Nipple agony on third day!

[ralv]

Hi all,
My gorgeous ds was born on Saturday night and I am already at the point where I'm dreading feeds as my nipples feel like broken glass.
I know it is because we are struggling with technique and the only way we get a wide mouth is when he is screaming.. And I'm planning on getting the beastfeeding consultant round... But I need relied in the meantime. I have lansinoh which helps a bit but wondered if anyone has and tried and tested wonder cures?
Thank you!

I'm afraid I don't have any cures for you hopefully someone else does, but I feel your pain, unfortunately it took a month for it to become bearable! And was after my LO latched on good, definitely get advice in technique, even though I had 2 methods that we're shown to me, but look in to going to a local support group, they were really helpful, and was nice to know I wasn't the only one

Congratulations on your lovely new baby!!
It does get easier, 3 days is still very early. I second the advice re getting out to support groups, we used to go every week for about a month.

Hang on in there. It may also be worth getting checked for tongue tie or lip tie if you are still experiencing pain further down the line.

Do also try to get hold of the Sheila Kitzinger book, breastfeeding your baby.

Invaluable!

Try washing the nipples before you put the cream...I've found that it works a bit better. Also the cold water is soothing.

If its too painful you can use nippleshields until the nipples heal...it does help to cross the most painful patch!

The wonder cure really is in the positioning! Remember to aim towards the back of the roof of his mouth. Don't be tentative - the more he has hold of, the less it will pinch. Have you tried lying down next to him and feeding him on your side? This can be a nice way to get comfy. Definitely call in a bf consultant, there's honestly no substitution for getting positioning spot on!

(Quite often lasinoh can actually make it worse because it creates a tendency for the baby to 'slip' off and can cause worse nipple pinch. Just something to be aware of and I do feel your pain - I had blisters the first time around!)

Forgot to add the most important part! It does get more easy!

I found counting until the pain went helpful-soon you realise the pain goes quicker than before. And after a month it's so much easy you'll ne so glad you persevered!

is the skin damaged / broken? If so try breast shells- keeps your bra from squishing the nipples flat and will help them heal. Worked for me, I had awful cracks in both nipples and these (and lansinoh) were what finally helped them start healing, and once I could see the cracks healing (at about 2-3 wks) I knew I could get through it. Took until 5 wks for the last one to be completely better but now feedjng is pain free except when DD gets lazy and forgets how to latch.
(Her latch was actually fine all the way through, I had lots of people check it, I think it was my very sensitive skin that caused the problems).
I also used the lansinoh 'soothie' hydrogel pads which were good too.

I hope the consultant is useful and you get back on track with it all.

The official line is that nipple shields are bad, but they really helped me. It does get better! You might not believe it now but soon you will actually enjoy breastfeeding!

On day 3 i remember crying because the pain was so bad. Then on day 4 my milk came in and by day 6 it didnt hurt at all. I'm sorry you are in pain but it will get better and hopefully very soon. X

Rub a little breast milk on your nipples and let them air dry.
and just try and cling on to the fact that it will get better. Definitely get help with latch, you'll be amazed by how quick the pain goes once latch is good.
Good luck and enjoy your baby.

My miracle moment was Johnsons breast pads. They're shaped so they don't push your nipple in, sounds simple but it really worked! I also found feeding lying down much more comfortable (still using this position at 8 months). Counting till the pain hoes sounds good, I also talked to my little one, helps distract you and calm them x

My DS is now 6 weeks and I had a very tough time for the first 2 weeks (sorry) but it does get better. We went to groups, checked by HV and you tubed every BF video possible. It was very simply time for me. I am still using Lansinoh and making sure I wait for his huge mouth. Since it got better lots of people have told me their stories of their first few days or weeks of painful feeding. All those that choose to stick with it say it got better.

I found reusable breast pads helped. Disposable were too flat and also not very breathable, so they made the cracking worse - my nipples didn't ever dry out!

If you're having trouble getting the nipple in far enough try looking for the flipple technique on YouTube. It helped us enormously!

And bf groups help. Not so much for advice, more to talk to other mums and hear that it gets better!

I found lansinoh to be of very little help (I realise i am in the minority there) for me, putting some on my own milk on the shredded nipples helped a lot. It took DD about a week to latch well but it was amazing once she did - literally overnight bf went from toe-curling pain to a lovely, easy experience. Hang in there!!

My baby ravaged my nipples in the first 3 days until they were blistered and bleeding. Combine that with a severe case of baby blues and I just couldn't do it.

For 5 days I switched to expressing and bottles. It was hard work but the pump seemed to get my nipples more 'hardened' to sucking without the pain and once all the blisters had healed (about 5/6 days later) I tried BF again, applying the lansinoh religiously. It was uncomfortable but didn't sting like before. After about a week it was pain free. After another week I didn't need the lansinoh anymore.

Id aim to get the help of a breastfeeding consultant asap. Mine was great, from FAB (search FAB breastfeeding) they also have a free phone advice line and may be able to offer some immediate advice.