Please help

[2little2late2change4now]

Hello, I desperately need some advice. Ds is 4 weeks, I have ebf from the start but I'm in agony, I've tried using shields but it doesn't stop the pain, was diagnosed with thrush and have cream and it appears to have cleared up but the pain continues especially initial latching and after feeds. I'm still using shields because I cannot cope with the pain without and he keeps moving which narrows his mouth and makes feeding painful. I. Really really don't want to give up. I ebf dd for 14 months, I know every baby is different but this is soul destroying and I dread every feed, I have had the latch checked and kept going back for support but it remains the same, it's no easier than day1.
My partner left me at 6 weeks pregnant so I'm alone and would really hate to have to start sterilising and making up formula when I found ebf ok with my dd :(
Please help I will try anything, I am bleeding which makes him throw up my blood and almost in constant pain even when I'm not feeding

Omg :(

This sounds like a serious situation that needs expert clinical input.

Tongue tie.

Vasospasm.

Even latch - maybe see someone else who can check again?

But you def need to see a bf specialist.

Good luck. Hope it resolves.

Just to be clear - those were all possibilities to check out.

Hi, I really really feel for you as I was in the same situation with my DS, now 12 weeks. I was in agony from cracks and soreness for the first 7 weeks and even ended up in hospital with mastitus and an awful abcess. I too bf my previous daughter so could not understand. It was so hard dreading every feed and crying and screaming each time I fed him. I remember the dread feeling as he was about to latch on, just awful. I don't know how I got through it and I seriously thought it would never end. I was so close to giving it in and was heart broken. I don't know what happened but I was given antibiotics for the mastitus and things got better even though the latch was still shallow. . No matter what I tried improved that. However, I think it wasn't the antibiotics but just something about my DS method or his growing mouth, of even my nipple hardening to it that turned it all around. At 12 weeks I am now feeding pain free. It is horrendous having painful feeds but it will end. I am not sure if that is constructive advice for as I said. . It tried everything and nothing changed it. . Just time and determination once envy thing else has been checked out of course. . Good luck, you are doing really well x x x

Ps not sure this is good advice but I took around the clock ibrofene and pracetomol for this first 7 weeks.

Hi, just wanted to say I had 6 weeks of pain with my first (mastitis, abscess, tongue tie, thrush), I just wanted someone to say it will get better, but no-one would! But it did get better and became perfect by 8 weeks.

Is baby putting on weight ok?

The pain was awful but found nipples healed by trying not to allow any comfort feeds, just for milk! Rotating position I held baby in so the pressure was slightly different.
Could you try different sized shields that might relieve pressure on sore area of nipple?

Also what about checking for persisting thrush? That might need tablets to clear it?
Or is it any worse on cold days, like vasospasm?
Has anyone had a good check for tongue tie?

Hi 2little. I don't have any great advice but wanted to see how you were doing and if you had managed to find specialist breastfeeding support as per tiktok's post?

You sound like you have been doing an awesome job so far for dc2 in spite of the awful pain. Just wanted to say hope things are improving and you are looking after yourself.

Hello all, thank you for your replies. Ds has a 70% anterior tongue tie. It's such a shame it's taken so long to diagnose because midwives apparently checked and said he didn't have one! We are having it cut tomorrow but unfortunately have to travel and pay to go privately because of the nhs waiting times. :(
At least there is an answer and in praying this is the key to happy feeding!
Baby has put on weight but sadly since I've been using nipple shields he has begun to lose weight.