It hurts!!

Thanks Ren, sometimes I do try changing her position a bit but I didn't know if it was right to do that or not so thanks. I also was told by the LC that when she's on I have to flip her top lip out with my finger too coz she doesn't do that on the left side for some reason.

:

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I don't understand why but every time i attach in front of my LC it doesn't hurt but when i come home and do it, it feels different!!!! and I'm doing the exact same thing LOL

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LOL IKWYM, I think maybe it's coz I'm calmer in front of the LC bc I know she's going to help me if it hurts anyway?? And at home I'm more tense bc I have to do it myself and no one's there to tell me if it's wrong.

Oh that crack sounds horrible!! You've just reminded me, last week I was crying at every feed and it was hurting so much and I was so anxious thinking about her waking up. And I haven't cried for a few days now about the pain, so it must be getting better!! lol.

Hi again...your divet sounds EXACTLY like mine. In the end I had an LC show me how to twist my breast a little and attach her away from the divet. If you imagine your nipple is a clock face, I was attaching her from 9 to 3 o'clock, with the divet at 3 o'clock...then I was shown how to twist my breast a little and attach her from 5 to 1 o'clock...so that she was actually missing the sore part...does that make sense????

It was a bit awkward, and I had to hold DD sorta under my breast rather than to the side...it was actually easier leaning back to do this. I had to do it for about 3 or 4 days to let the nipple heal..and it did!!! I still had a divet for a few days after (even a week) but the pain went away almost instantly.

Hang in there! I remember crying and wincing in pain. My DH used to be able to tell I was feeding from the left because he cold hear the F***, f***, f*** coming from the lounge room. lol.

Thanks anna, last time I fed from the left I did the football hold again and got her lying more on her back rather than side so it was a different angle like you said and it didn't hurt nearly as much!! I hope I can do it again next feed. She's about to wake up now I think.

Now that I've got my attachment sorted out will she be getting more milk out faster?? Because she doesn't seem to be feeding for as long. Before she would feed for like 40mins and then still be hungry 1/2 hr later and want more! And then want another feed in a couple of hrs. But overnight there was a stretch of 6 hrs where she didn't feed!! Great for our sleep but I don't know if that's good for her. And today she's been feeding for about 35-30mins on one side. Then she'll only have a few mins on the other side. And she won't feed again for 3hrs or 3 1/2 hrs. Is this ok?? I'm just used to her waking every 2 hrs and wanting some!!

How many feeds is she fitting in to 24 hours, SJ?

Hmm...what will I count as 1 feed? Sometimes she falls asleep feeding on one side and then will have the other side maybe 30mins later. So is that 1 feed or 2?

If I count it as 1 she's had 7 since this time yesterday. Today seems to be less than usual. Like every 4 hrs almost. What's the maximum time i should lket her go b/w feeds?

I'm out of practice, SJ! I don't know if I'd count that as 1 or 2 feeds... Maybe depends on how long she feeds for before she falls asleep? If its 20 mins or so, then I'd count that as 2 separate feeds.
If it were me (and please don't feel that you need to do the same thing - you do what you think is right) I would probably wake her a little more often during the day to feed. So I'd try for 2-3 hourly in the day and then just let her go overnight (though depending on how many feeds she'd had in the day I'd possibly wake her if she didn't wake herself...).
Is she generally pretty sleepy? If she has more wakeful periods during the day you could just offer the breast more often then...
Sorry, thinking out loud now! The magic number is about 8-12 feeds in 24 hours, I believe. And I reckon if you're giving a top-up after 30 mins, you could probably count that as 2 if you think she's getting a fair bit into her.

ETA: Could be another question for your LC ;) Or maybe MR or Barb or Janie will be in here soon!

Thanks Amy! She has slept alot today. Maybe because I've had her in the hug-a-bub for 2 of her sleeps, maybe that had something to do with it bc she was very comfy in there and didn't want to wake up!! lol. And my boobs were very full by the time she woke up. She just woke up and hadn't had a feed for 4 hrs and only had 1 breast for about 25 mins. It was pretty full though I guess and feels soft now. I keep trying to give her the other one but she just spits it out or falls asleep, lol.

