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Sore nipples

post #1 of 21
4/9/06 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
Hi All,

There may have already been a thread about this but since my daughter wasn't born until the first week of April, I missed it.

Any advice on sore nipples? I believe my baby's latched on right--big open mouth, lips flanged, the pain subsides after 3-5 seconds of her sucking, and she has plenty of wet/poopy diapers. But man-the pain is intense.

I never breastfed my first daughter well and plan to go to the next La Leche League meeting but they're only once a month. So for now, I'm just doing my best. I really think we're doing it right but am wondering if there's anything I can do to get past this sore stage.

Does this go away after a while? The tips of my nipples are sore, cracked, and bleeding a bit. Granted, my daughter isn't even a week old so I only assume it will get better but it never did with my first daughter, even after 5 months. I use PureLan after each feeding but am wondering if it's not really helping. It mostly helps my nipples not stick to my bra and pad.

Ok, that's my long story. Any advice? Thank you!!

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post #2 of 21
4/9/06 at 3:53pm
Now I am not a seasoned bf-er but I have sore nips still and dd is 1 month old. It does get better. My nips don't hurt everyday either. But if it gets bad I use Soothies breast pads. I got them from http://breastchester.com They help soooo much. From what I hear they can be sore for awhile. My nips bled when I got engorged-I think b/c it was hard for her to latch correctly and it was still new. Much better now though.
Good luck! and Congrats!
post #3 of 21
4/9/06 at 3:56pm
No advice but lots of sympathy. I SOOO feel your pain, literally. My toes curl and I want to scream when my DD starts nursing on the left side. The right isn't quite as painful. I'm using Lasinoh and Lotrimin (what Dr said to use for the yeastie beasties). My nipples are peeling and I think I see a few cracks. After a bit the pain subsides but man those first few seconds are TORTURE.
post #4 of 21
4/9/06 at 4:31pm
I assure you, it does get better. I was nearly screaming every time DS latched on for the first week, then all of a sudden this past Friday it didn't hurt nearly as bad, and as of today, there is only a tiny bit of pain when he first latches. I knew he had a good latch, it was just my nipples trying to get used to being sucked on all day/night.

But it will get better, just hang in there! I don't think our species would have survived if BFing hurt that bad for more than a week or two!
post #5 of 21
4/9/06 at 4:31pm


If the latch is correct, it will get better. Did a lactation consultant check out your latch while you were in the hospital? If so, you could go back in and meet with her. It's very common, and usually there's no charge (it's an informal meeting in the mom/baby ward). Also, there's no need to wait for the LLL meeting...go online and get the contact number for a local leader. Give her a call, and she or someone from the group should be able to give you some support ASAP.

From what I experienced, the first time you breastfeed your nipples kind of need to get toughened...I remember at least a couple sore weeks with Ian and James, along with small cracks, small blisters, and a little of the blood crusties, too. This time the pain (along with some blood crusties) only lasted a week or so. What helped last time and this time was to use the lasinoh after each feeding, and realy RUB it in. Also, it helps to put the lasinoh on right after a shower...and again, rub it in.

It'll pass. If it's really becoming an issue, make sure to call LLL or at least post a help message here in the breastfeeding forum.
post #6 of 21
4/9/06 at 5:03pm
ITA with the PP's!! Those first few days my daughter MANGLED my nipples, they were bloody, raw stubs...sooooo painful!!!!! It got to the point I would SOB while nursing her. But it got better REALLY quickly, the worst of it was, I dunno, maybe 4 days. For a while it still hurt when she latched on...but then that went away, too. My baby has a really good latch, so that wasn't the issue. I think sometimes our nipples just need time to get used to nursing. Keep it up & it WILL get better!!
post #7 of 21
4/9/06 at 10:53pm
I've had the same problem with both kiddos. Both had/have a good latch, and I had a lactation consultant check us out both times, so it wasn't that. They say "breastfeeding doesn't hurt if you're doing it right" -- well, I don't think that's always true. Maybe initiating breastfeeding is painless for some people, but it sure hasn't been for me.

For me it's the worst at 1 week, then gradually, steadily gets better. Now, at 3 weeks, my left nipple doesn't hurt at all, and the right one only mildly, when Maria is latching. I expect in another week I'll be pain-free. Can't wait. That's when nursing really gets easy and convenient and fabulous.

