Today may be the day I cave.

beckyanddon · August 2013

And just stop breastfeeding. Ugh I just can't stand the fact that I feel that it's my fault he's not gaining weight. I'm eating snacking and drinking plenty of water.

He nurses great.... On the left he has the right cracked and bleeding. AGAIN! When we see lactation it's great comfortable then 2 feedings or so later. Pain oh the pain. He's 17 days old and I know this is a 2 way street but it even hurts to pump and now I have radiating shooting pains.

Tell me it's worth it. Tell me he will grow just tell me you got through it.

Thanks for reading and listening to me! I appreciate it!!!

khetzel · August 2013

It is worth it. And he will grow. That being said, I gave up nursing at 6 days pp because LO is slightly tongue tied and wouldn't latch. So I pumped. And last week, at about 3.5 weeks pp, we transitioned to formula bc I couldn't keep up with him. And no one can make me feel badly about my decision. We do what's best for our kiddos so you keep plugging on and know it is worth it, or if you have to stop, then you stop and that's fine too. All that matters is LO is fed and healthy.

EagleWife · August 2013

Our baby was\is a slow gainer. It took over 3 weeks to get her back up to her birth weight. And the pain didn't really go away until after that. It WILL get better if you want to keep at it. Good luck!

There was a good thread about this topic the other day, if it helps:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/75964439/#Comment_75964439

beckyanddon · August 2013

Not one LC has suggested a shield but I'm thinking it may be something I get. Talk to me about this .... Where can I get one. Target?

M0ON · August 2013

I'm 16 days PP and just starting to get past the painful phase. I am completely topless 24/7 (so nipples can air dry) and regularly express several drops of milk to massage on and around my nipples- these things have helped me heal tremendously.

Hang in there, you can do it!!

HayleyBaker1122 · August 2013

I had a shield to help LO latch. Id recommend asking the LC about Using one to help with nipple soreness. I almost gave up many times but stuck it out and now at 9.5 weeks I'm so glad I didn't quit. Now it's easy and it's very convenient to just pull out a boob when I need to, instead of having to prepare a bottle. That being said... You do whatever you need to and don't feel bad about your decision.

EagleWife · August 2013

beckyanddon said:
Not one LC has suggested a shield but I'm thinking it may be something I get. Talk to me about this .... Where can I get one. Target?

Yes, our Target carries the Medela shields. They're right with the breast pumps and nursing supplies.

KikiCohen · August 2013

You have to do what you have to do to feed your baby. If you have to EP or switch to formula, then so be it. Switching to formula was a very difficult decision for me to make, but at the end of the day, it was the right one. DS was only 3 1/2 pounds at birth and is almost up to 9!

MrandMrsFireFighter · August 2013

Never quit on a bad day. I had a hell of a start too but at 3w3d it IS getting better. Hang in there, get a nipple shield and a glass of wine!!

EagleWife · August 2013

EagleWife said:

beckyanddon said:
Not one LC has suggested a shield but I'm thinking it may be something I get. Talk to me about this .... Where can I get one. Target?
Yes, our Target carries the Medela shields. They're right with the breast pumps and nursing supplies.

Sorry I didn't mention the shield initially. We are still using ours at one month in. I searched "nipple shield" on the entire bump board last week and found tons of information about when moms were able to wean off of the shield. Most of them said 3-4 months and some used it all along. I'd recommend getting one for upstairs and one for downstairs to make it easier on yourself.

emandia · August 2013

Yup, get it at Target. It's about $10. Mine has been a life saver! I never had issues with BF until this baby. He just did not want to latch. He's now eating great and no more pain!

rondokye · August 2013

I'm sorry that you are having so many problems! I had a hard time too...bleeding nipples, pain, even a damaged nipple that's only now healing (LO is 6 weeks old). I started using nipples shields even though so many people seemed to be against them. I think that Ema is now used to the shield and doesn't like nursing without one but I'm ok with that if it means that I am healing. I'll deal with weaning later. Ditto to PP who suggested a couple of shields to lay around is different rooms. Much easier.

There were many days that I wanted to give up - would cry to DH about how much it hurt and how much I hated it. But if you stick with it, you do turn a corner. For me, it was around week 4. I can actually say that I enjoy nursing her - but, we do supplement one bottle of formula most days a week (but not every day). I sometimes struggling finding the time to pump during the day.

