VERY SORE NIPPLES - HELP!

[Dalrymps]

Ds is 9 days old. Feeds have been painful since the begining. sometimes it's painful for the first minute and then kind of ok unless he squirms about and changes the latch slightly. Sometimes, (mostly on the 'bad' side) it can be absolutely excruciating for the whole feed which means I either have to keep taking him off or if I still can't get it right just grit my teeth through the pain

I've seen a lactation consultant and she gave me plenty tips on how to get ds positioned properly and how to get him to tip his head back more. I've been putting the tips n to practice since last thurs but am still getting varying degrees of pain

My nipples have been blistered on and off and i've been using lansinoh and when not using that using silverette nipple healing cups. One nipple is still really sore although very slowly seems to be healing, the other is still a bit sore. The bad one kind of went white on the end, I think this was just dead/traumatised skin and is is slowly coming away in bits... I just want them to heal to give me a fighting chance, I know the pain is due to latch not always being perfect but if my nipples weren't so sore in the first place it'd help. Was the same with ds1 and I gave up at 5 weeks only to restart but never got my supply back fully and he ended up mix fed.

Seeing lactation consultant again today, am thoroughly miserable about it and dread/fear every feed, not sure how much longer I can carry on.

Please help

Dalrymps, my DS did have a tongue tie which was diagnosed and sorted within a week. It was long enough to cause some trauma to the nipples however- I had the same white blistering and skin coming away. Fucking sore whether caused by tongue tie or latch.

My Dsis ( a doc) told me to take painkillers which had never occured to me (doh). I think I was taking paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly but check they're ok with BF as I can't remember exactly. Made unbearable feeds just about bearable- it took to about 6 weeks for me to be able to feed with no pain at all.

I'm not usually into this sort of thing but my MIL also gave me Calendula and Hypericum homeopathic remedies to help speed up the healing process and I think it did help.

It was so hard those first few weeks but all of a sudden, it was easy. Hope things get easier for you soon. Good luck

Lactation consultant checked him for tongue tie today and was pretty sure he doesn't have one so that's good.

Am applying lansinoh after every feed, one nipple is almost ok but the bad one is sore...

Will see how it goes and consider the nipple shileds.

I was taking paracetamol every 4 hrs but stopped as I didn't want to take too much, maybe should take them again till bad side has healed more.

I keep thinking I can't take another day, another feed even but then am somehow carrying on. I hope I can continue till it gets better, I really want to.

You won't need the painkillers once you've healed, just do what you need to do to make it bearable. And just take it one feed at a time, don't think beyond that.

It's relentless at first but so worth it in the end.

thanks. will do

I had problems with blisters on the end of my nipples due to bad latching on. I found that a gentle solution of salt water was helpful. Either soak a cotton wool pad and leave it on your nipple or put the salt water in a shot glass and hold it on your nipple so that you get a good soaking (if it stings there is too much salt so dilute it down). Don't do it for more than 5 mins or your skin gets over saturated. after 3-4 mins dry yourself off and put on Lansinoh and stay bare breasted for as long as is acceptable! I did this in the evenings for 4-5 days and it really helped to speed up the healing process.

Ah thanks for the tip. The lansinoh seems to be working well, I was using the silverettes (nipple cups) for quite a few days but they didn't seem to be healing just staying the same so went back to the lansinoh. Do you have to rinse your nips after so baby doesn't get any salt residue?

feeling for you Dalrymps, I had a miserable time BF DS, but kept going through the pain & eventually it was a wonderful experience. Have you tried rubbing in milk at the end of a feed? or between feeds giving your boobs a squeeze to get some milk out to rub in...I found that and airing boobs made them better.

I also bought a "my breast friend" cushion from mothercare. It is expensive at £45, but I have no problems feeding DD, as she is in the correct position ...worth every penny IMO. good luck!

