Breastfeeding Help!

Hi S.,
You might try a hair dryer set on low. That helps a bit. I breastfed triplets and I had that experience as well.
All the best,
A.

I also had trouble with breastfeeding because my nipples were slightly inverted. I had to use a breast shield while breastfeeding for quite a few months so that my son could latch on. Eventually I was able to stop using it all together and my son breastfed for over a year. Good luck, don't get frustrated! It will take patience and a lot of hard work, but I think it will work. Oh yah, I found that the only place you can get breast shields besides the hospital is at Target.

Neosporin! That is how my nipples got too with my little one but after I put neosporin on them for a while they got better and never cracked again!

I can honestly say that there wasn't a day in the first three months of nursing that I didn't want to quit. But I stuck with it and ended up nursing my daughter for 13-months.

Anyway, I had similar problems and it turned out that she had a great latch, but throughout the course of nursing, she'd slowly slip down the breast tissue and by the end had very little of the areola. As soon as I made sure to hold her closely to me and that she didn't move (she had a tendency to start on her side and end up on her back) then it made a world of difference in as little as 24 hrs.

Obviously I don't know if that the issue you are having, but if you notice that maybe that's what your son is doing, it just helps to keep a close eye on little things like that.

Don't give up yet! It does get easier. Congrats on the new baby.

Try calling a lactation consultant, maybe the baby isn't latching on quite right and that is what may be causing some of it. The La Leche legue is a good resource.

Best of luck

S.,
It does hurt, I remember! I used cold cabbage leaves inside my bra to minimize the pain between feedings. Like others suggested, meet with a lactation specialist to make sure your son has the correct latch; most of the aerola, not just the nipple. Breast shields are great too. It does get better, with proper technique and lansinoh cream. Hang in there.

Make sure that you use the lanolin every time you nurse. Give it another two to three weeks, mostly it just takes time. All the books say that if you are doing it right it shouldn't hurt, but that is a big load of......

When breast-feeding your son make sure that his mouth is all the way around not just the nipple but also as much of the areola as possible. Breast-feeding shouldn't hurt, so if it does stick your finger in the corner of his mouth to gently break the suction as not to further damage your nipples. Hope this helps.

Hi, I have nursed all of my 6 children. They now are 6 to 18. With nursing there is a definite learning curve which shortens with each baby. I had dryness with each but it wasn't until my 6th baby did I have the cracking and bleeding. Not fun. It does get better with continued nursing. What worked the best was "BAG BALM". It is in a green tin can with a cow on one side in most drug stores. It started off being the ointment farmers would put on cow utters for the same thing. It works well on breasts. Before nursing I would wash with a warm wash cloth and then reapply after nursing. I even used it on my babies after each changing. Keeps diaper rash away. It is great stuff. Now I use it for cracked heals or dry spots on skin.
Nursing is a wonderful time to bond. I hope you can continue. Remember babies aren't little alarm clocks, feed on demamd. You'll have a happier baby. Good luck. K.

It will get better! I was sore (the kind of sore where you hold your breath for the first 30 seconds when he latches on) for a while with my son, and it wasn't until around 2 months that it got to where it didn't hurt any more. Take comfort in that it won't last forever! I didn't really find anything that helped with the cracking when he wasn't nursing, but I've heard that Vitamin E is good, as long as you don't use too much and wipe it off before you actually nurse.

How long are you allowing him to stay on the breast each time? My pediatrician told me 5 minutes on each breast was sufficient for baby to get a good feeding (as long as they nurse every 3 hours). I have 5 sons and used that timeframe with each with good success.

For extra comfort suckling - offer a pacifier.

Hang in there, they will toughen up and the soreness will go away in time : )

I use cabbage leaves when it hurts. You have no idea how good they feel because they are cold and they cup your breast perfectly. Make sure you wash them though, and don't use red cabbage because they can stain your clothes (if you're wearing them). I didn't really crack or bleed though, it was just for when they were sore. good luck

It will get better, and you're doing the right things. Don't let soap get on your nipples when you shower because that can dry them out. If it is extremely painful, you and your baby might have thrush. I thought I was just dry, but my daughter and I had thrush. Look in his mouth and if there is white things that look like cottage cheese, then that's what it is. You'll need medication for it. Lotromin cream works fine for you, but you'll need to wipe it off before you nurse your son. Gentian violet is good for him, both are over the counter. Otherwise your doctor can give you something. If that's not the case, then your nips just need some toughening up and that only happens in time. Don't give up! I almsot did and I'm glad I didn't. I got much better and I was able to successfully breastfeed for 8 months. I loved it. Good luck!

I'm not familiar with what "therashields" are, but I used some nursing cups that are absolutely fabulous! I'd recommend them to anybody because my experience was really great. They are called o-cal-ette nursing cups; you can buy them online at http://pharmics.com/ocalette.htm. They allow your nipples to breathe but not dry out, and they prevent engorgement because your excess milk can drip into them. They are SO much better than nursing pads and/or plastic shields that rest against your nipples. I swear by them. Good luck!

Oh, I remember well! I tried everything also, and found that your body will adjust, eventually. This happened each time with my babies. It all gets better after two months, so stick it out, it will be worth it! Lansinoh is the best lanolin. I have no other suggestions, but keep trying, this too shall pass. And, hey, it will only be painful for 2 weeks with your next kid...

Ameda makes some soothing breast gell pads (so does gerber for that matter...) you might try those. Hope it gets better!

Despite what some people say, not everyone has cracked nipples. If you have cracked nipples, there is something that needs to be adjusted. Do not wipe your nipples off before or after, this will make them even more dry.

If your nipples are taking a beating, it is most likely because your son isn't latching on far enough on to your breast. He needs to be nursing back further on your breast. After he has latched on, take your finger and pull his chin down and open his mouth wiper, encouraging him to take a bigger mouth full. Both lips should be flared out on to your brests, not tucked under.

The other posibility for sore nipples is that for some reason when your baby latches, he is taking the nipple in to his mouth at an angle, causing your nipple to rub up against the top of his mouth. His maybe caused by the way you are holding your brest when you latch him on. Make sure that he is taking your nipple into his mouth streight, and not with it pointed up.

Good luck. Most mom's get through these issues that can occur at the beginning of breastfeeding and have a lot of luck and really enjoy it. You'll get it figured out, and get yourself healed up.

I breastfed my two boys for each until they were one. It really does get better. You will eventually get caulouses (like when you do alot of work with your hands) and then the pain goes away. For some they come quickly and others they take a bit. Once the caulouses come you won't have pain again until they get teeth and then watch out. That can be a pain like no other. Also, be generous with the lanolin. Make sure it is a good thick product and rub it in your hand to melt it, so it will apply easier and really lay it on thick.

Hi S.,
I have nursed my three children, & know all to well how challenging this can be at times.
Is there anyway that you can pump the milk & feed him by the bottle till you heal? If you don't have a breastpump, I'd highly recommend getting a hospital grade one: Medela is the one I fell in love w/ (I bought mine 9 yrs. ago, nursed 3 babies w/ it's help & now 2 of my sisters have used it for their babies & it's still running!!).
My second son, while teething, bit a hole in my nipple (Talk about major pain & ready to throw in the towel!!!!), & I pumped the milk & used Lanolin until it healed.
Good Luck!
A.

Hey you are doing everything right just keep at it and it will get better over the next couple of weeks. It never happened with my 1st but it did with my 2nd and it sucks but your nipples will get better. Try to apply the lanolin as often as possible. There isn't anything you aren't doing.

