Breastfeeding and puming both incredibly painful and bleeding

[Steph491]

I am a first time mom and I am trying desperately to breastfeed.  I was told at our first pediatric appointment which was the day after we went home that I needed to supplement with formula because my son was not gaining weight.  So, I breastfed for 15 min on each breast and then pumped for 15 mins and fed him about 2 oz of formula for a couple of days until my milk production came up and now how been doing this routine with bottled breast milk.  When my son is nursing it is painful, he comes off latch and then we have to relatch.  He is better on my right breast than my left.  My left breast is larger and we are having problems with latch, he doesn't latch on.  I have tried all holds and he nibbles on the tip of my breast.  Now both of my breasts are sore, bleeding and rubbed raw (since the scabs have come off from feeding).  I am almost at the point of giving up - which I don't want to do because the formula made him very uncomfortable.  Please help.  I have tried the Lanolin and Tea Bags and the Medela Cooling Gel Pads.

[Choaners]

i would recommend contacting a lactation consultant.  most of them are on call and you can talk to them most hours of the day (and many at night).  they will also do home visits to see exactly what the problem is and to help with latch.  They can offer a tremendous amount of help and support.  I found mine through the hospital where I delivered.  You could also probably search the Internet for one near you.  Definitely, get support and guidance of an LC before you give up!

[mimi_mommy]

Have you tried seeing a chiropractor. If you can find one that specializes in pediatric care they can check your DS's jaw and pallette!

Good luck breastfeeding problems can sometimes be harder to deal with then actually giving birth

[KJunebug]

See a lactation consultant.  I had a similar story with both my little ones.  With the first I remember going into a great baby store at 1 week and asking for something to help with the sore nipples, she took one look at me, and gave me a home lactation consultant's name, she was at my house like an hour later and we got the help we needed.

On my second I also saw a sacral-cranial specialist to help my little one open that mouth.  It seemed to help a lot, and she liked it.  This therapist was also a lactation consultant, which helped a lot.

In short, I think I have seen every lactation consultant in America and Canada... and you should too if you want to.

Good luck, I remember so vividly those early days of really struggling with nursing... oh god those sore nipples.... (the only way to get them healed up the first time for me was a product by Medela called soft shells for sore nipples, it let the air get to them and really kept them clean... be really careful to avoid infection.....)

[PlayaMama]

find a lactation consultant or contact la leche league. they can help you with positioning!!