HELP! with breastfeeding-painful latching on!!!

[Laur_250]

Ok so to sum the situation up.....

Reggie was 4 weeks ealy and wouldnt latch on, tried for 2 days in SCBU before agreeing to bottle feed formula so we could go home and keep trying exressing til my milk came in. Milk in on day 4 and from then he was exclusively bottle fed my milk. Then descovered nipple shields and was able to get him on breast using them and now finally have managed to get him just on breast at 6 weeks old

BUT................

MY GOD IT HURTS!! Ive looked at al the diagrams and followed them correctly starting him with nose at nipple level waiting for mouth to open and putting it in as fast/far as possible but he ends up sucking hard then coming off as he doesnt like it and he will only do it when he is comfertable (prob due to being more like the teats he's used to) which hurts for me but he will stay on! So I keep trying beleive me but its a case of him not staying on and me being comfertable or him doing it well but it hurting me at first!!! Ive not got HV visits now so cant ask for help.

I really dont wana go back to always using shields if i dont have to and at the moment its making me wanna give it up as its so painful for the 1st minute or two.

Any ideas how to help the problem???xxx

 

[loz]

It is painful for a while - I found that Lansinoh cream was the best to help with sore nips, it is about £10 but lasts for ages and is well worth it. Welldone! You've done so well.

 

[abcd1234]

It will hurt for a while, but it WILL get better, Tally has never let me follow the rules and push her on when she opens her mouth, she likes to do it herself and sucks on my nipples sometimes instead of taking it in her mouth.

You've done so well to get where you are, and i genuinely mean that, most people would have just continued bottle feeding after you're tiem in hospital.

I would recomend just continuing, and maybe trying creams, i cant help with them though as i never used them.

 

[andreag]

The let down can be painful at first - i used to go through my labour breathing exercises as I think it gets worse if you tense up - but honestly it does get better!
I would try and find a local breastfeeding support group where someone will be able to check your latch (just in case this is the cause of the pain) and give you someone to moan to if you need it. If there isn't anything locally, there should be an expect somewhere within your MW/HV team. My latch wasn't great at the start and I used a lanolin (sp?) cream - Boots own lable which was great and lasts for ever. I used to think even when it was uncomfortable, it was at least still better than burning off the equivilant number of calories in the gym.

 

[Laur_250]

Thanks everyone, I actually have the lansinoh cream but I didnt think to use it yet as I assumed it was the latch that was causing the pain but maybe it is partly due to sore nipples

It does only hurt the 1st couple mins then feels ok so maybe his latch is ok, I cant imagine how else I can get him to do it. Will try the cream to see if it helps......

Quick question to anyone who uses the cream:

I used it once while expressing and when I rubbed it into nipples they strated dripping with milk, prob from the stimulation, whens the best time to put it on??xx

 

[fothers]

I used to put it on after each feed when she was little- good luck

 

[purple13]

hon, i'm positive it will get better for you!! but if it didn't get better, is there a reason why you wouldn't use nipple shields again? i use shields full time - they were my saviour when connor couldn't latch on properly. i stopped using them for a bit but got nipple blanching and the pain radiated all the way across my boobs. so i started using the shields all the time again and here i am 6 months later

midna used to describe the pain as like a swarm of bees stinging your nipples, but it does get better with time - usually when you swear you're going to give up and formula feed stick with the lansinoh, rub boob milk into your nipples too, and give them lots of fresh air!

 

[Laur_250]

hon, i'm positive it will get better for you!! but if it didn't get better, is there a reason why you wouldn't use nipple shields again? i use shields full time - they were my saviour when connor couldn't latch on properly. i stopped using them for a bit but got nipple blanching and the pain radiated all the way across my boobs. so i started using the shields all the time again and here i am 6 months later

midna used to describe the pain as like a swarm of bees stinging your nipples, but it does get better with time - usually when you swear you're going to give up and formula feed stick with the lansinoh, rub boob milk into your nipples too, and give them lots of fresh air!