I've had some success with my third baby using a silicone nipple shield. It was $5.99 at Target. He went on a three day nursing strike and wouldn't eat from anything but a bottle. I guess he likes the plastic feel, because he'll nurse without complaining at all if I use the nipple shield. I noticed it completely eliminated any pain or pinching that I would normally feel when he nursed before. It might be worth a try for you.

i had the same problem. after about two months my nipples got used to the feeding. if you can live past the pain, it eventually gets better. good luck

I had the same thing happen and ended up pumping for two days and bottlefed my breast milk during those two days. My nipples are still sore but I can wear bras again. Also, there are these gel pads that work great.

Medela makes nipple shields that you can get at Target. Use them during nursing, but make sure once you're healed to wean yourself off using them because they may affect your milk supply, and your baby's latch will have to readjust. I was also told to pump for 5 minutes after each nursing session while using the shields. You probably should see a lactation consultant before you decide to use the shields because they have both advantages and disadvantages too. Hope that helps--I had horribly cracked and bleeding nipples--the pain was almost worse than natural childbirth!

Let me just tell you that I think you are awesome for not giving up! A lot of mothers do! It is hard work, breastfeeding and it is so painful. So kudos to you. My sis in law found something at the health food store that worked incredibly well for her. It's an herb that just healed her right up. I've also heard that some medicine that they give you for a yeast infection, can really help with cracking. You could ask your doctor.
And maybe try calling your health food store. We called Good Earth. They have some awesome remedies. I will try to find out what it is called, and respond again.

Try a tea bag. Just wet the tea bag with warm water and rest it on your nipples for about 5-10 mins a couple times a day.

First, it will get better. This is pretty normal. I do have a suggestion though I would stop the lanolin. Your body produces lanolin already and when you put it on, your body thinks it has enough and stops producing it. Then you get worse. So try stopping the lanolin. It may seem worse for a little bit, but then you'll see a huge improvement.

Good Luck!
deniser-mom of 3 boys 14, 13, 9

Sorry to hear you have been going through this. I went through it with my first. I got to where I was bleeding from the cracks eacht ime she fed. I would cry because I hated that I could "do it right" and it hurt so bad. I found some relief with tea bags. The only thing that finally worked was to pump. We just weren't a good match for nursing and the pump worked so great. Daddy could share in the feeding and I was no longer in pain. I didn't even try with my other two. The pump was my new best freind. I tried a hand pump and an automatic one. The double motorized kind was better and fast. I got great milk supply with it, better than nursing her direct.

Good luck and quick healing.

First, for ongoing support I'd suggest you call the nearest LaLeche League (check telephone directory or online) they have a 24 hour hotline also. but I can suggest that when you nurse, you quite possibly are not allowing the baby to latch on correctly and not positioning well for you both. as you lay him in your arms, make sure his body is completely horizontal. place your arm on a pillow, possibly, to help keep it level, and not let his legs or bottom dangle down, this puts dramatic tug (even a quarter of an inch can eventually hurt dramatically. Tickle his bottom lip with your nipple, and when he opens his mouth crush your nipple into him, so that he takes it to the back of his pallet. Babies do not 'suck' the milk, they milk the nipple to the back of their throat and compress the glands to access the milk. if it doesn't have a good latch on, slip your pinky finger in the side of his mouth and break the seal and try again. never pull your nipple out of his mouth, this tugs on very tender tissue. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a great source of information, but sometimes you just need another mom there to talk to, and LLL is fabulous for that one on one. Make the call. Good Luck and Good Health.

I breastfed both of my twins at the same time and used a natural remedy. The best advice I can give is stay away from soaps and lotions, Instead use your own breastmilk on your nipples as a natural moisturiser as well as a antibacterial so that you don't get an infection. I used this method and had a much easier time nursing two. Hope it helps

There's a cream called lansinoh that comes in a purple tube. You can find it at walgreens and at a breast feeding supply store by park meadows called bosom buddies. It's really thick and it helped me a lot. You don't have to wash it off before you breast feed again. Hope this helps!

Hi, I am a mother of 3 a 5 year old, 3 year old, and 3 month old. With my last child I decided to breastfeed which was something I had not done before. After 2 months of pain and cracked nipples I went to my doctor and said is this how breastfeeding is suppose to be, I don't know how much longer I can do this. My doctor told me about a wonderful ointment called Newmans Ointment. You have to get a prescription for it and get it from a compound pharmacy (which means they will mix the ointment for you). The ointment was a true life savor. It was $42 dollars for a small bottle of it but, after one month of using it the pain and the cracks have gone away completely and I am using it less and less everyday. This ointment was worth every penny. Here is a web site that has some information about it http://www.bflrc.com/newman/overheads/All%20Purpose%20Nip... .
K. H

i have four kids and my first was the most painful for breastfeeding. i stopped using the lanolin products because i heard that some people could be allergic to them. i ended up using plain olive oil that i kept in a small tupperware cup. it worked great and cheap too. give it time and make sure that you don't have a yeast infection on your nipples. i remember that i was about to hit the ceiling every time he would latch on and found out after 3 mos of excruciating pain that i had yeast on my nipples. hang in there, it gets better.

Has your doctor checked you for thrush? I breastfed my five babies for a long time each and the ony time I had a situation like yours was when thrush was involved.

You have received much hard-won advice. If you are ready to read just a little more... Please do not use cabbage leaves if you plan on continuing to breastfed! I am not a trained professional, but well read and overwhelming references point to using cabbage leaves to DECREASE and STOP milk supply!
Soothing they may be, but it would complicate your problem.
Many referred you to seek help from lactation consultants, please so do AND connect to La Leche League. This international grass-roots organization is the best source of support you will find. Being a new mom is overwhelming and sharing all the glories and pains (even if you only listen to the others talking)helps you to see that others share your concerns and experiences. It goes a long way toward helping you feel that your life will be balanced someday and in the meantime there are friends to share the ride with.
The connections you make will benefit your whole family for years and help remedy the current, painful problem, letting you enjoy the wonder of your new baby more fully.
Good Luck and quick healing. A. T

Hello S.,

I used tea bags. Just your simple Lipton tea bags. You gently steep the bags so they are not too hot. Put them on your nipples, and let them stay there for about 20 minutes if you can. I did it three times a day. It helped the pain right away and aided in the healing. After the tea bags, put your lanolin on. This combination helped me through two voracious eaters!

Take Care

Hi S.,
I've gotten bleeding nipples within the first week of nursing both my babies. I just stop nursing and pump milk for about two days until I am healed and then start nursing again. I don't have problems after that and the babies always come back to breastfeeding easily. Good luck. It is hard that first month, but it gets better after you are all healed up.

I have 7 kids (oldest 18 yrs., youngest 9 mos.) and have breastfed them all for nearly 2 years. My advice is three-fold. Fist of all, if nothing is wrong, the cracked nipple stage is at its peak around 4-6 weeks, and chances are you are almost out of it. Second, of all the ointments I tried with my first child, Bag Balm worked the best (get it at a farmer's store -- it's actually for cows chapped teets), and it did work, but I didn't like the fact that I had to wash it off before every feeding, because OUCH! Third, finally, with baby #4, I found out that my cracked and sore nipples were due to thrush. Once I found this out, it only took a week to get rid of the yeast. Yay! After experiencing this with my next 3 babies, I realize that for me it was probably yeast with all my babies. A couple of my kids got those spots in their mouth, but not all of them. Sometimes it was just me who had thrush (on my breasts, of course). Afterall, their yeast infection was actually just my yeast infection showing up on them.
If you have ever been prone to yeast infections, the next info. might be good for you, too. Otherwise, skip it: While I'm on the subject of yeast, let me share a thought on baby bottom rashes that I wish someone else had told me years earlier than they did. If you are prone to yeast infections, maybe so is your baby. Your milk, your lactose, and your immune system in them. However, you don't have to have an infection flare up yourself for one to be manifested on your baby. (But if you do have one, good chance that rash on the baby is one, too.) My first child ALWAYS had a diaper rash. It wasn't always raised, so we thought it was regular diaper rash. I put Desitin on him, but it didn't always work. My second baby had a problem with rashes, too. On baby #3 I found out that many of his rashes were yeast. I got gentian violet (over the counter, but must directly ask the pharmacist of any drug store for it -- cheap, too -- 1.68?), which will stain purple anything it touches (mostly the diaper, but I'm careful to put pants or jammies on that I don't mind got a little staining rubbed on, but of the bottom area it only attaches to yeast-infested skin, and it's worth it to me to know for sure what kind of rash it is. If I automatically put yeast cream or ointment or Desitin on it, I wouldn't know for a few days whether or not it was yeast causing the rash. With the rest of my babies, when they had a rash the first thing I did was dab the gentian violet on their rash. If it stuck in dots on the rash, it was yeast and it kills the yeast within a few days (I had to keep applying it). If the purple all comes off on the diaper by the next changing, I use Butt Paste (best stuff on the planet for regular rashes! You can get it at Kid-to-Kid). In our case, it's almost always yeast. With this knowledge, I've been able to keep my next 4 babies' rear ends clear. Yay!

