OT: ? for all the nursing moms out there

[homemaker]

We had our 5th baby 3weeks ago and have been breasfeeding for the first time. Tried with a couple of the others but always gave up. This time I am really trying to stay with it, but wow am I sore!!!!! What are some good remedies? I have lanolin, but is there anything else that I can use. Thanks for the help.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Have you tried different holds with your baby so that he/she latches on differently? You might check with the lactation consultant at your hospital for some help too. I never had any trouble with soreness with either of my babies and nursed the first for about 13 months and am still nursing my 10 month old, so I don't have any miracle cures for the soreness other than to say that you and your baby may need to learn together. It is definitely a natural thing, but it does take some practice to get it right. I hope you get some relief - but keep it up! Your baby is getting the best!!

 

[homeschooler]

I found the biggest help was using cloth breast pads. I really needed the extra padding, etc. and the disposable runs really irritated. It does get better.

 

[3goofyboys]

Do you have a lactation consultant around to check the baby's latch? A little soreness is normal, throbbing nibbles that make you want to cry is not! If you're just a little sore, I've heard great things about soothies (http://soothies.com/gelpads.html) but have never used them myself. They might be worth a try. Good luck, you're doing a great thing for your baby!

 

[kpm76]

For me, it just took time to "toughen" up the nipples. I was really sore and cracked for a few weeks but eventually it got much better and then you don't feel it at all. Baby was latched fine and getting all she needed but it still hurt me.....time to get used to it was what I needed...good luck and congrats!

 

[barnaby1]

I had terrible trouble with nipple agony (soreness didn't even come close to a description for me). It wasn't a case of toughening up etc. I have fair skin and red hair and we are well known for having this problem when breast feeding, so I am feeling your pain.
My technique was perfect (according to the health visitor) but I was saved by 2 things.
1 is a lanolin based cream called Lasinoh and the other were nipple shields.

 

[Melani]

For the first few weeks try to not wear a bra. This helped with my 3rd. It does take a little while for the tenderness to go away, not more than a month though. If you do get cracked skin have it looked at, my neighbor thought hers was just the usual thing *which I never experienced with my 3) but it got infected, and that was really painful. Also the latch is very important.

It gets easier after the 1st month, then about the 4th month the baby wants to nurse non stop. After that it's a breeze, way better than bottles.

Melani

 

[TarzansKat]

I also found that Gerber makes a very nice balm. It comes in a tube, similar to chapstick, but larger. I found it to be more comforting and much less sticky, and easier to apply than Lanolin.

 

[Tink-aholic]

First of all, congrads on your decision to breastfeed! I agree with all of the previous suggestions (especially the latching on).

When it gets really bad, just ask yourself what you would do if there was no such thing as formula?

It DOES get better...and the bond is indescribable. I hated to give it up, but my guy had three front teeth. The doctor told me that it is easier to wean than it is to sew a nipple back on!

Good luck!

 

[Beehn]

With my 2nd DD I used a Nipple shield like this one:
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breastfeeding-devices
I didn't use it for every feeding, just a couple of times a day...but it gave my sore ones a little bit of a break. After awhile I didn't need it anymore, but I was glad to have it in the beginning..
Other breastfeeding pureists may not agree...but I say whatever works.

 

[wickywinn]

I nursed all 3 of my babies, and had a bit of adjusting with everyone of them the first few weeks, which is completely normal. Once you and your baby are in sync, and he/she learns to latch on perfectly, it's a breeze. I know how those first few weeks can be torture though.

With my first he wasn't latching on good but, by the time my lactation consultant explained this to me, and we got him on a good routine, my nipples were very cracked and oozy. I found that the best cure was to have a warm shower, lanolin and go topless - yes topless - for a couple of hours. Let them air dry without the breast pads smothering and rubbing them. It helped tremendously. And yes, I leaked. I had so much milk my lactation consultant told me that - no, he was not starving bc he was crying after nursing for 7- 8 minutes and quitting - he was crying because the milk was coming so fast and furious that he was full and done and tired! So yes, I leaked. But it was better than suffering like I had been. I just held a towel. TMI but there you have it. I'd put the baby down for his nap while hubby was at work and do my little shower topless routine everyday.

And then it was great. He became a pro after 3 weeks, I healed and there was no effort. Good luck and congratulations for sticking with it!

 

[bumbershoot]

Congratulations!

Get yourself to a LLL meeting. Surround yourself by women who nurse and know how to help. Don't listen to people who don't know what they are talking about, and listen to those who have BTDT.

Make sure the latch is good (LLL meetings, and even call the leader of your local group if they just had their meeting and you want to talk with someone or even meet her in person before the next meeting), make sure you're drinking lots of water.

I always put lanolin on right before DS latched on, b/c it soothed me. Then b/c we started with thrush and I didn't want it again, I would NOT put lanolin on after, and just let myself dry off before covering up.

Babies nurse quite often, that's always good to know.


To anyone having biting problems, teeth don't have to be an issue. When DS started teething (at 4 months!) he wanted to chomp, so I put my hand right near his face, and if he started biting down, I put my finger in his mouth to stop it. It would break his latch and he didn't like that, but I didn't like being chomped on either. It was worse for me before any teeth came through, though...the gums were far nastier than the teeth were.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Do you have a lactation consultant around to check the baby's latch? A little soreness is normal, throbbing nibbles that make you want to cry is not! If you're just a little sore, I've heard great things about soothies (http://soothies.com/gelpads.html) but have never used them myself. They might be worth a try. Good luck, you're doing a great thing for your baby!

