Breastfeeding

Sara-Rae - posted on 05/23/2009

Andiswa: I know a baby who was exclusively bottle-fed...today (35 years later) she has an amazing relationship with her mom (no bonding issues due to lack of breastfeeding), is a healthy person (save for the occassional cold), and is very well-educated (some people insist that breast-fed babies are smarter than formula-fed babies...not true!). Breastfeeding is great, but please don't feel pressured (from anyone, including your doctor!) to do something that is so uncomfortable for you. If it is stressful for you, your baby may pick up on it and be stressed out herself. Best wishes and God bless!

Elisi - posted on 05/23/2009

I had sore/cracked nipples until my LO was about 3 months old. First one then the other. I tend to be a little stubborn when it comes to doing what I think is best for my baby so I continued to suffer through it for quite a long time. I did find that pumping on my "bad" side and breastfeeding on the "good" side helped in the healing process.

I would definitely try to get in touch with a lactation consultant or find someone else who has more experience in breastfeeding because I think we were not getting a great latch and that was probably what caused all my problems.

I know it is hard, I used to tense up every time it was time to feed her, but it gets easier. My little one is 4 1/2 months now and I absolutely love when it is time for her to eat now because I love our bonding time. I just stare into her eyes (not that you can't do that while feeding with formula, but I don't think I would feel the same bond).

Good luck!

Sophia - posted on 05/23/2009

Quoting Andiswa:

is thrush not down there:-) or this is a breast thrush?

LOL, that's what I thought at first too, but as some of the other ladies said, it can come from the baby's mouth.

I hope that the breastfeeding is getting easier for you.  Or if it's too much pain, formula is ok too.

If you have a chance, let us know how you are doing.  Good luck!

Sophia - posted on 05/23/2009

Quoting Andiswa:

is thrush not down there:-) or this is a breast thrush?

LOL, that's what I thought at first too, but as some of the other ladies said, it can come from the baby's mouth.

I hope that the breastfeeding is getting easier for you.  Or if it's too much pain, formula is ok too.

If you have a chance, let us know how you are doing.  Good luck!

Simone - posted on 05/23/2009

i got told when i finish after every feed to rub a bit of the brest milk on your nipples its one of the best things to help themn heal.

Amy - posted on 05/23/2009

Omg Lanolin is the best thing u can use on ur nipples...Ive had 3 kids and that is the best solution....breestfeeding will no longer be a problem..its a very heavy coat and def will protect u for sure...good luck...

Lisa - posted on 05/23/2009

Try using a nipple shield some of the time. It helped me out a lot. Also if you haven't already us Lanycanol nipple cream it is like chap stick for your nipple and it won't hurt the baby.

Susana - posted on 05/23/2009

Hang in there. It can be very sore in the beguinning, and some babys, like my 8 week daughter, have a very strong suck. So it takes a wile untill your niples get hard enough and you dont feel disconfort anymore. It took me bout 3 weeks to relax completly brestfeeding my 2d baby. good luck.

Amber - posted on 05/22/2009

Try nipple shields. And try putting more of your breast in the baby's mouth.

Laura - posted on 05/22/2009

The nurse at the hospital told me i could soak some tea bags and put them in the fridge to cool and then put them in my bra. I never ended up doing it, but apparently it helps.

Andiswa - posted on 05/22/2009

thank you ya'll. I relate with all yo stories. Mmmh when i'm abt to breastfeed, I feel like I'm going to be tortured. I sweat & get hungry @the same time ha ha ha. but after reading all yo comments i'v made my decision. I'll keep trying bt also continue giving him Novalac IT @the same time. He is growing just fine. He is now 8 wks.

Kai - posted on 05/21/2009

My baby is now 6 weeks old and I had really sore nipples at first, only with latching then it would improve, but those first few sucks were painful! You have to make sure your nipple and areola go into his/her mouth, but it may still be uncomfortable intially. Now I'm 6 weeks later and it's going fine although it occasionally still hurts when he latches on. Hang-in there. It will get better asa you toughen-up. I also had these gel-pads I'd use by lansioh that provided some temporary relief early-on.

Johanne - posted on 05/21/2009

engorgement and sore nipples are enough to make even the toughest breastfeeding mom wince in pain and think of switching to formula! i had a bit of a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding. during the first two months, my nipples were so sore, they bled! but things eventually got better. i used lanolin and was advised to make sure the baby is latched on properly. When it got really painful, i expressed milk into a bottle to offer myself some time to recuperate! my daughter is 14 months old now and is still breastfed. she is very healthy, but of course has gotten sick a couple of times----times that were made a little easier thanks to the comfort of the breast! we both enjoy our bonding moments when breastfeeding, and i sometimes dread the day that i would need to wean her. i hope the struggle with the sore nipples won't stop you from trying. it really is the best that you could offer to your baby! God bless!

Whitney - posted on 05/21/2009

I hear ya girl! I HATED breast feeding and its getting better but sometimes i just wish my husband could do it for me! haha My baby is 7 weeks old now and my nipples are still sore with the initial latch on, but then they're fine after that. I think the pain finally went away at 5 weeks. For the first few weeks though, I went through a bottle of motrin like every 2-3 days! Just hang in there!! Another thing I tried one day when I was about to give up was formula...i was so ashamed at first and didnt want to tell my husband, but now I give her formula when I just feel like shes going through a growth spurt, really hungry, and I just can't give her enough! And it also helps for when I need to be somewhere for a couple hours and my husband can feed her with the formula. (the similac formula in the blue/silver can that's designed to be most like breast milk seemed to work well for her)

Sandi - posted on 05/21/2009

The first 4 to 6 weeks are the toughest. And the support we receive is extremely important! Sometimes we just need permission to stop breastfeeding and other times we just need someone to give us that little extra encouragement to keep breast feeding. But, there are many ways we can be close to our children, be sensitive to their cues, and respond to their needs. Breastfeeding is not the be all or end all (although it is good stuff).

