Squashed nipples

So I was supposed to have a beautiful normal birth and the feeding would just flow on naturally from that. Things didn't quite go according to plan and we didn't get off to the best start. On top of exhaustion after the birth - the first night I just let her suckle completely the wrong way as I just didn't have the energy to sit up, let alone fix it - it took a few days to relearn how to hold & position a floppy little newborn - it's very different to feeding a 2 year old.

Anyway, I got grazed and sore as DD is rubbing on the nipple as she feeds. It's just like it was with DS - everything looks right, but it isn't. The only real difference this time is that the pain has decreased to the point where most feeds are comfortable. But my nipples are still being squashed into a lipstick shape.

She is getting plenty of milk, but it's just frustrating! I can't figure out what we're doing wrong. I've spoken with our child health nurse (also an LC) and she remembers it being the same last time too.

ANy ideas? Has anyone else experienced poor attachment without pain? I've already had a dose of mastitis btw...

Is there any point in using some nipple shields for a couple of days? Just so bubs can get a better shape in her mouth itms?
What has the LC suggested?

She hates the shields and will not attach. Maybe I'll try again.
Thanks :)

Yep I remember lots of feeds where DD would come off and my nipple would be lipstick shape, yet I hadn't felt any pain, and she had fed really well. It wasn't every feed, but more often than not. It used to really worry me but as I didn't know it until after the feed there wasn't a lot I could do at the time. In time we must have gotten it right though, as I'd forgotten about it until reading your post. Hope you find a solution soon!

I'm guessing you've tried the different positions? DD suckled wrongly at the start too and gave me a grazed nipple only on the left side and I remember we worked it out by lying down to feed right from the start.

I've just been thinking about it more and like Eluned has said, I think it was different positions for us. I think I ended up working out that on the right side football hold worked for good attachment, and for the left side I held her across my body. And it took alot of experimenting to work that out. And we fed lying down all night every night, and whenever I was exhausted during the day. I wish I had better advice for you :(

I read a quote the other day that made so much sense to me. "Don't let perfection get in the way of success". Your baby is gaining weight and breastfeeding is comfortable and painfree. You don't have a problem. You have success! No need to see shadows where none exist. Under these circumstances the shape of your nipple just doesn't matter. She will grow and develop and pretty soon your nipple will come out round and normal looking - but right now you are doing great!

Hi congrats on your new addition! I didn't recognise you with the name change. I had grazing too - but DD seemed to be getting plenty of milk so I just had to tolerate it and it just improved over a week or so. Hope it gets better for you soon :)

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I read a quote the other day that made so much sense to me. "Don't let perfection get in the way of success". Your baby is gaining weight and breastfeeding is comfortable and painfree. You don't have a problem. You have success! No need to see shadows where none exist. Under these circumstances the shape of your nipple just doesn't matter. She will grow and develop and pretty soon your nipple will come out round and normal looking - but right now you are doing great!

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Gee I wish I'd read this back in the early days! Pity everyone else was telling me something had to be wrong because my nipple wasn't coming out round and perfectly shaped, even though I had no pain at all. Good to know now though :)

Oh, Human Bean, we all love a problem. We love to worry - so most of us are happy to create a few if none seem to exist. health professionals seem to be the first in that queue! Wouldn't it be lovely if in 2011 we could relax and enjoy our mothering and breastfeeding a bit more - talk it up!

Thanks everyone for your responses. And thanks Barb - of course you're right.
I realise my problem - always trying to engage my brain in matters that really don't concern it. :rofl:

lol

FWIW, Charlotte had textbook "bad attachment"... the spent days in the hospital showing me videos, and pamphlets, and the LC coming in and out...
She looked wrong, my nipple came out wrong... When she was on "properly" it hurt like buggery.
We had no problems, just the professionals. We were happy and fine, she was satisfied, and would feed well (never had mastitis, so that's gotta be good right? lol)

But once I figured out to let her feed how she was comfortable, so long as I was comfortable too, it didn't matter. She was a very efficient feeder, and we went on to feed for almost 3 years... All with "bad attachment" ;)

I have this same "problem" - lipstick shaped niples! But everything else seems to be going right, no mastitis etc - why do the proffessionals insist that the nipple has to come out perfectly round? And Ive also noticed how some dummies are shaped to look kind of lipstick shaped for babies mouths...so there!
Im glad I read this thread! I can forget about this now!

Ohh, I'd hate to have started something.

Lipstick shaped nipples can indeed be a sign of poor attachment. Dummy manufacturers (and teat manufacturers for that matter) have no idea of normal human anatomy. Human nipples are meant to come out round and normal after feeding. Not at all looking like a nuk dummy. But, in the first days of life you have mum and baby who are *both new at this* - it's not perfect. For most women, pretty soon you'll get the hang of it - it just needs a little time. If it hurts, get help. Or if your baby is not milking the breast effectively - but if its just one quirk in an otherwise good relationship you can wait and see for a bit - let the tincture of time do it's work