Need help for friend: 2 week baby not gaining and severe nipple pain

[sdmoose]

Hey all, I'm hoping someone can offer some new advice for my friend. She has newborn who is very slow to gain weight. Not back to birth weight at 2 1/2 weeks. Apparently baby is pretty sleepy and she wakes her for every feed. The baby's latch is apparently pretty good (has been evaluated by lactation consultant) but baby was pinching the nipples so they are pretty raw and sore. Apparently baby also isn't very good at pulling nipple in --doesn't have a strong suck. I just talked to my friend and she's pretty close to quitting breastfeeding. It sounds like baby is getting a bit better with some things, but my friend says she is in pain most of the time. She has gotten some kind of salve from the lactation consultant, but now that's not helping much anymore. Clothes hurt, showering hurts, pumping hurts. She sounded pretty down about it all. Seems that she can't heal while baby is working at better technique. I am seeing her tomorrow and have offered to feed to baby myself (I'm breastfeeding 6 month old) to see how it feels to me. I would actually offer to be a wet nurse for her to let her heal a bit, but she lives an hour away.

Anyone with advice??

[haydn'smommy]

tongue tie is my first thought

[marge234]

It's odd that the LC said the latch was good and your friend is in pain. Maybe get another opinion, see another LC, about the latch and as PP poster said, look for tongue tie. A lot of people are opposed to them but maybe a shield would help in the short run. All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO), or Newman's ointment, usually helps. With broken skin she's at risk for thrush or a breast infection & the Newman's helps ward that off. (This may be the salve the LC gave her). Ibuprophen also helps and is fine to take when nursing, she shouldn't hesitate to take that. Of course the underlying issue needs ot be fixed. Putting a little olive oil in the horns of the pump helps reduce friction with pumping.

Of course kellymom.com is a great source of info.

[boobs4milk]

i don't know how everyone else feels about them, but nipple shields helped amelia learn to suck better. she needed the gratification of milk transfer and she got it when i used the nipple shields. i would start with the nipple shield and when she would slow down i would unlatch her, remove the shield and relatch her to the bare breast. we only needed them for about 2-3 weeks and now we are completely off of them!

good luck to your friend!

eta: was the baby a preemie? amelia was 5 wks early and was a lazy and tired girl until she hit her due date.