[dinamommy]

My sister just had a baby 6 days ago and she's having major cracking and bleeding issues. She says it hurts so bad that she doesn't even want to feed him. At first it was just painful with the initial latch, but now she says her breasts hurt all the time. She swears the baby's opening his mouth wide to get a good latch every time. I can't think of why this would be happening. I remember it hurting with my first, but I don't think it was to this extent. It's been so long ago that I had these issues that I can't remember what to tell her that will help. I looked on kellymom and it said to make sure there is a good latch, use a saline solution to keep the wounds clean, and use the lanolin after the baby feeds. Anything else that you guys can think of that might help?

[*BabyMaMa*]

Just tell her to keep going! It's going to get so much better. I remember going through the same feeling as well. Leah would wake up in the middle of the night to eat, and I would seriously HATE feeding her. My toes would curl from the pain. After two weeks, things got so much better and the pain went away. I would just say stick with it!

[bundle2baby]

Yes, I would encourage her to keep going. I had a terrible time for the first couple months! There could be other issues going on, so I would advise her to seek out a good lactation consultant as soon as possible. The more support she has, the better. If I hadn't had tons of support & encouragement, the pain was so exquisite at times I know I would have stopped.

[Hollybear]

The first week was a blur for me, but just keep going! My boob was so engorged at one point it took on a square shape, lol, it gets easier!

[starrsgirl]

Get a professional to help her!! Tell her to call an LC ASAP! That's what they are there for...it could be the latch even if she doesn't think so. Either way, an LC will give her in person support.

[dinamommy]

I wasn't even aware that there were any LCs in our little town, but there is one. She's suppose to call my sister back at 4. We're thinking now that she may have thrush and that's what's causing the stabbing/burning pains. I feel so bad for her. She said she was crying every time he would nurse and it killed for the whole half hour he was on there.

[.s.o.p.h.]

I have no advice other than doctor, LC and google. that would be horrible and I hope it clears up really soon.

[Karlie]

I was going to suggest thrush too, I had that with Luca but never with Noah and holy bajesus it was the most painful thing ever! Get her to check bub's mouth for patchy white spots.

[TarrahLovesHuLo]

You beat me to the point. Thrush. That was my suspicion, and personal experience. The pain was far too intense, and the cracking turned to bleeding, and H wasn't getting any milk. I hope it gets better for her.

[dinamommy]

We looked in his mouth and couldn't see anything at all in there. I'm thinking she has it but it hasn't shown up in him yet. Poor thing went THREE different places yesterday to try to get some answers. I guess they kept sending her here and there. I have no idea why. Her baby is barely a week old and they think it's cool to send her all over town and expose him to all kinds of crap instead of keeping her in one place and trying to help her there. After all that, no one came to any conclusions. They put her on antibiotics and gave her medicine for thrush, just hoping something would work.

[AndiNW]

Check out Dr. Jack Newman's website. He also recommends a prescription cream that can help with the bleeding and cracking if it's not related to thrush. It helps with the healing. i had to get it with DD.

[mommytokem]

Another thing she can do is just leave some breast milk on her nipples and let it dry and it will help with the healing, if it's not thrush