how do i get baby off my boob? it hurts!

[Monkeybrain10]

I have a 1 week old. Whilst bf has been so sore the last few days it keeps making me cry i know baby is getting enough milk as he is putting on weight andmidwife is happy with latch. However...because my nipples are so sore..with blood blisters and scabs, sometimes (especially if the latch isn't quite right) i want to get baby off and try again...problem is that the second i stick my finger in his mouth he clamps down harder. He also has a tenancy to bite my nipple then thrash around and often comes off by throwing his head back..but often without loosening his grip...hence my nips are taking a battering!
Am going to try to express...but can't til Mon as don't have a pump and not getting much out by hand. so...any tips for me to get baby to loosen his grip esp. If he's on wrong?
Thanks.

Try pulling him in to your breast if the finger doesn't work.

Have you got a local bf support group? given the state of your nipples it doesn't sound to me as though the attachment is quite right. You might benefit from having it checked by another set of eyes.

I've had the same problem with the clamping down. I now tend to use my forefinger, or sometimes even my thumb. If you put your finger in straight and then turn it sideways it should open his mouth wide enough to slowly slip your nipple out.

I also had the thrashing issue - it turned out to be thrush in my case (I'd had antibiotics for a 3rd degree tear). Check your babies mouth before a feed to see if there is a white coating. It's early days though so it could just be that he's getting frustrated while your supply is sorting itself.

Expressing is useful (saved my sanity on a few occasions! ) but don't do it too much - your baby will be much more efficient at getting to the milk and this is important while getting your supply established (and preventing mastitis). I also found that using a bottle in the early days affected my DD's latch so maybe use a cup if you can. (A shot glass works really well if you find a cup too big!)

Make sure you are taking painkillers too, that's the one thing I regret - I suffered unnecessarily as I don't like taking painkillers. It does get better I promise, your nipples just seem to 'toughen up'. DD is 4 and a half months now and I find that when she does the head pulling back thing (usually because she's being nosey!) It doesn't hurt like it did in the beginning.

Good luck!

Are you using lansinoh after every feed? Vital!

Pull on the edge of her mouth/cheeks rather than putting finger right into mouth to break suction.

Find a local support group, fab!