Sore, scabbed nipples....I'm seriously ready to quit

[OldFashionedGirl]

My DD is 4 days old. She was exclusively bf (3 days--big whoop, right?) until last night. When she latches on, I want to cry. It gets marginally better as she nurses, but not much. I've tried changing holds, I'm doing all I can to get her to open up wide. From what I've read, it's clearly related to the latch. My LC can't meet with me until tomorrow. I really don't know if I can make it through today. My nipples have scabs on them. She's napping now; I'm going to try again to nurse when she wakes up. I don't want to give up on this without knowing I tried as hard as I can. But I also don't want to dread her waking up, knowing that means I "have" to nurse. That's not healthy either.

I know this is jumbled. Any advice or wisdom?

[alegna]

Just hang in there. Get rid of the formula. Really.

My dd MAULED my nipples.... her latch was okay, but she had a high palate, strong suck and little mouth. We made it through. You can too.

She's still happily nursing at 3.5yrs (and me 31 weeks pregnant )

Have you tried different positions? The football hold helped at that stage. Are you using lanolin?

-Angela

[OldFashionedGirl]

Yup, using lanolin, trying different positions. Sometimes the football feels best, sometimes the cross-cradle. I think it's largely dependant on how she nursed last time, that is, if it was cross-cradle last time, then football feels best this time.

[alegna]

Keep trying to rotate her into different positions, to lessen pressure on the sorest places. Try to nurse her MORE often (I know it's hard when it hurts so bad...) I found that if I got the boob in her before she was crazy for it she didn't seem as frantic and didn't do as much damage.

Have you looked online for pictures of latches to see if you can figure out what's wrong?

There is dread and overwhelm in the first few weeks. There just is. It's HARD to be a new mom. There is no avoiding it.

Give yourself NO other option. You WILL make this work! It WILL work. It has worked for eons before.

-Angela

[Juvysen]

The first few weeks are the hardest. really. I agree - ditch the formula or you'll lose your milk. You can do this!! I recommend setting a goal... work for a month... usually by then things have gotten a lot better. Also, find your local LLL leader, they're usually great with helping out.

Besides, just think how obscenely expensive formula is... reminding myself that doing that would cause us to severely tighten our belts helped me buckle down and figure out the breastfeeding thing.

[neverdoingitagain]

http://www.kellymom.com
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/bas...resources.html especially.
Otherwise, you can try manually expressing your milk or pumping to give your nipples a little rest. Cup feeding is a good idea, or finger-feeding
Good luck! Its hard the first while, even when latch is perfect and all is well.
It will get better

[Samjm]

Hugs!

Take a deep breath. Toss the formula (it is just soooo tempting and that is what the manufacturers count on).

Commit to nursing her "just one more time". Make that commitment every time you nurse. Soon days will have passed.

Get in touch with LLL now. Right now. Are you in the US? If so, go here http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html to find a leader close to you. If you're not in the US, go here http://www.llli.org/

If in the US you can also call the Leader Locator at 847-519-7730.

Or call the LLL helpline (toll free in the US) 877-4-LALECHE (877-452-5324).

You can do this!

[Meg_s]

this isn't going to happen for you.. but for TWO MONTHS I was shuddering in pain and crying every time my son nursed. I'm nursing my 2nd now(8 mos), and STILL nursing my first...and it has been SO rewarding, very very worth it. Please stick to it...you'll be so glad you did!

[neverdoingitagain]

I'm confused
What formula? She never mentioned formula.

[eclipse]

Try these www.soothies.com

They really help with chapped nipples.

[Limabean1975]

Originally Posted by OldFashionedGirl

My DD is 4 days old. She was exclusively bf (3 days--big whoop, right?) until last night. When she latches on, I want to cry. It gets marginally better as she nurses, but not much. I've tried changing holds, I'm doing all I can to get her to open up wide. From what I've read, it's clearly related to the latch. My LC can't meet with me until tomorrow. I really don't know if I can make it through today. My nipples have scabs on them. She's napping now; I'm going to try again to nurse when she wakes up. I don't want to give up on this without knowing I tried as hard as I can. But I also don't want to dread her waking up, knowing that means I "have" to nurse. That's not healthy either.

I know this is jumbled. Any advice or wisdom?

These are the longest hardest days of her babyhood; you ARE going to be okay. I have SO SO been there - your post brought tears to my eyes with the memories. But I PROMISE YOU, hold on for a few more weeks and things will be better. Call LLL. BEG the LC to come sooner. Nurse "just one more time". Get through just the next hour. YOU CAN DO THIS. Really.

