mum2be.ie - Pregnancy and Baby Forums

[firsttimer]

I need some help, i was breastfeeding successfully for the first four days but my nipples got very sore and cracked so i had to get nipple shields which worked great for a day and then my boobs stopped releasing milk and baby couldnt feed. i was told by the public health nurse to get a pump and see if that helped but i only got one oz out of each boob and i havent been able to get any more out in a day, im very sore and swollen and have baby on formula, any ideas how i can help this problem??

[soexcited]

i had the same problem...
ok so apply heat to ur boob and massage them, try use the pump then.... put in a good amount of time.... when your finished apply ice (i wet breast pads and froze them)....
apply lanolin (or any nipple cream) to ur nipples and put the nipple shields on to help keep the cream on.. put cream on them too before showers to prevent water getting into the cracks. When your trying to use the pump take deep breaths and relax ur shoulders to help the let down, if your tense nothing will come out. It might help to look at the baby when trying to express.

[soexcited]

Just want to add that I dont envy u, this is awful 4 u, i cried a lot when this happened!!!! but once u get past this its much easier.. keep going, the heat will help the milk come out... as soon as ur nipples are a bit better put the baby on, the more he uses them the better they get shape-wise. Make sure the baby is positioned well and that a large amount of the nipple is in his mouth.

[firsttimer]

his position seems to be crap, he doesnt take enough of the aerole into is mouth and ends up just sucking the nipple which is very sore, ill try him again in a few days but if i can express ill just stick to that

[soexcited]

his position seems to be crap, he doesnt take enough of the aerole into is mouth and ends up just sucking the nipple which is very sore, ill try him again in a few days but if i can express ill just stick to that

Yeh dont put it off too much if it is what you want to do....as soon as his position is better the pain will go away.. try make your nipple flat when its going into his mouth, if you put heat on it just before he fees itl be easy to do that... also make sure its not too full before you feed, it could all be too much for his little mouth. I'd a really bad start to the breastfeeding and its very off putting but its fixable, dont get disheartened or down.

[soexcited]

any improvement??

[firsttimer]

i got three oz out yesterday but i think i have dried up, they dont feel full and no more pain just no milk

[soexcited]

Thats odd if you got milk out yesterday... maybe ask the nurse... you prob aren't letting down (thats the little bit of pain you get before the milk comes out each feed).

[firsttimer]

still no milk at all (maybe a drop or two) and no pain and i think i just stopped producing anythin, nurse said i was fine, she was with me today. i pumped each breast for over half an hour with her and there was nothing at all there. i think i dried up because i wasnt able to pump as much as was necessary due to tiredness and running around for the business and after a 6yr old

[soexcited]

Sure not to worry, you tried your best.... so long as you've a happy healthy baby then go with what works for you

[firsttimer]

thanks hun, i was kinda dissappointed i failed but once babs is doing well it should all be grand

[soexcited]

thanks hun, i was kinda dissappointed i failed but once babs is doing well it should all be grand

No you didnt fail, these things happen... I dont think people know just how hard it is...

[firsttimer]

is it normal soexcited for my nipples still to be so sore and cracked, i have the lanolin on them but they seem to be getting worse rather than better

[soexcited]

is it normal soexcited for my nipples still to be so sore and cracked, i have the lanolin on them but they seem to be getting worse rather than better

O im not sure... could you have mastitis?? when mine got sore I put the cream on them and then put the nipple shields on to stop them rubbing off my clothes, did you try that?

[firsttimer]

right not to be gross or anything but my nipples seem to be gone all scabby and the scabs are falling off and my nipples look like new again but are still sore and tender, i have the public health nurse again on tuesday so ill ask her