But you can't see the underside of your nipple - my problem was that i was carefully stuffing what i could see in, but that made the bottom half come out. Can someone look and see if you have the bottom part in properly?
Yep, it's all in there!! So confusing!! I get DH to push my boob back a bit and check, and you can't see any nipple below! The LC told me to check for that so I have been. That's why I can't work out what the hell is going on!
Oh my I'm having flashbacks reading this thread!
Super huge hugs to you - it's such a hard time. I don't know if it's helpful at all, but there seem to be lots of us with similar issues early on who made it - I hope it can give you a little strength to go on.
Please do try and get help with the nipple shield. I know they're kinda frowned upon, but I dont' know that I would have made it very far without it. Like you I had perfect technique but was in serious pain. but it all came good once he was bigger. There is a knack to using the shields. I found that I had to work very hard to line them up with the nipple just so or else they didn't go on right. Also, there are different kinds. I tried 2 and one worked a lot better for me than the other, so if 1 is no good might be worth trying another.
good luck!
Hunny, do use a pillow?
I just thought if you have a pillow you could use it to help hold her level with your nipple. Maybe even 2 pillows.
Laying down is hard. It did take a bit to get the hang of it. The one thing to remember is to make sure her feet & bottom are right in as close to you as possible.
I can't be right on my side or flat on my back. Sort of in between iykwim. Unless I am on a pillow with DS on the bed. Silly side ways boobs! Lol!!
I only started feeding laying down out of sleep deprivation & desperation!
I've seen those sheild things that Saram(?) was talking about. They are like plastic booby shells that have a hole on the inside layer that your nipple sits in. They looked interesting. I didn't try them though. They weren't what I wanted at the time.
I'm trying hard to think of more ideas to help. Having her higher up on the pillows might bring her chin up so you can actually see the full attachment. You should be able to see the bottom lip & the 'special K' seal.
Has anyone checked that her bottom lip is curling out properly?
I was holding DS's bottom lip down to make sure it curled out. & to hold his mouth open a bit wider to try helping with the attachment.
Hope the LC goes well today.
The worst case scenario is that you have to get a really good pump and express from that side and bottle feed her until:
1) the nipple heals and
2) she stops mangling it (which will most probably happen when she gets a bit bigger and her mouth grows. There are a couple of very determined women here who are expressing long term because their bubs never got the hang of not mangling, but since Grace is doing OK on the other side I think she should get the hang of it pretty well).
And then in a month or so everything hopefully ought to be painless and effective...
Well, maybe I just have to put up with pain and a cracked nipple forever
Saw the LC again. She said technique is good and everything, what a surprise. She just said to make sure she gets lots of the bottom in. We took her off 3 times and my nipple was still ridged every time but getting better each time. I just can't seem to get it. Couldn't work the nipple shields, she really doesn't like them!!
So basically again told to keep doing what I'm doing and persisting and it will get better Whatever. Losing hope now. I will keep trying though.
Jesse didn't like the sheilds at first, it took a few feeds for him to get used to them, but once he realised he still got the good stuff he was ok with them.
Don't loose hope! You and bub are doing brilliantly!! Remember it takes 3 weeks for bf to be considered "established" so you're miles ahead of so many people.
We all believe in you! You can do it! There is hope and there is a solution to this problem.
I think maybe expressing from the sore side and just feeding from the right for a few days will give you a breather and let the nipple heal.
BellyBelly Member
Whatever. Losing hope now. I will keep trying though.
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