Breastfeeding Help! - Council Bluffs,IA

Okay, first off, cracking and bleeding means that the baby is not in the right position. I will mail you some other details, please look for it. :)

You many want to see if your hospital offers breastfeeding consultants. There are usually nurses trained to help with this. You can also look into seeing if there is a La Leche organization hear you. My nurse practitioner prescribed an ointment for me that was more soothing than the Lansinoh- I don't remember what it was called, but your doctor could maybe help with this? I also pumped more often when my nipples were sore- you can adjust the suction to your comfort level. That way you have some time to heal in between feedings...

Hi, N.!

I highly suggest you contact a lactation consultant as soon as possible. Although many people think breastfeeding should come naturally, it really doesn't. I had a very hard time with my first and we went through a lot of pain and unnecessary chaos until we finally got it right. Contact your local hospital or the la leche league nearest you. Good luck!

First of all call the hospital and get set up with a lactation consultant. They are wonderful people and they can work with you on latch on and positioning.
Second, I had lots of bleeding and sores from nursing and I developed breast infection. Which is horrible so please do number one. Also, buy some vitamin E capsules. Cut them open and pour on the cracked part. This helps tons with healing.

After a feeding, rub some of your milk on your nipple and let them air dry. This helped for me.

I agree call the lacation office for more help.
There are also this product called soothies gel pads
you can put them in the refridgerator and they are very
comoforting. Babies r us has them.

Hey, N.--It's been a couple of days since you wrote this, which probably means another 35 or so rounds of breastfeeding! I hope it's going better. I agree with others that it sounds like a latching issue. A lactation consultant or the LLL are great options. Another option that you can check into, which was a HUGE help to me, is www.kellymom.com. There's lots of articles and tips, and it feels more real to life and less medical than some sites. Also, the most helpful tip that a lactation consultant gave me was to gently squeeze the breast "like you're holding a sandwich" so that it's flatter and wider going into baby's mouth when she latches on.

Keep up the great effort! As others said, breastfeeding is super hard work. It's natural, it's best for babies, it's usually more convenient than bottles and formula, but it's hard work. The joyful, relaxing, bonding breastfeeding moments that we all imagine may not come be the norm for a few months, but they will come!

Hi N.! Lots of great advice here! I wanted to add coconut oil to the list of things to try. It is a natural, tasty edible alternative to the lansinoh, and has good fats for the baby to boot... I thought the lansinoh was too sticky for my taste. I have nursed seven babies and have had some level of pain with all seven. and some have caused cracking and bleeding. I think part of it has to do with the strength of babys suction also. It does get better, and very rewarding if you can stick it out! Blessings to you, keep on keeping on! ~S.

Hi,
I haven't read all the responses, so maybe someone already said this, but I want to recommend hydrogels..they are 'little disks of heaven' (my quote...I LOVED them) for sore nipples. They are called "wound dressings". I got some at the hospital, but I saw some at Target the other day--either a Medela or Lansinoh product. The really help alleviate the sore, cracked nipples. Also, as others recommended check with your local La Leche League or see if your hospital has a lactation department who you could meet with.

You should not have cracked and bleeding nipples. You should contact a lactation consultant immediately because you could develop an infection if you continue to feed with them cracked and bleeding. The hospital you delivered at should have a lactation consultant on staff if not contact your pediatrician.

I'm sorry you're having problems nursing. I did as well. I was told if the skin is cracked, there is usually a problem with her latch. I would get a lactation consultant involved or contact la leche. Also, I used a gel patch by Soothie. They are a little pricey and are hard to find, but work wonders and you can leave them on for several days at a time. The Gerber brand found at target do not work well compared to Soothies and are pricer in the long run. You can't use the lansinoh with the pads though. BUT, the pads do work wonders. Good luck!!!http://soothies.com/gelpads_store.html

sorry to say it's going to hurt for a couple weeks. I used the hydrogel packs and they helped. it will get better but you have to toughen up yor nipples. if it hurts the whole time your baby is nursing she is not latched on correctly. good luck and keep going it's worth it.

