Breast feeding pain and PTSD

[froglou]

Hello! I'm expecting soon and looking for some advice.

I found breast feeding very physically difficult and mentally traumatic with my first. It resulted in 8 weeks of mastitis cracked and bleeding nipples and severe PND. It's taken me 7 years to mentally recover enough to contemplate conceiving and now I'm at the point where baby is due, my breasts and getting tender again and I'm starting to have panic attacks over feeding.

I would like to breast feed but my boobs are already incredibly painful to touch which I'm sure is likely just hormones, but given mental health links to this is quite distressing. Also, occasionally my nipples go numb then sore so I'm wondering if there's something else under lying?

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience or advice they could offer in order to make it as pain free as possible? I would love to feed but am very close to wimping out and asking to go straight on the meds to dry up milk!

From a mental health point of view have you spoken with your midwife or the peri natal mental health team about this? They may be able to offer some support. Or maybe a lactation Specialist could advise from a breastfeeding aspect.

Fingers crossed that you can sort it out. Xxx

I would suggest shields to start and get a proper tongue tie check from a lactation consultant not from a doctor/midwife as in my experience they will confidently tell you there's no issue when there is actually a severe tie.

I forgot to say, when it was cold and i was pregnant i would sometimes get pain in my nipples. I wore breast pads to keep them warm and that helped a bit.

https://breastfeeding.support/nipple-vasospasm-breastfeeding/

Maybe try and think back to when you were breastfeeding and was there anything that made it particularly difficult for you? Tongue tie or cranial osteopathy on baby resulting in poor latch? This usually can really damage the nipples and cause mastitis.

You suffered with PND and found breastfeeding traumatic, totally understandable why you're feeling how you are.

I find this page so so helpful. There may be some info on here that helps.

https://instagram.com/olivialactationn_consultant?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Congratulations and good luck ❤️