breast shells or pads?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Hi there. I currently have very badly cracked and blistered nipples that I have been applying vast quantities of Lansinoh to. Until now I had also been using disposable breast pads but they weren't that comfortable ad seemed to put pressure on my nipple through bra. They also required peeling of before feed and the whole thing seemed a bit unhygenic.

Invested in a pair of nipple shells which were incredibly comfortable and my nipples felt great - until I fed when they bled all over the place which has not previously happened.

Am now experimenting with combining both but without the silicon backs to the shells.

For those of you that have been there and done it what do you recommend?

(Unfortunately I can't just wander around topless)

I found Lansinoh, staying topless when possible, and Johnson's nursing pads when not the best combination. That or a muslin cloth instead of pads.

Poor you, I hope they are better soon!

Raw white cabbage leaves inside the bra was the most comfortable thing for me. Also, after a feed express a little bit of your milk to rub on the nipple/areola.

Be really careful about positioning baby at the breast and if possible get it checked by an expert, which is not necessarily your hv or midwife.

If you persevere, you and your baby will get it right in the end, and feeding will become easy, convenient and even pleasurable.

Savoy cabbage as well

Hi - have you tried experimenting with different types of breast pads? I was in the same position and found several makes to be coarse and scratchy, and painful to 'peel' off as you say. Try avent or lansinoh disposables, they're soft and kind.

I bought a pack of washable silk pads as well, which were lovely for those early painful days - got them off the NCT website. They don't hold much but are cool on sore and bleeding skin. I use them all the time now, 9 months on, so they're good value.

Otherwise, topless as much as possible. And lansinoh, lots!

HTH

When I stopped using Lasinoh and moved to Kamillson my nipples improved tbh. The Tommee Tippee breast pads were better for me personally.

Lots of air (when possible) and washing with slightly salted water after feeds helped.

Poor you. Agree with getting latch checked, but your nn sounds familiar and I thought you already had children, so you maybe experienced anyway and this is your 2nd or 3rd baby or more

Have you looked on kellymom?

• kamillosan

try the johnsons breast pads as they have a nipple indentation which makes a huge difference for me. and sleep braless and padless on a towel at night to cure the bleeding - mine cleared up in a few days (though horrible to wake up in a cold, damp patch of milk admittedly)

and use fingers to point nipple towards roof of baby's mouth as he gapes & shove him on from the shoulders so his head tips back slightly as he latches on

Being an experienced Mum doesn't mean you can't have latching problems. My 3rd baby caused me no end of pain and bother breastfeeding. It wasn't comfortable till he was 10 weeks. Then it was all worth it.

JUst while we are on the subject.. I have never leaked milk. Is that odd? My firend gave me some breast shells her DP bought her and it confused me. How and why are they used??? Don't even get the instructions

I didn't leak either, and the breast pads stuck to me until some one told me I didn't need them.