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I'm asking this on behalf of my wife. Our newborn (2 weeks) son had trouble starting to breast feed but soon got into it along with my wife. Now my wife finds it VERY painful (cracked nipples etc...). She has checked with the midwife that she is doing it correctly (latching on etc) and everything seems okay. She now wants to stop breast feeding (even though we'd prefer to stay with breast feeding) and move to bottled feeds (we have tried a bottle with him and he seems ok with it). Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.

2006-07-20 04:27:57 · 43 answers · asked by Michael T 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting Newborn & Baby

43 answers

Please let your wife know that breastfeeding isn't supposed to be painful, and there are things that can be causing the sore nipples. The issue is often related to latch or position. The MW says latch is fine, but double check everything. Is the baby nursing only on the nipple? This will cause a lot of pain for your wife; the baby should have part of the breast tissue surrounding the nipple in his mouth, and this is the tissue that should be compressed while he sucks. Also, if your wife's breasts are heavy, she needs to support them while the baby nurses. If he is latching on correctly but the breasts are heavy, the weight of them will cause the nipple to slip down in his mouth, causing ineffective sucking.

One trick that works for many women is to try what is called a "nipple sandwich." Your wife should cup her breast so that her hand is underneath it (use the same side hand and breast...don't cross over). Bring the thumb to the top of the nipple, and the first and second fingers on the opposite side. From that position, have her move both thumb and fingers about and inch and half away from the nipple. Before the baby latches on, flatten the nipple by squeezing gently. Insert this flattened nipples and tissue into the baby's mouth. Wait for the baby to latch on and then slowly release the fingers. This will ensure that the baby is getting enough of the surrpunding tissue in his mouth.

Another issue to check it the baby's position. At two weeks, he should be elevated off your wife's lap (use pillow or a boppy). His nose should be in line with the nipple when nursing. His body should not be angled either into your wife's body or away from it, but as parallel as possible. Even a slight turning in and out can affect how he latches.

Has the MW checked to baby to see if he is tongue tied? Is he is, this is surely keeping him from efficient sucking. Lift the baby's tongue and see if the muslce is attached at the very front. If it is, he may be tongue tied.

If her nipples looked blanched after he nurses, it may be that she is suffering from suction trauma. If after he nurses, the nipples are white or blueish, the baby isn't nursing properly and likely needs more breast tissue in his mouth. If this is the case, a simple home remedy is to brew a regular tea bag, let it cool, and place the tea bag over the nipple. Lanisoh is a great topical as well, and can be bought at most drugstores.

I would really encourage your wife to put in a call to her local La Leche League. A leader will return her call and in some cases may even make a house call. You can find the group nearest you at: http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html

If all else fails, please take your wife to see a certified lactation consultant. A LC will watch your wife nurse the baby and offer live help on correcting problems. Most hospitals have an LC on call during business hours, and some have them after hours as well.

My third baby was born via c-section and I had a very difficult time overcoming latching problems. It was only because I knew from nursing the other two that breastfeeding shouldn't be so painful that I decided to get help. If it had been my first child, I might have given up. I visited a LC and she helped me get over the issue immediately, and we've been nursing happily ever since.

Please, please let your wife know that she can get help, and to keep trying. Breastmilk is far and away the superior food for babies, contributing to better brain develoment, and many health benefits for mama. Hang in there, call LLL, get help if your LLL rep can't help out... but know that it doesn't have to be painful and the problems can be corrected. Good luck to you and your family.

2006-07-20 04:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by mylittletribe 3 · 6 1

First of all, call a local La Leche League Leader (see sources section below). She needs *expert* help with latching on. Breastfeeding is *not* supposed to hurt!! If the midwife can't tell her what is wrong, go to someone more knowledgeable!! Keep in mind that Leaders are all volunteers working out of their own homes while raising their own kids; if you don't get an answer, try again or call a different Leader.