La Leche League is awesome for breastfeeding support!

Don't give up! At whole foods, they have an awesome nipple cream, it works really really well, It's called nipple cream, it comes in a little jar, I can't remember the name of the company. Good luck!

I am a stay at home mom of two. I breastfeed both my boys. I used aquaphor. You can find it in the lotion section of stores. After I showered I would apply a glob of it on my nipple and rub it around then put a nursing pad on right away. That way the pad absorbed it and would continue to apply aquaphor to my nipple through out the day. My doctor is who suggested it to me so it is safe to use. I tried lanolin too, but didn't like it as much, because I would have to wipe it off(my kids didn't like the way it tasted). That really hurt when my nipples were so sore. I didn't have to wipe the aquaphor off. It kept everything nice and soft too. Showering everyday also helped. I hope this will help you good luck.

Hi S.,
I have 5 children of my own and while breastfeeding my 3rd baby they did the same thing. The only thing that worked for me was Bag Balm it is in a green square can and your can usually get it at any Walgreens, store etc. You can put it on while feeding also and it will not hurt your baby but it will definitley help with the feeding. Keep it on day and night no need to walk around naked;-)
Good Luck,
T.

This is an extreme, but I have been there. I actually went to a dermatologist for help and he gave me steroid injections directly into my nipples,5-6 shots on each, and they got stronger and the skin withstood the constant stretching and pulling and finally healed. I had to skip only 1 feeding after as I had to wait at least 6 hrs before breastfeeding again. But it saved me. I had tried the le leche league, nipple shields, creams, sunlight, air drying, and nothing was enough to help me not want to scream when the baby latched on after a full month. Not all skin is created equally. Good luck!

Congratulations on your new baby. I breastfed both of my sons my first for 12 months and 2nd for 14 months. It does get eaiser. It is kind of like a callous(sp?). Also, my sister -in- law is an labor/delivery RN and she told me that our milk has "healing" things in it and when I was done feeding to express some milk and rub it on my nipples, that seems to take the sting away a little. I always thought that leaving myself exposed to the air was more painful than just keeping my bra on (I would always wear a sports bra to bed, it was tight and seemed to feel better).
Good Luck.
T.

It took me three babies to figure this one out. For me, Lanolin did not work well. I finally found a natural, safe alternative that works! It is called The Golden Salve, and is made by Equinox Botanicals. You can get it at most health food stores. My midwife recommended it to me and said it is completely safe for the baby. After breastfeeding, let your nipples dry and then put it on. only a little is needed and it does wonders. It actually heals any sores including your little baby's belly button. Good luck!

Hi S., I am going to send you some private information that I think you will be interested in. But just wanted to say hang in there because your milk is the biggest blessing you can give you baby. I breast fed both my girls till they were one and had some of the same problems, even thrush (sp). Your nipples will adjust and it will be like second nature to you. Good luck.

It will get better. It just takes time. Do you drink plenty of water? The more water you drink the better. I will benifit you and the baby. There isn't alot you can do to fix this problem except to just give it time. Have you thought about pumping your brests for your milk? I had the same problem. I stopped breast feeding. My first son wouldn't even take the breast. I wanted to feed him that way and felt so guilty because I couldn't. I had ample amounts of milk. My mother told me that no one would look down on me for not feeding this way. You still will be getting the closeness as before. Just remember that little person will always be a part of you. You have given him the most important part of the milk in the first month. I hope this gives you a little encouragement.

Ask your doctor about Newman's all-purpose nipple cream. It is the best! You just put a little on after you nurse. It is a combination of anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial medications. You use it after every feeding until the soreness is gone, then I use it once a day after I shower. I have had 5 kids and I wish I had known about this with the other four. It would have saved me alot of grief and pain! You can google "all purpose nipple ointment" for more info.

I had the same problem, however, I found out that my son and I had thrush. It was very painful and it burned really bad during and after my son nursed. If this seams to be another symptom of what you are going through, you may want to start pumping and give your doc a call to get a prescription for that, and bottle feed for a while, while they heal. Plus your son may need a prescription too.
I don't know if this helps, however, if it doesn't at this time, it may in the future.
Good luck, I feel your pain!

Don't give up! I've read through some of the responses and I don't want to sound like a broken record for you but make sure he's latching on correctly. You and some of these other mothers are a strong women to endure that type of pain for a month! I was only sore for the first 4-5 days after my son was born. I went back into the hospital the day after I went home to see one of their lactation specialists because I was in so much pain. My toes curled in and every muscle in my body clenched every time I had to feed him because it hurt so bad. But she showed me the correct way to latch on and I thought we were doing alright but we weren't. Make sure his lips are flushed out around your breast. I only went through a couple more days of pain as they healed and then it was smooth sailing from that point on and I nursed/pumped until he was one. Another thing she showed me was to switch positions. So One time I'd lay him normal and the next I'd hold him in the football clutch and that seemed to work as well. Good luck! Breastfeeding is so rewarding in so many ways so I hope all of this information helps. Oh and raw cabbage worked wonders for me for the pain! Again good luck and I hope you find a solution and soon!

S. you may be getting Yeast in there, does he have white patchy looking stuff in his mouth that will not rub off with your finger, that may be yeast, if not then there also is a wonderful thing at motherhood maternity that is a gel thing that you put in your bra and wear it all day... it feels great and very healing, but it really sounds like he has yeast and you are not healing right and he may not latch on right because of it... if you find that it is yeast and take him in and they give him medicine for it they do not tell you what to do with it so you will need a cotton swab and rub it on the spots do not just spuirt it in his mouth, it will not work like that... there is also a homeopathic thing called gintean violet that works great and you can get it at noahs ark or any health food store (IT STAINS EVERYTHING) BUT IT WORKS THE BEST you can put it in his mouth the same way. hope this helps Lori

See your lactation specialist. I had this problem with my second child. I thought she was latching on well and she wasn't. I continued to nurse and it got worse. I tried the nipple guards and she hated it. So I went to see my laction nurse and she helped me with the latching and told me to stop breast feeding for a week. In that week I pumped and fed my daughter with a bottle. I too was worried about my daughter not nursing again but after my nipples healed. She went back to nursing and nursed until she was 10 months. I was prepared to go thru the pain but after I was told it was ok to stop to heal and go back again, I felt 100% better. Call first but I'd try to let yourself heal for awhile.

