She's finally here!!! Breastfeeding problems!

[JaclynLouise]

So finally at 38+1 my little girl arrived weighing 8lb. It was hell, but she is amazing and I'm in love!
However! My nipples already feel like I can't touch them. When she latches on The pain it nail biting!
She's only 8 hours old, why is it so bad already?
I'm waiting to check for a tie, but she's actually latching really well and even then she's not being feeding long enough to cause the nipple pain!
I've been sensitive the whole pregnancy and now that she's fed 3 or 4 times I can't even bare to touch them!
The breast feeding lady says the sensitivity could last 7-10 days! Please any ideas on what can relieve this. Thanks xxx

[Lj8893]

You poor thing, hope it gets better for you. You have had some great advice already but I just wanted to say at only 8 hours old a pump isn't going to be very successful at expressing anything off, save it for when your milk comes in and whilst you still have colostrum then hand expressing is best.

[moobeana]

Just a note on the amazing nipple shields! It was the only way my poorly baby could latch at first. She was ill and tired, so the teat helped her to latch and breastfeed. Once she was well again I was able to slowly remove them (I would start off he feed with the shield, stop mid feed (nipple already stretched and flowing) and she could latch (fairly painlessly) again. So you can remove them once things settle down and the nipples get a bit more hardy!

Good luck and well done for perservering!

[InFrance2014]

Babies' mouths are very small at first, and not all of them are great at latching deep enough, which is a big part of the pain- plus it depends on what your boobs/nipples are like. Flat and small nipples are especially crappy.
Try and get your positioning so the baby is feeding 'down' onto your boob, not 'across' onto it (by sitting/lying back), the gravity will help them get on deeper and stay on properly. They should have a good mouth of the areola, not just the nipple bit; the nipple needs be able to get up into their soft palate at the back of the mouth for it to not hurt.
Google "exaggerated latch" and "flipple".
I used nipple shields with first baby for 16 weeks then shifted to naked boob; second time round I didn;t use them as I hated the shields faffing about when feeding outside, but it really hurt. Took a good fortnight to improve and realise I wasn't curling toes and wincing at every feed.
Also breast compressions help because they get the milk out a bit faster, so the painful sucking doesn't last so long.
Remember that the first 10 days are the most important for building your breasts' supply for the whole of your breastfeeding journey- letting the baby suck LOADS now (not the pump) will pay you dividends, even if it is dreadfully painful. Good luck!

[JaclynLouise]

Thank you! I'd rather use nipple guards than have to give up completely, and pumping throughout the day can be so much more stressful than just latching her on.

The bf lady I spoke to seems very knowledgable, but I will definitely check with the HV when she comes out today.
I have been using the lanisoh but I don't find it makes much difference for me, I don't think it did last time either actually, so that new cream you mentioned might be work me looking at, I need something that helps them to heal still whilst using he guards!
Fingers crossed I'm pain free soon x

[Hedgeh0g]

Nipple guards really aren't the end of the world. I fed my first son with them exclusively for 4 months because he was badly tongue tied and wouldn't latch without. I had no supply issues, and eventually was able to ditch them at 4 months, fed him until he was 18 months.

However, because of that I have no experience of the pain of the first few weeks- ds2 is now 4 weeks and oh my god, 2 weeks ago I was literally sobbing over him every feed. A combination of having his tongue tie snipped, cracking a decent latch, time, and the fact my nipples are finally healing, means we have been pain free since the weekend.

Do get your latch checked by a trained breastfeeding supporter if possible - it might look right, but that doesn't mean it is if it hurts that much. And I recommend jelonet for healing - it's a burns dressing and the pharmacist may look at you like you're a complete loon if you explain what you're going to use it for when asking for it! (I didn't realise it was a burns dressing and she hadn't heard of it...) but it really does work. Hang in there, it does get better.

[JaclynLouise]

So I just got the nipple guards and omg I forgot how amazing they are!!!
I know they're not ideal but right now they feel like a life saver, they don't stop the pain completely but they make it a lot easier. Hopefully the pain will go and I can feed without them, but if I have to keep using them then that's okay too, I just want baby to get fed okay and by breast if possible!
Won't be trying to pump again now, I have a couple of formula bottles for an absolute last resort, but the guards are my way forward for now xx

[jellyandsoup]

Your baby is so little, you are both still learning. I know it's trickier in hospital but plenty of skin to skin will help your milk to come in which should help with the pain. Unless the midwives are telling you to express I would ditch the pump, can't imagine that will help your nipples. Make sure you drink plenty and as mentioned above lanisol cream is fab.

[Superstar90]

Pps it also depends on baby and birth - my Dd1 never learned to latch (hence the nipple shields) by Dd2 latched in the first 5 mins and feeds like a dream!

[Superstar90]

Ps you are not a failure if you can't get bf going - it's really hard and women need much more support than they get in this country to do it. Give it a good go but ultimately do what's best for you and your baby.

[Superstar90]

Nipple shields do reduce your supply and baby might find it hard to reattach without them as doesn't improve your latch which is the cause of the pain - just gives your boobs a chance to recover! That being said I bf exclusively for 18 months on them! My DD never learned to latch without them but luckily I don't have any supply issues (I have oversupply).
Medulla ones are best and make sure you get right size for your nipple (they come in small medium and large).
Honestly do seek out help from professionals as they can help in these crucial few days getting established. Ask your mw if they can come and help or can refer you to a bf specialist.

