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!!
Heaven - oh man I could feel just where you are when you said you were scared to try baby led attachment. God I used to have to sit there and get the courage up to pop the boob out - absolutely dreading every feed time!
Hun you don't have to give her the milk you express if you don't want to the other boobie will make more to compensate! Having said that both my babies have had no issues swapping between bottle and breast, I know others have but just letting you know it doesn't always confuse them. In fact it can even help with using the shields as they get used to the artifical thing in their mouth.
Also with the sheilds if you put the sheild in her mouth and pour EBM into the shield it can help them get the idea of it.
Oh I know the feeling about bottles. I felt so strangely emotional when my DD first had a bottle.
Don't forget hun, that you're still in the very early post-partum stages. I cried every day in the second week pp for no apparent reason (when the sun went down I would loose it every night). Its okay to be emotional...you're baby needs you to be like this so you just want to stay home and pour love into her.
As Saram said - you don't have to give her a bottle, just feed from the right and express on the left. Maybe get some freezer bags for milk so it doesn't go to waste..then you'll have a lovely store for when you want to go out!
You are doing such a great job hun. Your dd is so lucky to have such a great mum.
Sara,
You are *almost* going through what i've been going through myself!!!! Have you been reading my posts in my BF thread?? I have had to express on one side while the nipple healed remember? And I've had to give bottles (EBM & Formula) to DD since she was only 2.5wks old, i didnt have a choice she had to have them as she was losing weight and not gaining and not taking from the breast each time therefore my supply dropped etc etc (vicious cycle it became).... although Grace seems to be sucking fine, Ava was a lazy feeder which effected my milk supply so i had to build it up again.
Anyway, don't feel bad about expressing and giving it to her in a bottle but iykwim its upsetting I cried the first time I gave her a bottle, i cried the first time i gave her a dummy and i cried the first time i gave her formula!!!!!!!! This mothering is HARD WORK but you can do it.... I'm doing it so i know you can.... keep persisting it gets EASIER XXXXXXX
I always thought i'd just give her Bfing and never have to worry about bottles or expressing etc.... how wrong i was!!
ps expressing shouldnt hurt.... as long as you have the right 'flange' to fit your nipple if its too tight it will damage it (or may) and may hurt so make sure its the right size for your nipple and you'll know when it pumps does it hurt? if its comfy and not sqeezing nipple too tight then you are fine.
I had the Medela Mini Electric but it wasnt for high usage AND it hurt my nipple so i had to end up getting medela Swing (for every day use) from my LC. its great!!
Which pump did you get? Hopefully you won't be expressing for long.I've been doign it daily for 3 weeks but don't mind it now.....I thnk i'm going to keep doing it for a bit longer even if i don't have to.... i kinda don't mind it now just finding time is hard. However i had to do it for building my supply as well as healing my nipple.
Ren- I got a medela manual one. I was scared of electric coz it might suck too hard, lol. And I can control it myself with manual.
I'm just in the middle of expressing the sore one and it's not hurting, phew. But how much should I be getting? I've only been going for about 10 mins and I have 60mls and my boob feels soft. It was like rock hard coz she just slept for 4hrs!!
Sara, thats fantastic. That's great!!! remember, whatever you express is no indication of how much milk you have... you kinda can't compare it.... some women have plenty of milk yet can never express anything!
I'm lucky, i can express up to 150ml in just 20mins (between both breasts) and i've started freezing it!!
You are doing great! You're brave using a manual!! I'm too lazy I went straight to electric and i love mine! Although i have been expressing every 3-4hrs so i have to have electric i dont have time to use manual LOL
Like Anna said, get some freezer bags (from chemist) and start freezing your milk, it can store for up to 3mths in a freezer. I've started doing this so I have it there incase I ever need it!!! Can't hurt.....I've frozen 1L so far (i express ALOT lol)
Thanks Ren. I've ended up with 80ml and stopped now. My boob feels empty which is good. I don't think it has for a while bc I couldn't handle her being on there for that long!
80mls is fantastic work Heaven. An experienced expresser would be happy with that - for your first time it is really awesome. That's great that it didn't hurt also - that means that you can express from that side for a little bit to give it a chance to heal. Good work.
Reply With Quote
so i had to build it up again.
so i know you can.... keep persisting it gets EASIER XXXXXXX
Bookmarks