Latching on Problems

lansinoh is the only product that worked for me. It is a little weird, but it is worth it!

Good luck

M.

Hi,
Unfortunately I also experienced bleeding nipples, and I was told I had a breast infection. I had to take antibyotics for 5 days, and then it got much better.
In the meantime, you might "rest" your breasts a little by pumping and giving the bottle once a day to the baby instead giving the breast all the time.
Certainly try to talk to a lactation consultant, and she will tell you or show you how to have your baby latch properly.
Also, check if your baby is tongue tied...meaning if her tongue has a little skin attached to the bottom of her mouth that doesn't allow her to latch properly, and therefore she will chump on your nipple rather than suckle.
This was the case with my baby, but by the time I noticed it, and then went to a couple of doctors to have their opinion, it was to late to have it cut without anestesia, so we will have it cut this summer when she is 18 months, and certainly stronger than she was at 3 months.
Good luck and try to be strong, I know it is very painful to breastfeed with an infection, but if you can get thru this, the rest of the "breastfeeding road" will be better

YES YES YES! and it definitely hurts.

If you think there is a problem with the latch definitely see a lactation consultant. Know that the latch can be good and you might still have it some in the beginning. My second son latched very well from the beginning and I still had bleeding nipples.

Lansinoh is good, but somehting else that really helps is salt water. I put warm salt water in cups. The cups will make a seal around your breast (as long as you have the right size cup) so you can sit up with it and don't have to lean over with your breasts in a cup. Do it for about 10 minutes a time several times a day. I always rinsed off afterwards because I didn't want my baby to get the salt. You will notice an improvement very quickly - like a day or two.

Good luck!

I was very sore with both of my kids (cracked and bleeding with my first). Make sure that the baby is latching on correctly, this is usually the problem. However, if your child is gaining weight, but you're still feeling sore, have the doctor check to see if your baby is tounge-tied. My first was (but I didn't know it), and I was sore for 3 months. After each feeding let your nipples air out, try Lansinoh nipple cream (sold at Target, WalMart). If it doesn't seem to be getting any better, you might want to talk to a lactation consultant, she might have some more ideas. There are several on staff at Kent General, one on base, and I think one at the WIC office. Good luck.

Having a visit by a lactation consulatant will help give you some ideas as to why your nipples are damaged. You may need to pump that side for 24 hours and feed your baby another way so that your nipples can heal. Please call us to get some help. I don't know how old your baby is to give exact info to you. Sorry. It is important for you to get help so that you can continue to nurse!
Mothering Mommies, LLC ###-###-####

You have a bad latch. Talk to an IBCLC lactation consultant.

In the meantime, try to make sure that baby's mouth is wide open when baby latches and put lanolin on the nipples. They will heal within a few days once you get the latch corrected.

Oh, that stinks!!! I remember it well. I can't help you with solving the problem of the latch (my kids had a hard time too). But as for the bleeding, this worked well for me.

Be very religious about putting on the lanolin ointment for nursing moms. After the baby nurses, fill a small container with warm salty water and emerse your nipples in it. I would fill up two cups and look ridiculous hanging over the side of a sink trying not to spill but trying to somehow get both in at the same time. Not a pretty picture, but it is amazing how well it works. They will heal much faster. Nothing else worked for me. I had this problem for months and when I was good about the salt water (hard to do at 3am) it worked really well. Cut the healing time in half. It stings, so hold your breath for the first minute. I hated doing it but I did it because the bleeding nipples was much worse.

Good luck to you. I hope this helps. You do what you have to do to get through it. My babies worked it out after about a 6 weeks. I know it's tough, but it's so great that you are continuing to try to nurse. Be stong!

Liz

Need a bit more detail about exactly what the problem is in order to give latch advice. For the bleeding, make sure you are letting your nipples dry completely after each feeding, and apply lanolin. It should help the soreness.

If necessary, express milk and feed using a syringe (to avoid nipple confusion)

You can try contacting La Leche League, or you can contact me if you need more specific latch advice. I'm not a professional, but I'm nursing my 3rd, and had latch problems with 2, so I've become rather "efficent" at fixing problems.

We did. Ouch!! The magic cure for us was a little blurb I saw in a book some 20 years ago. It suggested aiming my nipple toward the roof of baby's mouth, rather than the back of baby's mouth. The result is that more of the bottom of the aureola is in baby's mouth, which is exactly the advice Dr. Newman gives today for proper latch.

