I'm beginning to wonder...

*krista* · #1 May 28th, 2010, 02:40 PM

How our species has survived when breastfeeding is so painful!! Aren't things that help us survive supposed to feel good to tell us we are doing things right?? Geez, we have sex and then it is all downhill from there as far as pain for the mother is concerned.

It hurts so bad.

I'm dreading each feeding, and I hate that. My nipples scabbed over and she ripped the scabs right off and now they are all bloody and cracked! This morning I was literally bawling in DH's arms while she was nursing. Is there anything that will help? I'm using the lanolin stuff and soothies. I think I'm going to stop with the soothies though, they seem to make me engorged. I'm walking around with my nursing bra unhooked to take the pressure off. What else???

greeneyes · #2 May 28th, 2010, 03:03 PM

Honey, I know exactly what you are going through. This happened to me just a few days after Violet was born. First thing you need to do is ditch that lanolin. If you have open tears and scabs, lanolin becomes the perfect feeding ground for thrush which is something you absolutely do not want right now. Send hubby out for some 100% organic coconut oil. It will feel SO GOOD on your poor nipples and it promotes very quick healing. Seriously, I went from scabbed nipples that were so badly lacerated I was honestly worried they were going to fall off to completely healed in 36 hours.

Second thing I would recommend is seeing a lactation consultant because it sounds like the latch may be off. Charlotte may be a great latcher but that doesn't mean she is latched in the correct position. Also, another thing that really helped me was nursing exclusively in the football hold position - it really promotes the perfect latch and prevents baby from perching just on the nipple which is what I think you may be experiencing.

You may need to get a nipple shield since your nipples are so torn up. I can tell you from experience that while a shield isn't the ideal, if it saves you some pain it's worth it. The vast majority of babies will be able to transition to a nipple shield and off again with zero issues.

BIG HUGS, sweetie. I so feel your pain and I hope it all gets sorted out very quickly. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

--
Also wanted to add: start going topless. Close all the curtains/blinds and walk around without a shirt, bra, etc for as many hours of the day as you can. You need to keep your nipples as dry as possible so you don't get an infection. This was Lee's favorite part of my healing process.

**Jenn** · #3 May 28th, 2010, 03:20 PM

Unfortunately this was just how it was for me the first 2 weeks with both my boys, complete with scabby, bloody nipples. It was just part of the toughening up phase my body had to go through. It wasn't as bad with Lochy and I didn't have any pain at all nursing Lila so hopefully it won't be as bad next time for you.

Kate has some great advice for you. I also recommend going topless. We live with my inlaws so this was never an option for me but at night it was such a relief!

I too absolutely dreaded every feed those first two weeks, it honestly sucked big hairy monkey balls. But it did get so much better and before you know it, nursing will be painless like its supposed to be. Remember, just because it's natural doesn't mean in the least that its easy. It's a learning curve for you, your baby, and your body. You're doing a great job, don't forget that!

LisanAndy · #4 May 28th, 2010, 03:44 PM

Oh hugs, I understand! My nipples were like this the first week/ week and a half after Rylie was born. My nipples were cracked and would bleed and the shower KILLED me. On top of all that I had a spinal headache and couldn't walk.. anyway

it WILL let up, I promise. I remember hating the feeling of the milk letting down too. It's very strong in the beginning. For me, the intensity of it stopped after a while. All I did was use lansinoh cream like no ones business and it stopped. Hang in there, it WILL get easier ((HUGS))

Edited to add: Rylie's latch was all messed up and once I corrected that on my own it was MUCH easier. I would pull her off mid feed if it was painful and if my nipple looked like a brand new tube of lipstick, it's wrong. Kellymom.com has some awesome info.

**Jenn** · #5 May 28th, 2010, 03:49 PM

See my boys both had great latches and my nipples still got trashed those first 2 weeks.

And I'm sure I'm the odd one out on this but I've never ever felt a letdown...

*krista* · #6 May 28th, 2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisanAndy

my nipple looked like a brand new tube of lipstick.

That's what is happening to me! I saw the lactation consultant at the hospital and she said the latch was fine. I asked her if my nipple was supposed to be all smushed and deformed and elongated after nursing and she said yes. It's not supposed to be? Help! *off to kellymom.com*

*krista* · #7 May 28th, 2010, 04:08 PM

I checked out how we are supposed to be latching and we are doing it all wrong. Even Charlotte's lips got chapped and peely, which I'm guessing isn't supposed to happen? That hospital consultant had no idea what she was talking about! She even watched Charlotte latch on! I'm going to go try the technique I just read about, see if we do any better.

LisanAndy · #8 May 28th, 2010, 04:08 PM

Latching and Positioning Resources

No matter what latch and positioning look like, the true measure is in the answers to these two questions:

1. Is it effective?
2. Is it comfortable?

Even if latch and positioning look perfect (and, yes, even if a lactation consultant told you they were fine), pain and/or ineffective milk transfer indicate that there is a problem somewhere, and the first suspect is ineffective latch/positioning.

If baby is transferring milk and gaining weight well, and mom is not hurting, then latch and positioning are - by definition - good, even if it's nothing like the "textbook" latch and positioning that you've seen in books.