I had severe shooting pains when I was breastfeeding my first kiddo and was convinced it was thrush. But, in hindsight I realize it more my stress reaction to lack of sleep (I LOVE to sleep, it is my favorite thing to do to relax). And with my second I have not even had a pang. I cannot empathize with your situation of cracked and bleeding nipples, but I believe you have been doing everything you can for it NOT to be that way....and YOUR decision is the BEST decision.

Mel - posted on 05/21/2009

yeah it is when they dont latch on right. some babies just dont know how to do it

Melissa - posted on 05/21/2009

I was also told that if your nipples are very sore, then the baby might not be latching properly. Make sure you have a good latch. When I first started mine were very sore and cracked, but it did get better as he got a better latch. But I only breastfed for 3 weeks, as I wasnt producing enough.

Emily - posted on 05/20/2009

Try putting cold cabbage leaves in your bra when the baby isnt nursing! It will get better though, stick with it, and it'll be worth it!

Ally - posted on 05/20/2009

It is so common to have these problems..mine were so bad and bleeding for almost 3 weeks and my daughters latch was fine....ur nipples are just getting used to a job they have never done before. While i was in nursing school i coached a lot of moms on the proper technique and had no idea when i had my own how much more complicated it was than people..and textbooks let on! I tried pumping one side about every other feeding during the early weeks and it was a great relief. Don't ice or col them though it can decrease your supply and make things worse. The great news is at about 3 weeks all the pain literally went away overnight and nothing is more convenient than being able to feed my daughter whenever she needs it without having to heat up and wash bottles! i promise it will get better we are still going strong with breastfeeding and my daughter is 15 months old! don't give up you can do it.breastfeeding is so important..no formula even comes close!

Andiswa - posted on 05/20/2009

Thank you all for your responses.....at least I don't feel so alone and failing.

Andiswa - posted on 05/20/2009

Thank you Melissa, your comments certainly made me feel better

Mel - posted on 05/19/2009

oh and id express sometimes into a bottle to give myself a break, but only about once a day the rest were formula feeds

Mel - posted on 05/19/2009

yes i did, it was so bad i was sweating every time i knew i had to give a feed, because even though i'd used to cream my nipples were still extremely sore. i felt sharp pain the whole time i breast fed and sometimes almost had to pull her off the breast, a friend of mine had 2 kids with a 3rd on the way and tried breast feeding but her kids made her bleed, and she felt so pressured by the nurses but evenutally went over to formula. Just remember you dont have to breast feed formula is there, but if you would like to continue breast feeding i wish you all the best

Mae-Alice - posted on 05/19/2009

The first time I fed my daughter one of my nipples blistered.
It was so awful, and it hurt so much.
Much the lactation specialist said to let her feed as much as could on that nipple.
She told me that it would get better, but to stop breast feeding her on that side would put me in pain.
So I let her feed as much as I could and took breaks.

Just take it slow switch sides more often and break if you need to.
Try putting a warm pack on you breast before you feed.
It helps with let down, so your baby won't have to try as hard.
And cold pack or cold gel pads afterwards will help with the soreness.

And remember,
If you can't do it you can't.
It's not your fualt.
Don't be too hard yourself.

Natalie - posted on 05/19/2009

you need to make sure your baby is latching on properly, line baby's nose up with your nipple and your baby's should the go for the nipple from there, let him / her they should get a surprising amount in their mouth but thats fine, also a special breastfeeding pillow, or a normal pillow might help you take the worry out of holding baby in position.

you would do good to go a speak to a health visitor at a clinic about it thou?

Peggy - posted on 05/19/2009

Thrush is an infection you can get from teh babies mouth. You could call you doctor and see what they say. Thrush can hurt like crazy.

Peggy - posted on 05/19/2009

Gel pads are cooling pads for your nipples, another thing you can do is take a couple of the babies diapers and put some water on them and put them in the freezer. The cold usually helps alt. If your having latch issues ot if your nipples are just too sore nipple shields are awesome! I had alot of issues when ds was born and these saved my life! own you can also wet and freek your breast pads if you have then for a better fit. And squirt some lanolin in the middle of it so it coats the nipple.

Stephanie - posted on 05/19/2009

nipple shields r great...i swear by them. You could also try buying a lip balm called MooGoo and using it on ur nipples, its also really good for sore nipples.It's chemical free and safe for baby to eat. Not sure where u buy it from as i got it as a gift.
Good luck

Andiswa - posted on 05/19/2009

is thrush not down there:-) or this is a breast thrush?

Andiswa - posted on 05/19/2009

what are gel pads? (nipple shields)

Sophia - posted on 05/19/2009

i had that problem for eight weeks. finally found out it was thrush (even tho no other symptoms showed. to be sure tho, see a lactation consultant or doctor. good luck.

Cassie - posted on 05/19/2009

try the gel pads