Sore nipples - when will it stop?

[GillL]

I've been breastfeeding ds for 6 days now and have very sore nipples (I know it's early days). The position and attachment is correct as there is no bleeding/cracking etc and a bf counsellor has been helping me get it right. I had to start using nipple shields at the weekend. It still hurts quite a lot even when I use them but if I didn't then ds would have been on formula by Sunday. I've been putting milk on them after feeds and also using Kamillosan.

I asked the bf counsellor when my nipples will toughen up but she said that they probably won't because my skin is so fair and sensitive. Is this true or will I be condemned to using the nipple shields until I stop bf? I really want to continue and if that's what it takes then I'll carry on using them. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this.

Gosh - what bad advice about the sensitive skin and not getting better. I am convinced that pain at first is fairly common - say at 6 days - but it wears off within the first few weeks.

I was in such agony at first that it made me cry, but it got progressively better and was fine after about 3 weeks.

And I think the only reason it did take that long was because it took me a long, long time to get the positioning right.

Hi Gill I have bf twice am currently feeding 8 week old and had sore nipples when latching both times it does get better like you the latch was good etc etc and my nips toughened up. Fed ds 1 till he was 1 and planning to do the same this time. Hang in there you are doing great it will improve

It will get better. I was very sore and used nipple shields for about a fortnight.

it will get better giiil! am currently feeding ds2 aged four weeks and i'm virtually pain free now. i've got fair/sensitive skin too - so it's really worth persevering.

Yes, bad advice from the bf counsellor. My skin is fair and sensitive and stopped being so sore after about a week.

It will get better.

Get some Lansinoh and put it on before and after feeding. But yeah, it does hurt at first - I used to bite down on something! - but it gets better really quickly, honest.

has the bf counsellor been helpful with positioning and attachment. sometimes the attachment can be improved and will stop the nipples being sore. if the bf counsellor is not helping, try calling one of the helplines to talk to someone.

Breastfeeding Network Supporterline 0870 900 8787

NCT Breastfeeding Line 0870 444 8708

La Leche League Helpline 0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Hotline 08444 122 949

Gill do you know for definite if this woman is a BFC (ie been trained by NCT, ABM, BfN or LLL or board certified lactation consultant)? Because the stuff about your nipples never toughening up & sensitive/fair skin is complete codswallop ....did she not offer any other help or suggestions for solving the problem?

Yes feeding can be painful at first but that should only be an initial pain at the start of the feed. Any further pain during feeds or in between means there is something not quite right. It may just be that the latch needs a little adjustment or it could be something else. How does your nipple look when your LO comes off the boob? Is it misshapened or squashed at all? Also has your LO got a tongue tie?

I would urge you to call one of the helplines to speak to someone you know is qualified to help you...opening times of the lines are:
LLL: 0845 120 2918 (open 24 hours)
NCT: 0870 444 8708 (open 8am to 10pm every day)
BfN: 0870 900 8787 (open 9.30am to 9.30pm every day)
ABM: 08444 122 949 (open 9.30am to 10.30pm every day)

I've found one nipple becoming sore - day 7 -am using nipple shield, the other one seems ok - just a little tender.
I have noticed that the sore one is often a slightly squashed shape when ds2 comes off - but I've been told he's latching well.
I've also noticed that the boob that side has a couple of small lumps - they are worse when very full of milk, I've tried massage, warm flannels, baths, frequent feeding, expressing etc but it doesn't seem to go, any idea what/why?

Have put ds2 down now and can type with two hands - I second the thing about the latch maybe needing a little adjustment. Ds2 is my fourth and I have always found feeding very painful for the first few weeks. This time my midwife watched me latch on ds2 and said "just move his head a couple of inches further this way" - and hey presto, pain was massively reduced (and as I say I have virtually no pain now). This time I haven't once been reduced to tears! And btw my latch was checked with ds1 by a b/f counsellor who said it was fine - so they aren't always right ...

It appears it is never too late to learn something new

Trinaj - I think those lumps will go as your body adjusts to how much milk your baby needs.

TrinaJ - the squashed nipple could be because of a positioning issue - try holding your ds in such a way that he has to tip his head a little further back, so that the nipple is against the roof of his mouth. This is what I was doing wrong and what my midwife showed me how to correct.

Re the lumps - does sound like you may have a couple of blocked ducts (always type "ducks" there ) - do keep an eye on them and get a b/f counsellor to show you how to massage them to get rid of them or you risk mastitis

I think you should defo get someone else to check the latching on to double check. Can you get out of the house to get to a support group? I had sore nipples around that time as well. May be due to the fact that milk notfully in yet so baby sucking furiously trying to get more out. Once supply comes in should get easier. I think if you always use shields though you won't harden the nipple. I'd suggest trying without when supply gets better.
I only lasted 5 weeks last time for similar reasons and also my supply never was enough as even after bf my dd took a 5oz bottle formula at EVERY FEED! Now I am pg again my first purchase will be an electric double breast pump. I will express from one side and feed from the other (swapping each feed) to increase supply when demand is small and store expressed milk for growth spurts. As dd1 was only feeding from one breast at a feed. This then took twice as long to increase the supply in both. Also she was 9lb 12oz so came out ravenous!!!

I used to cry and stamp my feed when ds first started feeding first couple of weeks but now it is completely pain free (3 months). I found feeding him laying down helpful and gently adjusting his position of his head, when I fed sitting up feeding him it caused by nipples to become really sore ( I think this may be because I have large boobs Hcups) if it is excruciating unlatch him (clean ring finger in his mouth) and re latch. Piles of Lanisloh cream was an absolute god send, applying it before showers and avoiding soap in the area is really important too, always make sure your breast pads are dry and give your nipples an airing for an hour or two if you can manage, the nipple shields I found to be useful for the first half a dozen powerful sucks and when this abated I whipped them off it does get better and all nipples will toughen up

sazzybee great advice. The Lansinoh worked well for me too and the biting on something!!

Gill - it will get better. I have red hair and very fair skin and mine hurt for about 2-3 weeks. lanisoh cream really helps, as does letting the air get to your nips

..hang on in there

MW gave me some lansinoh and since using, has been alot better.
Shall try 'airing' them overnight - not leaking at all so no need to keep a bra on I feel.

Gill,

PLEASE don't put up with this pain.. Lansinoh is a great product and will definately "Soothe" your nipples but really what you need is nothing to "Heal" your nipples and heal them fast. Silverette are small sterling silver cups which look like flattened thimbles, you insert them against your nipples in your bra and wear them etween feeds. They give immediate relief and will COMPLETELY heal you within 2 days - so you are totally pain free and enjoying bfing like you should

I had tried everything to help my nipples whilst feeding dd1 and Silverette was the only product that actually healed me completely within no time at all.

What determination says! Silverette for sure. Haven't tried them yet myself but had amazing 1st hand reports - it was the first thing I thought of buying when I got a BFP this time LOL!

(Also can I pass my thanks on to determination, as it was only after reading your comments that i was alerted to them )

Lansinoh or any lanolin cream will help, ask your pharmacist

I am v v fair skinned but it still got better after a week. change breast pads regularly, keep clean, keep lanolin cream on.

Avent cream was good you get some for free in bounty packs.

breastfeeding then lovely till they get teeth and start to bite lol!

(then withdrawing and placing baby elsewhere works very quickly).
then it's nice again till they get bored and go eat something else.

then you have another one )