Major Nursing Nipple PAIN!

[tamarw]

So I am just over 7 wks preggo and about 4 or 5 days ago my nipples went from mild pain/irritation to extreme pain. It feels like ds is stripping a layer of skin off my nipple every time he latches on. i dont think my supply has changed too much, just a minor drop but he is switching sides like a maniac, i think more bc the taste has changed.

I just dont know what to do??? at 21 months he is still so attached and nursing between 3-6x in a 24hr period. I read the LLL Adv in Tandem Nursing and feel like I want to give tandem a go but I'm not sure if I can make it. At the same time I'm not sure how to even attempt any more gentle limiting as all of our nursings at this point are tangled up in sleep. anyone else in the same boat? any advise would be appreciated. TIA

[queenbean]

I'm not in your DDC but I wanted to say I feel your pain -- literally. I'm almost 12 weeks, nursing my 12-month-old daughter, and I want to cry almost every time she latches on.

The other night I found my old tube of Lansinoh and put it on before I went to bed. It did seem to help. I'm sure if I used it more often it would help even more. You can also take some regular strength Tylenol (ask your doctor first) about half an hour before he'll want to nurse, if he's on any kind of schedule -- my daughter isn't scheduled, but she nurses at certain points of the day (right after each meal, before naps, etc). Get as much air on them as you can.

Hang in there mama! If this is something you really want to do, you can stick it out. I hear that it gets easier later on... probably the second trimester. Doesn't everything get better the second trimester?

[zulupetalz]

Hang in there! Mine were awful about a week ago and now they are somewhat tolerable. I'm 8w3d now, I'm thinking maybe they are getting better, altho it seems to vary from one day to the next. I hope things get better for you soon!

[ScarletBegonias]

i don't have any advice, but i'm in there with you!

dd (17 mo) has been wanting to nurse more lately, and she already nurses constantly, including all night.

i am in sooo much pain, one side more than the other. i offer her the less painful side and tell her the other nursie is hurt. she points to the bad one and says/signs "more".:

i second the lansinoh..........i've been thinking about using some the past few days and i'm going to find my tube tonight!

[mama_nym]

Nipple pain while nursing isn't easy!!! Lansinoh, making sure your child has a good latch (opens WIDE before latching on, etc.), relaxing as much as you can, drinking water while nursing and even eating more protein can help. Nipple pain during pregnancy is usually temporary - I hope you're over it soon!!!

[mommy2abigail]

Oh mama, I am with you too. Only mine started at about 5 days into the pregnancy. I thought it was pms, but it turms out not! It's so hard! DD is down to 3-4 times a day, and I feel really bad because I tend to turn her down or distract her if she asks at other times of the day. It just hurts so much! I'm really hoping it stops soon. Poor kid, she really seems to sense I dont like nursing and she's hanging on for dear life!