breastfeeding cream, which one to buy?

gemmaj

Midwife told me camillosan had an ingrediant derived from peanuts. Not sure if that could possibly be true though - there is no warnings on the box. I bought lansinoh and would recommend that, but maybe just go with the free sample from health visitors - you don't need much!

If it helps, some people get no pain at all, and most people find the pain doesn't last long (I was told "the first 6 weeks its easier to formula feed, after that its easier to breastfeed" and I would agree with that!). Stick with it, its worth it!

Gingham_Ribbon

If the baby is latching on properly and positioned correctly there won't be any soreness. I had none at all with my second because I could hold him, but I had terrible trouble with my first because I couldn't lift him and had to feed him lying on my back with him beside me on a pillow. My midwife recommended a lanolin based cream to cope which did help a little but I found counting to 10 at the start of a feed helped because I knew after about 10 seconds the pain went away.

No discomfort at all once I was well enough to sit properly when I was feeding him.

foreversomeday

gemmaj wrote: »

I was told "the first 6 weeks its easier to formula feed, after that its easier to breastfeed" and I would agree with that!

That sounds pretty accurate to me from what I have heard. However just thought I'd add in case someone is confused - once you have started bottle feeding you can't usually switch to breastfeeding as if the baby doesn't suckle, the milk will stop being produced.

Anyway in answer to the original question, I have heard that kamillosan used to be recommended but is considered old fashioned now, and that lasinoh is the best cream on the market at the moment - but only to use it if you have a problem, it won't work to pre-empt pain. If you want to try a more natural approach your own breast milk is supposed to be really helpful.

Also as others have mentioned if you are getting sore it's probably a latch problem, so ask a breastfeeding counsellor if you can. If they don't help it's always worth seeing another.

ETA: If you are considering breastfeeding but worried about the pain and soreness, it would definitely be worth seeing a breastfeeding counsellor before the birth. They can go through the basics with you and give you the most up to date advice on the different creams etc as well. Put your postcode into the NCT site to see what is available in your area as they have been really helpful for me so far - our antenatal classes even have a breastfeeding workshop and Dads are invited too which I thought was unusual but a supportive partner is supposed to be the most helpful thing for breastfeeding successfully.
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/in-your-area/branch-finder

NBirdy

Another recommendation for the purple tube of Lansinoh (about £10 but worth every penny!). I would not have persevered with breastfeeding my two without it, and the tube seems never-ending. I use it now to clear up dribble rash on the little one's chin, on myself for any chapped skin etc. It's fab stuff

tsstss7

Definately lanisoh - the HV gave me samples as I was in agony and about to give up on bfeeding and I'm still b'feeding now at 9mths. I still have occasional pain when I get sloppy (feeding in bed lying down to get more sleep!) but I know the lanisoh will help if need be....

hayleyc_2

NBirdy wrote: »

Another recommendation for the purple tube of Lansinoh (about £10 but worth every penny!)

Yet another vote for the Lansinoh! I used it after the midwife's recommendation, and found it worked really well. It definitely didn't put my baby off feeding, and it really soothed the soreness. It lasts for ages, and you can use it for other things too. I've put it on my baby's sore chin, and also when he had a bit of nappy rash. It's quite expensive, so I'd agree with the other person who said send your partner out to get it if it's needed rather than buying it just in case.

oystercatcher

Well, as a midwife I recommend plain petroleum jelly it's really cheap inert and harmless it works by sealing in the moisture and encouraging healing. Only use it if you have sore cracked nipples and if this happens get advice as this is caused by poor positioning during feeding as mentioned above.
The other thing to do is to rub in a little colostrum or milk at the end of the feed as this has healing antiseptic propeties.

Some babies can be allergic to lanolin so we were told to advise Mum's NOT to use anything lanolin based. I've had Mum's argue oh but it's natural so how can they be allergic to it ...well peanuts, eggs and milk are all natural and some people are allergic to them .

It's your choice, £10 on something your baby may be allergic to ..or 99p on something really simple and effective.

Oystercatcher

inkie

I'm a MW and advocate Expressed Breastmilk rubbed in if anything is needed, and plenty of fresh air. Cabbage leaves are soothing for engorgement, but a correct fixing of the baby of the breast will avoid any soreness.

moggylover

I'm with oystercatcher here - that £10.00 is an awful lot of money and sounds like a flaming good con rather than a necessity - lanolin allergy is pretty common and I would not use lanolin in anything - not on me and certainly not on a baby.

I actually used Kamillosan because my homoeopath had already told me about it, and we use it a lot as a healing and soothing cream for other problems. It was wonderful - and lots of us on the ward were very glad of it. It's available on prescription - but cheaper to buy in the shop - and the plus point is that you can also use Kamillosan as a botty cream to soothe any soreness or nappy rash.

CAE

inkie wrote: »

I'm a MW and advocate Expressed Breastmilk rubbed in if anything is needed, and plenty of fresh air. Cabbage leaves are soothing for engorgement, but a correct fixing of the baby of the breast will avoid any soreness.

That post brings back memories! I can remember being told to 'give nipples plenty of fresh air' and spent the first few weeks doing just that (in privacy of the bedroom) after each feed. I managed to successfully breastfeed my two for almost a year. I agree that the first 10 seconds of a feed were somwtimes painful, but that was usually because a feed was overdue. I used Kamillosan in my day if necessary, but it was 24 and 21 years ago.