Hang in there. It WILL get better, I promise!
post #8 of 21
4/10/06 at 10:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tine
They say "breastfeeding doesn't hurt if you're doing it right" -- well, I don't think that's always true. Maybe initiating breastfeeding is painless for some people, but it sure hasn't been for me.
Yeah right. The first few weeks I cried too every time. The latch was good too. It is still a minor pain now at 4.5 weeks, but definitely better. The lansinoh didn't make any appreciable difference for me. I ended up with blisters which bled a little also. It helped after let-down when there was a little milk to kind of wet the nipple down.

It is definitely getting better though so hang in there! Sounds like your experience is pretty normal.
post #9 of 21
4/10/06 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 
It helps to know I'm "normal". I think she's latching on right, especially since it only hurts for the first few seconds, it's just those first few seconds are so bad.

I'll hang on and go to a consultant if it doesn't get any better. I didn't use the PureLan yesterday and I think it may help to just go without. My thinking is that if I don't use it, my nipples will toughen up sooner than if I do use it. We'll see...
post #10 of 21
4/10/06 at 2:00pm
My intense pain while nursing is due to Raynaud's of the nipples. It is an under diagnosed condition that deserves a lot of press.

There are a variety of reasons for nipple pain with a good latch, i hope you find your answer.
post #11 of 21
4/10/06 at 8:21pm
I hear it really helps to leave your nipples to dry in the air with some breastmilk on them.
post #12 of 21
4/10/06 at 11:07pm
I get the same wincing OUCH when Katelyn first latches on as well. It eases up fairly immediately- but man! it hurts! I am also a bit sore, too but more just tender, like early pregnancy, than anything. No cracking or bleeding here. sounds horrible and big to you with that going on! ow!

Thanks for the reminder about the LaLeche League and thier meetings... Do you usually bring the babe with? Even when they are just a few weeks old?
post #13 of 21
4/10/06 at 11:28pm
yes! bring them with! LLL meetings are a blast with all the little kiddies there...and it's a great way to meet other moms with young ones.
post #14 of 21
4/11/06 at 10:47am
Anyone heard of Dr. Jack Newman's nip ointment? A lac cons. at the hospital told me about it, that it has an anelgesic in it. I googled but couldn"t find it. If I get the info I'll share...
post #15 of 21
4/14/06 at 9:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silvercrest79
After a bit the pain subsides but man those first few seconds are TORTURE.
It was like this for me the first few weeks. It's not like that every time now, but once or twice a day it will really hurt. I had blood blisters on the tips of my nipples the first week, but that cleared up with Lansinoh. It does get easier.

Kristin
post #16 of 21
4/14/06 at 10:16pm
Does Lansinoh help with the soreness, even if you don't have cracking and bleeding too?
The LC at our hospital said not to use lanolin creams unless absolutely necessary because they can trap in moisture and cause thrush, though... any experience with this?
post #17 of 21
4/15/06 at 12:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellykins
Does Lansinoh help with the soreness, even if you don't have cracking and bleeding too?
Not in my experience. I use light Lansinoh once a day after a shower, but otherwise I only use it if I have cracks or bleeding.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kellykins
The LC at our hospital said not to use lanolin creams unless absolutely necessary because they can trap in moisture and cause thrush, though... any experience with this?
No experience, but I suppose it could happen. I would just avoid overusing the lanolin.

Kristin
post #18 of 21
4/15/06 at 6:54pm
Thread Starter 
I was also told that using the lanolin products help to heal the cracks and blisters so it's good to use them. It's all so confusing.

I got mastitis earlier this week so now I'm wondering what I can do differently. I think it may have been caused by a tight bra and tank top. Nothing sexy, my breasts just got so big that almost everything's tight. So last night I went and got a bigger bra. BYW, does anyone know where I can get bras in the F and G range?? I had to go to Nordrstrom and one bra cost me $60!! I almost passed out at the register. But, since I had been bra-less for a 4 days, I bought and went home to order a couple of Bravados online.

So, I'm trying to let my nipples air-dry after a feeding, then I apply the PureLan, then I put on my now right-sized bra. In addition, I drink gallons of water each day to keep things cleaned out. When needed, I use a heat pack. We'll see. Hopefully next week things will get easier.
post #19 of 21
4/15/06 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
double posted, sorry.
post #20 of 21
4/18/06 at 12:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellykins
Does Lansinoh help with the soreness, even if you don't have cracking and bleeding too?
I'm no expert, of course, but it really DID help me. The whole 1st week I don't know what I would have done without it!!

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