Until you can get the help, here are a few suggestions. Be sure that baby is *very* close to mother while nursing. With a symmetrical latch (aiming nipple at baby's mouth; nipple in the middle of the mouth), baby's nose and chin should be touching the breast; with an asymmetrical latch (nipple aimed at baby's nose, more breast in baby's mouth near the chin), the chin should be pressing the breast. Baby's mouth should be *wide* open (this may be something *you* can see better than your wife); look at the corner of his mouth while she is nursing. The angle should be very wide. If she's been using the symmetrical latch, try the asymmetrical.

Do *not* give any artificial nipples (bottle or pacifier)--these teach baby a very different type of suck and can cause sore nipples. Even *one* bottle can cause weeks of pain for the mother!!

Nurse frequently. While this sounds even more painful, a baby who is nursing every hour and a half to two hours is not ravenously hungry and will nurse more gently. Time feedings from the *beginning* of one feeding to the beginning of the next.

If you are *sure* the problem isn't thrush (more likely if mother or baby has had antibiotics at any time in the last year), then purified lanolin (be sure it is *purified*!!) may help. There are at least 2 brands--Lansinoh and Medela's PureLan. Apply a drop after each feeding. Do *not* remove before the next feeding.

Do *not* clean the nipples more than necessary--once a day with plain water. More often than this and/or using harsh chemicals can do serious damage. Do not use breast pads with any plastic in them.

Do not pump--a pump can also do damage. Concentrate on getting the nursing right first.

Under *no* circumstances use cabbage leaves!! They are used to *dry up* the milk, not to treat sore nipples!!

2006-07-20 06:16:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

First off, if you want to keep breastfeeding and your wife is up to it, use a breast pump to express milk and feed baby expressed milk in the bottle.

Is your wife making sure that baby is completely emptying the first breast used for feeding? IF the breast are being emptied and baby is latching on correctly...she shouldn't be experiencing any pain.

I must say, i never experienced any pain or problems and I'm still nursing my 6mth old. There is a cream that you can use by Lansinoh. Its a cream that's applied directly to the nipple and it soothes them and it doesn't have to be removed before nursing. Another thing she could do is make sure after baby nurses that she lets her "sisters" hang out and get air. The breast are sensitive like babies bottom...sometimes you have to allow them to hang out to dry.

Your midwife should have other suggestions but tell you wife to hang in there...its so worth it to breastfeed and again if your wife is willing, try using a pump and they have some fairly cheap ones that work well. I got an electric MEDELA pump from Target on sale for 20.00 and it has worked very well. I also received some pump supplies from the hospital when baby was born that really helped.

Good luck!

2006-07-20 04:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by bib 2 · 0 0

Hi,

Firstly congratulations on your new arrival!

Most mothers find they have some discomfort when breastfeeding ( and we thought no more pain after labour!) Creams and lotions can help, ask your midwife, however these can cause problems as they have to be washed away before the next feed to ensure baby isn't taking in anything they shouldn't be.

May I suggest cabbages, a savorey cabbage helped me breastfeed my son until he was 5 months old ( when he started teething) Put the cabbage in the fridge and between feeds place in the bra, the cabbage will be cool from the fridge and give relief to chapped and aching nipples. Its natural so no harm to baby and also ( as your wife will know if she's read Briget Jones -regarding Magda's breast feeding problems) the cabbage also cures and prevent infections which are very common with breastfeeding.

Also if you find no answers on here , if you are in the uk most NHS hospitals offer breastfeeding classes. These do cover technique the same as your midwife, however the most valuable aspect has to be the bonding with other parents ( fathers are welcome here to ) and shared remidies.

At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with bottle feeding, formula is full of what your baby needs,but if you and you're wife would prefer to stick with breastfeeding I'd do that. There's loads of support and its great bonding for Mother, Baby and Father.

Good Luck babe and all the best for your new family. Let us know how it turns out.

Deborah

2006-07-20 04:43:07 · answer #4 · answered by Deborah 1 · 0 0

I feel for your wife, because I had very sore, cracked and dry nipples when first breast feeding my son. It can be a nightmare (I have memories of bags of frozen peas in my bra).