Hi Dalrymps, I didn't need to rinse afterwards as it's a pretty dilute solution and my DS didn't notice it. Try not rinsing and see if your baby notices otherwise yes a quick wipe with a damp cotton wool pad should do.

As well as help with healing the salt solution feels soothing when you use it too. I used Epsom salts (can get this from the chemist or Sainsbury's) but I'm sure ordinary table salt works just as well.

Let me know how you get on

Ah I see. Will see how the healing goes and maybe give the salt water a try if no improvement. Thanks for the tip!

Sorry, meant to reply to bounty too...

Have been airing my boobs after applying the lansinoh and made sure I haven't sued soap when washing them.. Am seeing a little improvement today now my latch is better too.

I have a general feeding pillow which is helping, will have a look at the one you recommend though, thanks

Hi, I'm having similar problems with painful nipples so just wanted to offer a bit of moral support - you are not alone!

DS is just over 4 weeks old and I found it did start getting better after he was 2 weeks - apparently that is how long it takes for your nipples to toughen up. Also it gets better the older they are because their mouths get bigger so they can take more of the breast in.

Their is a technical term for the white nipples - I think it is called "blanching" and is usually caused by an improper latch - it is basically the blood supply being cut off by your LO sucking. (I found this out on the kellymom website). Another cause can be thrush so maybe get someone to check you don't have this.

Re expressing - get an elactric pump and try it in the morning - this is when your supply is up so it should be easier. Then if you can bottle feed some EBM it gives your nipples some much needed respite - it saved my sanity!

HTH

Thanks for the support. Good to know it does get better.

I think the white nipple thing must be the blanching you speak of, the lactation consultant lady didn't seem to think it was thrush when you had a look...

I have an electric pump but had forgotten it's best to express in the morning so thanks for reminding me, will give it a go once my nipples are a bit more healed then at least I might be able tp freeze some milk for a back up.

Hi Dalyrmps - just wanted to say that your post could have been written by me - am experiencing exactly the same problems with one side being particularly sore and blanching. Called nct consultant last night after a tearful feed and she said to try the biological nurturing. I did this last night and although it wasn't perfect latch on (this could be down to soreness anyway) it did feel more gentle and didn't have the toe curling initial suck. Felt horrible watching my lo bob up and down to get to the nipple but definitely felt an improvement as her mouth opened wider and could see she was in a better position. Also, Nct lady said to let her suck on a finger for five mins first to get her tongue out and working before going onto the nipple; use breastmilk on nipple followed by a bit of lasinoh (if you want to) and then a nipple cover. NCT lady is coming today so if she gives me any other advice that I think will help then I will let you know. It's so horrible not looking forward to the feeding though and I can completely sympathsize.

All the best and Congratulations too!

Hi, Dalrymps, poor you. Haven't read the posts, but...you could have thrush in your nipples? It is excruciating and feels like being stabbed with hot pokers through the whole feed. Nipples became raw. But all it takes is one tablet to fix . it was ages before an enlightened health visitor diagnosed mine. Even so I was told by a GP that it wasn't possible though others confirmed that it was - there's published medical literature on it.

Obviously I can't diagnose you, but its worth putting thrush forwards as a possibility

Keep with the bf if thats what you want to do; its so worth it despite the agony; all I have now are good memories (until I read messages like yours).

josie - Sorry you're going throuh this too, it's awful isn't it.

I hadn't heard of getting them to suck your finger first, good idea.

I think the new technique the lactation consultant gave me is helping. It's hard to explain but basically I have to press above my nipple to tilt it back using my thumb without lifting the breast itself. Then when baby opens up shove him on fast getting as much of the bottom of the nipple in as poss and slipping thr nipple in at the top at the last second. I then hold him still for the first 10 seconds or so till he has drawn in a good mouthful and then it feels a lot more comfortable. It does still feel a bit painful whilst he latches on but is a lot better.

