Breastfeeding

[YoungmumB]

Hi, I've been feeding my baby boy for 2 weeks now I ended up with such badly cracked nipples after 5 days there was blood in his sick. I started using nipple shields and they were helping although I struggled to manage to get them off while I had mastitis. I'm still using the nipple shields but am now finding that my nipples are still really sore.
Did anyone else find breastfeeding really painful no matter what they tried?

Just to add something - I used sheilds for around four months. There's no hurry to ditch them until you're ready

I have a set of washable bamboo breast pads I got from Amazon and they were a lifesaver. I would have a warm shower to get rid of lumps etc then leave the milk on my nipples and put the nipple cream onto the pads. I'd have two set on the go at a time and use an ice block on the ones I wasn't using at the time. In between feeds I'd swap them so i had a cold set overnight and wash them daily. I then used regular disposable during the day..

I'm really sorry to say this and I don't want to scare you or put you off, but when I was in your position whenever I posted on Mumsnet about it, everyone would tell me it got better eventually although the length of time would vary ('the first two weeks were the worst' 'after 6 weeks it was much better for me' etc etc). I was like you, I had severe pain, I had the breastfeeding support workers out to me loads of times, midwives, nobody could see anything wrong with the latch although it clearly was wrong as DD would latch at an angle all the time and my nipples were coming out lipstick shaped with blisters across the ridge. We had a tongue tie referral just to double check, but no tongue tie. I tried nipple shields which did help a bit but it was still sore, and eventually sometimes she would suck my nipple through the holes of the shield, causing blistering from that too, and I already wore the largest size.

I EBF for 6 weeks, and combi fed weaning her gradually onto formula until 12 weeks. I was absolutely devestated that I couldn't hold on for longer but it never got any better in any of that time. My nipples are permanently deformed I think - she's nearly 4 months now and they've healed as they're not sore anymore, but there is what seems to be scarring I guess and my biggest blister the skin has sort of stayed in a blister shape. Also my mental health was appalling throughout that time, I have previous history of depression, and I was crying all the time, feeling suicidal etc. I really wish I had just moved to formula after the first fortnight or so when it was clear nothing was improving after specialist breastfeeding support, and saved myself all that agony, both mental and physical.

You are doing an amazing job and I commend you, and I am a big advocate of breastfeeding, but I thought I should share my story with you, because nobody told me it might still be agony at 12 weeks, and it was, and if I had known that might be the case, I would have cut my losses much earlier, so I feel I owe it to you to share my experience too.

I went through similar pain with a tongue-tied baby. The pain stopped at just over 2 weeks, which was such a massive relief. This is my 4th baby and it was just as painful as the others!

Mam compresses.
Reusable breastpads are comfier.
Breast shells between feeds.

Get checked again for tongue tie and posterior tongue tie. Any clicking when feeding? Baby have blistered lips? Sorry if you've mentioned this already.

Also... massive empathy. I really understand how awful it is. It will be wonderful when you don't dread the feeds and it becomes painless and easy.

I've found it so painful!!

Mam compresses, soft breast pads, lanolin have helped.

My right nipple is now fine and left is a but uncomfortable- but I had been in excruciating pain.

DD had tongue tie fixed, I had private lactation consultant and things just improved so so slowly.

It has got better and it is getting better but it took me (is taking me) up to 9 weeks to get to this stage which really disheartened me when I know some people settle in two weeks.

I'm glad I stuck at it despite wanting to stop so many times.

If you are in that much pain and your nipples are damaged and not healing then this is not normal, it's not just part of bf and it's not a good latch, even if it looks like one. Can you ask for a referral to more specialist support or see an IBCLC privately? Sounds like you are doing brilliantly but you shouldn't have to put up with being in agony, also it's wise to get support when using shields.

‘If it’s too much and you’re finding it impacting on your mental health though, please don’t feel bad about a little mixed feeding or switching entirely.’

This ^

I might look more into a tongue tie just to be sure. His latch isn't good now from using the nipple shields and he also has some nipple confusion so I can see coming of them to be pretty painful. The nipple shields are helping a lot for now and making the feeds that bit more bearable. I'm using a pump once a day to try and help boost my milk supply too mostly on one side although he's doing a good job himself with all of the cluster feeding! Thank you again for all your suggestion, I'll definitely be using them to try and help it all. It's also so nice just to have people telling me I'm doing a good job as most of the time it really doesn't feel like it.

You really are doing brilliantly. Breastfeeding this one has been tough and he's my 4th... if he'd been the first I'd be in a state! If you ever decide to switch to bottles, please do not feel at all bad. But if you want to continue to try, I would really try to pursue the tongue tie diagnosis. They don't always spot it.

I've just had him weighed and he hasn't gained anything since last week. He was 7lbs 13 at birth then dropped to 7 lbs 2 but put 10 ounces back on last week. He's stayed at 7 pounds 12 this week though and now I'm worried he's not getting enough. He's been feeding non stop, having dirty and wet napped and is really alert, I'm just not understanding why he's not gaining.

@YoungmumB please don't worry too much about weight gain as:

• every weight scale is different
• it depends how much milk they had before weigh in
• it depends how much wee and poo they did before the weigh in

My baby had "apparently" lost weight, but when we checked, it turns out that he was weighed just after a cluster feed (full belly) before he did a massive poo.
The health visitor told me not to worry about it as long as he was looking well, with plenty wet and dirty nappies

Actually, I would worry (not overly, he's still doing ok) if I was also concerned about tongue tie as it can lead to lack of weight gain. I would pursue a thorough examination by an expert. What do you mean by feeding constantly? How often?

I had awful cracked nipples at 5 days of age and I had my son assessed and he had a severe tongue tie.

Damaged nipples, mastitis and poor weight gain are all signs of tongue tie so please contact a specialist to have him assessed because it can be so easily fixed if that’s the problem.

Ps) I was told never to air dry cracked nipples. What I did was hand express lots of milk into the nipple shields and then wear the nipple shields inside my bra. I would leave the shields on all day inbetween feeds and just change the milk in them every few hours. It means my nipples were kept in a moist environment and surrounded by the perfect healer that I’d breast milk

Ps) If you’re anywhere near the midlands then PM me and I can recommend someone

I've had him checked for a tongue tie in hospital and by two breastfeeding support workers. Who else would I ask to get him checked by? I've noticed that he might have an upper lip tongue tie but not sure how much of a difference that makes.

MIdwives and breast feeding supporters aren’t trained to formally assess for tongue tie. They can have a look in the mouth but some tongue ties are at the very back of the tongue and very difficult to spot.

A full assessment looks at tongue movement, tongue function and assessment of their suck etc - it’s quite complex and does involve a finger being put in their mouth and various exercises being carried out to assess the tongue. I’ve had it done 3 times and it’s quite a lengthy assessment, it’s not just a case of looking at the tongue and saying yay or nay.

You need to see an LBAC Specialist - at least I think that’s what they’re called - who have undergone specialised training to detect and treat tongue ties.

It can be expensive though....

Or it might be IBCLC that is their qualification.

Either way, google tongue tie assessments with your County and a list of specialists should come up.

My nipples were so sore a few days after birth that the midwives in hospital helped me start combi feeding, which we’re still doing two weeks later.

The past few days things have been going well enough to start reducing the formula but tbh combi feeding really works for us as DP can do nights and we’re avoiding cluster feeding, which sounds exhausting.