PLEASE HELP A DESPERATE WOMAN! My newborn is mauling my breasts

[Diorissimo1985]

Sorry for dramatic title but I’m genuinely desperate and feeling very distressed - I would hugely appreciate any help or advice from anyone.

Recently had DC2, he’s 3.5 weeks and feeding has been a nightmare from the start. I successfully BF DC1 for over 2 years.. I feel like I should know what I’m doing but it’s a disaster and I know when it doesn’t feel right.

Battles with the usual raw, sore nipples for first few days so I put the pain down to just getting to grips with feeding again. Noticed he has a very shallow latch and then by weeks 1 and 2 I was sobbing in pain through every feed. It feels like he is clamping down on my nipple/breast and chewing hard with his gums. He sometimes slips off and bites down hard, taking a chunk out my nipple which then bleeds profusely. He has an extremely strong suck and I also have painful let down.

This all lead to mastitis about 10 days postpartum, which cleared with antibiotics. Feeds continue to be excruciatingly painful. He was checked for tongue tie - he had a slight posterior tie (25%) which was snipped 5 days ago. I have felt no improvement at all and the pain is completely overwhelming throughout all feeds, not just at the start.

HCPs just keep advising to ensure his latch is always perfect but I feel I’m not being taken seriously as he’s gaining weight fine, with plenty of wet/dirty nappies. Baby is fine (very windy but fine overall) but I’m at breaking point.

I’ve tried nipple shields, which he just chews through, and expressing to try and avoid engorgement. He doesn’t take a bottle well either.

I am so desperate. The pain is unbearable and I know something isn’t right but can’t figure out what exactly. Please share your experiences of anything similar and I’d be so grateful for any advice. Thank you

Get his tie assessed again. It might not have been completely snipped/may have reattached. I was told no tie by 5 different nhs professionals and then I took DD to milk matters (private) and she had a very bad posterior tie that meant she couldn't move her tongue up and down at all. Was absolute agony to feed her and I howled through every feed. Instant improvement after they snipped it. We did have to do tongue exercises after to stop reattaching etc

Speak to ai think a lactation consultant, look at LCGB. Some tongue tie private specialists can offer assessment, snip at home and breastfeeding support.

It's not the severity of the tongue tie, it's how it affects you and baby. And it sounds like you're instincts are correct that there's something not right.

The percentage description is usually describing where the tongue is tied (100% is the front tip, 50% is the middle of the tongue etc). Your baby could have a 100% tongue tie and not affect feeding.

You can call a breastfeeding helpline tonight to get some real life support and tips to get you through the next 24hrs. ABM & LLL are great

Then speak to a tongue tie specialist.

Thank you @Tyrionsbitch - seeing HV tomorrow so I will ask again. I’m glad things improved for you!

Thanks @ChocolateHelps - the person who did the division this week said DC had good range of movement side to side but the tie made it hard for him to lift his tongue. She said she couldn’t promise any improvement.

I’m going to see if there are any LCs available - I’m not in UK unfortunately, whereas I was when I had my first child and had excellent BF support.

Have you tried different holds ? I had a similar nightmare and ended up switching to rugby ball hold on my right side only but everything became much easier and less painful

I had exactly the same with our first, pain was worse than labour.
Then got mastitis and was advised to pause bf while taking antibiotics by doc.
Saved us really. He ended up being combo fed.

No probs at all with babies 2 and 3, then latched like a dream

Similar to @Hermie12 I changed to a rugby ball hold on one side and that helped. Rubbing a bit of the milk onto your nipples afterwards can help reduce soreness.Also lanisoh (sp?) cream for the soreness.

It should get easier with time. I think for me it was about 3-4 weeks and then suddenly it got a lot easier and less painful. I ended up breastfeeding for about 10 months.

Poor you!
My first had a tongue tie and I saw 2 doctors, HV, 2 breast feeding specialists before it was diagnosed. My nipples were literally bleeding. Once it was cut we had another 3-4 difficult weeks until it settled. I then breastfed until he was one. Make some noise and try and get him assessed again. You are doing amazing! I remember crying and digging my toes into carpet every time he latched and it my me being pig headed that I persevered!

Am a bit cynical about private clinics "finding" TT. They always snip for £. Made no difference for DD and I now doubt she really had a problem with it.

What did work though was taking her off whenever her latch wasn't perfect. Her habit was to latch well at first then "slip" and I had to be brutal about sticking my finger in her mouth to break the vacuum and then having her relatch. She was furious sometimes, but it did work.

Also lanisoh and hot showers for the mastitis.

Thanks all. If I got the tie checked again, would they agree to do it so soon? I.e will the wound still be open and they wouldn’t want to check so soon after the division?

I've heard good things about silver breast shells for healing nipple trauma. I haven't used them myself but friends have and swear by them!

If you had antibiotics it could be that now you have thrush on your nipples. If so both you and baby need treatment, plus bras and feeding vests need hot washing. When I had thrush it felt like my nipples were on fire, it was awful. the treatment was a pain (cream which needed wiping off before feeds) but it really helped.

Lansinoh really helps with healing sore nipples up quickly so they're ready for the next round. Cabbage leaves may be an old wives tale but they worked for me.

@FakeTanandProsecco how was your thrush diagnosed? Consultant looked at baby’s mouth earlier this week to rule out thrush but my nipples are on fire as you describe! Hurts for anything to brush against them I.e clothing or towels after getting out of shower

Had a GP appointment today and he thought there was still some infection there and have been given new antibiotics plus fucidin h cream, which apparently I shouldn’t get in baby’s mouth.
I can’t see any red patches though, or lumps, so I didn’t think I had mastitis again.
I’m at my wits end!!!!!

OP, the usual advice is that it can take between 2 and 4 weeks to see much improvement after a TT division. Have you tried biological nurturing? This was how I got my baby back to a good latch after a posterior tie.

@Diorissimo1985 I really feel for you. My daughter had a posterior tie which has left her with a high roof of the mouth. When it was snipped I was advised it may not help but she also got me to start feeding in the koala hold. Bit awkward at first but gets easier! It was the only way we could feed and at just over 1 we are still feeding and use this hood a lot of the time

Thank you - will google both of these holds