1 day old baby and so sore from latch problems - What should I buy?

8 replies

mama2moo · 03/02/2010 10:08

My nipples are so sore I gave dd a bottle this morning and she has just slept for 5 hours

Im going to get some help asap to help me latch but need to know what the best thing is to get to help because I dont want to give her anymore bottles.

I have Lansinoh that I am applying all the time. My milk has started to come in aswell which has made latching on worse.

Are nipple shields any good? Any advice? I have tried several different positions and when we get it right its great, its just such a struggle getting there. Thanks

OP posts:

LoveBeingAMummy · 03/02/2010 10:12

I used Lansinoh, very thickly and then a cotton breast pad. Some breast milk is meant to help also. I found that i got sore because my latch wasn't right so really you need to get this sorted urgently. Is your mw coming today? has she seen the latch yet? I used the pictures in the book and just kept taking her off if it wasn't right. hth

Original poster

mama2moo · 03/02/2010 11:32

Thank you I will find it in a book in a mo that is a great idea.

I will keep going, I hated giving her a bottle but she was so hungry bless her.

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 03/02/2010 11:37

Sorry you're so sore- it's very painful isn't it. I would agree with lovebeingamummy about the Lansinoh, it seems to work very quickly.
Try exposing your nipples to the open air too, (yes, not very fetching, but it helps).
If you're finding the latch harder because you're full of milk, then hand express some milk off before you feed.
Definitely get some help as soon as you can and get your MW or a breastfeeding counsellor to watch you feed and give you advice on the latch. Once you get that sorted then things will get easier.
Re. breast shields...I have a feeling that they aren't recommended as they can reduce your milk supply, but I'm sure plenty of Mnetters will say they helped get them through the painful patch.
Good luck with everything!

aquavit · 03/02/2010 11:38

lansinoh lansinoh lansinoh, and get the latch checked. And remember that it will get better (it's great that you can find a good position even if it takes a while - soon you'll find it much more quickly).

good luck and stick in there

littlemisslozza · 03/02/2010 11:58

I'll advocate nipple shields - didn't reduce my supply at all and enabled a very nasty crack to heal. If they keep you feeding until the nipples are healed then that's better than having to stop. Stay topless as much as possible too. I found that midwives and health visitors were very divided on nipple shields so it's really up to you to try them and see if they work for you.
Just check baby is latching on properly too.

wideratthehips · 03/02/2010 12:06

let the air get to your breasts as often as possible..

i borrowed a breast pump and pumped every so often to give the nipples a rest and baby didn't have any confusion problems

get your midwife when they visit to help you with positioning and make sure they keep coming back until your happy....i was being a bit to 'gentle' with baby and learned to get her right on

lansinoh is also the best cream to apply

BertieBotts · 03/02/2010 13:07

If it's difficult to latch the baby on when you are engorged, hand-express a little bit into a towel just to soften the breast a little bit.

And yes definitely get latch checked out, I used to grit my teeth and count to ten/twenty at the start of a feed - it had usually stopped hurting by about 12 or 13 and I would say that this is fairly typical, if you are having pain throughout a feed then something is probably not quite right. Has baby been checked for tongue tie?

Can you get a midwife to come out, and/or see if there are any local volunteer services - e.g. in our area, NCT and Sure Start have home visiting volunteers - in other areas I think LLL do. It really is worth getting this looked at as soon as possible.

Another thing worth looking at might be biological nurturing?

MrsZuko · 03/02/2010 14:25

The woman in my ante-natal class said rubbing (well, not rubbing exactly, more sprinkling) some breastmilk on them should help. Kamilosan (get it any chemist)is also pretty good if you wanted another cream to try. Can you express for a bit to give your nipples time to heal? It took me a week of wincing and gritting my teeth before ds and I managed to figure it out so don't give up hope!

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