She'll probably be awake all night now feeding, lol.

LOL, ah well - at least she is getting quicker at it! Easier to be awake for only half an hour in the night than 1-2 hours.
The hug-a-bub sounds like a tops idea :)

She ended up feeding a lot last night before bed. And then only woke up once at about 2.30 for a feed. Then up again at 6.30. Pretty good night! And this morning she's been snacking all morning, lol. So looks like she's feeding a bit more frequently again today. I should just trust she knows what she wants probably. Maybe it had something to do with me starting antibiotics too.

Its a good question..."what constitutes a feed?" and it did my head in in the early days. I still don't know with my DD. Sometimes she won't even look for the boob under 4 hours and sometimes its like 1.5 hrs.

It sounds like things are going perfectly for you! I wish my DD only woke twice to feed in the night (she still wakes 4 times).

I know it feels all over the place, but you are doing such a great job. Remember you bubs is TINY and doesn't know the difference between 4 hours and 1 hour, and night and day. As long as you feel okay with the current situation, I wouldn't question a thing. Trust your baby and your boobies. They honestly have a relationship all of their own that you don't need to get involved in (that being said you can stretch feeds out once feeding is more "established").

I was advised not to feed my bub under 2.5 hours, but I honestly didn't listen and fed her whenever she wanted. So much of feeding is comfort I think. While you're both still learning I would try really hard just to go with it...

Keep posting those questions though..they're all valid and I wish I had asked more at the start too. It would have saved quite a few tears...

Sounds like a great night, SJ! I'd reckon there's no harm in letting her demand the feeds as long as you're confident she's not too tired to demand them, KWIM? I have heard that advice before - in the early days they may be too sleepy to demand the feed, and not feeding makes them more sleepy, etc. BUT in your case it doesn't sound like a problem - sounds like she's quite happy to demand more frequent feeds before bedtime, and this morning, etc. So I'd just go with it!

Hey :D About your cracked nipple . . .
My really badly cracked nipple once it was cracked so badly still hurt like hell when attachment was perfect right through feed, felt like sharp hot pains shooting into my boob because same prob, big crack on the side that kept opening up with each feed as even with the righ tattachment, the suction immediately opened any healing skin. So, I had to use nipple shields for 2 days (though still hurt through them was bad) but bit better though didn't have time to heal it, got mastitis through the crack, so I totally (gently) expressed off that boob for a while as well and that was the best thing for healing it though not good for my supply. It took 3 weeks to heal so it didn't hurt or weep, and now it feels fine. But there still looks like there's a hairline crack in that nipple even though there's not, it just scarred like a little divet. So, I feel your pain - and you should check with one of your many LC's (I hope that haven't all given you different opinions and confused you more, hated that) and see if you might need to do the same thing to allow the crack some time to actually heal.

I need help.
It still hurts on the left, really bad. It's not getting better. Maybe it's even getting worse.
Rang the ABA yesterday, they said keep doing what I'm doing but it's not helping.
Today I went to the pharmacy, they gave me nipple shields and paw paw ointment. I don't know if I should use them but I don't know what else to do, it hurts so much on that side it makes me cry and I don't want to do it anymore. The right side is perfect, I don't understand.
:(

Try the shield for a feed or two and see if it helps. Don't use it on the good side, and just use it until the crack heals up.
If the crack takes a long time to heal that may be an indication that you need more than the antiobiotic (perhaps a different antibiotic, perhaps an anti-fungal cream of some sort), so if in a few days there is no improvement then go back to the doctor.
Another option is to express from the sore side and then bottle feed - but that brings another set of issues with learning to express effectively and with bub learning to switch between boob and bottle.

Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breast and Nipple Care

Oh hun! Huge hugs!

I have been there, I really have. It's not fair is it? Why can one side be perfect and the other hurt SO much.

