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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Would painkillers help??

34 replies

StillPukin · 11/02/2014 19:51

I'm going out of my mind with the pain of bf-ing my 3.5 week old DD.

I dont think theres anything wrong eg blocked ducts, cracks etc and I think the latch is correct - I've followed all the guidelines eg tummy-to-tummy, nose to nipple, more aereola above the top lip than below etc but holy sh*t the pain is awful (worse than labour in my opinion).

I'm at the stage now where I feel like crying whenever she needs feeding and I'm trying to put her off a little longer. Even when they're not being touched they're so sore its almost unbearable. I dont want to give up yet.

So I was wondering if anyone has any magic tricks or if you think painkillers might help??

OP posts:

SmallBee · 11/02/2014 19:56

Have you got any lanishol? It's bloody magic, get someone to bring you some tomorrow & apply it after every feed.
I think you can also have paracetamol safely.
Have you got any local breastfeeding groups you can attend? They'll be very helpful. Or try the La Leche League, look on their website for tips & help and they also have a hotline number as does the NCT.
Good luck.

TheScience · 11/02/2014 20:01

Something isn't right if you are in that much pain - it sounds like way more than just getting used to things soreness.

Even if a latch looks perfect, if it doesn't feel right then it isn't. Sounds like you need qualified/knowledgable real life help asap. Agree with SmallBee about contacting the NCT or LLL.

wildstrawberryplace · 11/02/2014 20:06

Have you tried nipple shields? I went through the exact same thing you describe and found that the nipple shields made things at least bearable. I just used the Avent ones and carried on using them until eventually I didn't need them any more.

You have my sympathies - sometimes there isn't anything "wrong", you just reach critical mass of getting broken in...hopefully it will level out in a week or so. I remember staring longingly at the formula aisle in the supermarket at around 3 weeks in, and cringing before feeds...

Original poster

StillPukin · 12/02/2014 15:16

Smallbee I did have some Lansinoh and yes it was good, stupidly I didn't replace it when it ran out because its expensive - I've bought some this morning though (it even hurts putting it on ).
Science You're probably right, it seems most problems are latch related, I really cant see how to change it so I'm going to attend the local bf-ing 'class' to see if they have any ideas (its not until next Tuesday though)
WildStrawberry I tried nipple shields with my DS (a long time ago!) and just couldn't get along with them, and I know what you mean about the formula, if I had some in the house I definitely would've caved by now .

Anywayyy, I got through another night, day 24 here we come..!

OP posts:

TheScience · 12/02/2014 15:18

I would call NCT or LLL and see if there's a breastfeeding counsellor you can see more quickly - almost a week is a long time to wait if you're in pain.

Original poster

StillPukin · 12/02/2014 15:25

Would they be able to help over the phone?? I'd assumed they'd need to see it to see if something was wrong??

OP posts:

SpookedMackerel · 12/02/2014 15:25

Sounds like something is wrong, you shouldn't be in that much pain (I was, but we had massive problems with the latch).

Could it be thrush? I had thrush while bf and it was terribly painful. I was given an oral gel to put on my nipples, which meant it was safe for the baby to swallow and was also treating the inside of her mouth.

Painkillers do help a bit.

Putting a big piece of chocolate in your mouth just before latching on might help a tiny bit .

Hope things get better for you very soon.

TheScience · 12/02/2014 15:31

They can definitely give advice/suggestions over the phone and might be able to suggest an NCT counsellor or LLL leader who can see you face to face too.

geekaMaxima · 12/02/2014 15:54

I second the thrush possibility. Do you have any shooting / stabbing pains deep in the boobs when not feeding? Are your nipples redder than usual and very sensitive between feeds (to the point where you can't bear fabric brushing off them)?

I had it for weeks with tge above symptoms before a bf supporter spotted what the midwives and HV had not, and it took 10 days of fluconazole tablets for me and oral drops for my ds to clear it up.

Thrush symptoms vary a lot from person to person www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/thrush.html

stargirl1701 · 12/02/2014 17:47

Tongue tie?

Painful let down?

Painful milk ejection reflex?

Please talk to bf counsellor as soon as possible.

lovingpickles · 12/02/2014 18:26

I had the same problem, now 9 weeks in and feeding fine. I saw a BF counsellor who helped sort out the latch which was the problem. There was so much damage by that point that I expressed a few feeds to give my nipples a chance to recover. It helped me to visualise how the latch should be: nipple far back in baby's mouth past the hard palate (soreness is caused by nipple rubbing against it). Put your finger in the top of your mouth - you'll feel hard palate then soft palate behind it - soft bit is where nipple needs to be. Hope that helps!

lovingpickles · 12/02/2014 18:29

And use Lansinoh after every feed without fail! It is expensive but worth every penny.

ZenNudist · 12/02/2014 18:44

Yes to paracetamol.