My doctor told me to only use water and not soap on my nipples because the soap can dry them out. That worked for me.

hi S..
I would recommend trying lansinoh breast cream(i guess it's more like a paste), you can find it at walmart in the baby isle. it worked wonders when i was nursing my second and third children. it helps with the cracked nipples and it also helps to protect them from cracking and to make them slightly calloused so it's not as painful. you just put it on in the morning after your shower and i put it on before bed too, it really helped me to enjoy nursing more than i did with my first. and don't worry, it's perfectly safe to use and won't harm your son in any way, shape, or form, so there's no need to wipe it off before you nurse. hope this helps.

Hopefully you are starting to heal by now. I have a five week old son and breastfeeding just started feeling comfortable for me. A month was such a long time being in pain! About a week ago I started alternating positions during his feedings. One feeding I would nurse football style and the next I would turn him in the clutch position. To begin with, one of my nipples healed but the other didn't. If this is the same for you, start your baby on the side that is healed. That way, he sucks harder on that side until your milk lets down. When you switch him, he won't have to suck so hard because the milk will already be there.

My "baby" is almost 11 now, but when he was newborn, the lactation consultant gave me a wonderful video about breastfeeding and she also helped me. The key is to get the baby to get as much of the areola in its mouth as possible and stay OFF the nipple. And it works! I never had sore nipples. When the baby opens its mouth, you STUFF that sucker in there, way beyond the nipple and you've got your problem solved.

See a lactation specialist!

This is so hard! I remember thinking about how mush I would and could love this if it just didn't hurt so much. I am so glad to hear you are doing well.

I usually tell people if you hang in there for 6 weeks then you can make it as long as you choose. My breasts were horrible for my first and I got Mastitis 3 times due to the fact that my nipples were so damaged. I actually cried every time she nursed for a couple of weeks, then suddenly, no more pain and it was easy peasy. Now that I am breastfeeding my 3rd child, it seems to me she did have a bad latch. I had very little pain with my last 2. Anyway, either way you are almost out of the woods. Keep on keepin on!

raw cabbage right in the nipples in your bra will do much more than lanolin will. worked wonders for me! Also are you sure he is latched on right. I thought my daughter was and found out she wasn't. Make sure your nipple is resting on the roof of his mouth.

I don't know if he would go for the change, but you could try nipple guards. They just go on when he's nursing. It would give you a chance to heal. You can get them in the baby section at Wal-Mart or Target. Medela makes some nice ones. I had to use them with my second son as he wouldn't latch on right. It was completely painless and we only used them for a few days. After that, we went back to normal and he nursed for almost a year (until we had to wean due to med. issues).

You might also contact a lactation consultant or the La Leche Group near you. There are a lot of people who can help. Don't give up without seeing someone first. Just watch out for mastitis. It sounds like you're taking good care of yourself in that regard. GL and congratulations!

Try express a little milk with your fingers and rubbing it on your nipples and letting that air dry. T. mother of 2

Don't give up!!!! Try rubbing some of the breast milk on your nipples before and after feeding. It contains colostrum which is wonderful for your child and very healing. Hope it helps. Bless you!

Swedish hospital has a free baby weigh in every Wednesday at 1pm for breastfed babies and their mommies, where you can meet with a lactation consultant. You don't have to have delivered at Swedish to go. It's a lot of fun because you get help, to see other moms and new babies, and you can see how much your little one weighs. You also weigh them before and after feeding them (bring him hungry!) and you will get to see how much he's actually eating. The weigh in is on the 5th floor of the hospital right by the elevators (in the classroom). I hope you can go, it's great! My little James and I will look for you there this week (my last time to go before returning to work).

I had this happent to me also with my last baby. She was a great eater! A little too good! So, I actually ended up having to pump and feed her with breastmilk-filled bottles for a little while so my nipples could heal. Then I went back to nursing. It was nice though..she was used to the bottle and wasn't "nipple confused" like people say babies get sometimes. I was told to call Le Leche, which I didn't but they might be able to help also.

I haven't read the other responses, so I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I would not breastfeed without it. It is called "Nipple Cream" and it is made by the Motherlove Herbal Company. My local health food store carries it, but you can also find it online. Basically, it contains olive oil, herbs and beeswax. It is the most soothing product I have ever used for sore nipples and the effect is almost immediate! Lanolin, which I find to be thick and sticky, cannot even touch this stuff. If you have still not found relief you must try it! I also use it to heal chapped lips and "boo-boos". Really great stuff!

Keep at it, it does get better. Make sure you use the lanolin all the time it dosen't hurt the baby so use it always. Make sure you are tucking the baby in towards you soemtimes your so sore you hold them away more than you realize and it makes it worse. Just a thought for next time, start using lanolin on your breast about 4 weeks before you have the baby it really helps alot. Mom of six M.

Hey I am 25 and have done it twice. I put a little of my own milk on my nipples and let it dry. What kind of breast pads are you using? Are you changing your pads enough? I had the best result by using my own milk on my nipples and then letting them air dry.I was told to do this by my doctor. Do you wash your breast with a body wash? Sometimes some of them can dry them out. I was told just to rinse my breast and never really use soap directly on them. I would just kind of let the soap from my hair rinse over them. Other then that I would try putting as much of your breast in the babies mouth as possible even if they are latching correctly. It can help. I hope this helps

I feel your pain! I had the same thing happen to me. My son is now 9 months old and beleive me it gets so much easier. I want to say that around 2 months old the pain was gone. The silicone gel pads were helpful for me. I would keep them in the fridge and the coolness was great. They seem to last for a short time so I would recommend buying a few of them. Best of luck and enjoy your baby.

Glad your healing. I remember with my first daughter how I actually scabbed because I was latching her on incorrectly. OUCH OUCH OUCH! It hurt so bad every time and I almost gave up. After visiting a lactation nurse and figuring out how to help her get as much as she could into her mouth I started healing. It was very painful but when you finally get past that then you can start enjoying the comforts of nursing your new one.

I had one nipple that made me cry when my son ate from it. Expressing a bit of milk after he was done and coating the nipple with it soothed the pain pretty well. I also had to feed him from that side second because he would get over zealous and latch on to anything, including the side of my hand if I wasn't careful, so part of the problem had been he was latched on wrong.

Some of the other advices are interesting and wonderful, and I hope you amuse yourself with trying out some of the many suggestions! It could definitely change your outlook on the whole experience!

It will get better. I, like you had the same problem. I thought to myself, how do so many women breastfeed their babies if it seriously hurts so much? Well it took me 3 months before the pain went away and everything was better. This only came about for me because I went to see a lactation consultant. This lady was wonderful! I couldn't have done it without her help. They never even charged me for the consultations. If you are passionate about breastfeeding, then hang in there because it will get better. But if you do have to change to formula don't feel bad about it. I ended up stopping when my daughter was 5 months because no matter what I did I couldn't produce enough milk for her to grow. Now she drinks formula and she is healthy (and heavy) as ever. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Go to the store and get some vitamin E capsules. You can poke a hole in them and rub a little vitamin E on your nipples several times a day. Works a like a charm and since it is a low enough amount of a safe vitamin there is nothing to worry about for the baby.

First - hats off to you for hanging in there.

Have you visited the local breastfeeding clinic?
It is an AWSOME (free) rescourse, and the consultants are more knowledgable than most doctors and have some not-in-the-book advice that might help.

Personally, it sounds like your son might not be latching on right. He might be getting milk, but by sucking on the end of your nipples (making them really sore) instead of opening his mouth wide and getting a really good latch.

My sons did the same, and I had to use the breast sheilds with both of them for a few weeks. That made a world of difference.

If you can't make it to the local breastfeding clinic, you are likely more than welcome to drop by the birthing clinic where you delivered, and they have a lactating cunsultant on staff.

Please, please, please call your local La Leche League (www.llli.org) immediately. They are a free local recource. There is even an 800 number assistance line. You should not still be having cracked nipples this badly. There are things you can do. Please call.

