I'm so worried, this nipple pain isn't going away, bad latch etc....

[fudgecake251]

My little girl is 8 weeks old now. Shes putting on weight perfectly and growing as she should. I've been breast feeding since day one, along with expressing every now and then. I'm so sore. My little girl doesn't seem to open her mouth wide enough, even though I try and try to make her open wider, brushing her nose with the nipple, squashing the breast to fit more in etc etc but still I'm sore. I'm using lansinoh as well but it doesn't seem to help. Everyone say by 6 weeks there should be no problems. I'm taking her off and trying again each time but its still the same. I've got a little boy who's 3, he was bottle fed and is great but I don't want to start bottles now after doing this for two months, I just wondered will she improve with this by herself? I don't have time to go to breast feeding groups as I'm on my own with both kids as hubby works away.

 

[IrelandsOwn]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time but congrats on bfing for eight weeks. I don't really have any advice apart from to say as your daughter gets bigger she'll be able to open her mouth wider and things will get easier. How are your nipples? If they're cracked or bleeding it's best to avoid lanolin as it can contribute to thrush

 

[fudgecake251]

Well they're not bleeding just very pink n sore when she first starts to feed. It does ease a little as the feeding goes on but it's certainly not easy.

 

[fieryphoenix]

That sounds like thrush to me

 

[Care76]

Have you had her checked for a tongue tie by somebody that specializes in them?

 

[tokyo]

One trick that worked for me was to sort of compress/squeeze the nipple to make it smaller and then use my knuckle to pull down her chin as I put the nipple into her mouth. Its kind of hard to explain! Its kind of like your nipple is a big sandwich which is too big for baby's mouth, so you squash it dow n to make it smaller. Its known as the 'U hold' (or sometimes the c hold, depending on which position you are in when feeding baby)

A better explanation with photos here (scroll down to where it says holding and shaping the breast for easy latch on)

https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/ABCs.html

I hope that makes sense and helps!

Also if you did want to get to a group, our local la leche league welcomes older children and provides toys so you could take both kids. I assume all lll meetings are the same ad lots of mums are practicing extended or tandem nursing so have older kids to bring. You can googlw la leche league and your country for their website and more info. Super friendly, supportive and helpful and great for socialising and a bit of adult company too! our group leader does phone advice andhome visits for mums who cant get out too. If that's not for you and you're in the uk you can also ask your health visitor for feeding suport and they should come out to you, though a lll leader would normally be better informed!

 

[tokyo]

I agree its also worth ruling out thrush. Tons of info and links here - maybe have a read and see if it rings any bells symptom wise?

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/thrush-resources/

 

[xsadiex]

My local bf group is really relaxed and You can bring your toddler along. It might be worth going to one as you can eat free help from someone who is really experienced x

 

[kosh]

as a pp suggested - I'd get her checked for tongue tie. you said she doesn't open her mouth enough, does she show any signs of stress? arms in front of her body while feeding? tight fists?
hope it gets better soon, don't give up

 

[CandyDay]

as others have said check for tongue tie. You can take a look yourself when your LO cries is the best time to see. Look it up online so you can see what you are looking for.
Also I go La Leche league breastfeeding meetups and I bring my older son with me as does anyone else who has multiple children. So it may be worth it for you to go to one of them if there is one near to you. Or a leader may able to come to your house to take a look at your LO's latch

 

[Fortune Cooki]

Pink nipples sounds like thrush. Definitely stop using lanolin immediately. You can use coconut oil, because it is anti-fungal.