EP Help

irene90405

Hello,

Quick back story. My LO is almost 5 months old and has bee EBF since day one. I nursed DS until I went back to work in late October, about a month before I went back to work I started giving DS a bottle of expressed bm so he would get use to eating out of a bottle all the while pumping after nursing sessions to build up my supply. When I went back to work we transitioned quickly and easily, I pump at work, and nursed him in the morning, and right after I got back to work. I was pumping a total of 3 to 4 times per day. Two weeks ago DS began to bite, so I stopped nursing and began to pump 4 times each day which is providing enough milk for my LO. Last week I began to feel a little pain in my left boob so I went to the doctor who gave me a prescription for thrush but wasnt convinced that I had it. By the time I got home I felt a lot better so I never filled the prescription. Now each time I pump I end up with cuts and blisters which are painfull and very disheartining to me. I was really hoping to keep LO on BM until he is a year old, but pumping hurts all of a sudden, and I dont know what to do... any suggestions? I dont know if its the breastsheild since I have been using the same one for almost 5 months - I mean plastic doesnt shrink and I don't think that my nipple got larger.

Any suggestions will be great appreciated.

nic5606

i had a phase where i had pain pumping and red irritated nipples.  i was prescribed a nipple cream, i want to say "newmans nipple cream" and took ibuprofen as well and the nipples got better.  they were actually swollen and i did have to use larger shileds for a while.  never had thrush, just painful nipples.  

tips: try a bigger size sheild.  put a little olive oil around your nipples while pumping to make the nipple glide more easily, get a md to prescribe the cream and take ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling if no other contraindications for use. aplly warm compress before pumping and cool compress after.

 

hth. 

dsharrison

My nipples are painful off and on.  Partially, I just deal.  I use a nipple cream right before pumping (Motherlove) or olive oil to help it glide.  Then I put it on afterwards too.  And ibuprofen, as pp mentioned.  It comes and goes with EP'ing.  Good luck!

irene90405

Thank you so much !

 

meg193

nic5606:

i had a phase where i had pain pumping and red irritated nipples.  i was prescribed a nipple cream, i want to say "newmans nipple cream" and took ibuprofen as well and the nipples got better.  they were actually swollen and i did have to use larger shileds for a while.  never had thrush, just painful nipples.  

tips: try a bigger size sheild.  put a little olive oil around your nipples while pumping to make the nipple glide more easily, get a md to prescribe the cream and take ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling if no other contraindications for use. aplly warm compress before pumping and cool compress after.

 

hth. 

This is exactly what my LC told me when I was having these issues while pumping for my son.  Olive oil was my saving grace.  I actually bought a travel size container and put some in my pump so I could have it with me at all times.  I also had no idea I needed a bigger sheild until she recommended it.

BeetleLinz1125

All of what the pp's have said, and also have you tried some medela softshells?  You wear them so that it gives your nips a break...Every so often mine get so sore, so I will lather up with lanolin, put them on and it keeps them from rubbing on my bra/shirt and they can heal.  Give those a try!