How to fix sore, mis-shapen nipples

Shema N

Breastfeeding has been so painful for me that I want to break down and cry every time LO wants to feed. So I saw an LC this past week. She showed me some techniques for getting him to latch and after practicing she insisted that we both had it down very well. She said some small degree of mis-shapeness after nursing is normal.

But it seems like my nipples are consistently coming out looking like a lipstick head, following feedings. And the soreness and pain is not subsiding. I have tried my very best to continue latching him in the best possible way. What else can I do to alleviate this problem???

thanxbaby

Did you check for tongue and lip ties?

DottyBlue

You need to have your LC or pediatrician check for lip or tongue ties. I would recommend even seeing a pediatric ENT to get a proper diagnosis. Some misshapeness is NOT normal and you need to push harder.

My DS had a posterior or hidden tongue tie that wasn't fixed until he was 5.5 weeks even though I had asked 4 different medical professionals about it. I am now having supply issues and my DS was not even back to his birth weight at his 1 month appointment.

You know best, trust your intuition

ETA: and our latch was "perfect" per the LC. However my nips were fire engine red and painful. If your latch hurts, even though it looks good, you still have a problem. Good luck!

Shema N

Thanks everyone. I did have our peds check for tongue tie and they did not think it was an issue. I also had the LCs check and they thought it was fine.

Also we had the baby's 1 week weigh in and LO has gained more than the peds even expected him to. So the LC who visited and the peds have concluded that there really isn't a problem if LO is gaining...they've simply told me to "keep up what you're doing". 

On a separate thread I'd mentioned that the LCs in the hospital thought my nipples were too big for teh baby's mouth and that I'd have to wait for teh baby to "grow into" my breast. The LC that I saw outside of the hospital did not think my nipples were too big for baby's mouth...

 

 

DottyBlue

Shema N:

Thanks everyone. I did have our peds check for tongue tie and they did not think it was an issue. I also had the LCs check and they thought it was fine.

Also we had the baby's 1 week weigh in and LO has gained more than the peds even expected him to. So the LC who visited and the peds have concluded that there really isn't a problem if LO is gaining...they've simply told me to "keep up what you're doing". 

On a separate thread I'd mentioned that the LCs in the hospital thought my nipples were too big for teh baby's mouth and that I'd have to wait for teh baby to "grow into" my breast. The LC that I saw outside of the hospital did not think my nipples were too big for baby's mouth...

 

 

Yeah, with that additional information, I would go see a pediatric ENT. If breastfeeding is painful, there IS a problem, even if your LO is gaining well.  My DS was gaining weight really well initially too because I was so engorged that he could get milk without having to work too hard for it.  Once my supply regulated, my DS lost almost all the weight he had put on.  I would get in to see an ENT.