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I know that breastfeeding is best for my little baby boy. But I seem to be getting nowhere fast. It's been two weeks now, and my nipples are so sore and painful, I don't know if I can go on. Does anybody have any tips on how to feel more comfortable or numb the pain of breastfeeding? ↓
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| Name: LukesMom | Date: Jun 13th, 2005 3:25 PM |
| been there, done that and trust me- it gets better! some things i found that helped: shifting the babies position during feeding (even a slight adjustment can make a world of difference); going topless for a little awhile after feeding (obviously, only when i was home, not in public!), and placing cool tea bags on my nipples (sounds weird, i know but it really did help). ↑ |
| Name: Rena | Date: Jun 15th, 2005 4:01 PM |
| The initial soreness will go away. Your nipples just have to adjust to feeding a baby. I was sore for the first few weeks after having my baby boy too, and now he's 11 months old and still nursing strong. ↑ |
| Name: Ainsley's mom | Date: Jun 20th, 2005 12:38 AM |
| I was sooooo sore and wad thinking of quiting too but if you put a cold wash cloth on them that helps (after every feeding and in between smetimes). If you get chapped or are bleeding use lanolin to help heal it and you don't have to wash it off before you nurse again. It all goes away soon I promise. My daughter is 10 months adn we just got over the biting phase (ouch)!!!! ↑ |
| Name: Nehi | Date: Jun 23rd, 2005 3:37 PM |
Hi Monica,
I just got off advising Linda to try using lansinoh cream, it worked wonders for me when i almost gave up. you don't have to was them off your breast before feeding your boy. I got mine from this site:
http://www.babiesisla
nd.co.uk/babyproducts/p11.ht
m
Try it, you will be amazed.
Ciao. ↑ |
| Name: brid | Date: Jun 24th, 2005 5:07 PM |
Hi Monica
Try feeding your baby in different positions.I had the same problem the first two weeks and it was because i was holding my daughter in the wrong position. She is 18 months now and still feeding. Trust me it gets easier.BEST OF LUCK ↑ |
| Name: Peggy | Date: Jun 26th, 2005 6:51 AM |
| Hang in there Monica. I had a terrible time with my son in his first 2 weeks and almost gave up but I didn't and now 13 months later he is still breastfeeding and I have loved our nursing relationship. ↑ |
| Name: Carol | Date: Jul 23rd, 2005 9:51 PM |
The first 2 weeks to 2 months are often painful. I went through thrush on my nipple with my first son (If you see white spots in the baby's mouth, you can give a spoonful of yogurt a few times a day to the baby. This causes red sore nipples also), and I had cracked nipples with my 2nd son. You can get through it. Try expressing breastmilk and letting it air dry on your nipples, or use lanisoh creme. Something I recently found to help was using a warm washcloth before breastfeeding to start the flow of milk, and possibly a cold compress after. I think Gerber and possibly Medela make warm and cold compresses also. And, vitamin E oil can help, too.
You CAN get through this!!! Almost every breastfeeding mom will tell you that it is very difficult in the beginning, but it is well worth it in the end.
Good luck! I know you'll do great! ↑ |
| Name: Carol | Date: Jul 23rd, 2005 9:54 PM |
| Also, I wanted to add that it is possible to restart breastfeeding once you have stopped. This is called re-lactating, and there are many websites about it and success stories. So, even if you have given up, but changed your mind and wish you could start again- you can! ↑ |
| Name: Janet | Date: Jul 29th, 2005 7:15 PM |
| I've been breastfeeding for 4months and sometimes have had small blockages but now I have the mother of all blockages. It's not mastitis but it is so hard and painful. Any advice? ↑ |
| Name: Carol | Date: Jul 31st, 2005 1:28 AM |
Janet,
I've had some bad blockages, too.
Try using the warm washcloth beforehand, and then massage the area as you nurse. Also, the midwives at the birth center here told me to take 2000 mg of Vitamin C (I think twice a day?) for 2 days. If it gets red, or you feel really sick (flu-like symptoms). Call you doctor to make sure its not Mastisis. I had the really hard blockage and flu-like symptoms a few times here, but luckily no Mastisis. I think the Vitamin C really helped prevent the Mastisis last time. I was better the following day. ↑ |
| Name: Carol | Date: Jul 31st, 2005 1:32 AM |
Oh, and another thing, Janet.
