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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

8 weeks and still clamping

19 replies

mandler · 09/12/2007 18:24

I think I have had advice from dozens of people now (as well as an expensive consultant as a last resort) and I still can't stop ds from clamping my nipple with his lower jaw. I have nipple blanching and deep pain after every feed, and don't now how much longer I can go on for! I LOVE feeding him and I really don't want to give up - what can I do??? Really hoping one of you has some special tricks for this one!

OP posts:

lilymolly · 09/12/2007 19:39

nipple shields?

absandme · 09/12/2007 19:43

Is the pain definately from clamping? It's not thrush is it? No other ideas yet... sorry.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/12/2007 19:54

I assume you've tried other positions than the traditional cradle hold? Might sound unorthodox but have your tried keeping your bra clip quite close to your nipple so if he goes to low he hits that instead. Should put him off.

DD does this now and then and I immediately remove her and say no, but an 8 week old probably wouldn't pay much heed I agree.

Nipple shields may well be an option though.

Davidsmom · 09/12/2007 20:11

Hi,

I had blanching and deep pain after feeds for around 5 weeks between around 3-8/9 weeks. Mine was due to ?thrush/prolonged feeds with expressing+++. Havent read your other posts so sorry my cause prob irrelevant to you.

However I found drying/ heating the nipples with a hairdryer at a suitable distance until they went pink helped get me through it. Used to go from white to dusky blue/purple and then to lobster pink!! Sounds lovely but it was a blessed relief as couldnt stand anything touching them for hours after otherwise.

Good luck and hope things improve.

Original poster

mandler · 09/12/2007 20:13

Davidsmom that is exactly what happens to mine. I have been treated for thrush as one option but it didn;t help. It is definitely a latching problem I can see/feel it happening but apart from taking him off (and watching him do it all over again!) I have no idea what to do.....

OP posts:

Davidsmom · 09/12/2007 20:21

I had a visit from an NCT BF counsellor who sat with me for a couple of hours and gently corrected my dreadful latch that had been ok'd by every MW.

I had been manically expressing and letting my LO feed as long as he wanted often 1 1/2 hrs as had "weight loss issues" (long story) for some weeks his birth.

Had also had some antibiotics for Csection infection so thought def thrush but couldnt get Gp to prescribe tablets.

Gradually went after latch better and feeding less time. So could have been thrush but who knows now.

Was one of several things that made me want to thow the towel in re BF!!!

Still going tho at 6 1/2 months NEVER thought I would get there.

Davidsmom · 09/12/2007 20:22

Was interesting when I tried to find out about "white nipples" by googling- got some v weird results!!!

Davidsmom · 09/12/2007 20:28

Sorry- another thing I remembered- memory shot since birth LO.

A friend had a very similar problem but had milk cultured for ? thrush- negative and no other signs. Again hers improved gradually by itself after her LO latched better when older and feeding took less time.

I even took pictures of nips to show GP but didnt get round to showing them (was desperate for answer in my defence!).

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 09:38

I have had someone sit with me to look at latch but I can;t get the technique right - he doesn't open his mouth wide enough and I have to fight the urge to go breast to mouth instead of the other way round. And now to cap it all off he is feeding for nearly an hour last night and this morning so I am in agony! I found it fine when someone else is here, moving pillows and baby for me but on my own I can;tmanage it at all.

OP posts:

Clydesdaleclopper · 10/12/2007 17:57

I had similar symptoms and it was caused by thrush. It took 3 trips to the GP until one of them would prescribe Fluconazole but that cleared it up. My DS had no signs of thrush so don't let them tell you that it means that you can't have it. One thing that helped was some booby tubes - basically doughnut shaped wheat bags that you heat in the microwave and put in your bra - it helps increase the circulation and reduces the pain. Hang in there - it will get better.

NumptyMum · 10/12/2007 18:21

Sorry to hear your problems, sore nips are hell! Must admit that I do take breast to baby, then re-adjust him closer by moving the cushion he's lying on towards me... he had dreadful habit of 'chomping' when latching on at one point so was a matter of timing it right and shoving breast in . If you do this, trick is to pinch breast between fingers higher up to get more in baby's mouth (remember to point nipple to roof of baby's mouth). Re long feeds, it IS ok to switch feed - if he's still going after 15 or 20 mins on one breast, swap him to the other to give the first breast a break. He may also finish feeding sooner as the 'fresh' breast will be more full with milk. Good luck!

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 19:20

Cheers! Where can I get booby tubes?
Today's feeds have been ok-ish maybe I will get the hang of it with practice. Feel sick though at how much I paid for a lactation consultant

OP posts:

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 19:24

Oh and already tried fluconazole which didn't help so ruled out thrush. lc 'diagnosed' vasospasm from nipple trauma (ie being gummed to death!)

OP posts:

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 19:24

Oh and already tried fluconazole which didn't help so ruled out thrush. lc 'diagnosed' vasospasm from nipple trauma (ie being gummed to death!)

OP posts:

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 19:24

Oh and already tried fluconazole which didn't help so ruled out thrush. lc 'diagnosed' vasospasm from nipple trauma (ie being gummed to death!)

OP posts:

Davidsmom · 10/12/2007 21:26

I would have paid anything to get it right and have painless feeds. Go on do tell- how much did you get charged?

I had those gel packs which go round the nipples/breast to warm them which helped- NCT catalogue but those booby tubes sound good.

Had to continuely take him off and reposition, getting rid of supporting cushions from under his head made a difference. When latching on I had to tease LO with nipple so he would extend neck, tip head and open his mouth wide. Bit like dangling carrot infront of cartoon donkey!

Funnily my nipples often still go white but never painful now (6 months on).

Original poster

mandler · 10/12/2007 21:52

I can't admit how much- it's too disgusting. Didn't flipping work either! My DH brings it up constantly...
WIll try NCT catalogue, thanks

OP posts:

Davidsmom · 10/12/2007 22:05

My goodness must have been £££££!

Well when things get better you can say it's balanced out by savings on FF.

Unless £££££££££££££££££££££££????????

Sure there must have been some tips...maybe....

Davidsmom · 10/12/2007 22:07

Oh, and those Avent breastshells to catch leaking milk were helpful. Just used the hard outer shell to put into bra otherwise couldnt stand wearing anything that tight and was v loose-bad fitting pre feeding.

Looked VVVVVVVVVVV odd but did help.

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