Have you tried Lansinoh? It was my lifesaver. I would lather that stuff on after every feed.

Do you have a breast pump and bottle? You could express from the left and give bub a bottle of EBM until the nipple heals a bit.

Bubs must have opened the wound again (this also happened to me). It sux because you have to watch it EVERY time, which is nigh on impossible when your eyes are falling out of your head with fatigue.

Hang in there hun. You are doing so, so, so well.

Is there someone who can come around and help you today? I called my midwife at this point and she came and showed me how to express etc.

Do you have any family close by, or a good friend? Just someone who can help settle bubs after a feed and make sure you have plenty to eat and drink. This is a fragile time, and you are doing so, so, so well!

Nipple shield was cr@p! She wasn't a fan. Can't work it :( So couldn't use it. Tried the football hold again, wasn't as bad but still hurts :(
Do I have to wipe the paw paw ointment off before feeds?

I'm not sure about paw paw, but I always left the lansinoh on.

Sorry to hear the nipple shield sucked.

Are you getting pain through the whole feed or does it ease after the first ten seconds or so?

Huge hugs hun. Just remember..."this too shall pass"...

It's been hurting the whole time which I know means that she's not on right and I keep reattaching her but something is different about this side and I'm so frustrated and sore I just can't work it out. I'm doing everything the same and it looks the same. I have NFI!!!
But good news, she just had a feed on that side and it didn't hurt the whole way so somehow I must have got it right.
Going back to the LC on Mon!!

If you aren't already, try giving her the good boob first. Every second time switch her over to the sore one after a couple of minutes and then put her back on the good one at the end - but don't let her start a feed on your cracked nipple. And maybe try hand-expressing the sore nipple just to get it flowing before you attach her - that way she will hopefully be less likely to suck too hard as she's trying to start things.
Wiping the ointment off is probably worth doing - the ointments that you can leave on before feeds do actually say on the tube that it's OK to do that, so if this one doesn't mention it then wipe it off to be on the safe side.
hugs
Kate

SJ I would suggest using Lansinoh over Pawpaw cream, if you're going to use something. I would err on the side of caution and wipe the pawpaw off, but you don't need to remove the Lansinoh.

I think you're going to need some help if you want to use a nipple shield on the left until it heals. It's not one of those things that you just pop on, and 'hey presto' you and your baby know what to do. Take it along with you to the LC tomorrow, and if they thinks it's good idea to use it, then they'll be able to help you with it.

Feed in whatever position is least painful, for as many feeds as you can, all of them if possible. If that's the football hold, then do that. I second Kate's suggestion of offering her the right side first and then the left. Is it hard to get her to attach? Does she fuss alot, or just latch on?

It WILL get easier SJ. Hang in there. I know it seems like it's taking forever, but Grace is only little still, it's early days. But you know, it won't be long before it all seems so easy! :hug:

Big :hug: hunny
You are getting there! I promise!
I agree that Lansinoh would be better than paw paw ointment. & it doesn't need to be washed off.
Breast milk is best yes, but I think the Lansinoh also kind of put a barrier over your nipple iykwim. To help protect it as well as heal it.
On my Paw paw tube nothing is said about BFing & nipples, where as on a Lansinoh tube thats pretty much what its sold as. I don't think one is wrong or right, but I've used the Lansinoh for BFing & it worked for me. & alot of people I know. But I haven't used paw paw for that reason & don't know anyone who has, so I can't compare.

Could you just not feed from your right side for a day. Just express. I wouldn't give her EBM, I'd just keep feeding from the right & do a bit of expressing on the left.
It would be a bit uncomfortable, but it wouldn't hurt your supply & it may only need that long to heal.
If you are going to hand express I found the best place to get the hang of it was in a warm shower.

I'd take the sheilds along to the LC. See what they suggest. What is the problem with the sheild? Which part of using them are you having problems with?

Have you been checked for thrush on your nipple? It can cause the same or very similar pain. From what I remember my nipple lookes kind of white after a feed. It wasn't milk, or all white, but there were white bits. I don't know how to explain it, sorry.

