Hello mammas! I know this may seem a little bit of too much information, but I really need some help! My son is almost two weeks now and exclusively breastfed. My question is, my left nipple is extremely cracked and isn't getting any better! With my first son, at about two weeks the soreness and cracking went away, but this time it feels just as bad as in the beginning! I dread having my baby latch onto this side! The other side is better and hardly hurts at all when he latches on! I am using lanolin everytime he eats and actually pretty much all the time! Do any of you have suggestions on what worked for you? I am really trying not to stop breastfeeding on that side because I don't want my supply to go down in that boob! I appreciate any advice!
I had a reltive that was alergic to lanilon, so had to get a vitiman A&D cream and that helped very much.
I, too, recommend seeing a lactation consultant right away. Your sweet baby may be latching on well enough on one side but may not have a proper latch on the sore breast. The lactation consultant can help you to solve any latching problem. In the meantime, make sure your baby is opening wide when he latches. Remove him if he is not and try again. You might also try a different position, like the football hold. It also might help to keep using the lanolin, but let that breast get some air for a few hours. A lot of women have this same problem, but they usually go on to BF successfully. Get some hands on help from someone. Good luck!
You need to see a lactation consultant or talk to a local La Leche League leader. The cracking and soreness is due to the baby not latching on properly. I had that problem with my first child and I know the pain. I ended up pumping for two weeks, but that made things worse as my milk supply decreased. My salvation was a La Leche League meeting that I attended when my baby was 6 weeks - my husband just happened to run into a friend at a local gas station and they were talking about how I and the baby were doing. That friend called and dragged me to the meeting and at the end one of the leaders helped me dramatically improve my sons latching - he just wasn't opening his mouth wide enough. So, when he didn't I would not let him nurse - we would just try again. By 8 weeks, he knew the words "open wide" ;) So, please don't delay getting help - the problem can be solved!
I had the same problem and a lactation consultant told me to use a nipple shield until my nipple healed. You can get them at Target for $6.99. They are right where you find breast pumps. It worked like a charm and I hardly felt any pain at all. However, your child will not get as much milk from that side while you wear the shield. But, it is better than you being in a lot of pain that your child will sense and have a hard time feeding on that side anyway. The consultant told me that as my nipple started to feel better, to start with the shield and then remove it mid-feed. My nipple was feeling better in a matter of days. It also forces your child to really open up his mouth when he feeds. Hope this helps.
I too had this problem! It sucks! My lactation consultant checked my dd and I and by the time I had consulted her, we were latching properly, so I had to get a nipple shield. It was a life saver!!! I wholeheartedly recommend it!! Good luck!
OMG you poor thing!! I remember that! It was horrible until I found the nipple shield. It was my life saver and I tell all new mommies friends about it. I didn't use it every time my daughter nursed so I knew she could still latch and suck on that side. I would use it probably every other time so it could act like a bandaid. They also have these geat gel cooling pads. I would keep them cold in the fridge and put them on in between nursing. They were very soothing. Good luck, and I promise that with those it will be like night and day!