When my daughter was born I had the same problem. I tried all of those same tricks. We were even the same age. After a while I got sick of the mess the lanolin made and then we were moving so I didn't have the time to worry about it. Before long all the pain was gone, from doing nothing about it. It almost sounds like your nipples are too dry, like hands get in the winter months when you wash them all the time. Maybe if you tried doing nothing about it for a few days/week it would help moisten them back up.

The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding tend to be the hardest (and the most sore!). Try change the position that you hold your son. If you can get it so he doesn't always latch on in exactly the same place, it will help a lot. I even used to put a thick coat of lanolin on and then make sure to line my bra with the Lansinoh breast pads. It will take a while to kind of toughen up but it will happen.

L.
Mom of 4 (ages 11,8, 6 and 2)

I know my first daughter had a very strong suck, and my nipples were very sore for about the first 6 weeks. I had to squeeze my husband's hand every time I fed her it hurt so badly. But then after 6 weeks everything got better. You should, however, check with a lactation consultant or go to a La Leche League meeting (http://www.llli.org) so they can check your position and latch. Definitely stick with it though!

Ohh my gosh head to Babies R Us and get a nipple shield. I would suggest the Mustella ones- that is what I use with my little man and it is FABULOUS! It will save you a lot of pain and make nursing much more comforatable for you.

S.

I had a similar problem when a wonderful nurse suggested tea bags....it works...and it's immediate relief from the pain. Just make a cup of tea for yourself and put two tea bags in. Once they are good and moist and warm, put them inside your nursing bra, right on your nipples. It might stain your bra but I promise you that it will give you instant relief and you will heal in no time. (and it is organic and safe and healthy for both you and your baby...I'm allergic to lanolin as are many people/babies so I wouldn't want to use that. Good luck...it's all so worth it. You are a good "Mommy" for your baby. God bless you both.

For me, I've breastfed 2 babies now. Both times, it was very painful until the end of week 6, then, IT GOT BETTER!! :)
Hang in there!

I had the same problem until a nurse told me to expel a little of my own milk, rub it on my nipples and let them air dry. The milk heals your nipples! Do it every time you nurse and any other time you feel the need.

See a lactation consultant immediately! I had this problem with my last child. I had successfully nursed two children I thought I could handle it and get things worked out on my own. My milk production decreased because of the damage done to my breasts and my child lost interest in nursing very soon. I ended up bottle feeding my son after about 2 months and it took my breasts months to heal. If I had it to do over again I would have seen a lactation consultant until things were worked out. It costs a bit of money, but it's much cheaper than formula feeding or the frustration of not nursing when you know it's best for your baby.

I have read through a couple of these responses and they are all great! I wish I had so much help when I was breastfeeding my youngest 6 1/2 years ago! I had the same problem and use to sit there and cry when my daughter wanted to be fed. It was so incredibly painful and she felt how much I tensed up. I really wanted to breastfeed her because I know it is better. I tearfully decided to try a bottle and sent my husband to the store around 1 am on a Sunday. Thankfully she took it but I was so sad. I made the decision to not breastfeed her anymore (a very hard decision!) because it hurt to even pump and I was worried about the blood that would get in my milk. About a day or two after I made the switch I realized something. My daughter was nursing so much because she liked to suck. I lived in an area that was against pacifiers, especially if you were breastfeeding, so I never thought of a pacifier. I got her a pacifier and she was a very happy baby, as opposed to the fussy little girl she tended to be. She would get mad at the bottle because it gave her milk. She would spit out the milk and keep trying to suck. That is what made us think of the pacifier.

Anyway, needless to say I was so sad that I had given up breastfeeding (I had dried up) when all my daughter needed was a pacifier to suck. They are hard to break later but they are so soothing to the child for now!

So if your child is feeding a lot, it might be that he likes to suck and a pacifier may help. I would not recommend teaching him to find his thumb because you can never take that away and it harms their teeth.

Good luck!

It may sound harsh, but just keep at it. Breastfeeding is soooo rewarding. The first month is always the hardest. Soon enough your nipples will toughen up. In my opinion nothing compares to the beautiful bond that breastfeeding allows between you and the baby. Trust me, I had alot of trouble the first month as well, but soon after it just switched and me and my baby were like a well oiled machine. My baby is now four months old and I can barely remember the akward discomfort I had with the first month. Good Luck, and don't give up!!!

YOu will get better and your nipples will adapt. There are a couple of things you can do. As you have discovered the Lanolin is not giving you the best results.

Several nursing moms gave me this advice: wipe yourself clean with a vinegar/water solution prior to nursing.

In between nursing, use a safe baby lotion and baby oil made by Arbonne. There are some other great products out there that help to soothe the area, including gel pads that you put in the refrigerater, then tuck into your nursing bra. I would also recommend warm compresses in between feedings to help the area heal more quickly. And...

This DOES work for sore nipples. You get a fresh cabbage leaf (a clean one), stick it in
boiling water for a few seconds so it goes all floppy and then, when it's cooled down a bit but is still hot, lay it over the nipple area and leave it there for a few hours. Use an old bra to keep it in place. Repeat daily.

Also try putinng cabbage in fridge and then putting cold cabbage leaves in old bra - odd but works!

Hope this helps.

Check out plain chap stick -- something natural. Ask at Vitamin Cottage,; they might know what has the lest additatvies and is mostly bees wax. You may want to talk with your doctor first or call a lactation specialist.

With my first child I was so sore, it lasted for about 6 weeks. I ended up breastfeeding for 2 years. When I had my 2nd, I thought this would be a breeze, but again I was so sore after 2 days, I went to a lactation consultant and within a week, I was all healed. It was latch problems, but I would not have figured it out without her help. It was the best spent $75!! One thing she had me do that offered a lot of relieve saw to take a cup of warm water with 1/2 t salt and place a papertowel in the solution and put it on my nipples for 5? minutes and then let the air dry a few times a day. It help heal. She also told me that once they are cracked you should wash with soap because of the open skin. I strongly recommend a lactation consultant. I am new to Boise, so I would start by contacting one of the breastfeeding stores.... there is one isn't there? If not a hospital could refer you. I didn't have much luck with the lactation consultant at the hospital. Leleechee sp? would also be able to refer you Good Luck I know how miserable it is, but it is so worth it!!!!

Has breastfeeding always been this painful? If so, I'd be willing to bet that the way your son is latched on is causing your nipple pain. All those things that you've tried can offer some soothing, but your problem won't be solved until you get help and make sure that your son is latched on correctly. The same thing happened to me when my oldest was a newborn. I got engorged when my milk came in and he couldn't latch on far enough, and then he just got in the habit of latching on pooryly. I can totally empathize with you-- my nipples were cracked and sore and the pain is AWFUL. I worked really hard on improving his latch and making sure that my nipple was far enough back in his mouth and that made all the difference, we had no pain after that.

If the nipple pain is a more recent development, you might have a bit of a yeast infection. Those are easy to treat, just takes some medication for you and your baby.

It'd really be worth it to see a lactation consultant. The La Leche League is another wonderful (and free!) resource, you can find contact information for their local leaders at www.llli.org. One of my favorite and most helpful breastfeeding resources is The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Dr. Jack Newman. That book helped me through all of my breastfeeding problems (including mastitis and a crash in my milk supply)so I was able to nurse past 1 year. If you can't find it at the library, I'd be happy to let you borrow mine, just email me privately. Oh, and Dr. Newman also has a website with videos showing proper latch. It's www.drjacknewman.com, just click on "breastfeeding help".

I know it's really hard right now, but get some good help and information will make all the difference-- it's worth it!

