breastfeeding moms, HELP!

kyleighdale1 · May 2015

My sweet little angel was born on may 18th, so 5 days ago and I'm having the hardest time breastfeeding her! Her latch is good but it hurts so bad. Are any of you having trouble and will it hurt for a long time? My nipples aren't bleeding but part of it is scabed. Advice!!

soofttie · May 2015

Mine do, are you using a cream or butter after every feeding? I found it helps a lot.

kt1244 · May 2015

It hurts for me too. I'm almost a week in. It's getting better though! I bought these medela pads that you freeze. It helps a lot. I also use lanolin after every feeding/pump. Oh, and sometimes I just ice my boobs in general. Hope that helps!

Jaycie4 · May 2015

Push through Mama. The first week is rough. Use lanolin or a nipple butter as often as you can. After the second week you will be golden. It sounds like you're doing a great job. It's not the best feeling ever, but it gets easier and doesn't hurt anymore after week twoish. I nursed my first babe for 21 months. I'm 39.2 so any day now to nurse this next dude. Best of luck!! Don't give up!

chicago1985 · May 2015

After feeding express some milk into your nipples and let it air dry then apply the lanolin. Your breast milk has anti inflammatory and healing properties.
I was having a lot of pain and bleeding etc and I am now using a nipple shield. It is a god send!

ldmw · May 2015

Breastmilk was the best that helped mine heal. But you shouldn't feel any pain the whole time she's feeding. I'd recommend seeing a lactation consultant to make sure LO is latching and sucking properly.

lestes1121 · May 2015

Agree with all of the previous comments. Express milk, lanolin is great, and schedule to see LC. It's not suppose to be hurting while she nurses. Your lAtch could need help. A great latch means the world!!!

kateandsiah · May 2015

I'm there with you. I'm on day 7, almost through the first week. Mine have scabbed and they still really hurt but seems like it should let up any day!

bjackson2688 · May 2015

Stick with it!! It does hurt in the beginning for a little while! My little one is about a week an a half old and it stopped hurting me at about the week mark. I had scabs as well and the lanolin cream saved me after each feeding. Now I don't even have to use it anymore at all so don't lose hope! See a lactation consultant just in case, but if she has a good latch it may just take some time getting used to it. Good luck!!

ladyteach0505 · May 2015

Yep to a PP- go with the nipple shield until you feel like you don't need it. My baby wasn't confused by it at all.

MrsElizabethPlano · May 2015

I had that with my first baby. It hurt so bad I wanted to cry during each feeding. I realized that even with using the creams I needed to let them rest to heal properly. I started pumping for every other feeding until they felt better. It would have worked faster if I just pumped for a while, but I couldn't give up that connection with baby. So they stopped hurting after about a month and a half. Or a nipple shield like they said.

ldmw · May 2015

If you use a nipple shield you have to pump after so your nipples get the stimulation needed to Continue producing.

Alliinwonderland · May 2015

Mine got a frenulotomy and it helped a ton. I noticed he was tongue tied and asked for it. Check with ped or lactation specialist

mamadeuce · May 2015

OP I had the exact same experience.

All these ladies gave good advice. Try everything you can and see what works for you. My nipples were cracked and bleeding while I was in the hospital. We had a slightly extended stay because of my BP. I was able to have a LC come by a couple times a day and sit with LO and me to perfect our latch. That was step one for me. She also checked to make sure there wasn't an issue with LOS tongue or palet. There wasn't. However the damage to my nipples was done. I tried the creams and nipple shield but had to endure the pain until my milk came in (I wasn't ready to give her formula). Once it came it I pretty much only pumped and fed her breast milk from a bottle to give my nipples a break. It broke my heart for a couple days but it was a life saver. My nipples had time to heal. After I pumped I would leave my breast out to air dry, rub breast milk and Vaseline only only them, hand express in the shower, and let the hot water run over them in the shower (if your nipples are too sore then cup your hands around them and let it fill with hot water and soak while in the shower. This did wonder for me). I repeated these through out the day to help heal. Depending on how bad your nipples are damaged you can do this for a day or 2 and feel the difference. Then you can go back to breastfeeding. It may be a little uncomfortable when she first latches but should never hurt during the whole feeding. LO had a small bout of nipple confusion but we were able to work through it. I actually felt like it was more of nipple frustration because she still knew what to do but wanted the ease of the bottle nipple instead lol

Sorry it was so long.

kyleighdale1 · May 2015

Thanks so much ladies!!! Your responses have really helped and gave me some support.

taravansickle · May 2015

Mine bled for a few days and it was actually excrutiatiing at times. My little man is now 11 days old and they are soooo much better! Stick it out, they will start healing. Ice gel pads are amazing to wear between feedings.

mamajama3 · May 2015

Like PP's have suggested I would suggest a nipple shield- it's totally saved me and you may just love it!

kat0217 · May 2015

ldmw said:
If you use a nipple shield you have to pump after so your nipples get the stimulation needed to Continue producing.