Search on YouTube for 'improving latch by improving position' and Jessica Barton. I found the7 short videos really helpful.

Also see dr jack chapman website [http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos here] for breast feeding videos showing good feeding signs to look out for and bad feeding 'nibbling' which is bad & will make you sore.

These clips helped me get slightly better latch & between that & the Lansinoh I'm healed cracked bleeding nips. Ds2 2wo & I'm concerned tongue tie is affecting latch.

Stick with it it gets better. Took several weeks to stop hurting & get established bf ds1. It is worth it (bf to 20mo with ds1).

Original poster

StillPukin · 12/02/2014 20:24

Thank you for all your advice and support.

I dont think its thrush, I do tick a couple of the boxes but not many of them

I've just remembered that there is a bf-ing support lady in the area so I intend to ring her in the morning

The 1st video in the link above is really interesting (cant get the 2nd to load, I'll try better tmrw). I think the nipple goes far back into her mouth but I dont know how to check and I'm not sure how to make it go far back. Also, she is a little tongue-tied, she has had an appt at the hosp and they have decided not to snip it as she is still managing to feed - however, since watching that video I know that she doesnt stick her tongue out when she is feeding. So it does sound as though the latch is the issue - I just dont really know what to do differently to improve it.

She tends to feed a lot more during the night than during the day, so I'm bracing myself already (god I'm pathetic aren't I )

OP posts:

TheScience · 12/02/2014 20:27

If she's feeding but it is really painful for you, they should still be snipping it! Did the hospital know how difficult feeding is?

Original poster

StillPukin · 12/02/2014 20:33

Not really, I just said how she IS managing to feed and the consultant took a look and didnt think it looked so bad. To-be-honest, it wasnt as painful then so I didnt press the point (d'oh!)

OP posts:

GingerMaman · 12/02/2014 20:35

Had your baby been checked for tongue tie?

You could try nipple shields and I would recommend getting baby on dummy too so that when he or she is just sucky, won't use the boob to do that.

TheScience · 12/02/2014 20:37

I'd try to get the tongue-tie snipped as a matter of urgency tbh. There are lactation consultants who will snip it privately if the hospital won't do it.

Original poster

StillPukin · 12/02/2014 20:38

Ginger yep she is a little tongue-tied but its not thought enough to justify snipping it. She is selective about having a dummy so she'll take it sometimes but not others

OP posts:

KippyVonKipperson · 12/02/2014 20:46

Really think you need real life help, even a phone call to a helpline would be a good starting point, it could be all sorts of things. Once you find the cause it'll get better really quickly. Are your nipples a normal colour after feeding? A normal shape? Have you looked at the kellymom website?

Really hope you are in less pain soon. I found it agony until I figured out a better latch with some real life help at the local clinic. It was hell, so I really do feel for you. They'll be a cause of the pain, and once you've figured it out it'll be so much better. Is there pain between feeding too?

Bexmathews · 12/02/2014 20:58

Went through the same at 3 weeks would also have given formula if it had been in the house ! In the end, I expressed every feed for over a week before I was brave enough to try again. This gave my nipples time to recover! Still breast feeding now 6 months on! Still express once a day now so can give odd bottle when I'm out. Good luck xxx

ATacticalNameChange · 12/02/2014 21:02

You absolutely need to get the tongue tie snipped. Decided not to cut it because 'she was doing ok'?? What about you?? So angry on your behalf. This sorta thing would not happen if men had the breasts.

GingerMaman · 12/02/2014 21:16

OP, I would get tongue tie snipped ASAP. Whereabouts are you? We can help you find someone locally.

NickyEds · 12/02/2014 21:41

get the Tt snipped!!! BF DS was agony until we had it done-I was just the same, I had no idea it could effect feeding so badly and the MW didn't really seem to give one until DS was still losing weight and I topped him up with formula. I'm still mix feeding now as had serious supply issues after formula top ups and I really think that delays in getting Tt dealt with "cost"me exclusive BF.
The procedure is simple and quick and really carries no risk. Baby is swaddled and the tie snipped with scissors (sound far worse than it is).DS fine and feeding within 2 minutes. Bf then gradually got better over the next week or so. I've heard it said that you get seen quicker if you say you're quiting BF but I don't really know- I was in floods of tears on the phone to the BF co ordinator but it was DS weight loss that secured the appointment for snip. If I had my time over I would have paid to have it done privately the day he was born.

KittyWells · 12/02/2014 23:42

I had pain like you describe too. My dd was tongue tied but apparently as she was gaining weight it didn't need correcting. Nevermind that I was in agony with every feed and nearly gave up bf!

I paid a private lactation consultant to snip it when she was 9 weeks old. Within a week bf was totally pain free. I am so glad I decided to get it done. I am still bf my now 9mo dd and it has been a wonderful experience. There's no way I could have carried on with the way things were. Hope you get it sorted soon

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