Try to get in contact with a lactation consultant from the hospital where you delivered or the La Leche League. They will help you.

Meanwhile maybe these links will help?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplehealing.html
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/nipplepain.htm
and here's a link for the Baltimore LLL http://local.thenestbaby.com/ListingView.aspx?lid=472362&...

Get some Lansinoh. It is available just about everywhere. I would apply it after you nurse it will help with healing. You can also express a little milk after nursing and rub it on your nipples to help with healing. Then I would make sure that you have a good latch and if the baby does not latch right take him off and keep trying until he gets it right. I would also call La Leche League immediately. They are the very best source for breastfeeding and free. You can find your closest local contact on their website. I would NOT stop breastfeeding or supplement with formula. You can get through this and it will not hurt to nurse and you will enjoy the time with your baby and knowing that you persevered to give your baby the very best nutrition available

I would call a lactation specialist, your baby may not be latching on properly...they really need part of the areola and nipple in their mouths (taking it to the backs of their throats)and this can take some practice. If you do use a pump...human milk should never be microwaved or heated on the stove, both alter the composition of the milk.

Just some experience to share:
I had a huge bleeding issue with my first (and everything worked without a hitch for #2, so don't fear!) I guess my nipples just weren't ready to nurse.

I delayed seeking help (I didn't know who to call). Finally, I called the hospital where I gave birth, and the lactation consultant helped me. She helped me to make sure I was getting my child latched on properly. Then she gave me some breast cups that held my bra away from my nipples so that when I wasn't nursing, my nipples had air and no fabric friction to help them heal. (going "flaps down" on your nursing bra and without a shirt at home is great for this too) I also got a triple ointment (a steroid to help healing, an antibiotic and another ingredient). For a day, I hand expressed from the "bad" side to let my nipples heal (pumps are really hard on your nipples). I got through it in a week or so.

Don't be afraid to ask for help - it will get you through this rough patch faster! And don't give up. Nursing is the best thing you can do for your infant!

I had sore and bleeding nipples with all five of my children. I mostly took a lot of Tylenol and only committed to continuing to breast feed one feeding at a time, but I did find strategies that helped. I also breast fed all of my babies the entire first year -- my husband's family has really scary allergies.

Early on, I met with lactation consultants -- Alexandria Hospital and Prince William Hospital both provided free consultations to patients. For my little babies, positioning very squarely on a boppy with my feet raised a little helped. Trying to change positions every feeding didn't. One lactation consultant suggested clipping a piece of tissue under my son's tongue, but I refused. Twelve years later, both my husband and my daughter got the same clipping because it's not only bad for breastfeeding, it's bad for teeth and gums.

One of the worst contributing factors for breast pain for my babies was thrush. For my first child, one round of Nystatin helped A LOT. For my second, three rounds helped. After that, our thrush was Nystatin-resistant and the bleeding became a chronic issue. Breastfeeding worked better with my third child when I used the Medela breastfeeding Ointment before every hot shower and went swimming every four days. The pool chemicals killed the thrush, but if my skin got too dry, my nipples would still crack and bleed. Olive oil helped a little. Baking soda DID NOT HELP -- it bubbled under my skin and hurt a LOT. I also drank "Mother's Milk" tea, Raspberry tea, and "Pau D'Arco" tea (with lots of Vitamin C and honey-- otherwise it taste somewhat nasty) I tried the restrictive anti-fungal low sugar diet, but I wasn't up to keeping up with it enough to tell if it worked. I took tylenol, drank LOTS of water, and played relaxing music. For my fifth child I did two rounds of the really old-fashioned thrush cure -- gentian violet dye. It made a HUGE mess everywhere, but it was cheap and it worked better than Nystatin or pool chemicals.

Be careful to use the owee breast. A bleeding breast that stays engorged easily becomes mastitis -- and feeding with mastitis is even worse than feeding with a bloody nipple. When it really hurts too much on that side, pumping changes where the breast hurts and is worth doing.

I still bonded with my babies, though I never considered breastfeeding a good way to do that. We loved long walks under trees, watching her explore, and cuddling to music.