You can get a special nipple cream that you don't have to wash off before breastfeeding. Ask your chemist, cuz I can't remember what it's called. Anyway, a little on each nipple after feeding can help to soothe the dryness and cracks. It is a bit pricey, but worth it for that bit of relief. Also, your wife can take the occasional paracetemol if the pain is too much. It will not hurt the child.

Other than that, she can feed from the least sore breast and hand express from the other to allow some recovery time. Then switch when the other one heals. My midwife did not recommend me doing this, but I did it anyway, and I found it really helped.

It's a painful process, but I found that it does lessen as time goes on and as your breasts become more used to the constant feeding demands of a young baby.

Congrats on your new arrival, BTW :o)

2006-07-20 04:37:00 · answer #5 · answered by Disgruntled Biscuit 4 · 0 0

I had pain at first too, with cracked and bleeding nipples, but it got better in a few days and I'm so glad I stuck with it! Your wife will be too. Latch-on is the worst part of a feeding when nipples are sore and cracked, but once the baby is latched on, it will start to hurt less. Then in a week or so she won't have any pain at all.

If she continues having problems, she should call a La Leche League leader (check the phone book) or contact a lactation consultant (check with the midwife or pediatrician).

Good luck! Don't give up!

2006-07-20 05:04:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

When I first started breastfeeding my daughter I had the same problem. I went and bought Purlan 100 it's a lotion for the nipples and you have to rub it on every time you get done feeding and some times if it's real bad it might take a little time to heal. Also if you try pumping it in bottles and breast milk bags and store it in the freezer you can breast feed that way, the pump shouldn't hurt your nipple and the baby is still getting breast milk

Hope that helps. I breast feed my daughter as long as I could and beleave me I know it's hard. So don't give up your doing the best thing for your baby:)

2006-07-20 04:42:19 · answer #7 · answered by mybreannagirl 1 · 0 0

I had cracked nipples when I was breast feeding and yes, it really does hurt. If your wife is determined to carry on, then good on her, and there are things that she can do to get through this.
1) try expressing whilst the nipples are sore rather than latching him on - to give them time to heal
2) rub a little breast milk into the nipple - this really does help
3) Use some Lanisnoh cream - its £9.99 a tube but is brilliant, lasts for ages and doesn't need to be washed off before feeding.
4) Try and have some time to let the air to her nipples to promote healing

Its a decision that only she can make, and if she does decide to stop, don't let her feel that she has failed - she really hasn't! 2 weeks is brilliant.

There's a link below which may be useful for her.

2006-07-20 22:41:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Just quit. Gosh, do you want your wife in pain and have a grumpy mother to your child? It's really not that serious. Get her some nipple help from a doctor and get some formula and bottles. It's not the end of the world. Everyone will be happier, and your lazy bum can help out too.

Oh, *Professional* tends to be very pro breastfeeding at all costs, even if the womans nipple is hanging on by a nerve ending and a sinew. be cautious of her advice and the La Leche League. What you two need is a liscensed physician experienced in these things to properly advise you. No woman should have to hurt like that. It's not your call, it's your wife's, respect that.

2006-07-20 07:13:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I teach women to breast feed as part of my job and it should never really hurt that much, sore nipples are usually due to the nipple not going far enough back into the babies mouth, you have a soft palate further back which is where the nipple should go but if the nipple is to far forward it rubs on the hard part of the babies mouth and causes pain. Start with babies chin touching the breast, his nose opposite the nipple, baby should then reach up for the nipple and take most of the breast tissue in his mouth (try swallowing with your chin on your chest, its difficult!!) When baby is on correctly you shouldnt be able to see much or any of the top of the aveoli, no slurping or clicking should be heard as a seal is formed when he is on properly. Find out if your hospital has a specialist feeding coordinator or breastfeeding advisor and see if she will visit, we have one at our hospital that goes around visiting ladies having problems. No disrespect to your midwife but we see so many who say that babies are latched on correctly and arent. It really shouldnt hurt like that. I am not saying i think bottle feeding is wrong it just sounds like you would prefer to stick with breastfeeding. I hope this helps xx

2006-07-20 12:00:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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