This is from Kellymom, you may see it, and it has an animate illustration on how to latch properly. It's under "common BF concerns: BABY"

Also, get on youtube and watch videos of latching on. I had never BF a day in my life and new nothing about it and Kellymom.com and youtube are what taught me

Edited to add: more keeps coming back to me

I also found "the football hold" to be the easiest way to get her latched on in the beginning. Have you tried that?

bittersweet · #9 May 28th, 2010, 04:27 PM

I used Earth Mama Angel Baby Nippe Butter. I never had any issues with cracking and bleeding and I think that was a big reason why. Maybe after your nips heal, give it a try to prevent damage in the future. I like the topless idea too!

Angelaosaurus-rex · #10 May 28th, 2010, 04:35 PM

Everyone already said what I would have. ((HUGS)) It gets better I promise!

ShannonMVT · #11 May 28th, 2010, 04:52 PM

My LC suggested dipping my nipples into salt water, kind of like gargling with salt water, only for your nipples. It seemd to help a little.

:hugs:

*krista* · #12 May 28th, 2010, 05:07 PM

I tried the latch technique I saw on kellymom.com, but I don't think I quite got it right. It still hurt like crazy, but then again she stripped another scab.

That and it is really hard to get her latched right because she gets so upset before we nurse and she squirms and thrashes her head around. She latched just on the nipple at first and OMG! I made her try it again and she seemed to do better all around -- she sucked pretty continuously (other times she starts and stops) and deeply. We will definitely work on it more.

In the mean time I'm going to try some of the other suggestions for comfort. I really appreciate all your help and encouragement. DH tries to help but he just keeps on telling me I need to use the pump to give my nipples a rest, which doesn't help because we aren't ready to introduce the bottle yet. He just hates to see me in pain and doesn't understand that I need encouragement, not to be told to give up. Anyway, so what I'm trying to say is thank you!

*krista* · #13 May 28th, 2010, 05:13 PM

Oh! And another question. She only nurses on one side each time and I alternate the side from one feeding to the next. When she is done I manually express as much milk as I can from the other side. I do it because I dread latching a second time and because I have tried to stop her to change sides before and she doesn't start back up again on the other side. Is that bad?

LisanAndy · #14 May 28th, 2010, 05:14 PM

Sure thing Krista! Hang in there mama

greeneyes · #15 May 28th, 2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *krista*

Oh! And another question. She only nurses on one side each time and I alternate the side from one feeding to the next. When she is done I manually express as much milk as I can from the other side. I do it because I dread latching a second time and because I have tried to stop her to change sides before and she doesn't start back up again on the other side. Is that bad?

Nope, not bad at all. Violet only nursed on one side for the first couple of weeks and I manually pumped the other side just like you're doing. Keep in mind that because your nipples are so torn apart right now, even if Charlotte is latched correctly and everything is perfect it will still probably hurt until you are healed up.

Since she's thrashing a bit before feeding, you might try manually pumping for a minute or two before you latch her. This will soften your breasts a touch which should make it easier for her to latch correctly the first time and be less painful for you. Hopefully you start to get some relief soon!

Oriyan · #16 May 28th, 2010, 05:56 PM

*hugs*

Pumping does not give your nipples a rest really. I pumped for 4 weeks exclusively and they were red and chapped and bloody just from pumping.

See if you have an LLL consultant in your area to come out and help!

fromGirltoMommy · #17 May 28th, 2010, 06:06 PM

Im sorry your having problems sweetie, I would definitely contact a LC, sometimes hospital LCs arent really TRUE TRUE LCs..

szczepanski · #18 May 28th, 2010, 06:07 PM

I had a horrible first 6 weeks with nursing....but once we got through it, it's been smooth sailing since then!!!

You need to send DH out for some BREAST SHELLS. They are little round peices of plastic with air holes that keep your clothing off your nipples and allow the air to circulate. I got cracked nipples and it was excruciating...that plus lanolin and they healed in just a couple of days.

Hang in there..it is rough...I can go find my thread begging for help if you want, haha. We used the nipple shield for 4 weeks and I got rid of it and was miserable for the next 2 weeks, haha. But now he nurses like a champ...which is why he is almost 15 pounds, hahaha.

niknok · #19 May 28th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Everyone has given great advice, so I have nothing to add. I just wanted to offer (((HUGS))). I promise it does and will get better. You are doing an awesome job, and will be so proud later on, for sticking with it. Good job Momma!

Mod-LadyCoconut · #20 May 28th, 2010, 08:40 PM

Aw Krista I'm sorry you're struggling.

I hope you know that you're not alone with this. I am going to explain how I went about BFing, and you may already be doing all of this but just in case I'm going to throw it out there --

When she was a newborn I usually fed her in the football/clutch hold. It was easies for me because I could have one hand holding my boob and one hand holding the back of her head. I'd pinch my nipple together sort of and wait for her to open (or sometimes yan, lol) and then with my other hand I would jam her head into my boob to make sure I got as much of the 'colored' part of my nipple in there as possible.
I think the shells like Heather mentioned would be a great idea for you to help your nipples 'rest' in between feedings.

Most importantly though, know that all of this is worth it. I know it may seem kind of hopless now like you're constantly feeding her and its painful and not fun... but you will soon get to a point where it is truly pain free and you will be so glad you stuck it out.