[~*Bethy*~]

So Ive resorted back to using a shield - and can I still say OUCH?! but its gotten MUUUCH better!! Now my question is, after my nipples heal while using a shield - will they start hurting again after I take it away? If so screw BFing....cuz this shyte isnt fun anymore with them hurting like this!!

[.Brandi.]

I used a nipple shield with Preston for a full month. After I weaned him off the shield, I would tweak my nipple to get it erect enough for him to latch properly. That actually hurt more than him latching on. I've been told I have inverted nipples and that the shield helps them know that there is something there. So I had to tweak the nipple and then hand-express the milk so he could taste the milk when I put my nipple to his lips. The key is to get the baby to open their mouth as wide as possible! The more nipple and areola that they get in their mouth, the less it'll hurt you! Hope this helps you Bethy....breastfeeding can suck at times!

[SandKmommy]

I'm no help on that, I've never really had pain issues w/ BFing. But almost 14.5mo later and I still use a nipple shield to nurse so she can bf I hope it stops hurting for you soon.

[.Brandi.]

Wow!! Justine you're still using a shield??? That's incredible!!! I was told it deminishes your supply so you must have a lot of milk!!! You Go Mama!

[SandKmommy]

It can but not for everyone. We could never get either kid weened, it has to do with my breasts and their mouths (too much areola and hardly any nipple for me and they don't bring their tongues down right when they are newborns.) we tried w/ both kids for hours and days to get them weened off and it never worked. The LC's just told me do what works even if that means using the shield till they ween. Seamus used it till he weened at 12.5mo and of course like I said Kieran still uses it I always have an over supply at the beginning(caused problems w/ Seamus GERD) but after that I'm always freaking out if I have enough

[soImarriedAnerd]

Have you met with a LC?! If not I would get in ASAP! Also....now no laughing and you probably would expect this from weirdo me but have you tried seashells. ... Seashells | mothering

[*krista*]

It's not quite the same I would assume, but I pumped a while to let my nipples heal and am now slowly phasing back into BFing. It didn't hurt nearly as much. It helps that in the mean time I learned how she is supposed to latch. We nursed a lot in the past couple of days and latched wrong once or twice and it tore up my nipples again, so I am giving them another pumping break to heal. But again, it didn't hurt nearly as much as before and they seem to be healing faster. I am confident that it will continue to get better as long as I keep at it.

[ScottishBrit]

I had to use a shield the entire time I BF Cambria. MANY time she sucked My nipple through the Shield, let me just say that is a whole new type of pain!!!!!!!

[.Brandi.]

Originally Posted by ScottishBrit

I had to use a shield the entire time I BF Cambria. MANY time she sucked My nipple through the Shield, let me just say that is a whole new type of pain!!!!!!!

OMGosh...yes!!!! Preston did that to me a few times, and I thought my nipple would literally fall off!!!! A pain I'll never forget....althought...maybe I have!

[Resi]

I used a shield on and off for the first couple weeks. I don't think I really needed it what so ever. It helped with the pain though. After I stopped using the shield everything was fine and no pain again. It took a couple weeks with the shield to move past the soreness. I'd say you are getting close to that point if you continue. But are you sure she is latching correctly? Does it keep hurting after a few sucks? My soreness always went away after a few sucks.

[~*Bethy*~]

Originally Posted by Resi

I used a shield on and off for the first couple weeks. I don't think I really needed it what so ever. It helped with the pain though. After I stopped using the shield everything was fine and no pain again. It took a couple weeks with the shield to move past the soreness. I'd say you are getting close to that point if you continue. But are you sure she is latching correctly? Does it keep hurting after a few sucks? My soreness always went away after a few sucks.

After the first few initial pull off's due to too much milk, yes the pain does eventually go away, but only on one side. My right side is just evil Ive come to realize So now Im pumping that side, because even with the shield I scream in pain But my left side is going good with the shield (well even without I just bare it as its not nearly as bad as my right side) I never needed one with Morgan so Im assuming its her latch. Shes got such tiny lips that Im thinking Im too big for her mouth. I have met with a LC, and they all have said shes got the tiniest mouth they've ever seen So Im 99% sure its her latch. My midwife said Ill just have to nurse with the shield and pump till her mouth grows bigger.

