So sore update

[Andrea S]

I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.

I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.

I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
pain tolerance.

Andrea feeling sad but never giving up.

[Sidheag McCormack]

Deep sympathy, BTDT. Here are a few things I remember:

- for me, pumping didn't help: the pump action was if anything worse for
the cracks than breastfeeding (and I couldn't let down well for the pump,
so wasn't getting enough to pump instead of feeding; come to think of it,
perhaps if I had let down it would have been less painful)

- ibuprofen helped a bit

- those gel pads that you chill helped a bit

- it did eventually heal!!

Good luck,

Sidheag
DS Colin Oct 27 2003

[Linz]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:36:41 GMT, "Andrea S"
> wrote:

>I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
>Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
>cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.

You poor thing! In between your nipples healing and her mouth growing
bigger, would nipple shields help? Or pumping a bit off, so that the
boob at least is smaller?
--
Linz
YB: 2 years, 11.5kg, 83cm, still breastfed.

[Mary W.]

Andrea S wrote:
> I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
> Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
> cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.
>
> I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
> renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
> soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.
>
> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.

Make sure you don't have thrush. With DD2 I had horribly cracked nipples
and she had an OK latch. Once I started treating for thrush, I was pain
free within a couple of days and the nipples healed up quick

Mary W.

[Plissken]

"Andrea S" > wrote in message
. uk...
>I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
>Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
>cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.
>
> I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
> renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
> soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.
>
> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.

How are you planning on giving her the EBM? Keep in mind that nipple
confusion is a possibility before 4 weeks old and your babe is only days
old. Giving her a bottle could potentially lead to even more problems.

[Cuddlefish]

Andrea S wrote:

> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.

For me, that equalled a staph infection in my nipples...

I also used a hospital grade pump for the first few weeks of DS's life
to get him milk while I healed. People went on about 'nipple confusion'
which my lactation doctor told me happens, but far more infrequently
than I needed to be concerned. In my case, my son's latch improved
[recessive jaw] and he has no problem switching from bottle to breast.

You'll get through this, Andrea!

Jacqueline

[Anne Rogers]

I tip someone gave me, can't remember where, was wiggling your toes at the
start of a feed, something about changing the way you feel what is happening
to your body, if I get full, I tend to get wierd shaped bulges on my
nipples, expressing doesn't work, they just refill, so I just have to grit
my teeth and get on with it, the wiggling my toes thing really helps,
bizarre though it sounds!

Anne

[Andrea S]

"Plissken" wrote in message...
>
> How are you planning on giving her the EBM? Keep in mind that nipple
> confusion is a possibility before 4 weeks old and your babe is only days
> old. Giving her a bottle could potentially lead to even more problems.

It's chance I have to take. She's milk in Haberman feeders. I have
successfully breastfed 5 children. These are no ordinary cracked nipples. I
can't just grit my teeth anymore, the pain gets worse, feels like I am being
stabbed in the nipple. The lactation specialist says no amount of
repositioning will help until Erin can fit more breast into her mouth. She
will be seeing a Cranio-osteopath soon.

I will give it my all, I am desperate to have her on my breast again, but
right now the pain is just too much.

Andrea.

[Andrea S]

"Mary W." >

> Make sure you don't have thrush. With DD2 I had horribly cracked nipples
> and she had an OK latch. Once I started treating for thrush, I was pain
> free within a couple of days and the nipples healed up quick
>
> Mary W.
>

I have had thrush many times. In this case it's poor position due to the
size of my breasts, and Erin being unable to get enough in. Hopefully as
Erin gets bigger we can get around this. She clamps the nipple against her
hard palet rather than her soft because the nipple doesn't get to her soft
palet.

Andrea.

[Andrea S]

"Linz" wrote in message

> You poor thing! In between your nipples healing and her mouth growing
> bigger, would nipple shields help? Or pumping a bit off, so that the
> boob at least is smaller?
> --
> Linz
>
I can't feed her at all now, I haven't tried nipple sheilds in years have
they improved any? Last time I found the painful area would be pulled
against the shield.

By persisting with the pain all I did was make it impossible to bear any
longer. Usually I can toughen up. I am pumping full time, then when healed
will feed her as many times as I can and stop before getting my nipples into
this state.

I am going crazy.. all I want to do is feed her myself. The best I can do is
know she is still 100% breastfed.

Andrea.

[Anne Rogers]

> stabbed in the nipple. The lactation specialist says no amount of
> repositioning will help until Erin can fit more breast into her mouth. She
> will be seeing a Cranio-osteopath soon.

did someone actually look at your latch? I think it would be very difficult
to say categorically that it's impossible for it to get better without her
growing without a detailed look at what is going on.

good for you for perservering though

Anne

[Andrea S]

"Cuddlefish" wrote in message ...