Butterfly - Thanks for thinking of me, i'm pretty sure it's not thrush as the pain is in the nipple rather than in the breast also and the whiteness is going slowly as they heal. The lactation consultant had a look at the white nipple and didn't seem to think it was thrush. Glad you mentioned it though, always worth keeping an eye out for it.

I had a really painful start to BF too - but I kept layering myself with Lansinoh after and between feeds - and it eventually helped with my cracked and extremely sore nipples. My MW unhelpfully suggested I just thought of breaking in new shoes whenever baby latched on to help with the pain!! Like it compares!

nice advice from midwife there! It certainly doesn't compare, well unless your new shoes were made of razor blades! The lansinoh is defnately helping the healing and the latch has improved with the advice from the lactation consultant. I feel more hopefull

Best of luck! I was in pain for about 3wks and dreaded the feeds as well, before things started to improve and now it is completely painfree and enjoyable. Hope this happens for you too.

Thanks, that sounds great.. Feeds are mostly pain free now, just the latching on is tender and the occasional twinge if he slips towards the end.. Is the latching on bit pain free for you too now?

Yes it is, but I did get the needle-like twinges that take your breath away for a while!
I think it helps when your baby starts to know what they're doing as well, mine now has her mouth open and ready before I've even unstrapped my bra!
And now she's a bit older (5mths) she has started pulling herself off/on to look at the world while feeding, but no pain.
It really did get easier. Sounds like you're doing everything right so well done.

Dalrymps sorry to hear of your struggles. I've had similar problems with white nipples - just developed over the past couple of days and bits seem to be sloughing off. It sounds v similar to what you describe. I went to a breastfeeding support group this morning and I reckon it was my latch (too shallow causing compression). Been doing a bit better this afternoon/evening with a good few pain-free feeds so hoping that clears up the white nipples thing.

But glad to hear things are looking up for you. Tis a tricky business, this breastfeeding lark!

drwhofan - That's good to know . I can already see ds opening his mouth more readily and keeping it like that for longer instead of chomping.

Caitni - Sounds like you've had similar problems, so painful isn't it?! Glad you've been doing better too. My white nipples are almost gone, been putting the lansinoh on after every feed and it seems to be helping now the latch is better too and no further damage is being done.

One good piece of advice the lactation consultant gave me was to really concentrate on getting the latch right and take baby off if not right. She said to try to be consistent for the next 24hrs or so with new technique and I should find baby learns and remembers what is right. So in other words, don't allow baby to latch in a way that means the feed hurts as baby will carry on doing that as it's what baby is 'learning'.

Hi Dalrymps - am glad it is getting easier for you. I have to say that all the people who say it gets better after 2/3 weeks are giving me hope. I guess when their mouths grow bigger it makes it easier too.

After my half hour with the lactation guru it has been better - not perfect but better. Like your consultant she said to make sure I take lo off it it doesn't feel right which I am doing and to try and and hold the breast to tempt her to open her mouth by rubbing the nipple on her top lip - if that helps you at all.

Also she said to be patient with lo to get her mouth open and her head tilted/stretched up before the latch on - easier said than done when we are both half asleep at 4am!

Hope it continues to improve for you.

Hi, Dalrymps, sorry to read about all your troubles.

Have a look at this, particularly the bits about the 'lower lip flip' which absolutely transformed BFing with DS1 for me, also the 'breast sandwich' info which sounds a bit like what your lactation consultant suggested.

I have had massive BFing problems with all 3 of my DSs - and to my amazement feeding DS4 has been no problem at all . I am just mentioning this because it really makes me think that some babies are better at getting it right from the start than others, and it is not just down to mum IYKWIM.

I hope things will continue to improve for you. When BFing is good, it is v v good... and not at all sore.

Oh, and my other favorite site is Dr Jack Newman, has brilliant videos re good latch/bad latch/effective drinking/'nibbling' etc etc.

See you on PN if you have a chance?

We are here btw