I hope the LC can help out more this time.
You are doing so well! You should be proud!
I still get a shiver when I think of the pain of a cracked nipple!
:hug: Your going to get through this!
xx

Hey Sara,

I've been lying down for all feeds the last 3 days and it's really helped my R nipple and the pain I was feeling has been reduced dramatically.... finally after 6wks I am feeling some 'light at the end of the tunnel' for my R side!! Perhaps not only have I perfected the attachment but also Ava has?
She still fusses and pulls on and off on L side sometimes particlularly when in cradle position but I've learnt to just take her off, burp her then try her again.

Anyway, just wanted to send you some :hug: and let you know it does get easier. I didn't think it would but it does. Keep persisting. You can do it.

If your nipple is really quite sore and b.feeding is painful, then try to express (with electric pump!) and that will help keep your milk supply up on that side and at the same time give you chance to heal your nipple. This is what i've had to do a few times with the R side when it was so damaged while it healed. Although I do hope you can avoid everythnig i've been thru as it's not easy expressing in between feeds and all that.... very hard work!!!! (I still am)

Thanks for the support guys.
I'm feeling down today. I'm just over it. I feel like giving up but the thought of that makes me cry.
It hurts so much and I don't know what else to do, it's not getting better. I've seen 3 LCs and called the ABA and no one can tell me what to do, they just tell me my technique is perfect. But it's not, something is wrong. On the left side my nipple doesn't look right when she comes off, there's a ridge. So she's probably damaging it more. I'm doing exactly the same thing as on the right side and it looks the same and no matter how many times I reattach I can't get it right :( I wish someone would tell me the answer!! I'm going to go back to the LC tomorrow AGAIN anyway, maybe she'll find something this time :( I can't keep doing it if it's not getting better.

Thanks for the advice about papaw and lansinoh! And I will take my nipple shield to the LC, I can't work it out at all. Oh and Ren, I tried lying down and I can't get the hang of it :( I tried it on the good nipple coz I didn't want to hurt the other one more but almost hurt that one!! lol. So I gave up quick.

Thanks so much everyone, your support is keeping me going, honestly.

Heaven :hug:

Matie I haven't read the entire thread so if my suggestion is mentioned previously I'm sorry.

I too had a funny looking nipple after DS feed, it was so painful I felt like I might faint. It sort of looked like a lipstick if that makes sense.

What I was told was to keep my back straight up against the chair (don't lean over, even a little bit) and bring him to the breast. I tried it and it worked. Even leaning forward a little bit would mean my attachment was all wrong. I can't explain why, but leaning over was what was putting his attachment out.

I would get up, sit on a kitchen chair (as opposed to couch) every time to feed.

It made all the difference, took a while to heal but we went on to feed for 13 months and I was at the stage where I couldn't face another feed.

HTH hun and as I said sorry if this is something you've tried.

:hug: Spring

:hug: I gave up with my girls at 6 & 4 weeks because of the same thing.
If thats what you want it is totally up to you.

I was at that point with DS also at 6 weeks. I actually had him on FF for 3 days straight. I tried maybe once a day to feed him, but the pain was way too much.
I rang my MCHN in tears, but she wasn't there. I was going to wait & ring the next day, but I couldn't stop crying so I rang them back half an hour later & they tracked her down.

I had thrush, so had to get Nilstat & use the nipple sheilds for 2 days.
Have you tried Bepanthen. Because its an antisptic it has an anaesthetic in it. You could try putting it on 15 minutes before a feed & try. You need to wash it off though. It might numb it enough to be able to feed.
It worked for me for a few days, but the thrush got worse, so it stopped working (I didn't know it was thrush, neither did the MCHN or LC, it was just a matter of elimination in the end).

I hope you can get some help tomorrow, I really do. But Bubby needs you to be happy too. Being depressed about not getting it right isn't going to help.
Do whats best for all of you.

Just remember you are a great mummy no matter what! :comfort:

BTW - have you tried laying down to feed? Its another angle again that might take some pressure off the crack.

