Serious Suckle!

[HeatherSanders]

My nips are sore ladies . . . really sore. Especially my left one - his favorite. Kenny sucks as if he wants my nipple to shoot out the back of his head . . . I SWEAR! OUCH!!!!! He's easier on the right side, but that is just because it is flatter and he doesn't get the same kind of 'latch.'

And he wants to eat SO OFTEN! I'm serious . . . there are times in the day when all I do is feed, feed, feed.

I'm beginning to feel like a cow (and not just because of the postpartum jelly belly I'm experiencing either).

So, is this a 1-month growth spurt or will my boy just nurse twice as much as my dd2?

Anyone want to uplift me with humor? What do you do with your seriously-sorely-sucked-nipples?????

[DaryLLL]

Have you read the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? In it, you will find it is normal for babies to want to nurse quite often, every hour, or more, if a short feed. Esp during growth spurts, or in the evening hours, when your supply is lower in quantity, but higher in fat (aka hindmilk), and harder to draw out thru the ducts.

The long evening feeds start to diminish by 3 mos when the baby gets more efficient at nursing. But a growth spurt can always happen. Your milk supply will increase with unlimited cue feeds.

But, it should not cause soreness! No matter how eager a nurser you have, if he is latched on correctly (big if in the early weeks), you shouldn't have soreness. It could be thrush causing soreness.

If he is not latched on correctly, he may not be removing milk effectively. So, improper latch can lead to overly frequent feeds, and soreness. You may want to have his latch assessed by an exp'ed LLl Leader or IBCLC lac consultant. She could also tell you if, OTOH, it is thrush.

[chellemarie]

When my son was a month old, I called the doctor crying that he wouldn't stop nursing, and my nipples were just worn out. The doctor told me it was most likely a growth spurt and to give him some formula.

Great doctor, eh? I'd never even heard of LLL then. I was in a pickle.

I don't know how I did it, but I made it through. It hurt. I used Lamaze breathing to relax and roll over the pain. (HEEHEEHOOOOOOOO) I'm pretty sure I threw stuff around the room. There were times I thought he was going to suck my boobs right off my body.

God, I'm about to do this all over again. <panic attack>

I'd also never heard of thrush then. In fact, I'd never heard of it until reading mothering.com a couple weeks ago. I'd guess it's a growth spurt if his nursing has increased in frequency. But Daryl is way more of an expert...she's probably onto something.

Good luck!

[HeatherSanders]

Daryl, I know it isn't thrush . . . and I was thinking that it probably was a result of a bad latch. A week and 1/2 ago Kenny's frenulum was clipped b/c he was tongue tied. I think he's still trying to 'learn' how to latch on right. I realize that he's clicking some of the time - although NOTHING like he used to. He doesn't nurse correctly on the right side at all. I had no idea it could make me this sore.

Initially I thought it was thrush and treated us for it . . . but the thrush symptoms weren't really there . . . so, after 2 weeks of that I started reading about tongue-tie and realized that was my culprit.

I'm trying to figure out how to 'train' a good latch after they have picked up the habit of a bad latch. Any ideas from the seasoned lactavist? I am consistent to take him on and off and on and off to try to get a good latch. And not only that, but when my right side lets down it is a FLOOD of milk, so that side is particularly difficult for him.

My dd2 was tongue-tied, but not as severely. Hers was clipped beyond her 6th month. I was able to nurse her on both sides easily. I don't have inverted nipples . . . in fact, they do seem like they are probably good 'nips' for nursing. HA!

[Momtwice]

There can be MANY reasons for sore nipples and a good lactation consultant (IBCLC)or La Leche League leader can help you sort out reasons and solutions. I recommend you talk to one of these people and see them in person. Avoid artificial nipples until you have sorted out the problem (s).

One reason for soreness is actually not nursing enough! If you think a child "shouldn't" be nursing so much (a trap it is easy to fall into in our breastfeeding-unfriendly society)
spacing nursings too far apart can actually upset the baby and make them nurse more aggressively which can hurt.

Constant nursing is normal. Breastfeeding counselors whether free trained volunteer or paid professional, can help.