> For me, that equalled a staph infection in my nipples...
>
> I also used a hospital grade pump for the first few weeks of DS's life to
> get him milk while I healed. People went on about 'nipple confusion' which
> my lactation doctor told me happens, but far more infrequently than I
> needed to be concerned. In my case, my son's latch improved [recessive
> jaw] and he has no problem switching from bottle to breast.
>
> You'll get through this, Andrea!
>
> Jacqueline

I am willing to take the chance on nipple confusion.. it's either that or
switch to formula which I am not prepared to do. I am using Haberman feeders
and so far all is ok. I am going to keep going and can't wait to be able to
put this behind us.

Andrea and baby Erin Elizabeth.

[arachne]

"Anne Rogers" > wrote in message
...
>I tip someone gave me, can't remember where, was wiggling your toes at the
>start of a feed, something about changing the way you feel what is
>happening to your body, if I get full, I tend to get wierd shaped bulges on
>my nipples, expressing doesn't work, they just refill, so I just have to
>grit my teeth and get on with it, the wiggling my toes thing really helps,
>bizarre though it sounds!
>
> Anne

it's funny you say that. i automatically wiggled my toes when feeding when i
was having strong afterbirth pains to try & get through the pain.

--
elizabeth (in australia)
DS1 20th august 2002
DS2 26th September 2005

"In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul."
--Lisa T. Shepherd

[AT]

BTDT too. Good for you for hanging in there. The nipple shields helped alot
for me, as did gel pads and neosporin (antibiotic ointment) for the cracked
nipples. I truly think it was a size issue with my DD2. All of a sudden at 5
weeks it improved and she went on to nurse for 3 years!




"Andrea S" > wrote in message
. uk...
>I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
>Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
>cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.
>
> I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
> renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
> soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.
>
> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.
>
> Andrea feeling sad but never giving up.
>

[Jo]

Andrea S wrote:
> I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
> Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
> cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.
>
> I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
> renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
> soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.
>
> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.
>
> Andrea feeling sad but never giving up.
>
>
*HUGS* Andrea.

I know exactly how you feel. I didn't cry during labour (unmedicated
home water birth) but I sure as hell did while breast feeding in the
early weeks with my raw nipples. I too found that the nipple shields
made it worse.

Not doubting you or anything, but I just find it so hard to believe that
nature would get the sizing match so wrong with babies and breasts.
Have you let her suck on your finger to make sure her technique is ok?
Otherwise just make sure you keep the nipples really clean and moist
(not wet). Apply hindmilk after expressing, let that dry, then with a
very clean finger, put on some lanolin so you dont get scabs - now they
hurt!

*HUGS* again! You know its not forever, but damn it's disappointing in
the meantime.

Jo

[[email protected]]

Andrea S wrote:
> "Linz" wrote in message
>
> > You poor thing! In between your nipples healing and her mouth growing
> > bigger, would nipple shields help? Or pumping a bit off, so that the
> > boob at least is smaller?
> > --
> > Linz
> >
> I can't feed her at all now, I haven't tried nipple sheilds in years have
> they improved any? Last time I found the painful area would be pulled
> against the shield.

I used shields for a couple of days with ds and it allowed the huge
crater in one nipple to heal enough to use again. All the lansioh in
the workd wasn't healing this beauty. But they are pretty big. DS just
managed to get his mouth round them and was fine once there, but he did
keep slipping off. OTOH it was a billion times easier than formula and
EBM. Pumping made the nipple worse and hand expressing took forever. Ok
in the day but not for night. FWIW he didn't get nipple confusion but
some say it can happen. For me it was worth the risk to maintain
bf'ing.

> By persisting with the pain all I did was make it impossible to bear any
> longer. Usually I can toughen up. I am pumping full time, then when healed
> will feed her as many times as I can and stop before getting my nipples into
> this state.

I feel for you. I was able to bf through the smaller cracks and scabs
but this was a big red wound that wasn't going to heal with constant
use so it was useless grittin my teeth through the pain if it wasn't
going to help.

> I am going crazy.. all I want to do is feed her myself. The best I can do is
> know she is still 100% breastfed.

Absolutley. Goo dluck, I hope you find something to help.

Jeni

[[email protected]]

Andrea S > writes:
: I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
: Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
: cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.

: I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
: renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
: soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.

: I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
: crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
: pain tolerance.

: Andrea feeling sad but never giving up.

Be sure and check for thrush. Sometimes it can be unsymptomatic
except for the cracked nipples.

Larry

[oregonchick]

"Andrea S" > wrote in message
. uk...
>I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
>Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
>cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.
>
> I did buy a mini-electric which isn't enough for full time pumping so am
> renting a hospital grade pump from them and will pump every feed. Once
> soreness has healed will breastfeed Erin for some of the feeds.
>
> I have never felt pain so bad, even Lansinoh isn't helping. I have a huge
> crack in each nipple, I couldn't bear the pain anymore and I have a high
> pain tolerance.
>
> Andrea feeling sad but never giving up.

