Sore Nipple advice

[flowers1]

Hello
My baby was born at 32weeks and thankfully did really well and took to bf early on. He's now a month old so technically still shouldn't be here! He's feeding well but has made my right nipple really sore. I am using Lansinoh which helps a bit but it is still really painful especially when he decides in the early hours of the morning to have a long feed for over 35 minutes. He's def latching on properly and the other breast is fine.

My dilemma is when it gets too sore to feed and I am nearly in tears do I a) express some milk and bottle feed him or b) try nipple shields. I don't want to put him off bf as he is doing so well and when I had to try nipple shields early on in the Neonatal unit he got frustrated bf and kind of gave up. If I try him with a bottle will that put him off too? I am desperately trying to keep going without resorting to either but want to plan ahead in case I get in a fix.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks

 

[Blob]

Dont try and express your body isnt ready for it yet... i dont really have much options for you all i remember is cringing and taking it until it was over Could you try and move him over to the other side if he decides to have a long feed?? I used to also try and distract myself like listening to my ipod and also taking paracetamol. Your nipple will heal soon, i seem to remember it took maybe a week maximum to feel totally normal again. You're doing AMAZINGLY well for 3 weeks though I was still in total agony all the time, i do also remeber for some reason that one nipple always hurt more than the other

Sorry hope someone else gives you something better.

 

[flowers1]

Just to add I was expressing large quantities of milk in the hospital as he was in Neonatal for three weeks so have loads of frozen milk in the freezer that I could use if I did resort to bottle feeding.

 

[Mervs Mum]

My honest answer is I'd advise you against both of those. Nipple shields and bottles at this stage could cause him to reject the breast and from what you have said from trying the shields bfore, that seems likely.

Good advice from Sarah. If you can soldier through that's the best option. I remember having to stamp my feet for the first 20 secs of each feed when I was really sore (both sides ) and lathering Lahnisoh on after every feed but it did only last a week and I've not been sore since - touch wood and whistle

If you really cant get through it then expressing is definately the better of the two. Nipple shields are not recommended by the BF experts at all.

You have done sooooo well already. I promise you that it wont last for long. Right when you feel you want to give up is ironically the same point that you are about to turn the corner. Hang in there mama

 

[Mervs Mum]

Just to add I was expressing large quantities of milk in the hospital as he was in Neonatal for three weeks so have loads of frozen milk in the freezer that I could use if I did resort to bottle feeding.

If you did do that you would need to also keep a strict pumping routine so your supply doesnt start to fall

I am a trained Mother to Mother Peer Supporter so feel free to PM me or keep askeing questions

 

[Samantha675]

You can also try to feed him with a syringe instead of a bottle to avoid the whole nipple issue. I know Sarah88 did that, so she would be able to advise you on exactly what to do.

Also some other things. Do not use soap on your nipples when showering. They have their own natural cleansing system, and it can really make them dry and sore. The only time I had cracking with when I started washing them.

After your LO feeds, let the nipple airdry with a bit of expressed milk rubbed around the nipple. Then use the Lansinoh. That really works wonders.

Could it be that you are latching him on a bit differently on that side? I did the same thing at one point and my DH helped me realized I didn't have my son quite lined up the same way on the left as I did the right.

 

[flowers1]

Good point Samantha - I'll DH to check.

 

[Genna]

After your LO feeds, let the nipple airdry with a bit of expressed milk rubbed around the nipple. Then use the Lansinoh. That really works wonders.

My brother gave me that advise and that's exactly what I did! My Sore nipples lasted just under a week.

 

[Shri]

I had excruciatingly painful and sore nipples for three months+. Oscar's latch was the issue and even when I knew and tried to apply all the correct latch techniques, he just wouldn't latch. It was more painful than my c-section scar for which I was given hydracodeine!!!

What worked for me was just gritting my teeth and it was blinkin hard! I'd be in tears and it really really was awful but I tried to distract myself during nursing and between each session I did the milk on nipples, airdry and then lansinoh.

I found it best to apply the lansinoh when they were totally dry and I also bathed them with salt water solution when I had the energy.

It was hard hard hard going and I nearly gave up - BUT
I am soooooooooo glad I persisted and I think if you really want to bf - just keep plugging on. My situation was relatively rare to have gone on so long and probably because Oscar also had reflux... so take heart and know that the pain will SOON pass and it will be wonderful.