Former EPer,damaged nipples, wanting to bf newborn

[GooeyRN]

My dd could not latch. I exclusively pumped for her for 18 months. Thankfully, I had a fabulous supply and still have tons of milk left in deep freezers. My milk dried up due to my current pregnancy. I have very sensitive skin, and pumping caused chronic cracks, blisters, bleeding, and pain. I suffered through it and kept pumping. My dd thrived so well on the milk, I couldn't stop pumping.

I am due in Nov/Dec. My nipples are very calloused from pumping. The areola's are super stretched out from the pulling of the pump. The areola's are very wrinkled and sagging now. My nipples do not stick out at all. They are still purple. Sounds attractive, right? I weaned from the pump about 2.5 months ago and I am still nasty looking.

I am worried how a new born will be able to latch onto me. To create suction, I would imagine they would be choking on me now. I would easily stretch half way down a newborn's throat now.

Does anyone have any idea's how I can make my nipples/areola's heal in time for baby's birth in Nov/Dec? Or are there any former EPers here that successfully bf'd from the tap their next child? I would love some advice and words of wisdom. I would hate to have to EP again. It is so painful and time consuming. I have no idea how I would EP with a newborn AND a toddler. I only have one lap for one child to sit on while I pump. That could be a problem with two children if I had to pump again.

[guestmama9908]

Hi,

I worked full time with my first babe until he was 15 months. He self-weaned at 15 months due to my pregnancy. I am an RN so I am assuming I worked pretty similar shift hours to you. He breastfed from the tap at night for his feeds and for one morning feed. The rest of the time I exclusively pumped. I was pumping 6 times a day or so. I never had to supplement him either.

My nipples sound alot like yours. Very stretched out and very saggy. I too had problems with my pump tearing my nipples up. They are very soft and very LONG now. Mine sound so attractive too huh? They too will not stand up on their own without some work.

I'm not working now but I am currently breastfeeding my 8 month old. She has had all of her feeds straight from the tap. I had a little trouble teaching her to latch when she was a newborn. I had to make sure I got my nipple standing for her before we tried. It hasn't seemed to be a problem since we got the hang of it.

I hope that helps.

Molly

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by CalenandEllasmomma

Hi,

I worked full time with my first babe until he was 15 months. He self-weaned at 15 months due to my pregnancy. I am an RN so I am assuming I worked pretty similar shift hours to you. He breastfed from the tap at night for his feeds and for one morning feed. The rest of the time I exclusively pumped. I was pumping 6 times a day or so. I never had to supplement him either.

My nipples sound alot like yours. Very stretched out and very saggy. I too had problems with my pump tearing my nipples up. They are very soft and very LONG now. Mine sound so attractive too huh? They too will not stand up on their own without some work.

I'm not working now but I am currently breastfeeding my 8 month old. She has had all of her feeds straight from the tap. I had a little trouble teaching her to latch when she was a newborn. I had to make sure I got my nipple standing for her before we tried. It hasn't seemed to be a problem since we got the hang of it.

I hope that helps.

Molly

Thanks so much! How did you get your nipples to stand up? I can't get mine up. I wonder if wearing those nipple shell things would work?

[guestmama9908]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

Thanks so much! How did you get your nipples to stand up? I can't get mine up. I wonder if wearing those nipple shell things would work?

Those might work to get them out for you. What I do is I put my thumb and forefinger directly at the base of my nipple where it connects to the aerola and I pinch. It pushes my nipple out enough that when my babe opens her mouth I can pop it in. Then I let go and she does the rest.

[GooeyRN]

Thank you!

[loraxc]

I wish I had a success story to share, but I am also a former EPer with damaged nipples hoping to BF my 2nd from the tap. I'm very nervous about it and wish you much success. My nipples will stand up, but they look like hell--all piited, bumpy, and scarred, with weird purple scar tissue at the ends.

[ladybug13]

I just wanted to wish you good luck with breastfeeding this time around. My DS also would not latch and I pumped exclusively for 9+ months (had a frozen stash that lasted through 14+ months). My new baby DD has been nursing like a champ since birth so I just wanted to let you know it is possible! I don't really have any advice on helping your nipples heal (mine did not get damaged - I have rather short/flat nipples so I did not stretch too much due to pumping) other than to start using Lanolin now.

Good luck!

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by ladybug13

I just wanted to wish you good luck with breastfeeding this time around. My DS also would not latch and I pumped exclusively for 9+ months (had a frozen stash that lasted through 14+ months). My new baby DD has been nursing like a champ since birth so I just wanted to let you know it is possible! I don't really have any advice on helping your nipples heal (mine did not get damaged - I have rather short/flat nipples so I did not stretch too much due to pumping) other than to start using Lanolin now.

Good luck!

I am so glad things are going well for you this time! Thanks for letting me know!