breastfeeding...HELP!!!

Hi! I swear by Lansinoh (spl?). I used it straight after every feed whether I was sore or not and you don't have to wipe it off before the next feed.

It is hard at this early stage, but hang in there as it does get easier! Maybe try feeding in a different position as this can ease a bit of the pain (ask your midwife to show you some other positions)

Hope this helps!

I agree with nikki, if you are feeling sore from being sooooo full express some milk, you could store some for when you are coming up to a growth spurt, just incase you would like a break or maybe someone else to give baby a feed.
Also as rubydooby said if you have cracked nipples the lasinoh (also not sure of spelling, but it comes in a lavender tube) is fantastic.
Good luck, if you don't get any relief come back and ask more questions or ask your mw for more help

Okay might repeat what other people are saying but here is some advice from me.

Lasinoh is totally great. I bought a big tube in SA and didnt even use all of it. You dont have to wipe it off before a feed but just check the tube to see what it says on there. (I know the one I had actually said not to wipe off) It really worked for me.

Other thing you can do it actually to give some sunlight to your breasts. 10 min a day if you can.

Express slightly with your hand some milk before letting bubs feed. It will be easier for them to latch. If you find it difficult to express a bit take a warm washcloth and put it on your breast 10 min before expressing a bit of milk.

When bubs is latched on the one breast let your other breast hang free. Take a towel and roll it up and leave it under that breast. That breast will leak a bit and help with your engorgement.

It takes about 6 weeks for your body to realise how much milk baby will need.

If you are serious about BFding try not to give formula during the first 6 weeks. Let your body sort itself out first with the demands ect.

Other thing you can try is to rather have a shower. If it is really sore express a little bit of milk but not too much. Remember the more you stimilate the more milk will get produced and you dont want to get into a vicious cycle here.

If it is really sore ask your midwive about ultra violet lights. Dont know if they do it here but in SA they do it to the woman if they are really sore and it seemed to have helped for them a lot.

Other thing that help is try to change babies position everytime you feed him. Dont feed him in the same position every time.

If you dont have Lasinoh use your own breastmilk. Just take a drop and put it over your whole nipple and aeroala (sp?) and let it dry naturally.

If you use breastpads make sure that they are not causing you more grief and more pain. If you use disposables try some cloth ones and vice versa.

Hope you come right and if you dont let us know and we can think of more stuff.

Hi Cmaine, I cant really add to what the others are saying but I can just tell you that I was exactly the same and it does get better....then it can hurt again...then it gets better...then you find one boob is working well and you are annoyed with the other....then you change your mind and think the annoying boob is the better one.

Keep at it....IT DOES GET BETTER!!!

A small tube of lansinoh is about $12 and nipple shields vary, but are about $10 from memory (you'll only need one). I found the small tube ample, lasted a few weeks and by then my nipples were all healed and I had the breastfeeding sussed!

Are you hand expressing correctly? And it may sound weird, but let your boobs get lots of airing and sunlight (might mean you have to walk around the house with them hanging out!) as that heals them nicely too. Good luck!

You could call La Leache League, they may be able to give you a bit more time to get the latching etc sorted. I'm pretty sure they are free, ask them when you call up.

I second what SMoody said - don't express too much, just enough to soften the breast a little. You can go in a warm shower and if they are really full they will leak (or spray) on their own, and you should feel a lot more comfy after then. I wouldn't go for an express pump yet cause it will probably only boost your supply.

Make sure your nipple is going right to the back of the baby's mouth - it's hard to explain online, but that's usually the #1 cause for sore nipples.

Like all the others I have so been there and I know how painful it is. I agree to ring La Leche League because sometimes midwives don't give the best breastfeeding advice. Another thought is that maybe you guys have thrush? (your nipple and his mouth) We have it at the moment and breastfeeding is a bit painful but its really easy to clear up.

Good luck

I also wanted to add that it does get better, I had problems with my son, when he was the same age as yours (congrats by the way). It took me to about day 7 till things started to come right. Just keep feeding and eventually your nipples will come right.

I'm also wondering if you could have a blockage there, which may need antibiotics. Maybe ask your mw to refer you to a Lactation consultant.

With hand expressing, I always found it easier to do it in the shower, running my hand down my breast to my nipple till the milk came out. Also try a really hot flannel and put it over each breast - mainly for comfort and it might also help the milk flow.

Good luck and I'm sure things will come right for you very soon.

HI guys,
things are starting to look on the upside,the pain is still there but not as bad as yesterday,i have all of you's to thank as i was so desperate,i actually used just about every piece of advice that was posted...i actually have another question and becouse i don't see my midwife till tomorrow i am curious..

My mother purchased me some nipple shields yesterday and for the all the women who have used them you know the nipple part,well how the hell are your nipples supposed to fit in there?,theres no way in hell mine are even close to that big,so that leaves me with more room for concern,could it be that my nipples are to small?

well i look forward to hearing some more helpful advice...
thanks
cmaine

Haha cmaine, when i was breastfeeding and bought some i thought exactly the same thing!! But to be honest i didnt care, my nipples hurt so bad i still used the sheilds and it provided some relief..