It does get better. Like I said before I was in so much pain and it was for no apparent reason. I blame Ashton having a hard suck. By the 6 week mark it was better. I used to cry thinking about feeding him. The water from the shower hurt. I was so sore and cranky. But it DID get better just like they said it would.
Please, please hang in there, we all believe in you and it really DOES get better. You are in so much pain and feel so hopeless right now that you can't see it. I was exactly the same with DD and then, again at that magic 6 week mark, things just got better. My nipples healed and it didn't hurt anymore.
Sometimes Ava STILL comes off and my nipple is pinched or ridged... left one (flat one!!) seems to often have a pinch in it but it doesnt hurt when she's on so i dont know shes doing it and my R nipple often has a ridge in it like its raised a bit.... i dont know what we're still doing wrong but it doesnt hurt as much anymore.
My Right nipple (badly damaged one) still hurts when she attaches but no way near the horrific pain it once was. (as its healing)
I think some people might just have one "bad" nipple i know someone who is BFing and has been for 6mths and still has a 'sore' nipple side. but I think with time it gets better and toughens up.
You can do this.... keep persisting if this is what you really want you can do it.
I've been persisting and I'm still BFing and now enjoying it more..... much more.
You CAN do this...... I know you can because I've been where you are (and still am there kinda).....
I think as Ava has gotten older, she is feeding more effectively and latches on better as she now knows what to do.... babies are learning to. They get better with it too.
Heaven - that sucks that the LC couldn't help you more!
three things to think about
I firstly it's importatn that your bub has a happy mama so if it really is terrible then maybe you should stop but... maybe just retry a few things first and give it a few more days? Set yourself little goals like the end of this week. Give yourself until Friday and reassess. Maybe on Friday give yourself until next Friday or hell just a few days even and see how you feel.
Bottle feeding is not a bad thing but Bf is much easier - I know your not feeling that way at the moment but think 3am when your baby won't settle BM will do it every time. I once got stuck on a train for 11 hrs instead of 2 1/2hrs with DS when he was 9mths old thank god we were BF!
It is hard to believe but we have all been there and you can get through this. You are doing a fantastic job and as hard as it is to believe you will be sitting here in 6 months enjoying BF and these early days will be a very distant memory.
Try the shields again and insist upon them if that is the way you want to go. What brand did you get, what size?
Have you got a pump? Does it hurt to express? if you don't have one send hubby off right now to get one. i know they are lots of $$$ but cheaper than 2 yrs of formula.
Heaven
I am 4 weeks in front of you
My left nipple was toe curling as well. My right one was fine.
Today it finally has started not to ouchy hurt. Attachment was fine. The reason it was hurting was because my left nipple was a bit flatter than my right and wasnt coming out far enough for levi. It would still come out, but not as far as the right one- only a slight difference mind you. He would suck it into shape and it was the pulling further than it had been pulled before that was cuasing the pain- like a ripping and burning together!
Now that my nipple is coming out as far as it needs to- the pain is starting to go! He has managed to rip my nipple out lol! The pain was always worse when bbs were full as it was more flatter!
Maybe that is what is happening to you as well. I have been putting that cream on that was recommended, which helps the skin stretch easier and lessens the pain a bit so it might be worth a try!
Hang in there hon!!! You are doing a great job!
mwah
Heaven, please don't lose hope. Cracked nipples and pain do go away. The most important thing is to find the cause and fix it. The ridging sounds like you might still have an attachment issue. This could be that the nipple is still not far back enough (and it might be at some feeds and not others). Or it could be that your nipple points outwards so the lining up isn't quite right, or maybe the height. Can you see any areola when she's attached? If so is there more at the top or the bottom? Are both her lips splayed with her head tilted back and her chin against your breast? Check the attachment at each feed - often night feeds can cause a problem as we are too tired to notice if the attachment is off. I know you have been through these things with your LC, but it doesn't hurt to keep them in mind each time.
Another question for you - do you use baby led attachment or do you shape your nipple for her each time? If you are shaping your nipple, it might be an idea to try baby led attachment. This is where you hold your baby, usually upright between your breasts and let her find her way to the breast and attach all by herself - all you do is hold and support her in a comfortable position. If you haven't done this before, it would be worthwhile calling the ABA or getting a copy of one of their booklets that explains this.
In the meantime, while you have the pain, there are some things you can do. You can start every feed from the "good" side and once she is attached and you have let down, then change her over. The hardest sucking is at the beginning of a feed, so by always having that on the good side it can help your sore side get some relief. She will still get milk from that breast after you swap her over, and if she doesn't empty it you can express afterwards. Otherwise, if the pain is too great even for that you can express only on that side for 24 - 48 hours to try and get some healing done that way. Also, it's ok to ask your GP for pain relief if that will help you with feeds.
Hang in there hun. You are doing a fantastic job and it will get better. Very soon she will be bigger, attaching like a champ and you won't be in pain. I know how much it hurts now, I too have BTDT. But it does get better and once you are through the other side you will be so glad that you persisted.
Thankyou all. I have to keep making myself come in here and reading your posts because it's making me keep going.
I went out and bought a medala pump today. I didn't know what else to do. The LC said next mon if things haven't improved we would talk about expressing on that side to give it a break but I couldn't wait that long. But now that I had to buy it and buy a bottle I haven't tried it!! I cried about it because I don't want to give her a bottle. I don't want to confuse her more and it makes me feel bad, even though it's still EBM. I'm a little emotional, lol. But it's like it's just made me more determined instead, what a waste of money if I don't try it, lol. But I guess I will use it down the track anyway when I want to go out. I'm also scared it will hurt it too with all the sucking and stretching...
MR, I haven't done the baby led attachment. I was going to try yesterday, I just had her lying on my chest and she started bobbing around so I thought maybe I should see what she does. But when she got close I got scared she'd hurt me and decided not to. I will give it a go.
Thankyou so much for all your tips everyone. I have read them all and taken note, just don't have time to respond to everyone atm, she is waking!!
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