more on breastfeeing - pain relief?

[kdtmom2be]

Ok, another newbie breastfeeding question!
Things are going fairly well, my milk is in, but my breasts tingle/ache constantly. I have an arnica cream.. can I use that, maybe outside the aereola area, for a bit of relief? I'm not terribly engorged (yet! wait until tomorrow!) and have the cabbage leaves on hand for that....

any opinions? advice?

[NaturalMommaof3+1]

I have been using Lansinoh and it's been helping a lot. It's 9 days for me and little girl has such sucker power that my nips are still blistery and abit bloody. But the pure lanoline (Lansinoh) has allowed me to continue BF and not give up. Usually by about 10 days things have adjusted and feel much better. Hang in there Momma! You are doing a great job!


Since this is a BF thread, is it ok if I add a question in too?

My little one is a great sucker but for some reason, my breasts aren't very full. She was born 2 weeks early and it took 3 days for my milk to come in. Now my breasts just don't seem to fill up fully. Even after hours between feeds. I'm drinking lots of water and eating a lot of food. Any tips on how to get more milk flow?

[InPhoenix]

I second the lanolin recommendation. I bought the Target brand, and it's helped a lot. Also, try and breastfeed on the least sore breast first and then let the baby breastfeed on the sore one since the suckling is more vigorous initially. When I was really sore, I would do this and then follow up by pumping on the sore breast since my baby never fully drained that one since it was always second. That helped with both the soreness and to help my milk production increase. Other than that, just hang in there- it really does get better if you keep pushing through. The pain peaked at about 10 days for me and then lessened after that.

[QuiteLikeRain]

Just wanted to chime in... When I was bf'ing my [now] toddler, I needed serious relief but was unable to use anything lanolin-based because it made me itch like mad (must be allergic to it). So, I just wanted to let you know that Palmer's (the cocoa butter people) make a breastfeeding cream that I used and I LOVED it. In fact, I just bought some the other day to have on hand for this time around.

Just wanted to throw that out there, because I thought there was something seriously wrong with me when I tried using lansinoh and hated it

Best of luck mama!

[QuiteLikeRain]

Originally Posted by QuiteLikeRain

Palmer's (the cocoa butter people) make a breastfeeding cream that I used and I LOVED it.

This is the stuff:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp72304_33...vitamin_b5.htm

[mum4boys]

At the hospital they gave me soothing gel pads which they said was almost the same as cabage leaves (oh darn I was so looking forward to wearing cabbage leaves in my bra ).

http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...-PLST-0-SEARCH

[texasapmama]

The soothies glycerin pads are a MUST try... I couldn't believe how great they felt last baby, and have some ready to go for this time.

[NaturalMommaof3+1]

Oh, they sound like I should give them a try! Can we buy them at Walmart or some where else other then online?

[texasapmama]

I've seen other brands of them at Target and local drugstores...should be fairly easy to get some.

[Willzmama]

Mamas, if your nipples are blistery and bloody from nursing, that's not normal. Please check your baby's latch. Maybe ask a lactation consultant for assistance. BF should not do damage to your nipples.

[kdtmom2be]

My nipples are ok, i've been using the lansinoh lanolin to prevent chapping and cracking and so far so good. It's the pain from engorgement that I am looking for relief from. I know it'll take a couple of days for things to kind of even out, just hoping for some relief in the meantime... I think my breasts have grown to about an F today, from a DD yesterday and a C/D before pregnancy... DH is in heaven, I am in boob hell!!

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by kdtmom2be

My nipples are ok, i've been using the lansinoh lanolin to prevent chapping and cracking and so far so good. It's the pain from engorgement that I am looking for relief from. I know it'll take a couple of days for things to kind of even out, just hoping for some relief in the meantime... I think my breasts have grown to about an F today, from a DD yesterday and a C/D before pregnancy... DH is in heaven, I am in boob hell!!

I HATED engorgement (it was worse than any moment of my three day labor, it really really really sucked. It actually made me want to quit nursing for moments, but I knew it would only get worse if I quit ).

The thing that helped the most:
I filled a bath with warm water and got in the knee chest position in there. That allowed the milk to flow out without stimulating the nipples any more than need be and getting in that position also relieved some of the back soreness that was coming because of the gigantic breasts. I could see the milk flow out into the tub. Ahhhh. They were still pretty full after the baths, but they did feel better.

That was the best. I also did ibuphrophen(sp?) and I changed out cabbage leaves often.
It WILL get better. Nurse nurse nurse thru the pain and unpleasentries and before the week is out your breasts shouldn't feel painfully full all the time.

[BrooklynDoula]

My little one is a great sucker but for some reason, my breasts aren't very full. She was born 2 weeks early and it took 3 days for my milk to come in. Now my breasts just don't seem to fill up fully. Even after hours between feeds. I'm drinking lots of water and eating a lot of food. Any tips on how to get more milk flow?[/QUOTE]

As long as she is growing and having wet diapers - you have enough milk and no ned to worry! Oatmeal is great for boosting supply if you want to start addingt hat for breakfast, but really, you needn't be concerned.

[koru]

breastmilk is best! squeeze a little out a rub around your nipple. i did this religiously at the beginning with both my girls & never had a sore, cracked nip.

[SamGroom]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Soothies. Though I found they worked even better if you leave your milk on your nipples before you put them on.