I have 2 suggestions. First get into see a cranial sacral therapist who has experience with nursing issues. A great one to see is Angel Phillips of BlessingWays Bodywork. Her number is ###-###-####. Secondly, look up LaLeche League of MN and find a lactation support person through them to help you with your issues. Angel is a wonderful and has helped me with latching issues. Often the pallet of the mouth of the baby gets compressed causing either a too high roof of the mouth or a flat one. This makes it nearly impossible to get a good latch for nursing and causes alot of frustration for both mom and baby. Don't give up! I'm sure with support from both of these sources, you will be able to nurse successfully and your baby will stay awake during nursing. Right now, she's just having to work extra hard in order to eat and it's too tiring for her.

Ooo! I have felt your pain! Within the first week of my new little one (who is 2 months old now), I was bleeding so much she was spitting up blood--kinda disturbing, and I got mastitis, and she started losing weight--it was nuts! Did I mention she was my 2nd baby? I thought I had bf-ing down, but each baby is different. I used to DREAD breaking her latch, because that hurt! But once I broke it EVERY time she was on wrong it started to get better. Sometimes it would take 15 tries before she was on well, which was frustrating, but, like I said, worth it.

I agree with the not having to nurse on both sides each time. It always works better for me to nurse on one side only each time, so that she drains one breast completely--she also spits up less, which is helpful.

Vary your positions as much as possible to put the suction pressure on different areas of your nipples. A new hold that the lactation consultant taught me was to hold the baby sitting upright on my lap, facing me, and supporting her head while she latched on. This was a lifesaver for the first few weeks we were trying to get things going. That way the weight of her head isn't pulling down or to the side, and, if you think about it, we don't eat with our heads turned to the side, and it seemed like my little one consistently got a better latch that way.

Lansinoh is okay, but the new *Medela tender care lanolin* comes out of the tube smooth and soft, so you don't need to soften it first and that was nice--I second the putting milk/colostrum on your nipples and letting them air dry also. I did that and then put lanolin on.

Stick it out though if you can. For me, I know if I can make it the first 3 or 4 weeks, all will be well after that, and the pay-off is so worth it!

You can also pump every other time to give your nipples a bit of a rest and feed her the pumped milk. If you are worried about introducing a bottle (like I was), you can feed her with a syringe or out of a small medicine cup. Apparently most little babies will lap the milk out of the cup sort of like a kitten if you gently tip it up to their lips--didn't work for my baby, but it could work for you!

My babe was 9lbs 5oz at birth and was still losing weight by her 2 week appt. We checked back into the hospital to work with the lactation consultants for 24 hours (because the only ones available in the rural area I live in are in the hospital and are also L&D nurses, so there are no appts), and she's been gaining ever since. She's 2 months old now and 12lbs 12oz and in the 90th percentile, so I know YOU CAN DO IT! <3

Also, point her chin at your nipple (if you aren't doing the sitting up position)...that seems to help get a good latch. Hang in there.

I can not recommend breast shells enough! Medela makes them: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breast-care... They really saved me when I was nursing my first son! And keep up the Lansinoh, put tons on after every time you nurse (in the beginning I went through a tube about once a month!) The breast shells keep your nipples from rubbing on things. I also had inverted nipples the first time around, so that's why I got them, but then there was the added benefit of no friction!

Also, while it doesn't seem like it, it WILL get better! I don't believe any of those people who say there's necessarily something wrong if your nipples are cracked and bleeding! It happened to me with both my babies and there wasn't anything wrong with their latches! Still, there are so many people out there you can find through your hospital or through La Leche League who can give you support and come to your house and make sure everything is going ok, and many of them are free or covered by insurance, so definitely I recommend finding someone!

I hate to tell you this but just stick with it- it will get better. My nipples bled for 3 weeks (I had trouble getting the latch down too and the hospital just wanted to give him formula) and it would make my toes curl it hurt so bad when I nursed him. I tried the lansinoh and even just saline pads and they both made it worse. At one point, I remember wanting to hide when my husband would come looking for me to let me know the baby was hungry... but I'm laughing as I write this. In a month, the pain will be gone and you'll work out the kinks between the two of you (latching, falling asleep, etc...) and you'll have a pattern down that works. No one ever tells you that breastfeeding is hard :) --- I know I just expected to hold him up there and he would figure it out... ha! I'm sure I had unrealistic expectations but you have to allow time for both of you to adapt and learn. Hang in there -- I promise in a month or two it won't hurt at all and it's much easier than waking up and heating up formula or having to carry bottles with you everywhere. Good luck!