This isn't true. Your nipples are still stimulated while nursing with a nipple shield. If they weren't, no milk would come out.

ldmw · May 2015

kat0217 said:

ldmw said:
If you use a nipple shield you have to pump after so your nipples get the stimulation needed to Continue producing.
This isn't true. Your nipples are still stimulated while nursing with a nipple shield. If they weren't, no milk would come out.

My lactation consultant said they aren't stimulated enough with nipple shield. So, if you have a problem with low milk supply you'll want to pump agree to keep supply issues from continuing.

kat0217 · May 2015

ldmw said:

kat0217 said:

ldmw said:
If you use a nipple shield you have to pump after so your nipples get the stimulation needed to Continue producing.
This isn't true. Your nipples are still stimulated while nursing with a nipple shield. If they weren't, no milk would come out.
My lactation consultant said they aren't stimulated enough with nipple shield. So, if you have a problem with low milk supply you'll want to pump agree to keep supply issues from continuing.

It sounds like you were only told that because you have low supply. Therefore, it doesn't apply to the average person, only to those with low supply.

sunnyday016 · May 2015

That's definitely how I felt nursing my first baby. It gets better! Make sure she is latching correctly every time and slather on the lanolin after each feeding. Stick with it! In a week or so it should get better!

I was given the advice that nursing gets a million times easier after the 6 week mark. Pushing through until then can be so hard, but there really is a huge shift at 6 weeks. So hang in there!

flutterby120 · May 2015

I need help as well, my little one is a month old and I am trying to pump as well as feeding him. I am having a hard time producing enough to pump what can I do?

mbt385 · May 2015

flutterby120 said:
I need help as well, my little one is a month old and I am trying to pump as well as feeding him. I am having a hard time producing enough to pump what can I do?

I'm with you @flutterby120! DD is 4 weeks and I've been nursing and pumping, but can't tell if I'm producing enough. I'm especially concerned since I had a reduction years ago. When I pump between regular feedings, I get 1-2oz max. Going to a local LLL meeting in two weeks but debating whether to do tea or fenugreek vitamins in the meantime?!

flutterby120 · May 2015

I am thinking of trying the tea first then if that doesn't work I will try an LLL meeting. What do those meetings about? No one has ever told me about them

ldmw · May 2015

@flutterby120 and @mbt385

I have low supply and have tried every single thing possible. I'm more than happy to share my experience in case you can learn anything to help you. If you're wanting to increase supply, there are a lot of ways to do so. I have tried 15+ things to increase my supply. What worked best for me is acupuncture. Fenugreek didn't work, all of the foods/drinks I tried didn't work either. But, that's not to say it won't work for you. If you are going to try fenugreek, make sure you take enough that you smell like maple syrup. That's when you know it's a high enough dose. My LC advised 2 pills 3x/day. For the mothers milk tea, be sure to drink 3-5 cups a day. Other foods I tried were oatmeal, lactation cookies, lactation smoothies. Also tried a number of other things but these are most common.

To increase your supply you can also nurse more frequently or try power pumping. You pump until your breasts are drained (15-20 minutes), rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest 10, pump 10, and repeat for an hour.

I also tried a LLL meeting and had a terrible experience. I know from reading the experience of others that my experience is likely rare. I only share this to tell you to not put a lot of expectations on a meeting. You will definitely get some tips and support if you have a good group, but may or may not make an improvement in your supply.

Hang in there and be sure to use this board and others online for the support you need.

ldmw · May 2015

I forgot a few things...

Definitely do something now to try to increase supply. Don't wait two weeks.

The LLL meetings I attended spoke about how to breastfeed and the benefits of it. They then opened up for anyone to ask questions they had come to the meeting with. The answers received to people's questions in my experience were very vague and open-ended. I even got directed to pay for a consultation with the LLL leader to "fix" my breastfeeding and pumping issues. I had already been working with an LC and didn't think it was appropriate for the LLL leader to brush off my questions and advise me to pay her hundreds of dollars to help me. That isn't the impression of what I think LLL should be about.

marijaa333 · May 2015

Same here - it feels like someone is sawing off my nipples, especially the first two minutes! I've been pumping for every other feed too and find it really helps with supply. We're getting him checked out for tongue tie tomorrow.

chicago1985 · May 2015

kat0217 said:

ldmw said:

kat0217 said:

ldmw said:
If you use a nipple shield you have to pump after so your nipples get the stimulation needed to Continue producing.
This isn't true. Your nipples are still stimulated while nursing with a nipple shield. If they weren't, no milk would come out.
My lactation consultant said they aren't stimulated enough with nipple shield. So, if you have a problem with low milk supply you'll want to pump agree to keep supply issues from continuing.
It sounds like you were only told that because you have low supply. Therefore, it doesn't apply to the average person, only to those with low supply.