I had a lot of touble with cracked and bleeding nipples with my last baby who is now 18 mo. old. I actually went to see a lactaion specialist about it. Everyone tells you something different, but she told me not to let my nipples air out, because they would get dry and scab over and then the baby had to break the scab in order to get any milk, which was very painful. She put me on a regiment which consisted of tea bags and Neosporin. After nursing I would immediately put neosporin on my nipples and before the next feeding I would soak a black tea bag and then put it over my nipple in my bra(I would recommend using a nursing pad over the tea bag as the tea will discolor your clothing. It worked! If you have any questions, feel free to email me back (____@____.com)! Good luck!

My Dr. told me acutally not to let them air too much, but to actually keep them moist most of the time. The gel pads helped keep them moist, i preferred the regular pads when i went in public though (leaking reasons). I also went to a lactation specialist about 3 weeks after she was born, I though my daughter was a great eater and latched on well, but when i went to a lactation specialist she told me my baby was doing well but needed to latch more of the breast, not just the areaola. I went to Alta View Hospital for this it was not very much money. It was Worth it.

Ouch! It is not normal for your nipples to be cracked and bleeding. Could be latch, could be a reaction to Lansinoh (by the way--Lansinoh is the purest form of lanolin), could be thrush ... They will not heal until the underlying cause is found. I encourage you to call your doctor or hospital and get the name and number of a La Leche League leader (free, volunteer breastfeeding help) or a board certified lactation consultant (professional breastfeeding help for a fee) near you. Help in person may be the fastest solution. Hang in there, and find help quickly!

Hi S.,
I have two words for you...Bag Balm (Lol) this may sound silly
however, It Works!! I'm pretty sure they sell it at Wal-Mart in the pharmacy section. If not one of your local pharmacies.
Bag Balm is used on cows utters to prevent chapping and cracking, since they get hooked up to the milking machines so often. It comes in a square green can and is really not that expensive. Bag Balm is also GREAT for diaper rash.

Have a Great Day
Colleen

Doing all the things you are doing is great, but you also have to make sure your baby is latching on correctly to permanetly fix the cracked nipple problem. You can get help through your local La Leche leauge. Make sure you also put some breastmilk on your nipples after you feed which should also help. I had the same problem and it was a latching issue. I hope this helps!

Was there a lactation consultant at the hospital where he was born? Sometimes the baby is quite latching on "right" and it can be very painful for mom. Mine are just too big (ridiculous but true) and it would be not so fun for a few weeks until their little mouths got bigger. If you can't find a lactation consultant through the hospital you might try googling La Leche League and seeing if they have a local person you can call. I'm new here so I don't have any actual numbers to give you. Sorry about that.

Hang in there girl! I had the same problem I would cry everytime my baby nursed and I kept on putting Lanesol this kind of brand I got it from Target and it really helped. I am proud of you for sticking with it, don't give up. This will soon pass and you will be nursing your baby just fine.
D.

Keep going. I promis it will get better. I hated lanolin, but Mother Love Nipple Cream and those gel pads (can't remember their name)worked wonders!

PS my daughter is 4 mo. and nursing wonderfully, and my nipps are back to normal!

Hi S.,

I am 38 and have 3 kids, all teens now. When I was nursing I would puncture a vitamin E capsule and put the liquid on my nipples. Worked great for me and was okay for baby too. Hope it works if you decide to try it!!!

It is not unusual to have that problem, don't panic. I nursed 7 or my 8 kids and had that same issue, at times.Mine got so bad they would bleed. Not having anyone to talk to and embarrased to ask. I used crisco shortening. It is vegetable shortening so there is no harm.
There is also bag balm,( it is an antiseptic) which believe it or not is used for cow utters so they stay soft. That will work also.You can remove it with a wet tissue before feeding.
Weird enough when my youngest daughter got a bad rash from pampers, I used crisco, which worked better then anything. I feel for you, keep your chin up.

Hi S.!
The same thing happened to me with both children. I got Mastitis the first week I was home with my first child and it was awful. I vowed not to have the same thing happen with my second child.
Well it did and it was after week one with him nursing every hour. I went to a lactation consultant and she gave me this advice.
Mix 1 tablespoon regular salt with a gallon of warm water and stir to disolve(change solution every 24 hours). Then use a towel (lighter weight is best I used a burp cloth), dunk it in saline solution and drape over nipple. Then blow dry until dry. I then used Lansinoh lanolin afterward. She recommended doing this after each feeding. I did it religiously except during one night feeding. One nipple healed in a week and the other took almost 3 weeks. The best thing of all is the saline killed any bacteria from the babies mouth and I didn't get mastitis this time! It is sort of a time consuming pain but it worked. In the mean time I would make sure he was latched correctly and vary my posistions between the cradle, football and side lying.
Good luck as this is terribly painful. My son is now 7 months and nursing is such a pleasure now that I am well healed and he knows what to do too.

My nipples were extremely sore and I just about cried everytime my baby latched on but once the sucking started the pain went away and I could nurse somewhat comfortably. Eventually it did just clear up...I often wondered if the combination of milk and baby saliva was the best salve. I recently went antique shopping with a friend and she showed me an old, tiny wire strainer. She told me she bought two of them, broke off the handles and wore them over her nipples, under her clothes, to keep from rubbing. Mind you, this was many years before someone cleverly thought up therashields. Have you tried Le Leche League for advice? I think the olive oil idea is a good one too.

The first six weeks of BF were more painful than birth in my opinion. I literally have a scar. The shields helped a little, baby hated the taste of lanolin and wouldn't latch well, and I couldn't figure out how to nurse in any position other than the cradle. Due to a combo jaundice/mastitis weekend, I had to not breastfeed for 48 hours and just pump instead. That gave my body the much needed recovery time, and I started healing. It did get better and he is still nursing three months past my initial goal of six months. Keep trying. It is so worth it in the end.

Hi S.,

I know how you feel and I am so sorry, I have been there. I found two things were life savers one being Bag Balm, it really helped the cracking and healed my nipples quickly. It can be found just about anywhere (walmart, rite aid, fred meyer, etc) a little goes a long way. But more importantly was a shield my midwife had introduced me to and it is a very thin pliable plastic shield that goes on your nipple when your baby is nursing. I can't remember what they are called but we laughingly called them the party hats because that is sort of what they look like (and it was no longer a painful experience). They are sort of cone shaped, rounded at the end, and have a small flat surface at the base so it lays & forms to your breast. They are pretty small, reusable and easy to clean. Without these I likely would have had to pump or give up breast feeding all together. My midwifes name was Paula Wiens and her assistant is Teresa Acheson, they are with Treasure Valley Midwives & their number is ###-###-####. If I remember correctly the shields have to be purchased at a medical supply store but that may have changed in the last 10 years. Paula supplied mine to me & I am certain either of the ladies will know the real name for them and be happy to help. A lot of women use them for their babies who can't latch on due to small nipples or over engorgement. Anyway, I hope that helps & best of luck to you.

Hi S.,
I was in the same situation with my 2nd child (I have 6).
It was the lanolin that didn't work for me. For some reason it just dried my nipples out worse. So one desparate day, I grabbed the olive oil and put that on
with my fingers because a cotton ball hurt too bad. It was
very soothing as well as healing. I figured the worst that could happen was that my son would grow up to like Ceasar salad. I never used lanolin again ever with the rest of my kids. God luck!!

What always helped me was expressing a little milk and rubbing it into the nipple and letting air dry. It really sped up the healing process. Don't worry though. Your breasts will get used to the nursing and heal up soon.

The advice from the other women should be helpful. I have only breastfed 1 of 3 children successfully and I definitely went through this stage. I definitely recommend using the vitamin E oil which should be sold out of the capsules at the store as well as in capsules.

Also be sure to drink lots of water as it will reduce the cracking as your body is more hydrated. You can try pumping, but this time in breastfeeding is very important as this is when your baby starts to feed more to adjust your body's production amount. Pumping may interrupt that natural production adjustment and cause your baby to feed even more often off a bottle.

