Should I rest one side?

[Stefka]

I have cracked nipples and feeding hurts like hell. I have managed to get one side so that it is not so bad. The other is still total agony. I wonder if I should rest that side or not. The last time I tried to do that it became engorged and I got blocked ducts even though I was pumping every time I feed from the other breast. It also didn't seem to help any in the long run so part of me thinks that it isn't really worth it. It's very painful on that side though.

is your baby latching on properly as i think you shoul sort out your pained nips first?
also warning as i fave my left boob and now it is several cups bigger than my right!

hi stefka....sorry you are having probs . It really sucks at this stage but it will get better....

Someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly I'm sure, but in the meantime can you try nipple shields and continue feeding on the bad side? I used them for a day or two to get me over the worst of the cracking and pain I was experiencing with DD. That and lots of air-time and lansinoh.

congratulations on your LO btw

Sorry - I don't know what the answer is, but I wouldn't recommend resting one side. I did this and never got back to feeding on that side properly. I even ended up with a breast abcess despite expressing regularly. I would consider taking painkillers and trying to feed through it. Ask for help with positioning too. A book called Bestfeeding really helped me.

I really sympathise. I can remember crying with pain and thinking that I couldn't feed my LO anymore and that I must be a terrible mother etc. etc.

Good luck

That is what I was worried about. It's just so awful though - such a sharp pain. The other one was the same but it must be healing faster as now it is very sore when he goes on but it then settles down and is ok. I don't know why that one has started to sort itself out and the other hasn't. Maybe it just wasn't as damaged to begin with.