But its ok to decide that BF is not for you. There is too much pressure for BF I think. You need to do what is right for you (mentally and physically) and for your baby. You are a rockstar mom!

MrserinJ · August 2013

I'm right there with you. LO is eating every hour; probably a growth spurt. But my nipple hurts soooo bad. It's got a bruise on it and its so hard to want to take out my boob 100 times day when I know how mhch its going to hurt. I think our latch is fine because my right nipple is fine except for the initial latch on pain. I'm trying to stick it out but it's getting hard....

themargo · August 2013

Just take it feeding by feeding, day by day. That's what I do when bf gets hard. If it doesn't work, you'll know you tried your hardest and that's all you have control over. Good luck!!

beckyanddon · August 2013

I appreciate this all and am debating a nipple shield because he has a great latch in one side it's just shallow on the other. I just really would like this baby to be breast fed. EPing for DS1 was hard time consuming work that I don't think I could do with the schedule we have now. Thanks for all of your stories and feedback. I'm going to pump again. I've been attached today to try to keeps supply up on my injured side.

I also think he's hitting a growth spurt today as he's feeding like every hour and that's not like him.

DS1 was textbook other than my supply but this one is another story!

equinus · August 2013

Hang in there, it does get better! With my daughter, I had one nipple that was inverted, and while she was able to latch fine, it cracked horribly all along the base, and took 6 weeks to heal! I believe I had a mild thrush infection that was preventing it from healing, and it wasn't until I stopped using gobs of lanolin, and started only air drying with breastmilk, and a dab of miconazole cream (like for yeast infections, I washed it off prior to a feeding) that it finally started to heal. Just something else to think about, PP have given great advice already. I went on to nurse my DD for 21 mos, and loved it! Thankfully she corrected my inverted nipple and I've had no problems like that with DS.

martyn17 · August 2013

We really struggled with weight gain. She lost 10% her birth weight. After two weeks, she gained it back. At three weeks, she lost an ounce. At her one month and two days I was shocked that she had weighed 9 lbs 6 oz... She was 7 lbs 11 oz at birth. Breastfeeding has gotten better and easier. If you decide to switch to formula, baby will be fine and you shouldn't feel bad. But if you want to breastfeed, I would encourage you to try for another 2 to 4 weeks and see how you feel then. Good luck!! No matter how you feed your LO, you're doing great!

martyn17 · August 2013

Also wanted to say we started using nipple shields since T was having trouble finding my nipple and they have been a life saver. Also I pump a couple times a day to keep my supply up, some goes into the freezer and DH sometimes gives her a bottle in the morning so at least once a day we know she gets a very big feeding.

summerchild · August 2013

I'm sorry that you are going through this. Our son was tongue tied and we needed to pump and supplement breast milk with an SNS system so he could gain weight. We ultimately had his frenulum cut and his latch got a lot better. Now he's a little porker

I've heard good things about nipple shields although I have no experience myself. Lanisoh cream has been a lifesaver for cracked nipples.

Thoughts and prayers for you!

beckyanddon · August 2013

It's only my right side. I am pumping to keep my supply up and supplementing to aid with weight gain. Thanks so much for your advice and help. I am working with a LC but need to try everything because he latches so great to my left that I don't want to give up. I just needed support. So thanks so much for giving me the boost I needed today. I love you ladies

EagleWife · August 2013

maryannespier said:

Just a PSA for nipple shields: lifesaver for us. He went from screaming at my boob to latching immediately. Two LCs have told me to keep using it and not worry at all about it causing supply issues. It's a pain in the butt to carry around, but it was basically magical for us.

Some veteran shield users say they carry them in their bra. I haven't tried it yet.

Does this link work?

https://forums.thebump.com/search?Search=Nipple+shield&CategoryID=

Stacey099 · August 2013

I second the Lansinoh cream - my right nipple was bleeding and it healed it right up. LO is only 12 days and it's been tough. I'm glad to hear it can get better

lancomechica · August 2013

We used the nipple shield and it worked for us too. He wouldn't latch at all without it...now he has weaned off nipple shield and latching ok. Not a deep latch but I pump and supplement with that milk if he needs it. It's been hard but we are rolling pretty well now.

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