I dont mind the shields they definately helped me breastfeed in the 1st place and I actually assumed that I'd be using them full time too not thinking I'd be able to get him to change, so if the pain doesn't improve I will definately go back to using them rather than give up for now, but hopefully the cream will make it a bit easier as that means no sterilising! xx

 

[purple13]

I dont mind the shields they definately helped me breastfeed in the 1st place and I actually assumed that I'd be using them full time too not thinking I'd be able to get him to change, so if the pain doesn't improve I will definately go back to using them rather than give up for now, but hopefully the cream will make it a bit easier as that means no sterilising! xx

i'll probably get lots of for saying this but i don't (and haven't for a long time) sterilise my shields - i wash them thoroughly in hot water after each use. IMHO its perfectly adaquate - i think most people know my opinion on sterilising anyway, i've said it here a few times

hope it works without them for you though hon, cos the shields are a bit of a faff - especially at connor's age when he considers them as another toy to be waved around

 

[Laur_250]

I dont mind the shields they definately helped me breastfeed in the 1st place and I actually assumed that I'd be using them full time too not thinking I'd be able to get him to change, so if the pain doesn't improve I will definately go back to using them rather than give up for now, but hopefully the cream will make it a bit easier as that means no sterilising! xx

i'll probably get lots of for saying this but i don't (and haven't for a long time) sterilise my shields - i wash them thoroughly in hot water after each use. IMHO its perfectly adaquate - i think most people know my opinion on sterilising anyway, i've said it here a few times

hope it works without them for you though hon, cos the shields are a bit of a faff - especially at connor's age when he considers them as another toy to be waved around

I dont always either I dont think its that bad as they only touch the milk and have no creases germs can hide in so I agree there! But its still nice to not have to get up to wash them so I have enough for the next feed! And I know what you mean, Reggie sometimes hits the shield off and it can be very frustrating when you've just got up to feed them and put it on and they just hit it straight off!xx

 

[Laur_250]

It will hurt for a while, but it WILL get better, Tally has never let me follow the rules and push her on when she opens her mouth, she likes to do it herself and sucks on my nipples sometimes instead of taking it in her mouth.

You've done so well to get where you are, and i genuinely mean that, most people would have just continued bottle feeding after you're tiem in hospital.

I would recomend just continuing, and maybe trying creams, i cant help with them though as i never used them.

Would you say that it doesnt hurt so much for you now even if Tallys on the nipple sucking Clare??

Its just I've tried the cream and it still hurt at the next feed to strart with but I'm hoping like you say it gets better after time as at least if there's hope I wont feel so bad! I've only been doing it a few days so far.xx

 

[Sherlock]

Hmm I was trying to work out how you are holding him to get him on to your boob. I went for LO lying sideways when on my left boob and then lifting him up and on so my nipple was point to the roof of his mouth. If on my right boob I went for the rugby ball hold and he was well under my boob and so his latch was great as my nipple went to the back and roof of his mouth.

Might want to try experimenting with positions for feeding as sometimes one position works better than others.

Also try to ensure his mouth is well rounded over it. Its hard to explain but it'll feel different when the mouth is open wide and around it fully. You can try gently rubbing his cheek with your finger or nipple to encourage him to root around to look for your nipple each time. Its instinctive and he should hopefully do this, if so his mouth will be more likely to open wider and you can angle your nipple in better. Also the hold on the back of the head can make a difference. I used to have to get OH to help me on the left boob in the early days. After a week or so LO and I both got the hang of it better and he was fine on his own.

 

[Bloom]

Im afraid to say that i dont think there is anything (i never found it) that will take away that toe curling pain of the let down but it WILL go very soon you will probaly just have to ride it out. The cream works wonders for sore/cracked nips and i also used to put it on after a feed. It may be worth getting someone to check you have your latch but it sounds like your doing fine.

You have done brillantly to keep up with the breast feeding/expressing you should be very proud of yourself.

 

[Sherlock]

Im afraid to say that i dont think there is anything (i never found it) that will take away that toe curling pain of the let down but it WILL go very soon you will probaly just have to ride it out. The cream works wonders for sore/cracked nips and i also used to put it on after a feed. It may be worth getting someone to check you have your latch but it sounds like your doing fine.

I never had any let down pain at all. I used to have boobs full to busting but it never hurt when I fed. Not even in the early weeks. I know I was lucky in that my boobs held up well and it was all really easy for me and LO as he took to it like a duck to water. I didn't realise that the let down could be so painful also Cracked/sore nipples and so on but let down. Blimey.

 

[Charlie:-)]

Well done so far you are doing really well.

Some great advice here and I dont have much to add to help your latch problem most things have already been said, but can definitely vouch for Lansinoh.

Also this may or may not help but my midwife told me to put a cushion behind me when I fed and reminded me to sit back and relax rather than leaning forward and wincing my shoulders. I know its hard when its so painful but by being relaxed it actually helped with the pain.

Good luck, it will get better soon.

 

[Laur_250]

Thanks everyone I'll keep trying different positions but so far it hurts whatever just as the milk comes through, hopefully my nipples will start to toughen up soon and i'll keep trying the cream!xx