BFing Question

[jennifer8080]

So breastfeeding Caleb has been completely different than it was with Kennedy. She didn't have a great latch and she had a weak suck because of the low muscle tone. Caleb seems to have a good latch but he is KILLING my right nipple. It hurts so freaking bad, and he's just tearing it apart. Is it a latch issue? Or maybe just because he's attached to my boobs 24/7? With Kennedy my nipples got blistered from the pump but nothing like this.

[sara76]

It might be a latch issue but the fact that it's only one side makes me wonder. A never had a problem with her latch (well maybe she did and figured it out in her own) but I was in a good amount of pain after the first week from the cluster feeding. Man, that was in January and it was the first week it got cold out. I'll never forget when I got cold and my nips acted accordingly, I was dying. I was terrified to leave the house. I broke out my thickest sweaters and layered everything. I was taking pain killers for my c section at first so I didn't realize it right away, until the day of her 1st pedi appointment (I guess she was 5 or 6 days old?) and she woke up that morning and spit up blood and I almost lost my shit, but come to find out my nipples were cracked and she was fine. The pedi said it's pretty common and to go shirtless as much as possible and to use lanolin. I did and it eventually started feeling better.
I hope it feels better for you soon. It is amazing how nipple pain can be felt in your entire body.

[jennifer8080]

The whole one sided thing was making me question if it was actually a latch issue. I've tried Lanolin and coconut oil. Shirtless? Lol...with my 36I boobs? With a toddler. She'd rip my nipples off. Guess that won't be happening, though it makes sense.

[sara76]

Lol I hear ya, shirtless is not quite as cute as it used to be. Just try and wear a big loose fitting tee shirt around the house. And an old one because lanolin stained a bunch of mine. What we do for these babies

[jennifer8080]

How did you not wear a bra? And pads? I seriously leak all over the place. I woke up and the bed and baby were soaked this morning.

[livinitup]

This might be too simple but my DD had a great latch sometimes too great,so I had to push down on her chin to let-up a bit. If I didn't, it was torture.

[sara76]

Aug 14, 2012 22:18:56 GMT -5 jennifer8080 said:

How did you not wear a bra? And pads? I seriously leak all over the place. I woke up and the bed and baby were soaked this morning.

Yep for those early days I drenched the baby more than once! I slept on a towel. It wasn't cute, but they were just way too sore for a bra for about 2 weeks.

[mrsjenrn]

In my LC book it says that sometimes the mother has more success getting her baby to latch using a position where her dominant hand is in control.

Other than that, I got nothin'. I had some nip issues at first with Z too, but I used lanolin and they went away pretty fast. She was always on my boob the first few weeks! there is always LLL, too!

[jennifer8080]

My doula is coming over to help me with K today since Marlon is traveling. I'm going to ask her what she thinks - otherwise I'll give it some time or try LLL. I hate to say it but I totally gave him a pacifier tonight. After 3 hours of boob in his mouth, he was still screaming when he went to sleep and my nipple fell out of his mouth. I needed some sanity.

[sara76]

I personally wouldn't feel bad or worry about giving him a pacifier at this point. The reason they say to wait is because it can cause nipple confusion and delay nursing success and your milk coming in properly. It sounds like at this point he's nursing just fine, maybe if anything too well, and that he is one of those babies with a strong desire to suck. I personally say go for it! Team Pacifier!
I remember when I had a really sore right nipple recently because Amelia twisted it wrong and got a nerve, I was given some advice. This is more for the distracted phase at 5 months but also could come in handy now. Maybe start him off on your good nipple when he's really hungry in the beginning of the nursing session, then when he's working on a nice flow move him over to the sore side (because you have to keep it going still) and then after he has the majority of his good meal and is just grazing put him back on the good side again. I'm definately no expert but I'm just trying to think of what helped me get through my rough patches.

[tashaandsage]

I also personally wouldn't worry about a pacifier. Especially since it sounds like he wants to use you as a pacifier all night. If he really needs to suck, its better a pacifier than you all night, in my nonexpert opinion. I gave both my babies a pacifier from the very start for naps and nighttime and there wasn't any issues with nipple confusion or my milk supply. And actually they only needed it in beginning, both weaning themselves of it between 3-4 months.

[lovethesun]

I had this issue when I was BFing. Only my right side had an issue, I actually had a crack in the nipple. I decided to take a break from feeding him on that side and just pump on that side since he made it worse. So I would feed him on the left side, then give him a bottle and then pump the right side. It was not the best solution but it allowed the right side to heal. Then after a week I decided to put him back on the right side and it was ok but it still hurt a little. I think he was not latching correctly but it eventually worked itself out. I feel your pain, hang in there. Oh the things we do for these kids!!