HTH

Hello S.
I too had problems with cracked nipples so what I tried that really helped was to pump on one side. I did that for about one week. This time allowed for my nipple to heal up and then breastfeeding wasn't so painful. Fortunately I had just one nipple that was really bad. If you have a pump or can borrow one, this may be helpful. Good luck T. Sigler RN

if you are not too worried about the whole bottle thing, pump for 24 hours and give him milk from a bottle and let them have that break, that was the only thing that worked for me. you are re-opening a wound every time he feeds and your body has no time to heal

my nursing instructor from my womens health course told me that in situations as this is helps to soak your nipples in salt water. Apparently the salt helps to toughen up the nipples so they don't crack and bleed as much. You can lay on your tummy and with two bowls of fairly concentrated salt water (you can be the judge of that) soak your nipples. Hope that helps. Good luck!

Hi,

I have had the same problem with my first child. It seems you are well advised though. One more I have heard and done is not to put soap on your nipples when you shower but rather wash them with olive oil for example. Soap dries the skin too much. It does get better, don't worry. I know in the meantime, it just kills! (I know everyone is different but as for me, I had this problem just slightly with my second and not at all with the thrid...) Good luck!

I had the same problem with nursing both of my children -- sore, sore, SORE nipples!! I almost gave up nursing altogether. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but I don't think anything really helps except time. I used to liken breasts to another muscle in the body -- like a hamstring, for example. If you never exercised that hamstring ever and then tried to climb Mt. Everest, it would hurt like heck. Same thing with our breasts. They have basically "sat" there on our chests idly for years with nothing to do and then: POW! They are expected to be sucked on vigorously for hours a day! I don't know why some women don't get pain and other lucky ones do. Anyway, maybe you can chuckle at this message and forget about your sore nipples for awhile. I hope they get better soon -- the best thing you can do is wait for them to toughen up.

I know this might sound strange...but put some of your breastmilk on the cracks. Your breastmilk contains a lot of antibodies. If you air out with your breastmilk on top...you'll be surprised. When your son breastfeeds, definitely use the shields until your nipples are healed. You'll get thru it. The hardest is the beginning. Good luck!

Don't worry--cracking, expecially with number one baby, is common. I remember how excruciatingly painful it was! The best soother for me was putting a moist Lipton tea bag (the kind with caffeine)on each nipple as I lay in the tub. You will feel a bit silly with their tags floating around, but they really help! The second best advice I ever received was not to give up nursing, but to give it at least 6 weeks. All my problems were resolved by then! I nursed my four children for a total of 7 years, and feel strongly that it was the best gift I could have given them, and very rewarding to me too. Good Luck! H. A.

S.,

It sounds like you're doing all the right things! I don't have any advice for you, but I can tell you that it does get better! When I had my twins, it took a couple of months before I really got used to it (and it was intense!), but it definitely became do-able. And it's worth getting those breaks to sit down throughout the day (I got to catch up on my reading) and bond with your baby. Good luck to you!

B. C.

Your and your baby could have a yeast infection, aka: thrush. I dealt with it on my first baby. You stated some of the symptoms, does your baby have a diaper rash and/or white spots in the mouth? Make sure they are not milk. But if so, you should see a physician, and it will be an easy fix after that.

Ouch. I'm not an expert, but I don't think shields and air are what you need. I think you need to completely heal up. Once you're healed up, I think you'll find breastfeeding pretty wonderful and it shouldn't be painful any more - you're past the tough first 2 weeks.

I found that when I had cracking that I could remedy the situation within 1-2 days by using a pump instead of nursing on that side. A correctly set electric pump (not too much pull) gave me a chance to completely heal-up and it felt rather soothing.

That said, I must mention there are 2 differences (at least) between my situation and yours. I only had soreness on one side at a time, and I didn't let the problem linger for more than a day or so. Likewise, your problem sounds much more severe than mine.

I recommend you should see a professional a.s.a.p. -- either the lactation consultant at your hospital, or visit Stephanie at Becoming Mothers in Boulder.

A week from now, I believe everything will be much better for you.

All the best
..J.

p.s. about the Bag Balm, I've heard it works wonders (including on diaper rash) but I've also heard it contains a pesticide: 8-Hydroxyquinoline. So you may want to research the ingredients before using it.

I went through that as well - but I actually found that you don't need to let them air out that much. So I would let it dry after my son nursed, put some lanolin on it, and then I use the washable nursing pads inside my bra so it doesn't rub.

When that happened to me (and I thought my nipples were going to fall off), I had a yeast infection that no dr or lactation consultant ever diagnosed. I too tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked until I put the ointment I had for my baby's yeast diaper rash (nystatin) on my nipples and it FINALLY cleared.
Just an idea...Good Luck.

I'm so sad to read your post. I know that especially with the first one, and getting used to how everything works, pain is very common. I would encourage you to try everything you possibly can to make it work. That said: I have a different experience than most with breastfeeding. I've had four babies now, and haven't been successful nursing any of them. With my first, I tried to nurse her for 5 months. It was painful the entire time, and I had to supplement with formula most feedings. If I tried to pump (manual hand-pump) I would only get a couple of ounces total even after 5 months. Eventually, I just formula fed her.

With my twins, I was not allowed to nurse them in the hospital because they were 6 weeks premature and too small to nurse without expending too much energy and losing weight. I pumped from the first day, and had plenty of milk. When they eventually gave me the go ahead to nurse, neither of my boys were interested in latching on, so I ended up pumping and feeding them from a bottle. However, even with pumping, the soreness and pain never went away. I did the pump/feed cycle for 6 weeks, then switched over to formula.

With my fourth one (third attempt at breastfeeding) I also had plenty of milk, but had pain and soreness for another entire 6 weeks until I gave up and went to formula again.

I had talked to lactation consultants, and tried all the methods, and nothing seemed to make the pain go away. I could alleviate it between feedings, but the feedings were excruciating EVERY time with EVERY child.

I'm not trying to be discouraging to you, I'm just telling you what my experience was. Physically, breastfeeding just wasn't for me. The best thing I can say to you is to try everything you can possibly think of to make it work, but DON'T feel guilty or inadequate if you do decide to stop. I hope it works for you. Good luck!

You sound like me after my second child. You may have thrush. Call your doctor for advice, or a lot hospitals have a breast feeding hotline. There's a couple different ways to treat it, but it cures quickly and ends the pain, and the cracking, and the redness. What the nurse at the hospital had me use I got over the counter. It took me a bunch of phone calls with different doctors to find out what it was, because my baby had no symptoms of thrush and that seems to be what they usually look for.

It gets better!! We got off to a rough start, but now- at 8 months- it's a breeze, and SO much easier when we travel or go out than packing bottles. I highly recommend that you find a good breastfeeding support. Either go to a La Leche League group- check their website for when and where- or check with your health insurance, doctor or hospital to find out if they have a lactation nurse that you could meet with. We would have NEVER made it without the fantastic lactation nurses and weekly support group at St. Joe's hospital. If you had your baby there, you can go to their free weekly support groups at 1:00PM on Thursdays- ask at the nursery where they meet.

Hi S.--

I didn't read all your responses so sorry if I repeat some things. First, for the pain, after nursing steep a regular tea bag in hot water for a few minutes and apply the bag to your nipples. It must be regular tea, not herbal. The tannins in the tea will shrink the blood vessels and decrease the pain. But be careful--the tea stains if it drips on anything! I used to do this a lot in the bathtub. Second, lanolin doesn't work. I'm not sure if you know what lanolin is--when they sheer sheep they take the oil off of the wool--that's lanolin. Not sure if you want your baby eating sheep sweat? I stopped using lanolin as soon as I found out that that is what it is. I found a product called earth mama angel baby nipple butter. It's fantastic! It's healing, and all natural and organic. You can get it online at earthmommaangelbaby.com. Put it on after every feeding. If you don't want to try this, olive oil will work better than the lanolin. Finally, and this will sound a little strange, try going to the chiropractor. The vertebrae at T4 directly supplies nerves to the nipple--if your upper back is out of alignment it can take longer for you to heal. Or if you don't have a chiropractor have your husband rub you on either side of the vertebrae (it will be sore). T4 is 4 vertebrae down from your collar bone.

