Clamping down and white nipples

[fairgame84]

DD is 6 weeks old and we've had continuous problems with feeding.

The latest is that she is clamping down on the nipples and they are white and misshapen after the feed. Her latch looks good when she's feeding but the pain is so bad.
What do I do? Just keep re-latching?

For background she had posterior tongue tie snipped at 5 weeks of age. I'm currently on antibiotics for mastitis due to blocked ducts as she's not emptying the breasts. We're due to see an osteopath Monday for her 'tense jaw' as recommended by infant feeding midwife.

I'm on the verge of giving up to be honest but the infant feeding midwife and health visitor persuade me to keep going as it will apparently get better.

Ouch. Six weeks is still early days though and it sounds like you have persevered through a difficult start.
Having got this far I would stick at it until you have seen the osteopath.
I found the first 6-8 weeks hell and had no real problems! Then from about 10 weeks onwards it just all fell into place, latch was good, baby fed well and my poor cracked and bleeding nipples healed.
But even if you do decide to stop, you've given your baby a great start in life. There are pros and cons to different ways of feeding.

Hope the mastitis clears up soon. Have you been doing the cabbage leaf thing? A friend of mine used to get mastitis and found it very soothing.

Try Lectithin, it's been a saviour for me. I've had mastitis about 4 times and plugged ducts, DD is 18m and still BF.

No I've not done cabbage leaves yet!
The pain in my actual breast is better since antibiotics and the hard patches are reducing.
I've been using lansinoh on my nipples but they aren't cracked or bleeding like they were in the early days, they just hurt like hell. I guess it's like someone has put them in a vice. Honestly this baby has the hardest jaw ever!

Im not planning to quit before the osteopath because it might be the final piece of the puzzle.

I've not tried lectithin, I'll look into it.

My little girl tends to leave my nipples white or misshapen unless I latch her very carefully as she has a naturally shallow latch due to a high palate. She’s now 20w and feeding doesn’t hurt despite the occasional white nipples.

I kind of just muscled through until 8/9 weeks when her jaw got bigger and suddenly feeding got easier. Feeding really did hurt before then! I’m glad I persisted as it makes life so much easier, I don’t have to plan our days around making sure she’s got access to a bottle.

Osteo did help a lot (tight neck and stiff jaw). Do keep relatching her and making sure she touches chin/lower jaw first to the nipple.

Thankyou @Porridgeislife that gives me some hope that the osteo won't just be a very expensive massage for DD!

I try to latch her carefully but he never tips her head back so is never chin first. I wait until she opens as wide as she can and shove it in using sandwich hold.

@fairgame84 I remember doing exactly that 😂Boob squashed in one hand, trying to get baby to latch with the other!

My little girl struggled to tip her head back & extend her neck to latch chin first and we were given exercises (something called guppy pose) to help, as well as told to do loads of tummy time. Hopefully the osteo will be able to help your wee boy as well.