They are lying when they tell you BFing doesnt hurt by the way....

[szczepanski]

yes they are. nursing was excruciating for me in the beginning. tylenol and tears got me through it!!

Once I got through the initial latch pain, my letdown was OMG OUCH. It hurt until about 6 weeks. I even had a burning after nursing and whenever I would get cold (nipples get hard) it would feel like they were burning. I think it was because I have shorter ones so they needed to stretch slowly.

We used the shield until about 4 weeks and I got rid of it for too early and paid the price. I was overanxious to get rid of it. Thankfully now everything is ok, but when they say the first 6 weeks suck it is the truth.

[~*Bethy*~]

Originally Posted by szczepanski

yes they are. nursing was excruciating for me in the beginning. tylenol and tears got me through it!!

Once I got through the initial latch pain, my letdown was OMG OUCH. It hurt until about 6 weeks. I even had a burning after nursing and whenever I would get cold (nipples get hard) it would feel like they were burning. I think it was because I have shorter ones so they needed to stretch slowly.

We used the shield until about 4 weeks and I got rid of it for too early and paid the price. I was overanxious to get rid of it. Thankfully now everything is ok, but when they say the first 6 weeks suck it is the truth.

I get that from the evil right boob! its like FEED ME NOWWWW and Im like nooo you suuuuck!

[szczepanski]

Haha, I basically spent 2 weeks rubbing my nipples trying to keep them warm.

Do you have breast shells??? They are AMAZING - they keep your clothing off your nipples so they can have air circulating to them and help them heal faster. That plus lanolin is the only reason I survived. They also help draw your nipple out a little bit (just make sure you double up on nursing pads because I leaked like crazy in them and I never leak) too so she might have more to latch onto. And don't forget the HAMBURGER to make your boob fit into her mouth and not the other way around.

Hang in there....it gets MUCH better....now I don't even have to work at it and in the mornings we just sleep in bed together and I undo the snaps on my nursing tank and its an open bar - he eats as he pleases and we get another 2 hours of sleep that way.

[~*Bethy*~]

you lost me at the hamburger part - I try to shove as much as possible in but her mouth is so freaking tiny!

Last night was our first "lay down" session, but only with the help of the shield. I was able to kinda sit her up while swaddled while I was on my side, and she ate off my top breast - with the shield this was possible because she had something there that was firm and easy to latch on to. While your laying down, dont you nurse off the bottom breast? I remember doing it with Morgan but forgot the technique!

[*krista*]

Charlotte has a teeny tiny mouth too! Although I really think it has already gotten bigger, which I am very happy about.

[fromGirltoMommy]

Ok honestly. Bfing SUCKS the first 6 weeks. Your learning, babes learning. Its hard. It SUCKS BIGGG MONKEY DONKEY BALLS! SUCKS! SUCKS SUCKS SUCK!! Horrible. For most anyway. I was on nipple shields for 2 straight months. When I came off them I actually didnt have any pain. I was soooo worried. But I think that was bc I was pumping alot, so my nips were "weathered" kinda.

But honestly bfing sucks so much in the beggining. Its NOT at all like skipping through a meadow easy. But once you hit that 6w mark its like a little light bulb goes *BING* easy street!!! Its soooo amazing to breastfeed. Amazing. Its not breastfeeding after that its "nursing"

And hoenstly nursing is the most amazing journey I have ever been on. And its only getting better. Now if I ask Kennedi if she wants boob, she does excited laughing I cant even describe how amazing it feels to have her do that bc *I* am going to feed her. Its amazing that if she cries cuz she bumps her head I can just pick her up and comfort her in the matter of whipping out my boob The relationship we have I truly believe is bc we got so close nursing.

If you can try and stick it out, at least till shes 7w cuz I promise it WILL get better!

[Mars]

I'm not much help at all. I do remember the initial stages and the pain and then it got better and everything was great. I never used a shield so I don't know anything about that. I suggest trying a LC as well.