Sore Nipples

[mummy to be]

Hey there girl.
Just wondering who is having this problem and if it is common and how to fix it.
My left nipple is killing me. Layla is breast fed and i want to keep doing it and not give up but my boob is really hurting! It feels like my left nipple is bruised and really really hurts. It kills when she latches on and the pain eases up a little as she feeds. But when she is finished on that one boob it hurts for ages afterwards Is this normal...... why is it happening??? How do or can i fix it????

I dont want to give up BFing but it just really hurts.

Also i am finding that she is spewing on me almost every day while feeding... I am not sure why but she gets all fiddley when on the breast then spews Is there a reason why she does this... I am talking about full power spew and usually at least 2 or 3 at a time It does worry her. She spews then wants the boob back lol...

Please help

 

[elmaxie]

HI!

I was in the same boat on Friday. I think its just our nipples toughening up but there are so many great mummies who breastfeed on here with loads of experience who can help out. But I thought I would share my experience so you know your not alone.

I had the whole sore nipples thing and last Friday night it came to a head when I was in tears feeding Nathan. My right nipple was so sore like a bruised feeling and was all cracked and bleeding....even with me using my lansinoh cream after feeding.
I also had him feeding for hours and just got so down so on Saturday after him feeding on my good side for 1 1/2 hours and still wanting more I gave him a bottle of formula which had me in tears too as I wanted to breast feed him til at least 8 weeks...and after discussion with hubby we decided this was best for both baby and me. But I decided to pump milk for him to add to his feeds like 2oz formula and 2 oz breast milk...I actually got loads of milk out over the course of the day so had to freeze some!
Sunday I woke up and felt so much better and so did my nippple! So I gave him a few feeds during the day from my good side and pumped my right and put it in the bottles I gave him.

Today I am back to breast feeding exclusively

I think I just got so sore and down especially with him feeding so often and for hours...so now when I feel I need some time there is milk for OH to put in a bottle for baby.

I dont know how you feel about that but I know its made me feel so much better and given my nipple time to recover....just wish I had breast fed him ALL Sunday now

He also started to be sick after his feeds but I guess some babies are sicky babies...again am sure someone on here with more experience will be able to help.

I know its easy now for me to say but if you are determined to breast feed you can do it....if it means having a day off (like me) or carrying on throught the pain until it gets better you do what you need to....have you tired expressing and giving him a bottle it can be tough on your nipples but I also hand expressed and got alot that way too.



Emma.xxx

 

[thelilbump]

it's your body getting tough! Are they dry do you need a moisturiser? you can buy breatfeeding ones. chilled Savoy cabbage leafs are supposed to work well also tho i never tried that one! It's all part of the establishing period, it won't alwasy be like this.

I'm not sure about the sickness thing. All newborns are sick some, it's possit *sp* the stuff that gets stuck in their pipes because their stomachs are still small and can't hold a lot. I don't know much about reflux but it might be worth looking into that to rule it out.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Have you checked her mouth for white spots?

 

[elmaxie]

Ok this may be a dumb question by why white spots and what does that mean??



Emma.xx

 

[Mervs Mum]

I was just wanting to rule out trush as being the reason her nipple is sore

 

[elmaxie]

Ahhh thank you. You learn new stuff everyday.

Emma.xx

 

[Mervs Mum]

You are welcome!

 

[Pink_Witch]

glad i found this thread,had a bit of a wobble this evening, but after reading this thread i will try again tomorrow!!

I tried to bf Ernie after he was born,but i just dont think i was producing enough colostrum to satisfy him, so we decided to put him on formula rather than getting himself into a state. But last night my milk came in qnd my boobs were like rock!! So i said to hubby i was goin to try and feed him myself today.

Started out well,fed him this morning at 6.30 for about 30minutes, then again around 9ish for about 20minutes, around 12ish for 10 minutes then about 3 for 20minutes,and the midwife had helped me try to get him latched on the right side as i was having a bit of difficulty.

My nipples are really sore and she recommended that lansinoh cream stuff on prescription off the docs,so rang them and i will get that tomorrow. This evening he has been a bit more fussy,wanting to be on me all the time-and only cat napping inbetween feeds, i fed him and he was asleep and as soon as i put him down so i could eat my dinner he started-so my dinner went cold, and i was in tears at one point as i was so sore.

In the end i said to hubby to get him a bottle and he sat and fed Ernie while i finished my (now cold) dinner, he drank a good 2 oz and fell asleep-and is now sleeping quite peacefully in his crib!

I did feel a bit of a failure after that because the day had seemed to be going so well, and i was quite sure i was going to manage a whole day of feeding him myself!

But i feel a bit more positive after reading this thread..........give them tonight to try and recover a bit.............and tomorrow is another day so ill give it another try!!

I really want to feed him myself,so i guess i need to grit my teeth and get through these early days............but its easier said than done

 

[mummy to be]

thanks ladies for all your help
I might try topping her up with formula or look into expressing my milk for her.

She has had thrush about a week ago but i thought it was gone by now with the medication that i had been giving her. Her tounge has cleared up heaps....

 

[mommyof3co]

I personally wouldn't start top ups. I know it's hard at first but it's so worth it to just stick with it. I was to the point of crying when I knew it was almost time to feed, it was that sore. But it's just your body adjusting and sometimes it takes awhile, but it does get better. I think starting top ups might start even more problems with your supply and such.

When she spits up is it in the beginning of a feed? Hayden would do that sometimes because it let down so fast he would either choke or if he swallowed alot he would spit it back up because it went so fast. I would also try burping her every 10min or so and see if that helps any.

I hope it gets better soon!

 

[mummy to be]

thanks mommyof3co. She is spitting up half way through a feed. i didnt know that that might be the problem. I will try winding her every 10 mins or so
Fingers crossed that might help cause its horrible lol

 

[Mervs Mum]

In that case, you may have a bit of residual pain from the thrush honey.

 

[clairebear]

Yep im with Lisa sounds like a bit of left over pain from the thrush.

Did you get cream for your nipples for the thrush??

 

[Shifter]

If you feel you really need a break then a bottle of EBM or formula may be the best thing. If you get down and exhausted then it will effect your supply.

On day 6 we gave Jack formula as I had an infection, had been feeding him continuously for about four hours and was just exhausted. It was the best thing we could have done, although it broke my heart to do it. I pumped in the night while hubby gave him formula, so that my supply wasn't effected. The next day my nipples had recovered and I was able to put him back on the breast. We continued giving him one bottle most days for a few weeks just out of habit really, then began to phase them out. We're now exclusively BFing and use EBM in the evenings sometimes if my boobs need a break!

I suppose what I'm saying is that one bottle in difficult circumstances won't hurt and may help.

 

[mummy to be]

Thanks again ladies....
Yes i was given cream for my nipple for the thursh but i stopped using it when Layla had finished her dosage as well. Should i keep using the cream untill it is gone or???

 

[Mervs Mum]

Did they give you BOTH something - cream for you and drops for her? You definately both need to finish the course honey to be sure it's fully gone or if you still have any infection left behind you'll just pass it back to her and so the cycle continues