My LC said the same thing to me about pumping when using the shield. I pump twice a day and use the shield. It's working great for us and my supply is high.

sn2b3 · May 2015

@marijaa333 I'm having the same problem and pretty much crying through each feeding! If you're producing enough my lactation specialist told me to nurse one side a nursing session.

marijaa333 · May 2015

@sn2b3 thanks, that's a good idea. Do you pump the other at the same time?

sn2b3 · May 2015

@marijaa333 she told me to stop pumping because my breasts wouldn't regulate to what the baby needs and if they aren't emptying your breast they aren't getting the hind milk which is supposed to be the most fatty, so I just switch off breasts at each feeding.

flutterby120 · May 2015

So has anyone had success with power pumping? I tried the mothers milk tea and almost threw up. What are other suggestions out there? When I had my son the nurses and the lactation consultant didn't really help me out. All I was told is to drink a lot of water and have an extra 500 calories... What else has helped..

mbt385 · June 2015

@ldmw Thank you for the advice! I will give power pumping a try! I tried frequent nursing this past week, mostly because DD demanded constant feedings (growth spurt?), but she sometimes seemed unsatisfied afterward. It may all be in my head but I'm worried my past breast reduction is an issue. She seems to be gaining weight well (was up 12oz from birth weight at her 2wk appointment). Not sure if the LLL can give me any better advice than you ladies on this board. I will try the tea/vitamins now and consider the acupuncture! Is there a specific technique I need to request? I really appreciate your help!

ldmw · June 2015

@mbt385 I went to an acupuncture doctor who specializes in women's health. I had acupuncture done specifically for milk production. For reference, She placed 4 needles in each breast, 2 in my cleavage, 2 in my forehead, and one in each ankle. The needles in my breasts were for milk, the others were to balance the rest of my energy.

mbt385 · June 2015

Thanks for the info @ldmw!!!

babyblue0501 · June 2015

I agree about the nipple shield. It allows me to BF my baby. I have to use one every time I feed my baby. His palate is deep, and my nipples are not long enough to reach for a good latch. The nipple shield gives my nipple that extension DS needs. I pump once or twice a day, when I have time. I don't have issues with supply due to nipple shield. I actually should probably pump more, but some days it's either have some lunch or pump... I like lunch so pumping isn't top priority on needy days. My LC advised me to pump for 15 mins 1 hour after LO last ate. I usually get about 3-4oz, and then baby eats successfully 1 hour to 1.5 hours later.

orangecurls · June 2015

I've had luck with Motherlove More Milk Plus. I bought it at whole foods.

boet0055 · June 2015

If it hurts check for a lip and tongue tie! It took 4 LCs before one noticed our tie. Breastfeeding was excruciating, the burn was intense even with the shield. Had a revision 7 days ago and he's finally feeding properly. We also are doing Cranial Sacral Therapy. This is recommended after a tie release. But anyone with latch issues would benefit. They loosen jaw and neck muscles to help get a more open mouth and deeper latch. I saw a huge improvement after one session. They recommend 2-3.

firsttimer86 · June 2015

I use coconut oil on my nipples , it's all natural and that's something the baby can have since her mouth will be all over them. Best of luck

kristaelaine86 · June 2015

The Jack Newman prescription cream was the only thing that would heal mine! I used it with the Medela shells ( to keep the cream from rubbing off on my nursing pad). Mine were cracked and bleeding as well because she sucks so aggressively. Her latch is great... I know this from several trips to the breastfeeding clinic trying to solve the issue. A shield did not help me at all, and be cautious when using one as it can create other problems. I did have to pump for a day to give my nipples a chance to heal.

Mommabroad · June 2015

I had your problem with scabs at the beginning, it hurt so bad when she began to suck that I would cry. I found it helped a TON to hold a hot wet paper towel to the nipple first to kind of dissolve the scab/ help stimulate the nipple so she wouldn't be sucking at it, and then she sucked much less hard because she could actually get to the milk. Also I support the nipple shield, only had to use it for a few days every now and then but it gave the nips a chance to heal. I also found in those days where my nipples were so sore I'd cry it really helped to just offer one breast at each feeding to give the nipples longer to heal between feedings. Then when they're feeling better go back to offering both. I had a really rough first week too and am glad I stuck with it! It gets better!

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