Hope these are some different ideas than the what you've already gotten. Good luck!! And know that this too shall pass. Good for you for breastfeeding!

J.

Hi S.
I am a Lactation Consultant. It sounds like you need some help. Does the hospital you delivered at have Lactation Consultants? It really is not normal for pain and injury to last this long. I think you should make an appointment with a Consultant. It might not be anything to do with latch. Sometimes the baby needs help learning how to move his tongue when he is feeding or some babies have shorter tongues or tight jaws, etc. Often with professional help these can be treated. Call the hospital you delivered at to see if they have Lactation Consultants you can make an appointment with. If they don't or you just are not comfortable with them, get in with La Leche League in your area. They can offer huge amounts of support and can get you in touch with a professional if you cannot find one. La Leche League is a mom to mom support group of women who breastfed their babies and then had special training to support other mamas. They are life savers in so many situations, even if you just need someone who knows what you are going through.

You're doing everything right. Often times mommies with sore nipples give up. I really advise you to follow your doctor's advice. Keep on through this difficult time with the vision in mind that you will breastfeed this little sweetheart as long as you can. The benefits to him - and to you - are priceless. Some day very soon you will look back at this time and be glad you didn't give up. The bond that will be created by your unselfish determination will last forever. You go, momma!!

I'm not the only one who went through this????!! Mine got so bad that I bawled every time I would nurse! the two things that I did to relieve my situation was swith to 100% cotton nursing pads first - I don't know if I was allergic to the disposable ones but that change really helped. Then, when I finally went to a lactation specialist, she gave me some healing gel pads (I wish I could remember the name of them) which would keep my sores moist so they could heal. My OB didn't even know that these were available! Once I made those two changes, my whole situation changed from a horrible, painful experience to the bonding experience that breastfeeding should be. I'm just sad that it wasn't until my third child that I found this solution. I'm not sure where you are (live) but I went to the lactation specialist at the Orem Community Hospital.

I had a ton of pain for the first weeks of nursing, too (bruising, bleeding and blisters) I would almost pass out from the pain at first. I tried Lansinoh, but it didn't seem to be effective. I got a prescription ointment from my midwives. It's called "Newman's Ointment". It was miraculous!! It healed up my nipples quickly. I don't know if it's available in your area or not, but definitely check into it! Also, you can get some gel pads called "Soothies" at Walgreens. A lot of women swear by them. The last thing you can try is putting a drop or so of your own breastmilk all over your nipples and letting it dry (which you might already be doing).

I know It's hard to deal with, but it does get better. Nobody told me that breastfeeding isn't completely natural and it's really hard. After about 2 or 3 months (it seems like forever, but you can do it!) , I suddenly realized how easy it had become and the pain had gone away. I hope this helps!

S. first of all I am so sorry nursing is so hard when you have trouble and I have had all the problems there are to have between my 3 boys. I would be willing to bet that your problem is not the latch or the baby at all. I met you have a yeast infection or something like that. After 2 weeks if your latch is good and everything else is ok than you should be getting better. However if you have yeast your cracks will not heal and the pain is awful. Yeast is awful but you can beat it. I have had it with two of my babies. First I would call the warm line or the lactation specialist at the hospital they will direct you in the right direction. I know if you are on WICK that they have all kinds of helps and it is free. But first STOP using the lanolin cream it will just keep things warm and moist for growth. Second call your doctor and get him or her to call in a prescription for newmans ointment. This stuff will help with the pain and get it is an antifungal and antibacterial so it will help with the yeast. It is safe for the baby also. You need to get on asodopholis so help fight from getting internal yeast, and you need to keep everything clean, pacifiers, bras, blankets, bottles, etc. One other thing that I would do immedietly is buy some gencian violet you can get it at Wallgreens, rite aid, Good earth etc. You put this on your nipple and areole (spelling) either before nursing or right after and then swab babies mouth with it. It kills yeast on contact. Do this 2-3 times a day for a week. Then if you still have yeast get in touch with doc. I promise if you have yeast you will feel immediate relief with newmans and the violet. The violet is messy and your baby will have a purple mouth but right now you are probably fine with that.
Now if you are sure that you have nothing but cracked nipples which I seriously doubt. I have strong suckers also one of my babies was 10lbs 14oz and came out wanting steak and it still heals. Anyway you can pump on one side and nurse on the other if it is only one side that is bothering you. I had to do that just this last baby and it was annoying but it worked and all is well now. If you want to talk email me ____@____.com and i will give you my number. I have been through this and feel for anyone who is struggling with nursing. Just don't give up cause it is wonderful once you get it all figured out.
Good Luck
T.
I hope this makes sense I only have a minute so I am not going to read over it to check for errors.

I've been there! I had the same problems with painful cracked nipples when I breastfed my daughter. I found that pumping and giving her a bottle a couple times a day providing much needed relief and rest.
Good luck and hang in there - they will get better!

Oh, they will hurt for some time (sometimes). Everyone is different, so give it a little more time. After 3 kids & nursing 3xs, I'm always surprised at the pain etc and how long it lasts. Sometimes switching up the nursing position helps as well. Stick with it, do what you're doing and it will get better. If it feels too long to you (you're the best judge), I would suggest calling the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or talk to your OB. Hope that is helpful and Good Luck.

Hey S.,

I'm assuming your doctor didn't find any more severe problems like mastitis or anything, so really, you're almost to the point that they will start feeling better...you go girl! My nipples did hurt a ton and were cracked a bit, but that was the extent; I pushed through and they started feeling better after about 4-5 weeks.

Keep going, you're doing great!
M.

hello. i have nursed 5 children now and know exactly what you mean. are you on wic? if you are go to the office and ask if they can get you a nipple shield. it will help imensly. if they cant (they did for me) then call the le leache league and ask where to get one. i have a newborn too so i know how it can be. good luck.....A.

I went through the same thing with my first son, now 4. Lanolin did nothing for me but my sister told me about aquaphor by Eucerine (should be found at any store) that she used and it made a faster difference with me. The difference is that you have to wipe it off before the next feed but not that hard to do with a baby wipe or I had a bowl of water and wash cloth by my bed where I did most of the feedings. Her doctor said if she forgot to wash it off once it wouldn't be a huge deal but you do need to try to wash it off first. Well worth it. It's a little more pricey but what you don't use can also be used as diaper rash gel or first aid gel. The nurses told me the only reason for the cracking and bleeding is the baby not being latched on properly. I never had that with my second and nursing shouldn't cause that. I had read lots of books and the nurse showed me the first time how to do it so I thought I was fine but just even the slightest imperfection (not on enough, uneven, mouth not wide enough when latching, etc.) will cause that. I feel for you and think it's great you've lasted this long because it's very painful but it shouldn't last that long-it's not required. Make sure he's latched right especially in the area hard to see (maybe the pediatrician, doctor or someone else can help make sure if you're not-I thought my son was fine then found out he needed to be on a little more) and then the aquaphor should help. Mine lasted less than a week with it. Hope this helps. Hang in there!

I tried these breast pads called "Lilly Padz." They are like silicone and stick right to your breasts. You can wear them under your bra and even while swimming. They seemed to help keep everything well moistened. Good Luck! Hang in there!