Breast Feeding & Sore Nipples- Advice?

Counting_Pennies_2

My first advice as the others have said is don't give up, it is hard but worth it a few weeks later.

My husband kept me going just by reminding me that it will get better and to remember the advice from the NCT.

Firstly the best sore nipple cream on the market for me is Lansinoh (I think it is spelt that way) it is fairly new and your healthvisitor should hopefully have some samples. If not they definitely sell them in Boots and Mothercare. It was fantastic stuff (Lanolin based) and I swear by it. I layered it on after every feed (you don't have to wipe it off before feeding).

Does your hospital offer a breast feeding clinic? Where are you based? They are definitely worth going to, I went to the one at Reading hospital and returned several times. They watch how you feed and recommend other ways. I lost it with the actual hospital staff, and having been in for a C section, had five days of conflicting advice from midwives on positions. I went to the clinic, run by various breastfeeding volunteer groups and they were fantastic. They were a real help.

The NCT are also great for just talking to you and suggesting new ideas.

One thing that they suggested was to sit in a warm bath and immerse your breasts in the water and sit there with a hand held expresser and just pump until the milk flows.

For me breast feeding was the best thing I could have done. I am not looking to start a debate. I really had no expectations of breast feeding and felt convinced I would bottle feed. The first two weeks are the worst and then it does get better.

The one thing that two different volunteers said to me was, what did people do before formula milk was invented, people continued trying until it established itself. For me there was an element of truth in that. After 12 hours a midwife suggested I put my son on formula, and I really thought that would be that, but with the support of my husband and the two main voluntary groups I got there and now six months on I am still feeding him for the majority of the day, just started to add a few bottles a day due to a medical issue of my own and I don't want to give up for a while yet as the bond I have is fab!

Another bit of advice would be to get your wife to express and offer to feed the expressed milk to your baby on one of the night feeds to give her a break and a chance for you to bond with baby some more.

Sorry to ramble I know you are getting loads of fab advice here.

Hope it helps

jay_newbie

congratulations on the birth of your very beautiful daughter on the subject of breast feeding have you tried cabbage leaves try savoy cabbage cut the leaves at thre stalk put them in the freezer for couple of hours then onto breast i tried it when i was breast feeding as anything cold was a bonus my midwife told me there was something in cabbage that was soothing it's worth a try congratulations and all the the best ;D ;D ;D

Poppy9

Congratulations on your daughters arrival.

Agree you just need to perserve with Breastfeeding. I was sore and tired after an emergency C-Section and received no support in hospital (they just offered me a bottle). A pregnant friend who had read every book etc in readiness turned up with her silicon nipple shields. Didn't take the pain away completely but made feeding bearable after the first toe curling minute! (ask your wife if her toes curl up!). When I went home midwife fantastic. Told me to only use the shield for the first 2 minutes of the feed if I could as the baby would get use to teat like suckling. Anyway tried this and after two days didn't need them at all. Then enjoyed months of free and easy travel with babe and boob.

Remember bottle feeding is not an easier alternative. Its more work for you (yes you the man) as you will be nagged to wash and steralise the bottles Pleaaaaaaaase and seen as you are in the kitchen could you make up 6 bottles. Also you will have to get up at night to warm a bottle - that's if you remembered to make one because your wife will be exhausted looking after the little one :P

Us ladies know all the tricks of getting out of the more boring jobs - you will never work so hard.

Enjoy

ac

hi & congratulations to your both.

i fed both of my kids, tell your wife DONT give up,

yes i remember the (toe curling moments!!) but it is worth it in the end if she really wants to do this.

have used the 'nipples' sheilds, and yes i did get some relief.

she just has to 'grind' her teeth and bare with it.


just make sure baby is 'latching' on properly

i wish her good luck :-*


the pain WILL ease

RL

Congratulaions!
I was in exactly the same situation 2 weeks ago and feeling very desperate due to the pain. I have seen several midwives and a lactation expert and as well as all the other tips which have been listed the thing that made the difference for me was making sure the baby's head is slightly tilted back and bring it to the breast (not breast to baby) so the chin should touch your breast first and get as much nipple & areola a possible aimed up towards the roof of baby's mouth (use the hand on the side you are feeding on to do this) The 30 secs or so may still hurt but rest of feed should not really hurt. This pain at the beginning does ease off with time - I'm 4 weeks in now and it's definitely better.
Also if breasts are really full it's hard to get a good amount of breast in baby's tiny mouth so express some off first to soften them up.
Lansinoh cream is fantastic for cracked nipples - £10 ish so try to get it on prescription - I did.

Good luck
RL

sce37

Congratulations on baby Asha.  My beautiful baby has turned 16 today!! Time does fly but this post did bring back memories of those difficult first few days of adapting to a new baby.  And yes I felt the breast feeding  very very painful at first.  Latching on is the worst bit.   But perserve, it will get easier within a week.

And think of all those bottles that you won't have to make up every day and warm up if she keeps at it, and the sleep that you will get at night (unless of course she expresses a bottle for you to give baby during the night so she gets a rest too)!

babydaisy

Hiya

Jst wanted to add my bit to all the great advice - I breastfed my baby for over 2 years & will do the same with the next - it's the cheapest & easiest way once you get the hang of it but the first 6 weeks are really hard. Then suddenly it gets really easy so tell your wife to persevere.

I used Kamillosan and also the topless after a feed advice & also breastmilk is supposed to be really good as well so I would rub that around my nipples after a feed as well.

Hope it all goes well - good nutrition & plenty of rest are essential for good milk supply so make sure that she isn't trying to diet or overdo things - the houseowrk can wait. Look after her as it can be an exhausting time - good support from loved ones is essential in preventing post natal depression.

CurryKing_2

Hey Guys,

MANY MANY Thanks for all your advice so far. Just to give you an update, My Wife had a bit of a low point this morning :-[ :-[ :-[ and she was really upset about the feeding as her nipples actualy got worse - she was actually dreading little Baby Asha waking up to feed.

Anyway she stuck with it through all the pain and continued feeding and i printed off these pages with all your fantastic advice.

She read them and felt soooooo much better knowing she's not the only one going through this and she's decided that Breast is Best.

She will stick with it knowing it can only get better right? Well thats her new attitude.

I'm off to Tescos know to buy a cabbage, unfortunatly the frozen peas didnt work as found it stung her wee nips. She will also try a warm cloth too.

Anyway guys i cant thank you enough for your wonderful advice.

I'll give you an update soon.

ps Asha is great!

Neil, Dips and Baby Asha

mjk_2

Well done to your missus for keeping at it. I promise if she can just get through these early days she will be so glad she persevered. So long as there is no pain feeding your baby is just LOVELY - and if she's anything like me she won't want to stop!!

divadee

As posted above cabbage leaves are the best. I would put the leaves (which are conveniently boob shaped ;D) in the freezer and then wear them overnight. It not only stope sore nipples but sore breasts as well. It is heaven when i woke up in the morning to no longer having sore bits.

It does sound stramge but cheap to do and really does work.

Congrats on the baby hope she is a good girl