I just read a few of the responses too and the lactation consultant is a good idea, just in case you can't find one or don't like baring yourself in front of other people (I know that was one of my problems at the hospital--and then my milk wouldn't let down--I'm slightly uptight :)...) I thought I would write you back with a tip--take your breast in your hand and sandwich it with your thumb on the top and your fingers underneath (you want to make it wide and flat) and then shove (yes, I mean shove) it in when baby makes a big birdie. Try and aim for the roof of their mouth, but as long as you get a lot in they can readjust it with their sucking. A little graphic, I know, but maybe it will help. Their mouth should be covering most of your nipple. Good luck!

You will experience some discomfort. a wise mom told me that it takes about 6 weeks to get the hang of it. I was at 2 weeks and at my wits end. She was right. It all clicked about 6 weeks and we mad it to 11 months with our first. Find a support group, maybe through your hospital?

Hello and congratulations!!! I would highly suggest finding a lactation consultant either at the local hospital or through a local chapter of the La Leche League. (most hospitals will have one on staff and you can check out the LLL on line to find a local person) I had a similar very painful experience w/my first child and after about 3 weeks of feeling tense and dreading feedings I finally found some help--not only did the LC Help w the physical discomforts and pain but it was such a relief mentally to find someone who could help so I could successfully continue breastfeeding. Good luck--keep up the great work=) E.

Hi N.! Seeing a lactation consultant would be great for you. My doctor made an appt with one for me the day after I went home from the hospital, and she was wonderful! If you're in the Eau Claire area, let me know, and I'll look up her name for you. Personally, I had a bad reaction to the lansinoh - my nipples got worse after using it! My lactation consultant told me to quit using that all together and when Avery was done eating, to squeeze a couple drops of the colostrum/milk whatever you have at this point, and rub that around your nipple. Let it air dry. After only one time of doing this, my nipples felt much better! Good luck!

C.

I remember my nipples cracking and going through a few days of absolute agony. It DOES get better, hang in there. The lanolin will help and your nipples will toughen. Keep the lanolin coming--rub it on constantly. Also, when you are done nursing, squirt a little breast milk out and then rub it over your nipples. Breast milk has some great healing properties! You can also try ice.

Also, try experimenting with different positions, like the "football hold" or lying down facing baby (this was actually my favorite nursing position). So long as baby has a good latch, you can really sit, stand or lay any way you want.

Please contact a LaLeche leader and/or see if there is a good lactation consultant nearby. Does your hospital have one on staff that they just didn't send in to see you? You can still call her anytime if they do. If not, is there another hospital nearby with one on staff? I do not even deliver in the hospital, but I have made use freely of the lactation consultants from three different hospitals. They are so eager to help and I have never had to pay a penny. You really need the personal contact, because it is so complicated to try to read specific positioning descriptions, etc... and then follow them from that. Please let us know how it goes.

Welcome to motherhood.. If your nipples are cracked and bleeding you really don't have the baby latched on right.. If you could get in touch with LaLeche or a lactation person, someone will come to you and help. By latching the baby on in different postions at each feeding, will take the pressure off the areas that are hurting..like putting the baby in the football hold, then the next time in another postion..the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a must for every mom, if this is your first or ninth (like me)..believe it or not, gabbage leaves put on you breast after each feeding is a miracle..it helps sooo much with the pain, (wash the leaves) before you put them on... also tea bags helps too..Your baby should be feed every 2 hours or sooner if she wants..remember your breast are for her comfort and her pacifier..the milk is a bonus.lol...Let her nurse as long as she wants to on one side, then change her diapers and wake her to latch her on the other side.. the hind milk ( the milk at the end of the feeding contains the fat,, she needs that just as much as the fore milk..and even more, she will gain the needed weight and be more satisfied..Never let her sleep more than two hours.. the first 6 weeks are trying, but oh the rewards you and your baby girl will recieve from each other last a life time...Hang in their N., and I will be praying for you.. D.... mother of 9, grandmother of 17, and soon to be a great-grandmother..a former LaLeche League Leader..midwifery assistant..and doula...and still helping mothers

Congratulations on your new baby! I agree with the other suggestions to see a lactation consultant. I saw one a couple months ago and she was fantastic! This is my third baby and I hadn't seen one before and now am not sure why. I wish I would have gone sooner.

