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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

bleeding boobs!

13 replies

SaucyMoo · 22/06/2008 22:32

Hi, just had my second baby who is 4 days old now. The bfeeding is really painful which i know can be in the beginning, but ive got a scab on my right nipple which i tried to pick cos i wasnt sure if it was a scab and it obviously started bleeding. So ive fed her twice in a row on the other side. Her mouth is quite small so im trying to make sure shes taking big mouthfuls but its too little! Am a bit worried, is this the beginning of mastitus..any advice or tips would be welcomed..thanks.

OP posts:

WarmFuzzy · 22/06/2008 23:24

Bumping for the experts but cabbage leaves (no really) for pain and Lansinoh fo healing.

mel1981 · 22/06/2008 23:30

speak to your midwife/ HV I had the same and quit BF with 2nd as I was in too much pain. my MW said it might of been cause my baby wasnt latching on properly...I didnt ask her at the time cause I was embarressed but I think that could of been the prob.
No offence meant in that reply... could be other reasons too.
Also found Lansinoh really good at healing.

LuXander · 22/06/2008 23:31

I'm sorry, have never had it, but I do know that if it is mastitis, then you really need to express if it's too sore to feed from that side, otherwise it will get engorged and much worse. I'm sure the advise I heard (from a HV at a BF support group) was to try to completely empty the breast when feeding /expressing.
I sympathise with you about it being difficult to get her to take a big mouthful, my daughter was the same. Unfortunately, it just takes perseverance and for them to grow a bit.
Good Luck

Joolyjoolyjoo · 22/06/2008 23:38

I don't think it is necessarily a sign of mastitis, it could be a problem with latch, but I don't think it is uncommon- I had scabby nipples with all 3, I'm afraid! Lansinoh does help, or even vaseline, and they toughen up by about 2 weeks! Honestly, the toe-curling settles down and it becomes actually quite pleasurable.

mamalovesmojitos · 22/06/2008 23:47

i had the same and it was not mastitis. bloody painful!

though i did eventually get mastitis which is not very nice.

i found bf really painful and i think that i just must not have gotten the latching on right. i persevered for over a year but had to rely on nipple shields for a while.

WarmFuzzy · 22/06/2008 23:53

I had serrano ham for nipples in the first few days so I have nothing but sympathy.

solo · 23/06/2008 01:04

I found these worked really fast. 1 nights worth of wearing and my cracked nipples were gone! You can also use them as a preventative. Worth every penny IME.
Couldn't find/do a link, but the addy below should find the info for you.

SILVERETTE ® are two minicups made of silver to naturally heal cracked/bleeding nipples. They are easy to use, absolutely hygienic and truly effective for cracks of the nipples and can also be used as a preventative measure. They need to be in direct contact with the nipples to be effective. No need for creams or ointments.

Excellent review on this product at www.babyworld.co.uk

How to use:
Make a cream with water and bicarbonate and spread thoroughly over the surface of the minicups, rinse accurately and dry them. After each nursing session, leave a drop of milk on the minicups and stick them on the nipple like a cupping glass. Rinse nipples before each nursing session.

Contra indications: silver allergy

solo · 23/06/2008 01:05

*Oooops! The cracks were gone, not my nipples

Original poster

SaucyMoo · 23/06/2008 15:28

hey thanks for all the tips, midwife is due round tomorrow so will ask her. I took a deep breath and let her feed from that side as engorging would be more painful.
Ive got that lansinoh stuff so will be putting it on more regularly. If no luck then will try more drastic measures like cabbage!

OP posts:

tiktok · 23/06/2008 17:36

Cabbage is for engorgement, not for cracked and bleeding nipples.

Agree that it's good to get positioning and attachment checked - call the midwife out for a special visit if she is not coming anyway.

tiktok · 23/06/2008 17:37

When I said 'call the midwife' I meant so she comes round today

Original poster

SaucyMoo · 23/06/2008 18:19

midwife said she will come on tuesday so ill just wait for her now. Been trying to make her latch on properly by not having her nose rubbed against me, and putting loads of that lansinoh stuff on too to ease the pain

OP posts:

Brownhare · 23/06/2008 19:51

Nipple shields are definately the answer. I used them for a few days after dd was about 2 weeks old and i couldn't bear the thought of putting my nipples anywhere near her mouth. The relief was instant and once they healed (really pretty quickly considering the state they were in!) i put her back to the breast. Medela do small sized ones if need be. Good luck.

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