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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

My nipples are so sore and cracked that they're bleeding....

18 replies

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 18:22

Ds is 4 days old and my nipples are already so sore and cracked that I can see lots of blood in the milk that ds brings up .

This is my second baby - exactly the same thing happened last time, but this tme I'm so aware of getting the latching right that I didn't expect it to happen again...

I think I'm doing it right. I showed the latching to the mw 2 days ago and she thought it was ok.

Anyone has any ideas, advice?

Thanks!

OP posts:

fishie · 26/02/2010 18:41

oh dear tugamommy,that must be terribly painful. well your latch can't be right if that is happening, can you try to get him on a bit deeper? how about bf counsellor - i found friday evenings v good for getting hold of someone as they are often parents and so usually at home. have you got numbers?

or ring midwives and see what they suggest. have you got lansinoh? could you try rugby ball hold?

nickytwotimes · 26/02/2010 18:49

tuga, I had the same issue with ds and dread it happening again.

I am going to buy some Silverettes this time - you put them on between feed to speed up healing.
I am also going to use nipple shields if necessary as I know the pain can be excrutiating. I found bfing worse then childbirth.

Your latch is probably wrong. Unfortunately most hcps don't know enough, even if htey have bfed. COntact breastfeeding network, la leche or NCT and try to get someone who can actually sit with you for a bit of time and see what is going on. I know for me that the mw always showed up when ds was asleep or when he was latched on and the agonisiing bit was over. DOn't be fobbed off with 'It looks fine' as I was. There was clearly something wrong as there is on your case too.

GOod luck.

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 19:04

would nipple shields be a good idea?

Thanks for your ideas fishie, but I don't think anyone would be able to help over the phone... I showed the mw ds feeding a couple of days ago and she thoughtit was fine so I cant imagine them being any more helpful over the phone...

ds latches on well but he may slip a bit (as in feeding closer to the nipple as opposed to from the breast) but I find that impoosible to avoid, specially when the breast is very full...

I do have lansinoh but I don't find it helps at all... it's just good for preventing the nipples from sticking to the bra....

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 26/02/2010 19:08

have you got an LLL group or a baby cafe near you?
def needs to be seen by someone in person ideally.

whereabouts in the country are you??

has he been checked for tongue tie? my first 2 babies ripped my nipples to shreds and they were both tongue tied. they appeared to latch on fine, but they kept slipping off and actually causing a huge amount of damage.

if it is a tongue tie it can be fixed quickly and easily

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 19:09

Thanks Nicky, I was starting to think no one else bled like this...

I don't think I can go anywhere for advice in the next few days as I'm recovering from a c-section. But I'll try to get the mw's attention on sunday.

In your case, what was wrong with your latching?
And where can you buy the Slverettes?
thanks!

OP posts:

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 19:12

I'm in Cambridge but I don't feel up to leaving the house until end of next week, the earliest.

How can I know if ds is tongue tied? I had exactly the same problems with dd but they went away after maybe 4 or 5 weeks and I breastfed without problems until she was 17 months. If one baby is tongu tied is a sibbling more likely to be too?

Thanks!

OP posts:

fishie · 26/02/2010 19:13

i meant getting a real person on phone, then they can come round mine always came on fridays.

seashore · 26/02/2010 19:14

hi, it's really early days, I always get cracked nipples about 3/4 days in, I use a bit of organic cream during the night and each time it's been better the next day. Maybe give that a try and of course checking the latch is right. Good luck.

fishie · 26/02/2010 19:14

i had very similar too, it wasn't tongue tie unfortunately but ridiculously small mouth. mind you i hadn't even got him latched on at 4 days so you are doing much better than me already.

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 19:15

Who would come round fishie? A bf counselor? Are they independent or work for the NHS?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 26/02/2010 19:16

yes, tongue tie can be hereditary.

could anyone drive you? otherwise i would second calling the helplines and seeing if someone can come out and see you.

it won't get better by itself, only worse, so you do need help to get it fixed. silverettes/lansinoh etc will help with the symptoms but they won't fix the underlying problem.

cambridge baby cafe

and La Leche League details:
CAMBRIDGESHIRE LLL Cambridge: - 01223 722565

01638 741291

thisisyesterday · 26/02/2010 19:16

if you call one of the helplines it would be a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor that came round.

fishie · 26/02/2010 19:18

they are volunteers, the ones who answer the helplines. my local one was from the bf network. i tried nct first and got someone in scotland, she was lovely but not much help since i am in london and did need someone to come round.

i am telling you all this because you might have to put a bit of effort into finding someone to come round, but you will know they are properly trained and experienced.

nickytwotimes · 26/02/2010 19:23

Unfortunately I never solved the problem as I didn't have mn with ds and I got fobbed off by my mw. OCuldn't get a counsellor either as we were in an isolated area. Ended up giving EBM for a few weeks, then gave up.

Really hoping to manage this time. I've already set up meetings with volunteer counsellors in the nearby town, which I think will be a big help.

Silverettes are available online. DO a search on here for lots of mentions of them.

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 26/02/2010 19:27

Thanks for those contacts thiisyesterday - I'll call and see what happens.

OP posts:

sunshiney · 26/02/2010 19:48

Fwiw I had an awful crack in the nipple, lansinoh did not help, as the edges of the crack needed to stick back together to heal. It healed in days when I ditched the ointment and exposed it to air as much as possible. It had been open for about 3 weeks with the lansinoh on it.

Also if you are feeding in one position only, vary feeding holds (rugby ball, lying down etc). Varying the hold will mean your babies mouth will pull on different parts of the nipple and give the particularly sore bits a break.

It's so difficult in the first few days, I can well remember kicking the table legs to distract my self from the agony, and dreading feeds. I ended up feeding for two years though, so take heart.
It's so hard when they are so small they just suck frantically, they have to learn how to feed and once they are a bit bigger it gets so much easier.

Congrats on your new baby!

Original poster

LaCerbiatta · 27/02/2010 17:23

I asked dh to get me some nipple shields yesterday. Unfortunately the ones he got didn't fit, but he also bought some nipple shells and they're brilliant! It means that the nipple is never against anything and is constantly exposed to air. It heals a lot quicker and I don't scream with pain everytime I hold ds or dd comes to give me a cuddle!

OP posts:

sunshiney · 27/02/2010 17:29

Oh that's what nipple shells are for! I could have fone with some I think

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