In Pain!! Help!!

The bleeding is due to poor latch, NOT "breaking in the nipples". You really should see a lactation consultant or contact someone at La Leche League.
I had the same problem and it is very frustrating and painful. You don't need to stop breastfeeding, just need to fix the latch.
I ended up using Dr. Newman's nipple cream, made at a pharmacy.

I remember this pain. I had to switch to pumping and feeding it in a bottle for awhile, but then back to regular breast feeding. The worst part of open sores while breastfeeding is that you are much more prone to mastitis. Good luck.

A.,

The thing that causes cracked and bleeding nipples is latch, latch, latch. At this point there is no other reason for abrasion unless your baby is slightly tongue tied and therefore unable to get a good latch. I will be happy to try and help you if you would like. I also would like to recommend the use of Calendula oil on your nipples instead of lansinoh. You can also try to use very warm tea bags after each feeding to reduce the tenderness of the abrasions. Of course being able to eliminate the cause of the abrasions by trying different latch techniques is the optimal answer.

A little about me, I am a 57 y/o Grandma that breastfed 39 years ago, but also an RN and Lactation Consultant @ The Nesting Place. Please call if you would like some help. ###-###-####
sincerely,
K.

A.,
I had a lot of problems myself nursing at first, and what helped me was using a nipple shield while nursing (if still trying to nurse) or better yet, pumping for a week or so until your nipple heals and then start again. Any lactation consultant will tell you that this could be due to an incorrect latch, so you might want to try some new nursing positions also, to help with the healing. Hope this helps and be encouraged - you are suffering now for a wonderful payoff later!!! It will get better and resolve itself.

Honey, One word...SOOTHIES. You can find them in the baby isle by the breast pads in Walgreens. Babies R Us has them too. They seem expensive at first, but are SO worth it. I only had to use them for like two days and things have been great since. I think they are between 10-15 dollars.
Hang in there,
K.

Pump on the painful side until it begins to heal and feed on the other. I had this too, I think I couldn't position the baby right b/c I'm right handed and so the left side was awkward. Try laying down to nurse on the painful side (use pillows behind your back and between your knees for support). This is much easier for mom and baby, and may help him learn to latch on better for the future. Remember, he's trying to figure this out too! When he doesn't latch on right, hook your finger in his mouth and pop him off and resposition his mouth correctly. Both lips should be exposed! In a month or so, this pain will be a distant memory! (I know, I cried every time I nursed in the beginning b/c of this, the lansinoh and cold packs helped!) Awesome tip my lact. comsult gave me... Wet down 2 diapers and freeze them. It makes the PERFECT cold pack! You can even cut them into circles and insert them in your bra. Don't stop trying, I can tell you, nursing is SO worth it! Just wait!!

A.,
I know this sounds crazy but I actually am an Arbonne rep and the baby line is totally made from Oatmeal’s that work on extremely dry skin. I actually cured my son's eczema with this stuff. They make oil and a lotion. You would use the oil to get it under control then the lotion to place it on daily as a maintained. The best part is we are Vegan approved so it is totally safe for the baby.
If you would like to try some let me know and I will get you some.
T.
By the way I use this stuff daily on me and my whole family.

Try the medela nipple shields (Target or Babies R Us)...they were a lifesaver for me! However, be sure to not let your little one get too used to them. As soon as you can bear it, start removing them once you've started nursing. My little girl got too attached to the shields and once I started using them it was hard to get her to nurse without them.

A.,
I had the same problem with nursing my son, here is what the lactation consultant told me and it worked like a charm...It sounds crazy, but it works. Get a lipton teabag and put it in hot water just to the point where the tea starts to leak out then take the teabag and put it on your nipples and let it dry, do that several times a day. I swear my nipples were healed over night. Give it a try. Let me know if it works for you.

You are using the nipple shields, right? Those saved me! Also, maybe try some cold packs between nursing to help with inflamation. I also had to pump sometimes, and bottle-feed, to get through the painful times. (My pump was pretty easy on my nipples, but my daughter wasn't too bad either.)

My nipples are aching just thinking about it for you. Have you talked with a lactation consultant or doctor? Also look for answers on www.breastfeeding.com . I am sure other moms will have more answers, I just wanted to offer my sympathy and what little advice I had to give.

Hang in there!

A.,
So sorry this is happening to you. Breastfeeding my girls was the happiest time of my life. So relaxing, and what a bond it creates. I nursed both my girl for over a year, (some thinks that's weird, but I let them wean themselves). I was sad when I quit, like post-partem depression just then kicked in. I didn't have your problem so I am not much help except to say, don't stop trying! It is still early in the process, you won't feel like a pro till he is 3 or 4 months old. I read the responsed you are getting and they are all good. I promise this WILL get better. I wish you the best.
T.

