Cracked painful nipples

[ilz07]

Hi, I have a 2 month old son, he was 10 lbs even he was born so you can imagine he eats a lot. These last few days he’s completely devoured my nipples, they’re cracked and bleeding and feeding is very painful, I’ve had to give him formula and expressed breast milk if I can as it even hurts to express. When he takes the bottle he’s quite lazy to open his mouth wide he just sucks as soon as anything touches his lips or enters his mouth which is probably why I am having this problem. He also is very fussy with a bottle and forgets to breath when feeding, I'm basically feeding through the pain right now because he won't latch onto a nipple shield.. has anyone else gone through this?? Will the heel soon enough so I can feed comfortably

I feel your pain, I've been there too.

Shame he won't latch with a nipple shield. Which ones do you have?

Do you have lansinoh nipple cream? Keep waking that on and get their breast pads too as they have a bit in the middle which will soothe them.

When you're feeding him, really try to get him to open his mouth wide soon. My baby girl was a nightmare too.

Sounds silly but watch some YouTube videos on proper latching. Any time he doesn't latch properly, or comes off (my girl used to slip off all the time) take him completely and start again. Keep doing it. Over and over every time till he latches properly and he will eventually get it.

It will get better, if you get the latch correct.

Is your HV any help? Mine was pointless tbh but if you get a good one they're great. Or any bf support groups in your area?

I would think it's just lazy feeding. They're wee monkeys!!

Good luck.

Yeah I have the cream, I'm applying it every hour or so and after every feed if I can manage! I don't know why he's just so lazy

Haaa! Yes I've been watching the videos to help me, the HV isn't very helpful, I asked her something about his gums and her advice was go to the dentist, she didn't even try and check or help

I just want to get back to normal feeding but I will try and buy super slow flow bottles and get him on that too! My daughter never had this issue not until about 7 months when she got teeth!

I just got a simple silicone nipple shield, I'll keep trying not but as of right now he just spits it out or bite down! OUCHHHH

I used Medela Contact Nipple Shields with Case from Amazon. They were so thin and soft, but because they are a little bigger it encourage mine to open her mouth a bit more.

Yeah HVs can be useless! Have you had him checked for being tougne tied? I'd don't know much about it, but could go to the drs and ask them to check. If you say your HV is rubbish they might be able to also offer other support.

Is he chewing on anything else? Could be teething. My girl got 2 teeth by 4 months, and she's a biter!!!!

He actually had a tongue tie but they cut it about 3 weeks ago and his reflux and everything went away.

Maybe the teeth could be something because he's always dribbling so much and even after a full feed where's he's full he's still chewing on his hand..

If he's only had it cut 3 weeks ago I guess he could still be learning the latch again.

My girl was the same with dribbling and cheiwng. Try some teething granules, might need to check the age as I can't remember!

Thank you! I will try everything and anything! I hate not being able to feed him

You are doing so well its so painful and such a struggle! I had the same issues early on too, also with a 10lbs baby boy! I found the medala nipple shields forced him to open his mouth more and got me through until my nipples heeled. Also use lansinoh all the time. My GP recommended airing out my nipples whenever possible to aid healing.

Now he feeds better when he is fully supported with cushions, ensuring he is comfortable and not distracted. Sometimes it means using about 4 cushions to make sure his whole body is supported!! If he is being lazy I press my nipple above his top lip so he tilts his head back and opens his mouth wider and that usually helps!

Mine was like this and just wouldn’t open his mouth wide enough, or get his lips fanned out right (that’s weirdly hard to explain in text).

I used to let him attach any way he wanted, then use a finger to fan out his lips and widen his mouth if needed. We got there in the end!

I used a shield on one side while trying to heal a crack, and used to start him off on the other side to avoid the hunger meltdown and then swap him over. Might be worth a try?

When I had trouble I would express every other feed. The longer gap have me a better chance to heal and I only had to do it for a week in the end.

I have been pumping throughout the day and just giving him boob more in the night, just when I think one nipple is almost heeled he just chews threw it again! Hungry baby!

When he's still hungry and he's had the expressed milk I've topped him up on some formula while I pump for the next feed. I really hope they heal soon, the cream has been working well though

You would think he would accept the nipple shield as he takes a bottle but maybe when he sees the boob he's like no mum this is not the real deal! Hahaa