[JaclynLouise]

100% young to buy some first thing!
I've come to the conclusion that my breast pump is a piece of shit. I did nothing for ages, leaked on me when I opened it and I just managed to hand express more in 5 minutes than its done in half an hour!
Milk and truly ran out now though but luckily baby is asleep, I'm going to quickly have a snack and a drink and hopefully get some more out in time for her waking up again. Is there any type of nipple shields you'd recommend? I think I just got mother care own ones last time but if a branded one is better I'll give them a try too xx

[OlennasWimple]

another vote for nipple shields - I couldn't have bf without them for the first few weeks.

Congratulations BTW!

[seven201]

I used nipple shields until she was 1 month. Would have given up without them. For your current issue Could you try and distract the baby for an hour or so so your boobs get a chance to re-stock? When I say you I mean your partner! Swing her around or pop her in the car for a drive. Anything so you your boobs can have that little break.---- The constant suckling is there to help the supply come in properly though so although she's probably getting frustrated (and you're in pain) it is what's meant to happen.

[JaclynLouise]

I think I'm going to go get some nipple guards first thing tomorrow, I used them before and they did help a lot! But I had to give up because my supple dried out where I took a break as my nipples were bleeding.
Right now I'm just trying to get through the rest of the night! I keep trying to pump some but barely anything comes out, they're not had much chance to refil so I end up putting her on the breast because I have no choice, she seems so be there for a while but then comes off and cries more, I think there's nothing in there for her and I have nothing else to give her right now. Don't really know what to do

[squeezed]

Dd2 had posterior tongue tie and this is what caused the pain. Make sure you have someone experienced examine your Dd because I had a number of midwives say that dd had a good latch but I knew it didn't feel right.
I used a pump to keep my supply up and give the damaged nipples a rest. It was tiring but worth it.
Definitely get some Lanisoh to help the nipples and the compresses also helped.
Try to be kind to yourself. Every feed you manage is a huge achievement but don't worry if you need to use formula, you've got to look after yourself.

[sycamore54321]

If the pain occurs or is intense only in the first moments when the baby latches on, a good distraction technique is to focus rally hard on wiggling your toes.

But otherwise, I recommend nipple shields for protecting sore or damaged nipples. Hard core breastfeeding folk seem to hate them but I found they were what stopped me abandoning breastfeeding altogether.

Best wishes. And you are NOT a failure if you do not breastfeed or if you combo feed.

[JaclynLouise]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I've been practicing new positions at hospital but they're a bit easier said than done at home! I've been using lanisoh and gritting my teeth through the pain, BUT! It's gotten worse. I tried to carry on but I'm literally pinching myself while she feeds, I had to go fetch my pump out of desperation and now I feel like a bad mummy
I only managed to give her s little bit from the bottle because I couldn't get enough out fast enough, eventually had to put her back on the breast to comfort her but am at least re assured that she's had some milk.
I'm determined not to give up, really want to make this work because last time I felt like such a failure!
I'm hoping itl get better when my milk comes in, until then I'll try my hardest to bare the pain xx

[Superstar90]

Ps congrats on your new baby :-)

[Superstar90]

Make sure your baby is in the right position as the wrong one can drag on nipples making pain worse - keep her body completely horizontal along you and really do start offering her the boob with her nose to your nipple and she'll open her mouth and move her head backwards to get thr right attachment.
It does just hurt a bit at first tho - push through and it'll improve in a couple of days as you both get more practiced (I also used to wince with pain each time and dread each feed but it's so easy and pain free now). You'll be so glad you've stuck with it.
Get all the help u can from midwives, breastfeeding people and health visitors. Try and get someone each feed for the first few days - yes you'll feel like you are bothering them but it's the only way to get the support you need (in the olden days womem had much more support than the one or two feeds we are helped with now!).
In a few days your milk will come in and you'll need to adjust again and get more support - ask the midwives and health visitors again.
Good luck!

[Mermaid36]

I also ditched disposable breast pads after about 4 days - nasty, crinkly, itchy things!

I have some washable bamboo fibre ones now which are lovely and soft and not scratchy at all (from Little Lamb, but other makes are available). Much nicer on the nipples!

[popthisoneout]

DC2 is 6 days old and the pain has gone from one side completely when feeding. Other side is still tender and feels bruised but no more really than in the pregnancy. My poor nipples were so sore in the last trimester I could barely touch them but they're improving.

[fruityb]

Yes will add to what PP said. If you have to use formula or combine feed then do. Baby doesn't care where it comes from and it's whatever works for you. MW told me that after I cried on her when I'd struggled to breastfeed DS one night. He wouldn't go on for love nor money. OH took him and gave him a bottle and me a cup of tea.

Do what works for you

[tarheelbaby]

Congratulations and best of luck.
It can be hideously painful. With my first child, it always hurt. Despite persevering for the next 12 months, I never produced more than 60% of what she wanted so supplemented with formula after the first 6 weeks or so. I used Lansinoh (not much help) and even these little rubber Mexican hat things (nipple shields).
However, with my second child, it never hurt and she drank breastmilk exclusively until 5 months when I started adding in solids. She never got to grips with bottles even though I was able to express.
"Every baby's different", my midwife used to say. So don't despair but do everything you can to feed your baby whether it's breastmilk or formula.

[BettyOBarley]

I'm so glad you started this thread OP as I'm having the same problems with my 2 day old DS, the pain at one side is horrendous.

I have these compresses from Boots along with the Lanisoh, you just pop them in your bra and they give a bit of extra moisture

m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?unCountry=uk&path=%2Fen%2FMulti-Mam-Compresses-1-x-12-Pack_121154%2F#

[fruityb]

And laugh at the weird head banging thing they do! Cracks me up when DS does that - a sure sign I need to swap sides.

I don't know what's in my breast milk at the mo but it's making DS sleep for ages! He did 8 hours overnight on Sunday when I breastfed last thing, he normally bottle feeds then. He had a huge sleep this afternoon after a boob feed as well. No idea!