking real life help. My left side is fine, but the right breast is cracked and sore and I have been told the latch is fine.

Hi three - how old is your LO?

Hi mad, im a qualified breastfeeding peer supporter, so can give you a bit of advice. Stop using the creams, they soften your nipples and you need your nipples to toughen up (for want of a better term).

If you hold your breast and squish it a bit when you latch her on, you can push a larger amount of your breast into her mouth. Make sure her head is tipped back and her mouth is fully open before you latch her on. She may cry, but dont let her on till she opens wide, and she will soon get the idea.

When your not feeding let you nipples get some air to help them heal.

I hope that helps

Definitely find local la leche league group as they can continue to support you.

She was checked for tt in the hospital when she was born - negative. How do I find a bf counsellor?

Thanks puds, I'll give the creams a break and see what happens. I've been squishing as you suggest. One prob we have is that if we keep latching/taking her off/latching etc to get a good latch we both end up covered in milk and it gets slippery for DD2 to attach. Also I have a toddler to run around after so it's hard to keep nipples out much except at night. Thanks again for your post.

Speak to your health visitor.

No problem mad i hope it helps

Madmonkeys, was it a tongue-tie specialist who checked? Because I had 4 people tell me DS2 didn't have tongue-tie and he did.

Also what puds said.

If you look on la leche or NCT web site they have lists of counsellors local to you. Here is a list of hospitals where there are tongue-tie specialists (although where I had it done isn't there so it is obviously not exclusive)

Sorry haven't read all posts as am off to bed, but are the ends of your nipples whiteish? My baby is only 4 weeks so my advice isn't worth much, but the ends of my nipples were cracked, sore and patchy white which I think was due to shallow latch. It also hurt like hell, especially the start. I fixed it by tilting DSs head back, this video really helped

Hope this helps!

sorry here is link!

Well I've tried just breast milk and air drying for the last few days and it is actually worse now . Going to call LLL later.

should - yes the ends do go white. I've been trying the exaggerated latch for ages too.

What about the flipple, have you tried that? I find it hard but you might have more luck?

I find air drying makes mine sorer too, have you got some lansinoh lanolin? Also one other thing that helped me get a better latch and stop my nipples hurting was feeding on my side, is that possible?

It's times like this I wish things were a bit more see through and then you would know where things could be changed! Have you got a local BF cafe you could go to too?

Well, things are going better now. Still sore, but not as bad. I'm using Lansinoh again (air drying made it a lot worse...), not using the Dreamgenii pillow any more, and DD is going longer between feeds (2.5 - 3 hours).

I went to the breastfeeding support group at our local Children's Centre this morning, and it was heartening to know that I'm not the only one to have problems.

Should - yes, I try the flipple , but like for you it doesn't work as easily as it might.

I've also got some bra's which actually fit and are comfortable. I had a fitting at Mothercare, but the bra's I bought were not comfortable at all. So I tried a Blooming Marvellous bra, can't remember the exact name, something about comfort. It's a stretchy one which looks more like a sllep bra than a day one. Not very elegant, but very comfortable.

It sounds like my story went to ervery breastfeeding drop in I could was told latch was good and no TT but was in agony for every feed for 7weeks I kept thinking what I was doing was helping as it would get less painful the suddenly excruciatingly painful again.

. Finally one midwife decided she may have TT but she wasn't sure, my DD had both an anterior and posterior tie but even ENT missed the posterior one first time! So it was extensive and it has made a massive difference in the 3 days since it has been cut!

Jelonet is really helping with my moist healing!

Hi ladies, glad things are improving for you both Mad and McBaby, you're doing really well to be persevering. I had a terrible time BFing in the beginning, it only really got pain free at 11 weeks (now 13 weeks in) and I'm going to have a permanently deformed nipple from all the damage it took (nice - oh well, it's my BFing badge of honour ). My tips are...

1. Keep going with the moist wound healing (Lansinoh/Jelonet). A bit about the air drying advice you've been given... if you've got cracked nipples then if they dry out the skin will stick back together but every time you latch your LO on, the crack will re-open again... OUCH (as you've discovered). With moist wound healing the cracks may appear to heal very slowly (mine took weeks to fully heal) because they will be healing from the bottom up, gradually getting less deep, IYSWIM. Don't worry - they will get there in the end.

1. I found breast shells also helped my cracks heal, they keep your bra off the nipple between feeds so it's not rubbing against your nipple which gives it a bit of an extra chance to heal. I can't tell you what an immediate improvement this made for me so might be something to try.

1. You can use painkillers if you're still getting pain whilst waiting for the cracks to heal. Both Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken whilst BFing.

1. Finally, remember that something has caused the pain and nipple damage you've experienced. A little nipple sensitivity is normal when you start BFing but toe curling pain and cracked bleeding nipples are not, they are a sign that something is wrong. The most likely culprit was a poor latch, but if that has been checked and ok'd by a BFing counsellor and you continue to get that kind of pain check again for tongue tie. Your LOs may have been checked and found not to have one, but it's astonishing how many are missed (there's a thread on here which can attest to that), so a second, third or fourth opinion wouldn't hurt!

Good luck, I hope things continue to improve for you - I'm so glad and proud that I persevered and you will soon feel the same!

Hi ladies, do you mind if I crash in and ask for some advice too?

My nipples aren't sore but my boobs are very bruised and tender feeling unless I'm actually feeding when they feel fine.

They don't feel hard or engorged as such, unless DD is late with a feed.

Her latch seems ok and she's definitely growing! She doesn't fuss or seem unhappy whilst feeding and is settled and happy.

She was 6 weeks on Sunday and I'd kind of hoped any initial tenderness would have passed by now.

Pretty sure I didn't have this with either DS.