Sore Nips again at 4 months

[PuddlePuppy]

I had really bad sore nips when I started BF but they eased up after about a month, we have been BF quite well after inital problems, with 1 boob producing dramiticly less then the other, a restless feeder and weight gain issues.

Suddenly at 4 months my nips have really started to take a beating again, she seems to suck so hard I end up with white patches in the middle of my nipple (latch seems fine) where the blood isn't getting to any more and they last almost though to the next feed. She has also taken to tugging off the nipple at the end of the feed, stretching my poor nips longer then I have thought possible.. She can still feed for around 50 mins (both boobs) and still doesn't seem satisfied.. the only time she seems happy is the morning feed when I can hear it sloshing around inside her.

I am covering them with lanoush again, but even so last night I couldn't cope with the thought of her evening cluster feed (I was in tears) that she had a bottle to give them a break (although I woke with jordan boobs)..

I know it might be a growth spirt, or the cold we have both had affecting us, but it is getting to breaking point ad I am starting to fear feeding

 

[Serene123]

There may be a reason for it hurting, have you spoken to a health visitor or doctor?

 

[PuddlePuppy]

There may be a reason for it hurting, have you spoken to a health visitor or doctor?

no clinic is tomorrow.... don't really want to go to the doctors, as I think she will think me a 'worry wort' as I have been to see her seemily loads since birth

 

[sam#3]

You could try increasing your milk and see if that helps, maybe she is trying to bring nore milk in?
Have you been eating and drinking plenty lately? If not then try eating and drinking more and see if theres an improvement. If that doesnt work then you could take fenugreek which really helps

 

[PuddlePuppy]

You could try increasing your milk and see if that helps, maybe she is trying to bring nore milk in?
Have you been eating and drinking plenty lately? If not then try eating and drinking more and see if theres an improvement. If that doesnt work then you could take fenugreek which really helps

Yep drinking loads and eating (far to much to be honest!)

Fenugreek, what is it and where can you get it from.

Edit: just wikied fenugreek and found this - "Fenugreek seeds are a galactagogue that is often used to increase milk supply in lactating women.[3] Because the maple syrup-like flavor is strong and not always liked, the seeds are ground to a powder and administered in capsules. Many lactating women who take fenugreek in the quantities required to increase their milk supply notice that their skin exudes a distinct "maple syrup" odor"

Oh my - i will be dreaming about us style pancakes and my husband will be licking me in his sleep!

 

[PuddlePuppy]

update: after her last feed she still doesnt look satified, she has never had that drunk baby look.. nd she has never gained a huge amount of weight (most was 8oz in one week) normally it is 3 or 4oz, so at 17 weeks she is still under 12lbs..

I feel so down as I don't know whether I am doing the right thing, is she getting enough, the HV wanted to initally to top up after every meal, but I refused but she does have a late night bottle, but she has always had this before supply was settled, so assumed it would not affect my other supply, have I runied my chances for sucessful BF

I am so worried I have been staving my little Boo all this time..

 

[sam#3]

Dont panic honey

Does she have plenty of wet and dirty nappies?

I have used fenugreek for the past couple of months and yep you do end up smelling like maple syrup, and i mean everything smells like maple syrup on me, my sweat, my skin and even my wee
It works really fast to increase your supply, mine increased within a couple of days.
You can get it from holland and barrat or from online such as ebay.

Is it an option for you to be pumping as well as feeding? That can also increase your supply, and you can freeze the expressed milk and use it to top up LO's feeds.

It doesnt sound like you are doing anything wrong hun, and not all babies get the ''drunk face'' so dont worry about that.
You're doing a great job hun and it could just be a growth spurt and things may settle down in a few days if it is this.

 

[PuddlePuppy]

I have tried pumping but not particularly sucessful, only really getting a couple of oz if luckly, sometimes even less..

will try the fenegreek..

 

[sam#3]

Good luck hun and keep us updated with how things are xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

If it's any consolation we are in a similar situation almost 7 months in. I have actually got the Lansinoh out for the first time in months. I get the white lines where she's sucked so hard too. Give them nips some TLC and hopefully things will settle again soon

 

[Serene123]

Hope the HV can help x

 

[Heather.78]

hun i still have this and my little one is 8 months he suck is really hard(poor nips) but i find when shes having a growth spurt they kill the only way i can deal with it to give one a break for a day or 2 is to feed off one boob all day and the other at night as well as loading my b pad with nipple cream, my little bean also has quite a shallow latch and I have loads of help with this but its still shallow i feel for you hun its not nice having throbbing nips