April 2008 Expecting Club

K. I've posted about this before, I'm at my witts end now and I a seriously considering putting April back on formula since I can't stand to feed her by the boob anymore.  At first it was just my left nipple that was sore, so I got a breast pump and I've been pumping out of that one while feeding her on the other until it had some time to heal, now both of them are sore and it hurts to pump --- she was latching well at first, now she seems 'LAZY"  and seems to just go for the end of the nipple, it takes me at least four tries to get her latched on properly now and it's so frustrating (especially at night when I'm tired and just want to get her fed and put her back down) I end up sitting there in tears for the whole time she takes to feed... It takes me a half a  day most times to pump enough for her to eat in one sitting to satisfy her, she was born with a big appetite, so I'm afraid I'm not going to get enough for her daily by just pumping.

I've tried pretty much everything from leaving them out to "air dry" after feeding, the Lanisoh cream...expressing a little milk on my nipples after feeding and letting that dry...pumping seems to be less painful but not the long term answer,...I WANT to breastfeed her until she's 6 months...I don't want to fail at this....can anyone offer some words of advice I haven't yet heard?  Is anyone going through this same problem???  Help please...

Thank you.

I'm at 6 wks BFing and it still hurts like hell during the initial latch on -- DS has a very tight latch and I swear it feels like he is just biting down.

But after the first 15-30 seconds the pain goes away for the most part...

I was having the same problem afterwards because he was having such a hard time latching on... I basically walked around the house with my nipples hanging out because they hurt to have anything touch them.

Lactation and la leche people will say not to do this, but i am because it works for me and DS. i have a nipple shield that I still use because it helps to draw the nipple out and it also protects from his latch irritating the nipple. I talked to his dr and she said if it was working and saving me from further issues she did not think it was a bad idea to just stick to using it. My goal is to get to 6 months also...

the lactation people said this was not good because it screws with his ability to latch -- but if I use it all the time then so be it. He can still bottle feed when he needs to, and I know that it works for him so I go with it.

You could check with a lactation person -- they might have some better ideas. I am sure they would cringe if they heard the nipple shield suggestion. they are always telling me to break that habit but it saves my sanity and I know he is getting milk so be it!

I am so sorry you're having such a tough time.  I had a really rough time with my first and gave up after 13 weeks. I regreated it so much after.  My second one I nursed for a year!!

Have you had you and baby checked for thrush?  If baby has white in his mouth you may have it!  I would suggest calling your ped - sometimes they have breastfeeding resourses. Or maybe your OB could steer you in the right direction.

Good luck - I really hope you get the help you need.

Ignore my crazy siggy. I am having such problems fixing it.. I just keep making it worse!

Yeah I am having this too.  I read up a bunch on "correct latch" and found that Sage was not taking in as much of my breast as she should.  A few websites suggested that the pain could be a result of her just not latched on correctly.  Since then I have been making her open wider to take more of my breast.  That seems to help alittle.  I think she had some nipple confusion because I also pump... she was getting lazy and opening only as wide as she needs to for the bottle. 

Aside from that, are you using Lanolin on your nipples? I apply it 2-3 times a day.  I feel for you.  It is sooo painful sometimes to breastfeed and I know it's not supposed to be this way.

Proud Mommy to Andrew (14), Madison (8) and Sage born 3/28