Breast feeding Support

[hirsty79]

DD is 10 weeks old and am still struggling a bit with feeding. Have a cracked nipple on right side, which won't heal. Also think left side is starting to crack.

Have improved dd's latch since then and crack has improved loads (no blood now) but still quite sore. Think problem is I have flat nipples and the crack seems to heal but be pulled open everytime dd feeds and pulls it out. Am using Lansinoh between feeds.

Have tried wearing breast shells to keep nipple out but these made me sore, although seemed to help healing (areola just v red and sore, worried about blocked ducts). Also tried lillypadz to same effect. Am now back to breast pads, which keep nipple flat and also stick.

Think latch could be improved but am struggling with support. HV visitor says latch is great. Tried a couple of support groups - the list hospital gave me is out of date (2 I tried are no longer on). The one I did find said my latch looked 'text book'

DD has just started going 2 hours between feeds (longer at night after a massive cluster feed) so is bit more bearable.

Wondered if anyone has found any really good support in Durham area? Don't have much confidence seen as everyone so far says everything is fine! Clearly not or I wouldn't be cracked and in pain.

Have done google search but not found much.

I'm not in your area but I'm a bf peer support counsellor - which I do through the local sure start centre. I'm pretty sure somewhere the size of Durham will have a couple of Sure Start places, how about getting in touch with them? Alternatively, get in contact with La Leche League or NCT and find out who's in your patch. Hang in there, and good luck.

FWIW, I went for expressing in the early part of the day and gave baby and milk (in doidy cup) to DH for the evening, and also used the cotton breast pads, not the disposables, so much more comfortable, but I suppose it might depend if you need loads of leak-proofing, I just had average dribbling going on

It doesn't sound like babe's doing it all right, maybe latch isn't the whole issue iyswim. Make sure lo's got a big mouthful of everything surrounding - pretty much the whole areola so that there isn't the grip of baby's jaws on your nips. DS2 was attrocious at latching and I had to push his head (quickly) towards my boob a the start of a feed because otherwise he moved slowly and his mouth wasn't wide open for long enough - ouch.
Hang in there, you're doing a great job, just get the right support for you. Good luck.

Have to fly, but in a nutshell your latch and positioning can not be fine else your nipples would of healed by now.

You could try ringing your local NCT office here and ask if they have an breastfeeding counsellors or know of any up to date breastfeeding support groups. You don't need to be a member to go to the groups.

Try goggling Biological Nurturing it is a great way to get babies to latch themselves on and even with damaged nipples it should be possible to get an comfortable latch.

HTH

hirsty79 - it might be worth asking your doc to take a swab from your nipple to check for infection.

This would be in addition to what the others have said about getting in touch with one of the helplines and getting expert help.

I also second having a try at Biological Nurturing as per Babieseverywhere.

No help re support, but if you smear lansinoh on the breast pad in the middle it helps stop it sticking to your nipple.

I meant to add: my sympathies to you.

hirsty - i'm in durham and there are a few groups. the one i go to is in the ushaw moor childrens centre. it won't be on for the next couple of weeks as we're all ironically doing a bf peer support course! You can still come and see a nurse between 9.30 and 10.30. From the second Friday in March it'll be on as normal and afaik we're all still planning to go - I'll certainly be going. On from 9.45 to 11.30ish but it's just drop in, with my first I never made it before 11.

Apart from that there are a few other groups I know about, if you can tell me vaguely where you are I might be able to help?

That all said, we meet up regularly, most of us happen to be bfing anyway so please come along!

LLL is in Darlington, so if you are in Durham it's a bit far.
NCT has groups though, was MOnday and Tue last tme I went

That said, I completely echo the others in suggesting a bfc if your HV isn't able to help.

Hi hirsty, depending on where you are exactly there is also a group at the Laurel Avenue Surestart on a Friday afternoon. Hope you can mange to get somewhere and that things improve