When I went I was not cracked and bleeding like you, but was in a lot of pain. She told me to take vitamin B6. I was told 200mg for four days, then 25mg every day after. Sounds funny, but it worked. It is an anti-inflammatory and is safe for the baby.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

It is normal to have pain for the first couple of weeks but cracking and bleeding shouldn't happen. Make sure the latch is good and that you are gettig her on properly. Call a lactation consultant to come over and make sure she's getting on correctly. Keep with it and good luck.

N.!
congrats on the babe and hang in there! i just had my first in feb and am exclusivly breastfeeding. be tough, you're doing the most awesome thing for your baby! i remember (very clearly) right where you're at right now and i PROMISE it gets better, easier, and less painful. after not getting much help in the hospital, often times theres a lact. consultant either in the pediatricians office or at the hospital you can work with. i didn't have any help at all but he came out looking to suck and it was just a breeze from the start. the book "nursing mothers companion" is so helpful in every area of breastfeeing. it can answer a ton of questions.
i remember feeling like i was starting to crack and even had a tiny bit of bleeding. its hard but a little bit of those symptoms is normal. it can almost feel like shes biting instead of sucking. but for me it went away within that first week or so (ish) and now its such a breeze. hang in there...this is the reason why so many women quit so early...but i promise it gets better. if you aren't feeling more comfortable in the next week or so i'd for sure head to a consultant. good luck!

N., I strongly advise you to contact La Leche League right away. Their leaders can help you. I also had bleeding and nipple soreness, and it is critical to get help right away. I ended up with an infected sore on one nipple, which I had to treat with neosporin plus pain after nursing sessions.

Under normal circumstances, a little Lansinoh (lanolin) is the best thing to put on sore nipples, but don't use it if you have a wool allergy.

My first baby was also sleepy and slow to get the hang of nursing. You may find it helpful to do breast compressions while she is latched on (a La Leche League leader or lactation consultant can explain how to do this). You can either call your hospital's lactation department to get questions answered over the phone, or call La Leche League (look them up online or under "breastfeeding" in the yellow pages).

For what it's worth, I would not necessarily offer both sides at every feeding. I would focus on getting one breast really well drained at each feeding.

Most of the time nipple pain goes away within a few weeks as you get the hang of holding the baby and the baby's mouth gets a little bigger, but you want to get help now, not wait and see.

go to www.llli.org
search for a la leche league group in your area, or somewhere nearby. it sounds like you are simply suffering from an improper latch, and that is an easier fix than it sounds.
also, you could ask your wic provider if they have any resources for you, sometimes even the wic counselors can help, if you use wic.
ask your insurance company. perhaps they know of some help somewhere too? but in all honesty, i would really check on a la leche league group because they have the knowledge and they are VERY supportive and helpful!
good luck

I'm surprised they didn't offer you more assistance. I just found out (now that "baby" is 20 months old) that some of the literature I received had information about home health nurses and lactation consultants--I probably skimmed it in a post-baby euphoric haze! Anyway--that might have some info; you should also be able to call your clinic and/or the L&D unit where you delivered to find a local lactation consultant. It's really hard to say via the internet what you're doing wrong; it will really help to have someone patient and understanding there to watch and see and help you adjust.

EDIT: Meanwhile--do you have a pump?? We fed my first son via a syringe or even a cup when I was so engorged and he couldn't nurse. It was a painful couple days (for him; it wasn't so bad for me) since he lost weight and didn't sleep, but even a little relief can go a long ways. I had blisters on my nipples when I started w/ #2, and pumping even once in a while helped a ton.

Congratulations on your new daughter.

I had a sleepy eater or two myself. One of the things that helped to keep them awake was to strip them down to a diaper so they wouldn't get so cozy. You could try that it may help to keep her awake.

Also, depending on which hospital you had her at, they may have a lacations specialist that you can go visit. I know this is an offering from United Hospital.

Good luck, breastfeeding is not as easy as everyone makes it out to be.

Congratulations on your new baby!

I agree with so many other people about seeing a Lactation Consultant. The biggest problem that I had was making sure that my child's lips were "flanged" (I'm not sure of the spelling). When they are attached, pull their lips (top and bottom) open more so they get more of a spread around your nipple and onto the areola. It helps a lot! They get better at it too so you don't have to do it forever. Good luck!

