Ok, my baby is 9 days old and she has been breastfeeding like a champ. She's perfectly content, but my nips aren't... I'm actually thinking about switching to formula, because i don't know how much more i can take! My poor nips are drying out faster then i can put lotion on them, and they are starting to crack :shock:
Is there anything that i can do to help? It hurts SOOO bad to nurse right now, but hey she's hungry when she's hungry...
Help!!!
It will probably clear up in a few days, yeah it really does hurt! Have you been putting lanolin cream on them? That was very helpful to me, also going with out a bra and even a shirt is helpful. Don't switch to formula, you can get through it! It just takes a few days to clear up in my experience.
eeek! i know how that feels! i found the lanolin helps too. Also, using your own breastmilk on them helps, like just expressing a tiny bit, and rubbing it on them like you would with lotion. Dont give up, you will get through it, they will get better i promise!
I know what you mean.. it can be painful. Lanolin can be really helpful.. trust me it DOES get better :) Please dont give up mama! Also, are you sure shes got a good latch? cuz that can cause some super sore nips..
lansinoh saved my life!!! believe me that it does go away with only a little time. if one nipple is less cracked than the other, favor the good one for now.
i do remember having a cracked nipple, and it hurts! do you have bf support, like a leche league around you or a nurse/lactation hotline at the hospital you gave birth at?
Yeah Piper has an AMAZING latch! I was so excited she took to it like a champ. It's not so much her nursing, as it is my nips not being used to being sucked on so much lol. I'm going out to get some lanisoh tomorrow, for now i'll use my own breastmilk, it shoots out in the shower anways :P
It sprayed today and i thought that it was the coolest thing, i had to show bd...i think that he was a little scared though haha :lol: He commented on how huge they were at the hospital when my milk came in, and i just about bit his head off... I kind of like it now, because they are so incredibly perky :oops: I feel kind of silly for liking it so much, but oh well hehe :D
When Navy was about 9 days or so i almost quit. I didn't think i could take it any more. my nipples hurt SO bad. I cried everytime i had to nurse, i cried because it hurt, I cried because i didn't want to give her formula. It was bad. But i got a nipple shield, for my left boob. It hurt the worst. Stick with it. It WILL get better i promise. :D I'm super proud of you for breastfeeding Piper. That is awesome. :D
From everything I've heard it's okay for it to be sore but it being THAT painful is an indicator of a poor latch (even if it looks like the latch is okay, it might not be). I'd say see if you can get a lactation consultant to check on your latch and offer advice, it might help a lot, or just confirm what you already knew in worst case scenario, right?
and if it gets too bad you could try a nipple shield, it'll give your nipples time to heal and make nursing a little more bearable!
usually if you are getting sore nipples it is because of the latch when she is feeding make sure that most or all of your areola (sp) is in her mouth. also using your breast milk will definitely help and if you are using lotion make sure it is unscented and very low in chemicals because that will also irritate your nipples.
if it gets unbearable, try a nipple shield. They have them at Target for like, $3.
They did wonders for me!
With luke, my nipples were so bad, they were big black scabs for awhile.
I used a nipple shield in the beginning too. Don't give up! It gets so much better.
Dont give up Shelby, I did and I really wish I hadn't. I only BF for like 3-4 months and I really wish I still was. What helped me, is Mercy Hospital has a Nurse come to your house and check up on how you are doing, and the nurse helped me make sure he was getting a good latch. If your hospital does that TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE. It really does help.Good Luck.
hahaha...one time I was nursing and my sister made a crack at me for something or other, so I squirted her with breastmilk. LOL
Seriously, it does get better. My nipples never had a problem like that, but once Matt bit the right one so hard I couldn't let him near it for two days. I ended up taking showers after every time we'd nurse because the act of nursing caused me to fill up on the right but only be able to nurse on the left...it was awful. It healed though, and he never bit me again. Things like this pass and heal. It'll be okay, mama.
Try to find a La Leche League member if you can. They're free and can offer you TONS of assistance.
When Abhy was new, I HATED breastfeeding. My nips were always sore and cracked, I had mastitis a handful of times. He gained weight like a champ, though, and HE had no problems feeding.
When he was five weeks (!!) old, I couldn't take it anymore and got some help. He would latch fine, but after a few minutes would 'slide' off the bottom of the areola. So he would be sucking more on the top, and smushing my nip into his hard palate instead of his soft palate.
They gave me a good indicator: latch him on with his nose level with your nipple, more areola on the bottom (chin).
i sorry i never had them problem but i hope it gets better