Are you pumping? You could pump a couple of feeding to give
yourself a break & give the baby a bottle. I know it helped me to use a lot of Lanisoh. Also, Harris Methodist Breastfeeding Support Center helped tremendously!!Good Luck!!!

Do not give up! It will get better! :)

http://www.kellymom.com is your friend!

Here is how to help them heal: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplehealing.html

The page also has links about latch. It is likely that you have cracked nipples because of an incorrect or lazy latch. If you have the money, see an IBCLC, if you're broke, like me, then the site is the best place to get information.

Another place to get help is the LLL website. They also have a forum to ask questions. Their site is http://www.lalecheleague.org/

I went through cracked nipples a few weeks back, and it was hard, but I am so glad I worked out our latch issues and everything is going smoothly now.

Use the silicon nipple shields from medela! I did that too... you HAVE to keep ointment on them... I nursed thru mastistis.... it can be done if you want to do it! :)

Contact Judy Eastburn ###-###-####. She is a lactation consultant and fabulous one at that. She should have some great advice.

Get some "Soothies" in the baby aisle at Walgreens and wear them all the time when you are not nursing - they were a miracle for me.

I feel for you, I went through the same thing! I saw two different lactation consultants, one told me to use the lansinoh and the other told me never to use it. I was so confused, but I decided to try two days without the cream and my nipple healed. I told this to another friend having the same problem and as soon as she stopped using the cream, she healed up too. I would also recommend using a pump for a couple minutes before your son latches on so that your milk lets down and he's not sucking so hard at first. I also went through 8 weeks of agonizing pain and then all of a sudden we both clicked and the latch worked, I'm sure smooth sailing is in sight! I'd also try to get rid of the nipple sheilds if you can, they shifted and caused blisters for me which is why my nipples cracked in the first place. Good luck, hang in there, it pays off in the long run!!!!

A.,

I would also recommend seeing a lactation consultant. A visit to one saved me after I suffered the same pain. I had one side that was very cracked (still deformed to this day) and she had recommended I give that side a rest for couple of days to heal and to put Neosporin on it. After nursing I soaked my nipples in cups of very warm mater with a little bit of salt. (Sounds painful but it wasn't, just weird to hold cups of water on your breasts). She had told me I could successfully breastfeed on one side but I didn't want to be lopsided for a year so I started nursing on the other side. (Everybody is different but I had no change in my milk supply after resting the one side for a couple of days). Since once my son was latched it didn’t hurt as much, I started breast feeding on one side per a feeding (this was couple of weeks in to it) and that seem to help me too. This is just what worked for me but I would highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant. It’s money well spent. I would recommend mine but this was before we lived in Texas.

Best of luck and good for you for breastfeeding!

HI A.,
I like your name - I'm A. too, but I go by A.. I suffered GREATLY with the same problems you have when I nursed. It was so bad, that I would cry before I nursed. Since that time, I have been involved with a FANTASTIC research and development company that has many nutritional supplements (ALL natural based) that I know would probably help your pain.
Please call me for more information - ###-###-#### Home or ###-###-#### (cell #). You can email me also @ ____@____.com
God Bless,
A.
(SAHM w/ 3 beautiful children, ages 11,9,6 - homeschooled, and a husband working as a Nursing Home Administrator)

I agree with seeing a lactation consultant. I had the same issue, and found out that I had/have thrush, which Lansinoh only exhaserbates (sp?) Another girlfriend of mine had an infection, so I'd suggest getting checked out by a professional. Best of luck!!

A lot of cracking as to do with positioning at the breast and the baby's latch. If you've done this before, you should know that the baby should come to the breast with a WIDE OPEN mouth and take in much of the areola too. He needs to stay that way throughout the feeding. Also, you need to be supporting the breast. If you're not holding it up, it will sag slightly, causing him to suck harder to keep it in his mouth, adjust his latch, etc. They way you hold the baby is important too. I found the "crossover" hold to work best in the early days. You pillows or a boppy to help you support the baby so you can be sure to hold the breast.
Also, I am allergic to lanolin, so it did more harm than good. I actually used plain vaseline when I had some cracking issues. You have to use it AFTER the feeding though because it makes you slippery!

It sounds bad enough that you might want to track down a lactation consultant. Plano Lactation Consultants is ###-###-#### They might be able to help you over the phone.

Once you've taken care of your immediate need, there are tons of good nursing books out there that address cracked nipples and other problems. I liked "The Nursing Mother's Companion."

Well, since you've had 2 other children already, I'm assuming positioning isn't the issue. (When I had my son, nobody told me he should be belly to belly with me, so I nursed him facing up and that was AGONY!!!)