My daughter in now 19yrs old and just got married. However what worked for us was tea bags....sounds funny but make a glass of chamomille tea to relax, then use those warm tea bags on your nipples...careful it will stain your bra. It is comforting and will help heal the nipples. good luck.
mj

Hi,
I has a daughter that is going to be two. When she was first born I had a very rough first two months. I had an infection an was back in the hospital on IV antibiotics for two weeks, but continues to breast feed. When I came home I noticed that it was very hard on me breast feeding, my nipples were cracking and bleeding. I tried pumping and bottle feeding but it was just as bad and I continued to bleed. we kept trying even though some feeding I was in tears before she even started because it hurt so bad. Then one morning she starting pushing away and I noticed she had some white patches inside her mouth. We both went to the doctors and found out that she developed thrush (a yeast infection of the mouth) from breast feeding while I was on antibiotics and I had mastisis and a secondary breast infection. My breast got red and swollen and hot to the touch, I was running a fever and feeling dizzy, not good. I should have gone in before it got to that point but as a first time mom sometimes you don't know what to expect.
So if you are having any pain I would get to the doctors to make sure you don't have a breast infection. Breast feeding is supposed to be a great bonding time for the both of you and is not supposed to be painful, maybe uncomfortable for the first week but after that you shouldn't have any problems. SOrry if I scared you a little but I had a very bad experience and don't want to see anyone else have the same issues I did.

Good luck
K.

I had all sorts of problems nursing my son, who is now 6. Get to a good lactation consultant for help with it all. Also, you can contact the La Leche League. Try Lanisoh for your nipples. Hang in there, you are doing the BEST thing possible by nursing your babe and it WILL get easier!! :)
S.

KJ, I noticed several posts from you. It would be a great idea to go to a La Leche League meeting in your area.

There are 3 in Baltimore...
http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/nwbaltimore.shtml
http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/towsonlutherville.shtml
http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/harfordcounty.shtml

La Leche is a mother to mother breastfeeding support group with free monthly meetings, free telephone support from accredited leaders and (usually) a free lending library with books on childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting and nutrition.

My daughter is going to be 4 in two weeks but I remember like it was yesterday! I tried and tried breastfeeding but had what I called a vampire baby :) I would end up with painful, horrible bloody nipples and a baby with a bloody face instead of a milk mustache. That was only in the first week or two - she seemed to be having such a hard time.

One night my husband saw that I was having a really hard time and that my daughter was getting extremely frustrated, he broke open a sample formula and fed her while I tried to figure out what to do. I knew I didn't want her on formula, I wanted to give her the benefits that only breastmilk can provide.

The next day I called the lactation specialist at our hospital and was not thrilled with the "help" she was giving me in trying to teach me about breastfeeding, but I tried anyway. Then I decided to start pumping (with an cheap portable pump) and called another lactation specialist at the hospital - who was very helpful. She taught me about the differences in pumps and I decided it was the only way I could give my baby breastmilk and keep both of us from the extreme frustration not to mention pain. I pumped for a little more than nine months without needing to supplement with formula, and if I have another child I will do it again and skip the attempt at "breastfeeding" altogether.

There are so many benefits and very few disadvantages. I guess the best one for me was when my sister said something about going out to dinner alone with her husband after their daughter was born and hearing a baby cry in the restaurant and her milk letting down - never had that problem. While I did pump right after feeding my daughter a bottle of milk I had pumped earlier, I could pump anytime and my brain didn't connect it with a crying baby, I still lost the baby weight (usually associated with breastfeeding) but never had to be uncomfortable out in public needing to feed my baby. Even though breast milk has to be kept cold, there are microwaves in ever convenience store or fast food restaurant. You just have to be extremely careful reheating and making sure it is evenly heated with no hot spots - but that is like heating any other bottle. I hope this long rambling story helps you! God bless you and your baby!

Kenya -

I have breasfed three children successfully but have had latching issues with bleeding nipples. So I understand how painful and frustrating it can be. All the advice I read here is great. Definitely contact a lactation specialist through the hospital or look online and contact the local LaLeche League. (I did that and just dialed one of the local people directly -- she was great even though she had no idea who I was.) The lansinoh is a great product -- FYI you can get the generic "store" brand (CVS sells theirs) for about 40% cheaper per tube. It's just pure lanolin -- ask the pharmacist and they'll be able to tell you. When I had bleeding nipple problems it was because my son would latch great but then slide down to the tip of the nipple. Every time I tried to break the suction and re-latch, he'd successfully latch and then slide down. The lactation specialist at the hospital told me to try latching him while he was facing me, sitting up in my lap. I know it sounds weird -- it did to me too. But it made all the difference in the world. H was forced to latch differently because of the angle and he couldn't slide down as much. I hope some of this helps you. Hang in there -- you will be so glad you did!