[beru]

Get a breast pump now, before the weekend starts. If you get to the point where you can't nurse, then you may be able to pump without much or any pain. You can protect your milk supply.

[Doodadsmom]

I agree with the other posters, but I wanted to post anyway, to say . I've been there, and it was completely unexpected. I had one person - my midwife - tell me she cried the first few days of nursing, but she didn't say why. I expect she assumed I knew why, but I just thought she didn't enjoy it or something. I wonder if it would be easier on those of us who have a rough time of it at first to have some advance warning.

It was really, really hard - I can remember screaming, then trying to use a 'sweet' voice to keep DS from being upset. The poster who mentioned nursing just One more time is right. I'd set a 'long-term' goal of making it to the LC meeting. Then re-evaluate from there. With a lot of short 'long-term' goals, I'm still nursing my 2.5 year old.

Do you wear anything? Going without anything on seemed to help some for me. That and lanolin. There are those 'Soothies' things too - they felt good, but they required maintenance I didn't feel up to at the time. Anyway, mostly I just wanted to say I really feel for you, and I hope it gets better fast.

[neverdoingitagain]

Oh! You can also try tylenol or advil for the pain. Both are safe while breastfeeding.

[xelakann]

Originally Posted by beru

Get a breast pump now, before the weekend starts. If you get to the point where you can't nurse, then you may be able to pump without much or any pain. You can protect your milk supply.

This saved me... I had my baby the day before Thanksgiving...so when I NEEDED an LC none were available for the holiday weekend. I was SO ready to quit... but I pumped and then we used a baby spoon medicine thingy to feed him. I didn't do this for every nursing session, maybe two a day for that weekend... it saved us. My baby is now almost 4 months old and I love BFing (and in those early days I never thought I'd be able to say that).

Big Hugs!!!!

[JustOneMore]

I breastfed 4 kids but my second one only got 3 wks of it due to this issue. With all the other three, I was able to use contact nipple shields for about 3 wks and then was able to move on to the natural breast, no shield. By then, the baby was latching properly and my nipples were a little tougher. When I had my second one, there was no 'internet' like we have now so I couldnt just order it online and the local LLL representative had the shield but refused to give it to me b/c she insisted that the baby just wasnt latching properly.

As is turns out, I had inverted nipples and needed that 2-3 wk training period with the shield to help pull them out enough for the baby to be able to latch on.

Heres a link to the type of shield I used: http://www.lullabylane.com/jump.jsp?...=NIPPLE+SHIELD

In the meantime, try lanolin cream. I also used a little vitamin E on my nipples between feedings and let them air out as much as possible.

Best wishes... thats some of the worst pain Ive ever experienced.

[Ammaarah]

I was also going to say a nipple shield might not be the worst idea. It doesn't teach better latch (it actually can make latching worse) but if you have a baby with a very small mouth or who's not able to open up it can at least help you keep nursing until you can work through the big issues. Nipple shields aren't the ideal but they're a lot better than switching due to pain.

Hang in there...it's hard!

[durafemina]

been there too and made it through. You can too!

warm wet cloth pressed onto the nipple right afterwards (have DH or whoever be poised with them) - and tell yourself you will have relief as.soon.as.she's.done

breast *shells* - saved my life (thank you MDC!!)

lanolin, let milk dry on the nipple. . .

it will get better, really. . .

[ainh]

yes, it totally sucks the first couple of weeks. but it is worth it in the end. i had bloody, blistering nipples for the first week. nothing helped much. the first good latch we ever had was when i finally called a lc to come to our house. the lady was like "what's the problem?" and i could hardly convince her of the horribleness that i'd endured for the week prior. horrible. 22months later and we have a great nursing relationship...pain free!!

[tankgirlhi]

I had terrible pain for three weeks with my ds. It does pass I promise.
Please don't give up it is so rewarding once you get through the pain. I agree with the other posts you need to throw the formula out. If you know you have it it is too much of a temptation.
When I was feeling the pain during nursing I would try to relax as much as possible. Sit in a quiet, comfortable spot and try to get your lo latched on. Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Try to visualize or separate yourself from the pain. Think to yourself that this will get better. Know that you are doing the best for your lo's and your health. Nursing releases oxytocin. In the brain, oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and is thought to be involved in the formation of trust between people. You will be so thankful that you didn't give up and you will actually enjoy it. I can't tell you how many times nursing has relaxed me so much that I have just nodded off in bliss in the middle of the day. Did I mention that it gets better? It really does. Hang in there mama, you can do it.