Help!! I don't know where to go from here - BF problems

[snowydrops]

I had a c-sec Tuesday and have been BF my daughter since then. My milk properly came in yesterday afternoon.

In hospital I was told by several BF counsellors / volunteers that her latch looked good despite me raising concerns over pain and blisters. I asked to see the specialist but she was never available.

This is my second DD. I have Pretty big boobs and nipples. DD2 is quite small and personally I don't think can fit enough of the breast into her mouth to feed effectively. I think she gets some but it takes ages and it KILLS. Now I am suffering with cracked bleeding nipples on both sides and agonising pain when she latches, particularly when she does it repeatedly (which she does all the time as falls asleep on the boob).

This morning I've fed her from the least painful side this morning and then expressed 30ml from the more painful side. I want to give her this milk as I know she is unsatisfied from what she is getting but how do I do it without nipple confusion??

I actually plan to combination feed from two weeks or so but I really really wanted to establish BF well before that this time and so am reluctant to use a bottle?? We did a bit of syringeing of colostrum In hospital but that was a tiny amount so i am not sure that would work for this? What about cup feeding? Is that wise? Or should I just poor it into a bottle and stop worrying?!

Also should I look at nipple shields? Would they help in this situation or hinder? I am already using laniasoh and applying breast milk to the Nipple area.

I really hope someone has some advice.
Thanks

My DD had horrific cracked nipples and shields helped her continue to feed. Good luck .

Give shields a go. I highly recommend the medela 24mm ones.

Snowy you need to insist on seeing a specialist. Shields are not without their own drawbacks. You need good help and discussion before using them. It's a disgrace you are struggling without good help.

Latch is only about feel not about how it looks so the people you have seen are not correct to say the latch looks good. I would push to see lactation consultant, be that squeaky wheel. Also have you seen laid back feeding there are plenty of you tubes on it. It gives the baby more control of positioning and latch and trust me they do a better job than we do. I used nipple shields for 7 weeks dS had a tongue tie and destroyed my nipples. They are definitely a worthwhile tool if you are at your wits end but definitely getting the problem sorted involves finding out what is wrong and that is number 1 priority.

Thank you. My midwife is coming today and I know she's quite experienced so fingers crossed will help. I can ask about the lactation consultant too if I don't think she's able to help.

I've fed baby expressed BM from a cup, she's settled and my nipples feel about 100 x better already for her not latching. The thing is I really really want to breast feed for bonding this time...so I do hope that I can get some help with her latch as I'm really happy that the milk is in as at least we have a good chance this time!

Good luck Snowy.

Sorry to have plunged in with recommendations for sheilds - yes, absolutely get help from a consultant first!
They did save mine and DS breastfeeding but it would be so much better for you both to get the latch sorted without them x

I personally think that if you express early, nipple confusion is nowhere near the problem it can become if you wait a few weeks / months before trying a bottle. Certainly I expressed for the same reason (shredded nipples) and DD took milk in a bottle straightaway. Same with my DSis and her DS. IMO nipple confusion comes about when they are used to the breast only and this is what they've only ever had.

Get some lainisol? In the purple tube......It took 6 weeks for the pain to pass. Then I became a breastfeeding obsessive!!!!

I used nipple shields occasionally and mixed fed to help.

Has your baby been checked for tongue tie? Might be worth asking again, as it said in my notes that my baby didnt have one but the lactation specialist picked it up staight away, said it was an obvious one! i had the same problem you are describing until i had it fixed. Good lucj!