Otherwise, you might try pumping on the most severe side for a day or two just to let it heal and then switching. Keep using the lansinoh in the meantime. Or, if you do decide to pump, you could use a little neosporin or orajel on your nipple to alleviate some of the pain.

Hope you find some relief!!

A.,

Hang in there. You can do it. It is just a matter of getting past the part of breaking in the nipples. I may take a week or two. I had a shorter breaking in period with my most recent baby. Along with the Lansinoh try placing bags of frozen peas on your breast after nursing for some comfort. Also if you can after applying the ointment sit topless to allow some air to get to your nipples. I also used some cool compresses I found at Walgreens. They were very soothing.

You can do it. I know it is painful now but you and I know that pain will go away and your baby will have the mommie's milk.

A.,

If you can, in addition to the lansinoh, walk around with no top or bra on...the air is healing to your nipples. I can sympathize with you, I went through the same thing with my son and my husband felt the same way, but I was determined to breastfeed my child and after a few months it was like second nature and the pain and cracking was gone away. Hope this helps!

I'm so sorry you're in pain. I'm not going to be popular here, but I've been through what you're going through and my "advice" is this:

Any time you spend breastfeeding is valuable. Don't make the mistake of putting so much emphasis on breastfeeding that you are in pain or discomfort. Your husband may just be right. If it hurts, stop - your son has received 8 weeks of your breastmilk consider it a gift. Yes, there are lotions, potions, lactation consultants and all manner of tips and tricks that you can do in order to continue breastfeeding and if you choose to follow any of those paths, good for you. But, IT IS OK TO STOP BREASTFEEDING, without feeling guilty.

I had to stop breastfeeding at 5 weeks. I was devastated and felt guilty. My son's pediatrician gave me the best gift. He pointed out that any breastmilk is positive and that if my breastfeeding was painful, stressful, or I had to work at it then I should stop. I had to do what was best for both me and the baby. Yes, you can "get through it", but it shouldn't be a chore. As Moms we have enough chores!

Good luck, no matter what you decide.

THE BABY IS NOT LATCHING ON CORRECTLY! Call Kay - (the lactation consultant who responded with her number) Let her help!!!!! I promise you, with a good latch, the cracking WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!!!

I nursed 3 children, (ages 3,4, & 7 now). With the first one I had the same issues you are having. I kept being told by my lactation consultant that my baby wasn't "latching on" correctly. As far as I was concerned she was. Finally, when I was just about to give up - with assistance, she began latching on correctly (oh, we really were doing it wrong). If your baby does not have the WHOLE aerola in his mouth, gently pry your pinky into the side of his mouth to release his suction and start over. Do this as many times as you need to - it will be frustrating at first for you both but don't give up! YOu may need to gently hold your breast and give an easy shove when he opens his mouth. :o) I had to try this numerous times and finally after 8-10 times it worked. (even gagged the little stinker a couple of times :o) Make sure the babies lips are not tucked up inside his mouth. Then continue to use the lanolin between feedings. Also, do not use soap on your breasts until they heal. Only water to wash them.

Good Luck

I did not have this problem but a friend of mine did. This may sound strange but she said it worked. She went to a coworkers home party for adult themed items. Well she bought a nipple balm from them that is used for foreplay. But, the sales lady told her its good for cracked nipples while breastfeeding. She was a little skeptical but she tried it and it worked very well for her. It is called "bosom buddy" it was a Pure Romance party. She told me that they do have a website were you can order if you do not know somemone hosting a party or selling it.

Has your doctor ruled out the possibility of a yeast infection in the nipple? Cracks very easily lead to this. I had this a couple of times, exactly like you are describing. It's definitely no fun! Over the counter Lotromin takes care of it usually in a matter of days. Plus, taking acidopholis (sp?), which is found in any vitamin shop, will help your body reject the yeast. You can even give it to your baby. It really does help (I'm proof!).
SO sorry you have to go through this! Hang in there! God bless.

I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given. But if it worked for me and others maybe it will work for you too. I got help from a lactation consultant too. Best $$ spent!

Evan had a hard time learning how to latch on properly and I had one side that always bothered me (and sometimes still does after 10 months). When it got painful I would give it at least 24 hours rest from nursing and kept Lansinoh ointment on it. I nursed Evan on one side and pumped the other on a low suction setting so it didn't hurt. Then after 24 hours I went back to nursing him on both sides but I used a nipple shield on the sore side (if the sore side still hurts w/a nipple shield I'd give it longer, it only took me 24 hours to feel better). The nipple shield is also good for helping them to learn how to latch on correctly. Then when it isn't sore anymore you can go back to regular nursing. In the future when you feel it start to get sore give it a break before it gets bad. I never got lopsided or had problems w/milk drying up.

Good luck and hang in there. It gets easier and it is so much easier than bottles in the night. I've done it both ways with Evan.