I would ask to see a lactation consultant. We go to partnerns in pedeatrics and they have them there or call the hospital and ask them. I think some with the hospital will come to your home. Good luck.

Congratulations! And yay for working so hard to breastfeed! It's not always easy, but can be so rewarding for you & your daughter.

Great latch is crazy important, and it sounds like you might be having some latch difficulties with your daughter. Call the lactation consultant at the hospital where you gave birth (if there is one) or check into getting in touch with a local La Leche League member. Latch help can make all the difference!

Lansinoh is good, but you could also try using some nipple shields while nursing to get some relief while you're cracked & bleeding. I'm pretty sure you can get them at Target, but Babies R Us would for sure have them.

Breastfeeding your first baby can be kind of an overwhelming experience. It didn't go well for me, but knowledge was power when I had my second kiddo. We're still going strong a year later, and two of my favorite resources (aside from my friends) were kellymom.com & The Nursing Mother's Companion. I still consult them regularly for reassurance!

Good luck, and be in touch if you have questions!
Congratulations again!
J.

Congratulations on your new little one. The first week home was very difficult for breastfeeding. I talked with the lactation nurse at the hospital and she was very helpful. What helped me were those nipple shields. They were great. You can use them until you heal or in my daughters case she liked the shield, and I used it the whole time. It will not hurt her if she stays on it. Well good luck, breastfeeding was very fun. Just hang in there.

Congrats on your new baby- don't give up, it WILL get easier. I nursed my first for 21 months and it was a piece of cake aside from a few clogged ducts once in a while. My second is 3 months and for the first 6-8 weeks I felt like screaming every time he latched on. I know he had a good latch, however, I still got blood blisters on my nipples and also was dreading every time he was hungry- it made me sad, I was so looking forward to nursing again. My nipples just had to get used to it again. Gerber sells hot/cold packs at Target, keep using the Lansinoh, try different positions, I've heard the cabbage leaves work well and DEFINITELY call a lactation consultant. Also, the www.kellymom.com website is a good one. Just make sure you are doing it correctly and keep it up- it will get better and easier- it just may take a few weeks.

First of all, let me say that it is advisable to attempt to breastfeed for at least 40 days (if it is your preference to breastfeed), because that is about how long it will take you and your baby to get the hang of it and get everything running smoothly. So, try not to get discouraged - it is difficult at first! For the nipples, I would recommend continuing to apply the lanisoh after each feeding, also after the feed try to express some milk and rub the milk on your nipples then let air dry (nature's cure). Apply cool washcloth, cabbage leaves, or Soothies gel pads kept in the fridge. This will help ease some of the pain/discomfort.

finally, call your dr. or hospital and ask to speak witha lactation consultant. They will be able to help you get a correct latch and provide tips and guidance. Do they offer breastfeeding classes in your area (check with the local hospital) or La Leche League might be able to help you as well. I would highly recommend that you find SOMEONE who can help you get a correct latch with your daughter, because this will make or break your experience breastfeeding. Once she learns to latch on correctly, it will be a breeze, and the pain/cracks/bleeding will be able to heal. Good luck to you!!

I used nipple shields with my first baby. They look kind of like bottle nipples and fit right over your nipple. I have seen them sold at Target and on-line. My daughter was not latching on right and was loosing weight. My nipples got really soar, too. The sheilds helped to protect them and also got my daughter's mouth open far enough to learn the proper latch. They worked great for me. Eventualy, as she got bigger she didn't need them anymore.

i was going to suggest a LLL member too. They were a GREAT help to me.

Hi N.,
I am a nurse and preparing to become a lactation consultant and I would urge you to be seen by someone experienced in helping breastfeeding mothers, ASAP. La Leche League is an option, also the lactation department at the hospital where you delivered or your pediatrician's office are good options, as well. Nipples that are cracked and bleeding are not a normal discomfort that you just have to get through. They are a sign of a problem, and the sooner you get it corrected, the easier it will be to correct and the less discomfort you will have to go through. The soothies, or comfortgels that another mother mentioned are really nice and can help you heal, but you also need to fix the root cause of your sore nipples.
Hope that helps. Enjoy your little daughter!