Sara,

See your GP and get a prescription for a cream called "Kenacomb Otic" thats what my LC told me to get and I rub it on after every feed. It has helped my nipples to heal.
I'm sorry to see you having so many attachment issues and pain like i've had too, it certainly makes the start of BF'ing a very upsetting one doesnt it and I haven't been able to enjoy it most of the time due to pain and other issues etc since the very beginning. It's been tough but it DOES get easier and I'm only seeing that now at 6wks.
Yeah I have bad days and I have good days.
I've found reading the BF'ing threads very helpful as it makes me realise so many ppl out there go thru what we are going thru now. It's so common and many do overcome the issues. :hug: big hugs. I've had days where I've wanted to give up but my desire to BF my daughter is too strong to give up. And the threads help motivate me to continue.
Sometimes when she gets off, my nipples have a slight 'pinch' in them and a bit whitish. But they felt fine?!?! so it's very confusing.... other times there is no ridge or pinch there.


Just make sure, she is getting enough at each feed (you can tell from the nappies as you know) and if she seems content afterwards. Otherwise if she isnt on properly that can lead to supply issues and your milk supply dropping which is what happened to me (also she was a lazy feeder and very tired all the time) it was a bit of a cycle that i've finally broken.

re: lying down. I find it so restful. But now cos' im doing it often she won't want to feed off L side when i hold her in cradle position!! So more probs now.... :lol:

SJ, I'm sorry things are so difficult ATM :hug: But you know what, things can turn around so quickly with this BFing game. As quickly as the next feed, things can seem brighter. So just keep on hanging on in there, and think of what a wonderful thing you're giving your daughter, she is growing so beautifully on your BM :D good on you!!!!

Okay, three things for the LC tomorrow...
1. Take the nipple shield and get her advice and help with that.
2. Make sure she shows you how to feed lying down, and make sure you can do it comfortably before you go home!
3. Tell her that the pain you are experiencing is, well, as bad as it is. Don't put on a brave face, don't gloss over it. If she asks you to try something different and it's still painful TELL HER. YOU are the only one who knows what you are experiencing.

In the meantime, can you try feeding standing up? I'm aware that you haven't been well, so the whole feed standing up might be too much, but at least stand up while you attach her. Babies often attach much better when mum is standing up, crazy as it sounds. My DS went 2 whole months where he would only feed if I was lying down or standing up :rolleyes:. He certainly got over those preferences and decided I was allowed to sit down again one day :lol:.

Breastfeeding, when all is going well, is not painful. In fact it is beautiful! Clearly all is not going well for you ATM, but IT WILL. One day you will be past this difficult time, and your baby will be feeding and look up at you and smile......and it will all have been worth it. Really and truly, things will get better. They won't get better on their own, you will still need to put in some hard yards, but it will be wonderful and painfree. And in the long run so much easier than bottle feeding.

Hang in there, keep on asking for help until you get answers. We are all here to support you SJ! :hug:

heaven - hugs to you! It sucks that something that is supposed to be natural isn't! I have had trouble BF both my kids but we get there everytime and then you look back at how hard it was but how easy it is now - you will get there.

Lets talk nipples - at any time could you ever describe your nipples at flatish or not as perky as some? I would never have described myself as having flat nipples but they are difficult for bubs to latch on to - I have a large areola but the nipple itself is quite small which means even though bub has a good chunk of areola in their mouth my poor nipple is still getting trashed! Also my nipples both point in different directions - aren't I just painting the freakiest picture :-) A midwife told me to line up bubs head with the direction my nipple was pointing in and using pillows as a platform line her up like that.

nipple sheilds - used them with #1 tried at 1 week and rejected them. tried again at 3wks after 2 wks of being fed EBM via bottle and he took to them like a fish to water. We used them until he was 9mths old #2 I swore I wouldn't need thembut after having my nipple so cracked I thought it would fall off we tried again. She hated them but it was shields or formula. i would put her on normally, take her off and put the shield on and put her back on, she would crack, put her on again, she would crack, take shield off, put her on, take her off, put shield on, put her back on. with in a day she got that if she wanted milk she needed to put up with the plastic. Using silicone dummies and the occasional bottle aslo helped her get used to the shield. What brand are you using, i always found the Avent ones the best and you can get them in two sizes, go for the small.

