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Original poster

Help, can someone save my nipples?!?

77 replies

Sadie789 · 02/08/2019 03:19

Day 10 of breastfeeding and I swear my right nipple is about to fall off. The other one is not far behind. The pain is excruciating!! When DC latches I have to kick and swear and wince for about a minute before it’s bearable but the pain continues the whole feed. Not ideal for feeding in the corner of Starbucks.

I’ve had midwife advice and she’s shown me about positions and getting the right latch which is fine but doesn’t address the existing pain.

I’ve googled and again there’s lots of vague advice on latches and top tips etc but nothing on what to do once the nipples are done in.

Does anyone have a strategy for me? Should I just start expressing? (Wanted to wait until at least 2 weeks) Should I only use the less painful one for a while?

I have breast shells which have helped a bit but cluster feeding means neither one is getting a real break. Nipple shields were rejected by baby.

So sore!!

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Original poster
Sadie789 · 02/08/2019 21:59

Thanks everyone, will look at flipple on YouTube and have lathered on the Lanisoh and letting them flap free in the open air tonight (so sexy) and trying not to dread the next feed!

I did try the rugby hold but short arms and big boobs make all these positions harder.

Also praying for a night off from the cluster feeding (although deep down I know it’s going to be another long night!)

:)

OP posts:
SunniDay · 02/08/2019 22:02

Just reflecting back on your original post OP and reassuring you that you should be fine to express for a short time and return to breastfeeding or mixed feeding (bottle and breast).

Original poster
Sadie789 · 02/08/2019 22:02

@SunniDay this is how I’ve been feeling but I managed to 5 months with my first DC (I do remember it being hard at the start but not this pain) so I am not prepared to give up after 10 days for new baby, that’s not fair of me.

I do have a pump from last time. I might resort to that if I have another bad night.

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SunniDay · 02/08/2019 22:04

This is what I’m getting at - your not giving up - your managing your pain/nipple condition so that you can keep breastfeeding rather than quit.

TinchyP · 02/08/2019 22:06

I had a routine after every feed of salt water rinse, lansinoh and jelonet over the top. It healed them after a week or so. The MAM compresses were also nice. Dont let your nipples dry out - you want moist wound healing. Letting them dry out allows scabs to form which then get pulled off next time you feed. Good luck!

SunniDay · 02/08/2019 22:07

(*you’re - sorry!)

Nighttimenope · 02/08/2019 22:34

Yes to what @Sunni says

EagleAndTheHawk · 03/08/2019 08:00

Had the same thing, would literally cry with how sore it was. I used Lanisoh and breast milk, and before every feed I would use the breast pump for 2 minutes, was less painful and helped me to get her to latch on properly with little pain

Himawarigirl · 03/08/2019 08:09

Others will have said much of this probably but I had similar issues with my 5.5 week old dc number 3, Having had no issues previously. He turned out to have tongue tie which meant that when he was latched on, even though it looked perfect from the outside, my nipple was pushing against the harder roof of his mouth rather than the soft palate at the back. He had tongue tie, which was only mild and a breastfeeding support group worker said I’d probably get away without tackling it, but it was so painful I just wanted to try whatever might help and in fact it helped almost immediately because the feed itself stopped being painful. However the initial latching on continues to be painful and still is a bit,
although it has got a lot less. Some things recommended to me have been mam compresses, which I didn’t actually like because they were sticky and you had to take them off after an hour and I just felt it was aggravating the situation. But something highly recommended to me was silver nipple shields that you wear between the feeds. They are quite pricey and I felt my situation was improving by the time I was told about them but in your case I’d definitely recommend them because from the reviews on Amazon they seem quite magical. A couple of positioning tips that also helped me is trying to get your baby to give the widest mouth they can have to latch on, and a way to do that is to position your nipple at their top lip, which can stimulate them to open their mouth a bit wider and I think that helped a little. And also holding your breast like a bun. So if you’re looking down at it put your thumb on the top of it and your hand underneath and just compress it so it’s quite squashed which makes the whole area the baby has to latch onto stretch out a bit and they have to widen their mouth to get on. In my case my baby just wasn’t opening his mouth enough. Yours is maybe a different issue but that’s just some tips that helped gradually lessen the pain for me. Good luck, I know exactly how you feel as this is my third child and I still felt it was so hideous I couldn’t see why I should carry on and I really resented everyone telling me to just keep persevering, but we did get there. And I’m sure that you will too. But if there’s any way you can get some expert advice either with someone helping you get to a breastfeeding support café or a lactation consultant I’m sure they’d really be able to help you. I know that’s not an option for everyone but they try to be affordable to help women in all sorts of situations rather than being just an exclusive option. Because mine had tongue tie I found someone who could help me with that on the website of the Association of tongue tie practitioners and the lady who came was also a lactation consultant so got two things for the price of one which was great.

Himawarigirl · 03/08/2019 08:10

Sorry, one more thing, rugby hold also helped quite a bit as others have said!

