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Breastfeeding pain- please help!

zzia15zzia15 member
in Breastfeeding

I am desperate!  Feeding from my left breast hurts so horribly I am honestly not sure I can do it anymore.  I know I probably need to talk to an LC or something, but I am not even sure there would be one in my area (VERY small town, and tomorrow...well today I guess now...is a Sunday).   Any help is appreciated, here is what is going on:

My LO was born at 37w4d via c-section on Monday the 26th.  I started nursing her that day, we developed a good latch with both breasts.  On weds the 28th going into Thursday morning my milk came in.   Throughout the week the pain in my left breast has been getting worse and worse.  Both nipples are sore, but the left has become intolerable.  It has become scabby.  I've noticed that my right breast leaks and my left one does not - so maybe baby has to work much harder at my left breast?

In addition, she will latch and feed much longer on my right side than on my left.  I can get her to latch on the left but she will only feed for 15 minutes or so before falling asleep.  She will feed for twice that long on the right.  I'll try to wake her to get her to feed more on the left, but she doesnt.  She'll just wake 30 minutes later wanting to eat more.

Any advice/tips/help from you all would be so appreciated.  Can I take a break from feeding with my left?  It is excruciating, if I could give it time to heal I think that would help, but I dont want it to dry up.  Plus one of my concerns is that she really isnt getting anything out of that breast in the first place.

 Thanks for reading!

We have breast cream but it honestly doesnt seem to help at all.

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Re: Breastfeeding pain- please help!

  • katybug499katybug499

    My daughter was born at 36 weeks and I have to say, the first 8 weeks were absolutely horrible on my breasts!  A week after she was born, both nipples were cracked and bleeding and scabbed...my breasts refilling after she ate hurt like stabbing in the sides of my breasts...I got nauseated when letdown happened...spontaneous leaking all day sometimes from only one side and sometimes from both.  I worried that she didn't like one side too, but really the best advice I got was:  It's temporary, keep at it and it will get better.  

    Now she's 5 months old and I'm getting really good at staying asleep when she eats at night LOL.  It stopped hurting and now it just feels natural.  Keep offering her the "dud" breast and they'll eventually even out. 

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  • mcanantmcanant member

    Go get a nipple shield to use before you can get in to see an LC. This will help yours nipples heal.  Medela makes a great kind, about nine dollars at target or Walmart. This helped me when I was in terrible pain at three weeks. I made my husband run out and get it as soon as my friend recommended it. We bought three for each level of the house and one for disper bag. I put in my bra in middle when notin use We are still going strong at five months now. Also, if your pedi or doc can prescribe it, APNO or all purpose nipple ointment also called Newmas. Is a lifesaver!  It has a couple ingrediants in clouding ibuprofen for pain and an antifungal to help prevent thrush. Ins pricy but soooo worth it 

     

    also if you notice one side is hurting more than the other, thrush or plugged ducts could be to blame. Massage as much as you can and keep nursing from that side. If its thrush you will need to see your doc.  

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  • jdpjdp
    Use lots of nipple cream...lansinoh, and try a nipple shield.  Both which you can get at target in the breast pump section, order online if there's not a store near you.  I had a full term baby, but a similar story to yours where it started off ok, but then got painful (and this is my 2nd baby so you'd think I would know what I was doing) and I just used a nipple shield for about a week and then gradually would try feedings without one.  Also, it is totally normal for only one breast to leak...most women have one star producer while the other one is just regular.  Good luck, it will get better!  Oh, and try latching her on at different angles, sometimes that helps.  I find that if I have LO almost strait across my chest her latch is "softer", as she is kind of a barracuda feeder!
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  • zzia15zzia15 member
    Thank you for your quick responses.  I am sending my husband out now to look for the nipple shields!
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  • TJ1979TJ1979 member
    Like jdp said, try different holds. My LO could only latch well from one angle. So I did cross cradle on the left, and football on the right so she was always coming from the same angle. Also, google laid back nursing and watch the video. It saved BFing for me. Don't quit using that side, it will get better. GL and huge hugs. The first few weeks are so hard.
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  • zzia15zzia15 member

    Thank you!  That laid back nursing looks like something to try.

     

    BTW - I love these boards, having other women to go to for help is really invaluable.

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  • hilsy85hilsy85 member
    PLEASE let your nipple heal before letting LO nurse from it...either by using a nipple shield or pumping. I had the same issue, continued to nurse without any protection or anything, got mastitis, and then got thrush. I wish I had just let my nipples heal before attempting to go all in to breastfeeding again. Also, the APNO is GREAT but very drying so maybe alternate with olive oil or some other hydrating nipple cream. 

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  • zzia15zzia15 member
    I have a nipple shield now, we'll see how it goes at the next feeding.  I am dreading it, not gonna lie!
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  • RynnaRynna
    Try TALPP.org or your pedi's office to find an LC.  Use a nipple shield until your nipple heals, and in the mean time, try to seek assistance to make sure there's not something else going wrong.  :)
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  • zzia15zzia15 member

    Just thought I would report back - the shield made things bearable for a few days so I could let my nipple heal.  I did one feeding without the shield today and I am debating another one.  I have also been using lots and lots of Lanolin and earth mama nipple butter.

    I also tried the laid back nursing, which is so wonderful at night with my LO.  I've also been using a heating pad which has helped.

    Just thought I would let you guys know how things were going, thank you so much for the advice.  The shield ultimately saved nursing for me on the left side, there is no way I could have nursed on that side without it.

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