What the other ladies have said about giving that nipple as much time to heal is true, try and rest that side as much as possible, you can always build that supply up later and there are plenty of ladies out there BF with only one boob! If you have a good fence get that boobie in the sun, best healing ever, esp if you mihgt have some thrush going on. Also there are these other things avent make, wish I could remember the name of them but basically you put them in your bra (they are like cups) and they should your nipple from coming into contact with anything - basically lets them air out. You can also use them to collect milk which lets down while you are feeding from the other side! They are super ugly and I wouold recommend wearing them at a black tie event but by golly gosh they work a treat to help heal those nipples.

All the best for tomorrow

Hugs heaven! I'm so sad to hear you're in so much pain.

I think you've been given the best advice already, but I just wanted to tell you again that I always had the lipstick shape on the left, even after the pain had gone...it only started disappearing after 6 weeks. Sometimes its bub's technique and actually has nothing to do with the way you're positioning her.

Also, Saram's advice about lining up bub's mouth with your nipple is something that rang true for me. My left nipple seems to point out a bit more than my right, so while I was trying to make a mirror image of my right hand positioning, I actually needed to bring her around a bit more (my midwife said to me only porn stars have perfectly symmetrical nipples...lol)

I also couldn't feed lying down until baby could self attach (after a few weeks), so don't beat yourself up about that.

Good luck with the LC tomorrow. BF is hard work, but you're doing such a great job already!!!!!

The ridge comes from not stuffing enough nipple (especially the lower part) far enough in to her mouth. It does improve as mouths get bigger and nipples get softer - but in the meantime, make sure she has as much nipple as you can get in there.
Is a lactation day stay an option for you?? It sounds as though the problems can be different in different feeds, so evaluation of a few feeds might help to really work out what is going on.

Spring- Thankyou, I will try that idea of sitting on the kitchen chair. I don't have a comfy chair to sit in so that could be part of it!!

Skye- Thankyou AGAIN!! Your support means alot!! I can't get the hang of lying down! I will ask the LC about it.

Ren- Thankyou!! I forgot to take the name of that ointment when I went to see the GP last time!! Bugger!! Yep, I think she's definately getting enough, we are going through SO many nappies!! lol. So that's one good thing I guess. Terrible to be having all this pain and no gain!!

Janie- Thankyou so much, I have to spread the love! I am writing those 3 things down on a notepad now. I am going to be foreceful with telling them it hurts and that something is wrong and not let them just say it looks right and will get better because I know it's not right! And I'm going to try standing up too. I can stand up and walk around while feeding on the right nipple, it's completely healed and I hardly have to do anything to attach her she basically gets it right herself. I can't believe there's so much difference.

Sarah- Thankyou! No, I don't think I have flat nipples. And no one's ever said anything about it either?? BUT at the last feed I moved her around more and it didn't hurt as much so maybe like you said my nipple is a bit further that way on that breast and I wasn't bringing her around far enough. Will see if it's still the same with the next feed! I think I have already been feeding her more on the R. I just can't wait to get her off the L and whenever she even looks like she might be finished she's off and onto the next one, lol.

anna- Thankyou again for your advice and support!! It might be I wasn't bringing her far enough around, I hope so, then I will have an answer. We shall see what she has in store for me at the next feed!

kmn- That's the thing, I shove as much as I can in there! lol. And sometimes I can barely see any nipple, and i think I have fairly big nipples, well the areola. So I don't get it!!

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.

Oh, bugger!
Lotsa huggles hunny.
:hug: :hug: :hug:

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.

I really hope you can get past this.

Good luck again.
More :hug:
xx

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.

You're doing so well!!

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.