Breastfeeding with suspected nipple trauma

[Lndn93]

I’m new to breastfeeding after having my first child, 4 week old baby girl. Had a relatively smooth start but latch problems crept in a few days ago. Tried to resolve on my own by paying extra attention and altering position, but think I might have nipple trauma in one breast - it’s super painful to the point where I haven’t been able to feed off that breast in approx 12 hours. Don’t suspect mastitis or thrush or anything like that.

I’m going to try to see a support group or specialist tomorrow or Tuesday; but I’m super worried about my supply/getting blocked ducts in the meantime. So far I have expressed with a manual pump twice (20ml and 30ml) and attempted a feed with a nipple shield which was less painful but not sure how much milk she got as I was still fairly engorged afterwards. Is this the right amount of expressing to take the edge off or should I be expressing more like 70ml? (If I can, first time using pump). I just want to get through the next 24-48 hours before I can see a specialist without causing any more problems.

Will offer baby the expressed milk but also formula (she’s not averse to formula as we used to do formula top ups anyway) and I’m still feeding as normal on the other breast.

breastfeeding such a learning curve :S

I would express until it feels like the breast is empty if you can do it (hard with a manual pump) and/or let her feed as long as possible with the nipple shield if you can. Do be mindful of thrush though, mine started simply as just intense pain and I got fobbed off with my first. GP only believed me with my 2nd baby because she said I wasn’t a first time mum, so it got properly treated, but was really painful.

Oh I'm so sorry, injury like this is so painful. I assume you have lansinoh and things like that to promote moist healing? Also plenty of top off air to the breast time. I never used them but I heard lots of people swear by those silver cups that you put on your nips to heal them, someone else will know what they are.

Try using bepanthen nappy cream on it, I found that worked much better than nipple creams.

Also, once you feel like you can try feeding again, try a different position each time, maybe latching from the other side so e.g. rugby ball hold. I found that really useful as it meant it wasn't irritating my nipple in the exact same place every time.

Good luck!

I had really bad nipple trauma (cracked and bleeding) and those silver cups were actually so great for healing, I didn't think they would do much so was really surprised. You can wear them under your bra all day, definitely recommend, it makes healing really quick. I also used nipple shields when they were at their worst just so I could keep feeding from that side. Good luck, it's really horrible but can improve really quickly too❤️

I can't help with the pumping question, but also recommend silver cups. They healed nipple trauma for me so quickly and I could go back to breastfeeding without a shield in a couple of days.
I also used multi-mam compresses and then nipple cream over night.
Silver cups and the compresses are next day delivery on amazon.
Hope it heals quickly for you OP, bf is hard! ❤️