A. T.

I had that issue when in the first several weeks after my son was born. I contact the nearest La Leche League leader and she came to my home to help. Also went to meetings in my area. If that doesn't work for you, the breastfeeding center in DC on K St. is an excellent resource.
Things that I did that helped. Expressed milk and put it on my nipples and let air dry. Kept my shirt off at home as much as possible. Kept nursing. Used Bach flower remedies.
I nursed my son for 2 yrs.
Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.
L.

I had that problem at first with my daughter not latching on right. She was getting just the very tip of my nipple. Maybe that is what is happening to you & you need to get your baby to open his/her mouth wider. what they told me to do in the hospital was to rub my nipple over her mouth & when she opened her mouth to shove her head to my breast so she would get the whole nipple. If I were you I would try that or you could also call your local hospital & ask to speak with some one in the lactation department they will be able to give you all kinds of pointers. There is also a cream you can get to put on your nipple when you are done nursing. I don't remember what it is called but it is in a purple tube & you can find it at any department store with the breast pumps. Hope this helps & keep up the good work nursing your baby, you both will get the hang of it soon.

Hi Kenya,

With my 3rd child, we had problems. My right side was always hurting & not long after I left the hospital, my daughter had swallowed so much blood that she spit it up & it freaked me out. I went to the doctor & explained to them the situation. What I had to do to fix it was to pump that breast. She latched onto my left side fine, so I fed her from that side & pumped the right. I put lots of lanolin on it & would not let her eat on that side for a week. We then tried again. It was a long, painful process, but she eventually figured out how to latch. But, if your nipples are bleeding, the docs will tell you to keep her off of them til they are better. The pumping hurt, but not near as bad as her suction. Try that for a week or two & see how it goes.

Yes!!! So painful!! Get some Lansinoh and rub it on your nipples...a lot. It's safe for your baby to ingest and it really helps with the cracking and bleeding (and pain). You can find it in the baby aisle of most stores...it's a small purple tube in a purple box. I went through many tubes between my 2 babies!

I feel your pain. Sounds like a latch problem. Call the hospital where you delivered and try to get an appointment with a lactation consultant. You really need to go in with the baby at feeding time so the consultant can see what is going on when you try to latch. St.Agnes runs a little clinic every Tuesday from 10-12. I delivered my son there and we made many Tuesday trips. After each feeding you should express some milk and rub it into your nipple. Breast milk is very healing. Then before covering your breast make sure that the nipple has dried completely and rub in lanolin. Lansinoh is nice and thick, but the Medela brand is thinner and rubs in better. It is your personal perference. After showering try using a blow dryer on low to make sure the area is dry. I found this advice to be strange, but very effective. Try to hang in there. My son had my right side terribly messed up. It took a long time to get him to latch on comfortably. He nursed right up until he weaned himself at 16 and 1/2 months. It is awful while you are going through it, but it is only temporary. Good luck.

Hi Kenya,

Contact the La Leche League.

www.lllusa.org/VA/WebTidewaterVA

Use a lubricant between nursings.

Hope this helps. D.

The same thing happened to me when I first started nursing both my children. The lactation consultant recommended a saline solution- I believe it was 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of warm water, though it has been a while. She told me to soak a breast pad- those things you put over your nipples to prevent leaks- and then apply it to my nipple. Then leave it on until it's not warm anymore and let it air dry, then apply lanolin. It really helped me. She also told me to pump on one breast every other feeding, but that didn't work for me, cause it hurt to pump too. But the saline solution really felt good.

Hi Kenya,
I would recommend seeing an LC to make sure your baby is latching properly. I had experienced some bleeding with my second child and used a nipple shield for a little while with her.
I am glad to see that a few people recommended you use Lansinoh. I work for Lansinoh and would be happy to send you a tube of the lanolin if you provide me your mailing address. Please do not try the store generic brands, like someone mentioned because of cheaper costs. The generic brands are not 100% pure lanolin, like Lansinoh is, they contain preservatives, and are watered down.
If you are interested in getting a tube, just email me your address. My email is ____@____.com

Best of luck
Dani

I would contact the Breastfeeding consultants at the WIC office. ###-###-####. ask for Ms. Shawn or Ms. Sharon, Each and every call I've made my questions was answered. She/they was very helpful.:)I'm sure she'll be helpful to you.

p.s there are moms out here who wish they could be where you are! Keep up the good work!