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

I have heard cabbage leaves can help ease pain. Might be worth having a word with your GP just to be sure your not getting mastitis and need antibiotics!

Congratulations on your beautiful new baby girl!

The soreness will last a few days until your milk comes in. Mine were horribly sore for the first 4 days but just keep at it it does ease I promise. I swore by Lanishol nipple cream. It's in a purple tube you can get in in boots. It is amazing and it doesn't need to be washed off before you feed. It really helps. Congratulations by the way :-)

I recommend rubbing your own breastmilk into your nipples. Breastfeeding specialist told me to do it and it really seemed to help. Even better than the nipple cream.

My nipples scabbed up and latching felt like shards of glass for the first couple of days. It gets so much better in such a short time.

I let out an operatic "laaaaaaaaaa!" At the start of every feed when DS was here! It was really sore to start with but less so as he fed. Lansihol cream is awesome, cover them after every feed! It does stop though and I can now whip a boob out for wee man without any issue and I don't use the cream either. I have engorgement issues at times but the initial pain stops I do assure you. You just have to curl your toes and work with it to start!

3 weeks and 4 days into breastfeeding second baby and it does get better quickly. Breastfed DD1 for 2yrs so had forgotten the initial pain... Sure remembered quickly when it happened this time. But that toe curling pain has been gone for about 10 days for me now.

Screaming, toe curling and lansinoh are the only remedies!! Don't let your nipples air dry either, pat gently with a muslin

Key things:
Ice to nipples deaden pain - do wrap ice in a cloth first, no-one wants freezer burn...
Sit with back straight, hold baby at breast level so she can access the nipple without tugging. Facilitate this by commandeering every pillow and cushion in the house. Make sure your back and arms are well-supported. I had three pillows on my lap then baby in my arms. I used a floor cushion for back support. I believe that correct position is the cure for nipple soreness. The pain disappears overnight. Its almost miraculous.
Cabbage leaves (in your bra) as recommended by John Wesley (yes the one with the hymn-writing brother) to reduce heat in the breasts. Won't do much for your nipples but ok for general pain.
One thing that helped me was noticing that my poor nipples looked so much healthier after a feed than before one.
Very soon, though, I gave up the idea of 'feeds' at all. Breastfeeding is what babies do, like breathing. Just keep the baby at the breast. No need then for pulling, tugging, desperation. Just a long, long cuddle with mum.

Lanisoh with clingfilm lightly placed on top saved my nipples. Seemed to collect a bit of the milk on top which helped with healing I think, plus stops friction of bras/tops.

My midwife informally told me about it.

Congratulations on your little girl!

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!

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#

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

Ps congrats on your new baby :-)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Congratulations BTW!

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

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.