Try nursing in different positions. The football hold is supposed to be really good for this, since baby's chin often pushes on the blockage when he's feeding. That's another tip from the midwives. ↑ |
| Name: sarah scalf | Date: Aug 20th, 2005 11:40 PM |
I feel your pain!Brooklyn is now almost 7months old.I can remember
back and Iwill be the first to say the first 4 weeks are hard,but it was so worth it in the long run.I love the bonding and face it,....it's alot easyier
to breast feed at 3,5,7 in the morning than make a bottle.Besides if you have made it 2 weeks can't you hang in there for 2 more.I didn't breast feed my 1st daughter Faith and I wish I had.My only advise is that
you faithfully nurse him off each breast every feeding so they are even
and what ever one you stop on, begin on the next time,.... and end with the other one so it helps to decrease the swelling.Anything cold will help with the swelling to.Good Luck you can do it! ↑ |
| Name: sparky | Date: Aug 21st, 2005 12:23 PM |
| dont use soap on your nipples it dries them out. wash area around them just rinse nipples. and let them air dry before putting them bac in your bra. thats what helpeed me more than anything. mine were bleeding and cracking. also standing in the shower under just running water helped too use warm or hot is they are swollen and it will help release some pressure. ↑ |
| Name: Michelle | Date: Aug 21st, 2005 6:03 PM |
I have been struggling for the past 6 weeks with a variety of issues. However, I'm still sticking with it. I've seen a lactation consultant 5 times now to help me! I think that "sore nipples" is truely a broad statement and can be caused by a number of things. For example, I've had cracked, bleeding, plugged ducts, swollen areolas, chapped, itching, vasospasms and allergic reaction to a nipple cream over the past 6 weeks. Just when one thing seems to get better, something else happens. HOWEVER, it does get better and easier. The lesson I'm learning is that if you don't get the baby to latch on correctly, you will just continue to have sore nipples. When the latch is correct, even with sore nipples, it doesn't hurt as bad. But if you continue to nurse with a poor latch, the injuries will continue.
The lactation consultant suggested to put Olive Oil on a cotton ball and put it directly on the nipple (under a nursing pad). That has been a HUGE help. I also used Lansinoh cream (lanolin) with the olive oil. However just recently I purchased "MotherLove" brand nipple cream, which is awesome. It has olive oil, marshmallow root and some other natural things that help sooth and make your nipples soft/supple. For the cracks and sores on your nipples, use "Polysporin" rather than "Neosporin" (advice from lact. consult.). Polysporin doesn't have to be wiped off. I used Neosporin and it started to heal the cracks really fast. You just have to wipe it off really good before breastfeeding or pumping. I did this before talking to the lact. consultant. :-\ If you get "vasospasms" after nursing, put a warm compress on your breasts and nipples for about 15 - 20 minutes and try to avoid anything that may make you cold. The Vasospasms are no joke...they hurt like crazy (shooting pains through your breasts). These are caused by a poor latch.
The bottom line...it all boils down to getting the latch right. If you can, try to see a lactation consultant to help you. You might only need one visit to get things on track. Hope this helps. ↑ |
| Name: Lance's mom | Date: Aug 24th, 2005 10:51 PM |
My first son i just bottle fed him, my second i tried to breastfeed, and
just like you my nipples got so painful and i quit. DON"T give up
on my third son i was determined to breast feed that was my goal as a mother, it doesn't seem like too many people do it anymore(or the people i know) anyways. I got a hold on it before it started.My hospital
gave me a thng called soothies and after you are done feeding put them on i think they help with moisturizing the nipple, i even went and got some at the drug store. You can put them in the fridge and keep them cool. I used them for along time till i new they wouldn't get sore, Now he's 13 months old, still feeding. ↑ |
| Name: CJ | Date: Sep 4th, 2005 3:53 AM |
| Have you talked to your Doc? They have this all natural creme that you can apply to your nipples that will numb them and allow them to heal, and it is not harmful to the baby. I can't remember what it is called. But it really works! ↑ |
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