Rosebud1302 · 03/08/2019 09:13

Oh OP I remember this well and it was excruciating. I promise you it does improve but it's so tough. I would recommend getting your LO checked for tongue tie. This affected my boy's latch really badly. Once this was sorted things got better quickly x

BohemianDream · 03/08/2019 10:14

Hey OP, hope your getting on a bit better since your post. Just thought I'd say that I also struggled with pain and was going to give up because it was so intense but tried nipple shields which baby didn't latch onto very well, I tried a second time with a different brand (Medela) and they were so much better, my baby latched on really well.
I hope thing get better for you naturally though, good luck.

WobbleTime · 03/08/2019 10:20

Have a look for ‘silverettes’ online. I think you can still get them. They are little silver plated cup type things that you put over your nipples all the time you’re not feeding. I used them when my nipples were about to fall off and within about 2 days they were pretty much healed. Something in the silver promotes healing. You stick them to your nipples with a bit of breastmilk.
I realise this sounds a bit mad, but they do work! Also because they are solid they protect your damaged nipples from rubbing on your bra etc
Hope things improve for you. I remember the pain well x

Underworld345 · 03/08/2019 14:56

Try and get as much of your boob in their mouth as you can. I was in pain like you but as soon as you get the right latch it becomes bareable and allows your nipple to heal. As other have said put lanisoh cream on at every opportunity and let them breath I.e lose cotton clothing or nothing at all. I actually walked around top half naked a lot when my DS was first born. Nothing to rub and irritate them.

artio0 · 03/08/2019 17:32

Oh you're amazing for still going strong!

I had the same, I didn't want to leave the house for two months cause I didn't want to put anything over my nipples, they hurt so badly... Lanisol was no help at all for me and I couldn't get the nipple shields to work either, and I went to about five different people for latch support but they all said she looks fine.

I started pumping to give them some relieve at 11 days and she switched between bottle and nipple no problem for months after. Just pump from the one that's more sore and give her the other one for a bit? And then give her the bottle when you know she's hungry so she'll take it. That's what I did... It didn't affect my supply either.

Hope you're healing in no time!

Pixie2015 · 03/08/2019 21:34

Use cushions to get comfortable and try holding your breast around nipple as latches on and make sure good amount goes in mouth - is there anyone who could take you to peer support group - sounds like your doing well to be out and about feeding x

Podemos · 04/08/2019 02:22

When I was in absolute excruciating agony the first 24 hours of feeding, I found threads like this really unhelpful- I just could not go on feeding because of the pain yet I was reading over and over again advice that it was normal to be painful, use cream, etc. I felt a complete failure having to give formula on day 2 when everyone said they just fed through the pain. Thankfully he was diagnosed with a tongue tie the next day. If I'd continued breast feeding him, it wouldn't have got better, my nipples would have just been further damaged.

The first few weeks are hard enough without resenting your baby every time he needs feeding. I feel a bit sad that i spent the first 24 hours absolutely dreading him waking up to feed - that pain has stayed with me more than the pain of labour.

In just 4 weeks we went from formula, to expressed to breastfeeding with zero pain (with overlapping of these to get to exclusively breast feeding at 4 weeks).

If you need to just express to allow your nipples time to heal and to just enjoy your baby rather that the pain of feeding taking over all of your thoughts, then do it. And use the time to get as much advice as you can on possible tongue tie and latch positions from different people. Giving a bottle now (even formula) in no way means that you won't breastfeed long term.

Lottle · 04/08/2019 09:54

Aww hun. I had to use medela nipple shields for a few weeks. Would have had to stop otherwise.

widgetbeana · 04/08/2019 09:59

Nipple shields. I know there is a lot of hate for them, but I used them successfully for a month with my eldest, then once we both knew what we were doing I weaned them away. We then breastfed naturally for another 10 months. My nipples wouldn't stretch enough and my eldest wasn't strong enough to suck hard enough at the start. So nipple shields helped to get the right latch established and helped my pain massively. Once we were both more practised and stronger the shields were no longer needed.

TanMateix · 04/08/2019 11:22

Get checked for thrush, it makes breastfeeding extremely painful. If you have got it near your nipples both you and baby will need to be treated, but it is pretty common so do not worry, your midwife can tell you if you have it.

Failing that, get in touch with a breastfeeding /group ASAP, do not even consider waiting until next month, by then you will be in bottles.

Staysexyanddontgetmurdered · 04/08/2019 14:16

Currently on day 14 of BF so feel your pain! Do you have a breastfeeding pillow? That's been great for me my baby in the correct position. Keep trying the nipple shields. Took a few goes with mine but I was able to use them for a few days and it made all the difference in giving my nipples a chance to heal.
Good luck, solidarity!!! Cake

Staysexyanddontgetmurdered · 04/08/2019 14:17

Should have read that's been great for keeping my baby in the correct position

givemeabreak1 · 04/08/2019 15:58

Check out NCT Asite on BF. Pictures for latching on are great. As an HV would have to say incorrect latch = sore nipples.

StressyDressyHeels · 04/08/2019 21:27

I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this. It does get better, promise! You’re doing fantastically!

Agree with the others Lanisoh on both nipples whether or not you’ve fed. I got through three tubes in as many weeks and have never had to use it since!