Andrea, you're freaking me out!!! When I had my daughter (8 yrs ago) I
tried to breastfeed and failed miserably - partly because I was young and
didn't have a very supportive environment. This time around, by god, I am
determined to bf for at least 9 mos. But these horror stories of cracking,
pain, bleeding, misery, are scaring the hell out of me! I already have my
Medela pump in style ready to go, but I sooo want to be successful at this
this time around.

Good luck to you.

Betsy

[oregonchick]

"Anne Rogers" > wrote in message
...
>I tip someone gave me, can't remember where, was wiggling your toes at the
>start of a feed, something about changing the way you feel what is
>happening to your body, if I get full, I tend to get wierd shaped bulges on
>my nipples, expressing doesn't work, they just refill, so I just have to
>grit my teeth and get on with it, the wiggling my toes thing really helps,
>bizarre though it sounds!
>
> Anne

Perhaps in mild pain. I'd say in Andrea's case wiggling the toes isn't
going to cut it!
>
>

[Anne Rogers]

>
> Perhaps in mild pain. I'd say in Andrea's case wiggling the toes isn't
> going to cut it!

anything is worth trying once!

I wasn't really thinking of right now, but once things have healed a bit, it
might get Erin back to the breast a little sooner.

Anne

[Andrea S]

"oregonchick" wrote in message >

> Andrea, you're freaking me out!!! When I had my daughter (8 yrs ago) I
> tried to breastfeed and failed miserably - partly because I was young and
> didn't have a very supportive environment. This time around, by god, I am
> determined to bf for at least 9 mos. But these horror stories of
> cracking, pain, bleeding, misery, are scaring the hell out of me! I
> already have my Medela pump in style ready to go, but I sooo want to be
> successful at this this time around.
>
> Good luck to you.
>
> Betsy

Oh I am so sorry! Didn't mean to put you off. I am well on the mend.. after
a day of pumping my boobs have healed enough for me to feed her myself
again. I am amazed at how quickly they healed. I am now rolling a blanket
and putting it under my boob (the lactation advisors idea) so I can have
free hands to make sure Erin is latched on right. It takes quite a few goes
but touch wood no more cracks!

I thought I had it all covered after feeding 5 kids already, but these
things only make you stronger. If you are determined nothing will stop you.

Andrea & baby Erin Elizabeth 6 days old.

[Andrea S]

"Anne Rogers" wrote in message ...
> >
>> Perhaps in mild pain. I'd say in Andrea's case wiggling the toes isn't
>> going to cut it!
>
> anything is worth trying once!
>
> I wasn't really thinking of right now, but once things have healed a bit,
> it might get Erin back to the breast a little sooner.
>
> Anne

I actually stomp my foot lol! I am well on the mend, it's so nice to have
her back at the breast where she belongs.

Andrea.

[Chookie]

In article >,
"Andrea S" > wrote:

> I kept on trying to feed Erin. I rang the La Leche League for advice. Until
> Erin grows and can open her mouth wider this problem doesn't have a magic
> cure. She is trapping my nipple against her hard pallet.

I know exactly what you are going through, and hope it's the same problem I
had with DS1. He wouls start out with perfect latch, but let the nipple slowly
slip out of his mouth during the feed. I had to relatch him every time he
slipped, but after a week I could sense improvement and in 3 weeks was
pain-free.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"In Melbourne there is plenty of vigour and eagerness, but there is
nothing worth being eager or vigorous about."
Francis Adams, The Australians, 1893.

[Andrea S]

"Chookie" wrote in message >

> I know exactly what you are going through, and hope it's the same problem
> I
> had with DS1. He wouls start out with perfect latch, but let the nipple
> slowly
> slip out of his mouth during the feed. I had to relatch him every time he
> slipped, but after a week I could sense improvement and in 3 weeks was
> pain-free.
>
> --
> Chookie -- Sydney, Australia

That's exactly it, I am glad someone knows what I am talking about. I am not
pain free, but have healed enough now to feed her myself again. I had gotten
so sore that I had to pump for a day. Healed quickly though.

Andrea and baby Erin Elizabeth.

[Chookie]

In article >,
"Andrea S" > wrote:

> That's exactly it, I am glad someone knows what I am talking about. I am not
> pain free, but have healed enough now to feed her myself again. I had gotten
> so sore that I had to pump for a day. Healed quickly though.

Oh good!!!

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"In Melbourne there is plenty of vigour and eagerness, but there is
nothing worth being eager or vigorous about."
Francis Adams, The Australians, 1893.