I SOOTHIES!!

They are a bit expensive but you can cut them in 1/2 or 1/4 and they work just as well. This reminds me that I need to get some....

 

[amez]

I love the soothies also--they really helped!!

 

[dolfinjuls]

I had a lot of issues with pain nursing my dd#2! It finally got better for us around 6 weeks and I loved nursing her and was glad I stuck with it. I even suffered through mastitis which I never thought I would do!

In the beginning I used breast shells...this took some pressure off of the nipples and let them breathe I guess!
http://www.breastpumps.com/Ameda_Breast_Shell_System_p/17233b.htm

Also check with your local hospital and find out if they have any breastfeeding support classes. They were great! There was a lactation consultant there to help if you had any questions or problems. She could check your baby's latch and make sure you're doing what works best for you and your baby. There were moms there with babies one week old to about 18 months old, so overall very supportive.

Good luck!

 

[KK'sMommy]

I feel your pain. I also recommend wholeheartedly the nipple shields by Medela. They were a LIFESAVER in the beginning with my DS. Lanisoh is also so wonderful for sore nipples. My nipples used to crack and bleed and I was just sure that I was going to lose one at some point! But, after a while, things got much better and we are still nursing at almost 16 months. I agree with the PP about not letting teeth stop you, my son has done great, even though he now has a LOT of teeth.

The most important thing to remember is that the pain WILL get better and it is SO worth it!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

First of all, . I remember how difficult it is in the beginning. I agree with the PPs regarding the lactation consultant and a breastfeeding support group. I only needed one session with the lactation consultant and it worked wonders for us. The LC taught me a few tricks for getting DD to latch on correctly, which was the main problem causing the soreness. I'd taken a breastfeeding class before DD was born, but my experience was I really couldn't figure out the best way to get the latch correct until I had DD in my arms and had a LC coaxing us through the process.

It took my nipples a week or so to completely heal up after finally getting the latch corrected. I was told to squeeze a little breastmilk out and rub it around to coat the nipple. Let it air dry, then apply the lanolin. I also went topless for a while.

Hang in there. It gets better, and you will come to really enjoy BFing. I found it helped to set goals. My first goal was to make it for 2 weeks. When I reached that goal, my next goal was 3 months (when I'd return to work), then 6 months. Once I made it to 6 months, I knew I could keep going until DD self-weaned. It was such a wonderful bond I had with my DD. I was genuinely sad when she self-weaned at 21 months. I kept trying to coax her back to it for a couple weeks before conceding that she was really done.

 

[Disneyvirg]

I nursed both of my daughters for about 12 months each. I had the painful cracked nipples for a week or two with both. I used the Lasinoh after each nursing. Check with your doctor, but you may be able to take some Motrin. I was taking 3 extra strength and continued that until I could tolerate the pain - that was also for my lovely episiotimy wounds...

All I can really tell you is that the pain does go away - fairly quickly in the greater scheme of things. Nursing is so wonderful! Especially in the middle of the night when you don't have to mess with warming up a bottle.

Three little side notes:
1. Be sure to introduce a bottle early on. I waited until my first was over three weeks - she never took a bottle well. I introduced the bottle at about one week for my second - bottles were never too hard to give her.
2. I thought our first daughter was colicky b/c she cried so much in the evenings. I really thought there was something wrong with her. Turns out she was hungry. She cluster fed in the evenings (starting around 4:00). She was cluster feeding early - about once every 45 minutes or so - and then able to sleep through the night early on. My second did the same thing. Doesn't mean every baby is like this, but it's something I wish someone had told me...I felt like a terrible mom who was trying to starve her baby. It made it tough to get much accomplished in the evenings, but I sure appreciated sleeping through the night!
3. If things don't work out for you, the baby, and nursing, don't be too hard on yourself. Your baby has already received the "Liquid Gold" and is better off just for that. Also - if you're stressed you're not doing your baby any good...and your milk production may suffer as a result. Take it one day at a time and know that it will get better.

Hey - enjoy your new baby!

 

[Zeebs]

I agree having a good latch is important but I don't think it takes away the pain in the first couple of weeks. I am currently at 9 months with my second, no "problems" with first either but IT HURT until they got use it it and my nipples got use to it. Toe curling hurt, but we were all good after the first couple of weeks. (I am a redhead didn't know that it can hurt more for us, you learn something new every day)

My biggest hurdle was about 6 weeks, it was a growth spurt and Cullen fed constantly for about 3 days, I was ready to throw in the towel, but we came out the otherside and continued until I got pregnant again when he was around 14 months. But I wished someone would have told me that the first 6 weeks you feel like you do nothing else but it all evens out.

Good luck, the bonding is great but for a lazy person like me it gives me a chance to sit down and I never have to wash bottles

Kirsten

 

[Camno's Mama]

Definitely talk to a lactation consultant if your hospital has one on staff. They are really good about answering any and all questions.

For me, it just took time. Definitely use the lanolin and the cloth breast pads. That way, when you leak you have something soft against your skin. The disposable ones just made it worse for me because they would stick.

It will get better. Probably soon since your baby is already five weeks old. Your body sometimes needs times to adjust.

As someone else said, it could be the way that you are nursing the baby. Are that baby's lips kind of tucked in? That would make for painful nipples after a while. They should be kind of flanged out. Make sure the baby has your whole nipple in there, and not just the tip of it.

Good idea about letting them dry out as well. I also would use a warm washcloth before I nursed to help them to let down. That way the baby didn't have to do as much work and was on the nipple for less time.

Good luck...it will get better!