Nursing advice

mrsf123

Hi Ladies,
I'm hoping you're the right people to go to.
When I had DD1, I had a miserable time with nursing and gave up on it way too soon.  I'm determined not to do that this time, so I want to be as prepared as possible.

One thing I remember is that my nipples killed right afterwards and they'd be so wet that I wouldn't want to put a bra on, because my nipples would stick to the bra.  I don't remember the lansinoh pads helping with that, but maybe I just did something wrong.

I guess my question is - what were the tools you used to help you through the rough part of early nursing?

TIA!

SPIJaimie

Lansinoh lotion and Johnson and Johnson disposable pads. I had some sticking for the first couple of weeks but it got better!

littlebean4

Go see a lactitation counselor or breastfeeding class!! You may think since you've done it before, that it won't help you but it was soooo super helpful for me.  I heard the worst horror stories about breastfeeding and was terrified but I had no issues...none! I reverted back to everything the woman went over in the class.  I know I'm extremely lucky but I had no pain, soreness, chapping, nothing.  Maybe I just have resilient boobs haha

here goes nothing

Here are a few things I did:

 -Polysporin oinement when nipples cracked (just whipe it off before BF)

-Dipping nipples in bowl of warm water before - Ice after

-Bamboobies breast pads.  They are a little pricey, but awesome!  (see link below)

https://www.amazon.ca/Bamboobies-Ultra-Thin-Regular-Nursing-Multi-colored/dp/B005P09QSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368815906&sr=8-1&keywords=breast+pads+bamboobies

 -Nipple shield has saved my life!  

...

 

Thats all I can think of for now!

 

Good Luck!!! 

linzeek44

Ideas:

1) some kind of cream (some people prefer lanolin, but it's thick. You can try nipple butter or coconut oil)

2) a barrier (breast shells so that your nipples can heal)

3) for feeling better, soothies gel pads

4) if you have cuts or open cracks, you can get a prescription for all purpose nipple ointment (APNO) that has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiinflammatory components.  

 

 

PennyLane26

Lansinoh soothies for the first week.

Lansinoh lanolin applied liberally after every nursing session.

Bamboobies breast pads- they are so much softer than disposables!

GL! 

kreeper611

Lots of lanolin! I second the Bamboobies. I have been leaking overnight and the disposable pads have been causing a rash. The overnight ones are awesome.

watermellens

My engorgement was awful and painful this time around so what helped me was:

-putting water in disposable nursing pads and freezing them, making them into ice packs

-putting crushed cabbage leaves in my bra for 10-15 minutes a few times a day (cabbage leaves can dry you up, so don't do it all day long)

-pump a little to relieve engorgement or hand express in the shower. 

 

Lansinoh worked a little for cracked nipples and also only nursing on one side in the beginning so my right side (which was cracked) got a break every other session.

anonsouthernbell

I would start going to LLL meetings now so that you can establish some support in case you need it.

MrsR11

I haven't used anything, but I hope it helps to know that it does get better! I know it can feel horrible at times, but if you can find something to help you through it, your nips will feel okay after a while. Or mine did at least. Hang in there momma! 

lmilab

It is at its worst for first 1-2 weeks and then your body adjusts to it's new role. For those two weeks nipples could hurt badly, and for those days I used Gel Pads, and Lansinol cream, it helped tremendously. Also sometimes they recommend to drip some milk on your nipples and let them air dry, new thinking is drip some of your breast milk on nipples and put the bra or gels on. Nipples heal faster while moist.

Great source of detailed info on BF is BF class. They are worth every penny, since you learn all the great benefits of BF and meeting some of soon to be new moms for support that you'll definitely need. Also do not hesitate to look up and go to BF support groups that every hospital should have.

Best of luck!

 

swelniak

I walked around with no shirt for the first couple of days home haha. Also, I used motherlove nipple balm found on amazon, which I LOVED. It's made with olive oil, so it's super easy to spread and is edible for baby. It's a tiny jar, but I used it constantly and still have some. I bought the soothies gel pads, but never used them. Maybe because I wasn't wearing a shirt, much less a bra! And I second pp about the Johnson and Johnson pads. The medela ones are crap.