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March 2011 Moms
lyzabeth
member
Boob issues [Vent]
lyzabeth
member
I started BFing, but after 3wks, my boobs were so bruised and bleeding that I tried giving her a bottle and pumping to give my poor ladies a break. I keep trying to go back to BFing, but everytime I do my boobs throb and ache from feeding to feeding. I was in so much pain, my nipples were constricting and getting white after feedings, the Dr called it vasospasms.
Pumping was giving me some relief until a few days ago, when after every pumping session I'd have sharp pains shooting through my boobs. Turns out a small crack in my breast pump was leading to some of the problems with pain.
The other cause of the pain? My nursing bras were too small. I am an E, not a D. FML. I started this journey as an A. Who knew a bad bra could do so much damage. The Dr thinks my new bras could help with back pain too.
I know I don't have any right to complain as a lot of ladies are dealing with mastitis and clogged ducts, and still some others can't BF. But has anyone else been dealing with non-stop boob pain?
I have to admit, in my darkest moments I wish I couldn't BF, just so I could have my boobs back. I don't really feel that way, but relief would be nice.
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Re: Boob issues [Vent]
You're not alone. My milk didn't come in for well over a week after giving birth. The hospital kept telling me to let my LO suck to encourage my milk as well as pump regularly. Well, nursing and pumping without milk caused my nipples to crack and bleed. I'm not talking about a little blood... I mean blood dripping from nipples and soaking through shirts.
Once the bleeding stopped and the milk started, my lactation consultant told me to start breastfeeding him as much as possible. After drinking formula for 10 days, my LO didn't want to nurse. So I went from no milk and sore to engorged and more sore. Pumping helped a bit but my boobs just about doubled in size overnight. Once my LO decided that he liked breatfeeding, he began latching on like a pitbull. I don't know how someone who doesn't have teeth can bite down with such force and hold on! I now have to feed him every hour and a half so he's only starting to get hungry and not as aggressive. If I wait until he's actually hungry, it's like sticking my breast in a bear trap.
I also have to feed or pump every hour and a half due to the squirt factor. I don't just leak, I look like a lawn sprinkler. I have soaked my clothes through 2 thick nipple pads. I have leaked down my shirt and onto my jeans. I've had milk spray my LO, my couch and carpet while unhooking my nursing bra.
So between the pain and the mess, I can sympathize. Part of me misses the freedom I had when my LO was on formula. I just keep telling myself that I'm doing it for him and that he will be on solids one day.
As I type this, I'm pumping.
I had c/s and had issues with DS's jaundice and losing weight, so I had to start pumping in the hospital, while supplementing with formula via tube at breast in the hospital.
We had basically weaned from tube at breast to EBFing by day 5; but my poor nips were so incredibly sore. I once described the pain to a visiting nurse as "a hot poker in my nipple, with a lightning like pain that shot straight down my legs" She recommended this All Purpose Nipple OIntment to me.
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
Several people have actually recommended this same ointment to me, claiming that it will IMMEDIATELY make your nips feel better!! This was from an email from a girlfriend: "Also, I know everyone uses something different, but my nipples always got sore, & Dr Newman's Nipple Ointment was amazing for me."
Unfortunately, my c/s incision became infected and I had to stop bfing b/c of the meds I was put on. During that time, I was pumping and dumping, and since I've been off, I've been pumping and freezing, while giving DS a few oz a day. Tomorrow I will go back to the BFing clinic and see if I can get him relatched. If not, I'm switching to formula and I'll be stopping my pumping gradually. I know what you mean about wanting to just FF sometimes!!!
Good luck in getting some relief!!! HTH
ugh, I'm SO sorry. I had a cracked bruised nipples (nothing like what it sounds like you're experiencing). It hurts SO bad when LO latched I would cry, ram my heels down into the floor, anything to stop the pain. It hurt, and I literally was about to have a mental break down over it.
LUCKILY, I consulted the ladies on the Breastfeeding board, they gave me excellent advice! I got some Soothies for my nips (AWESOME) used my breastmilk to help promote healing as well. The biggest thing was that I figured out that I hurt my nipple worse because LO was latching wrong. Once I got him latching correctly it's been smooth sailing since!
It still kind of sucks that I have to make sure that either I have to be there with LO or have enough milk stored before I do anything, otherwise LO would starve. I think that freedom factor kind of bugs me...