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When does it get better?
Me again! Well am still sticking at it, exclusively breastfeeding, sheer pigheadedness mainly is keeping me going. But I am still not enjoying it and I feel anxious about the whole thing.
My nipples feel sore almost all of the time, feeding or not. The only time they feel better is in the shower with hot water over them. My boobs are not engorged, they are full but not hard and the boob itself is not uncomfortable, just my nipple. Is there ever a point when they go back to feeling how they did before breastfeeding whilst still breast feeding or only after I stop? ie will I ever be able to sleep without a bra and the sheets don't hurt just brushing against them? Will I ever latch him on and not experience that pain? Will they stop prickling and burning between feeds?
I can cope with it during the day, but in the wee small hours when I'm all alone (except for my fab b/f buddy!!) it makes me cry with frustration that this is not easy and I am not enjoying it one bit.
Please tell me it changes. Fred is now 3 weeks and 4 days old, my mw said I will notice a difference at a month and the Baby Whisperer book says to give it 40 days. will all my soreness go at any point? Please be honest, I just want to know what I'm letting myself in for for the next few months!
xx
My nipples feel sore almost all of the time, feeding or not. The only time they feel better is in the shower with hot water over them. My boobs are not engorged, they are full but not hard and the boob itself is not uncomfortable, just my nipple. Is there ever a point when they go back to feeling how they did before breastfeeding whilst still breast feeding or only after I stop? ie will I ever be able to sleep without a bra and the sheets don't hurt just brushing against them? Will I ever latch him on and not experience that pain? Will they stop prickling and burning between feeds?
I can cope with it during the day, but in the wee small hours when I'm all alone (except for my fab b/f buddy!!) it makes me cry with frustration that this is not easy and I am not enjoying it one bit.
Please tell me it changes. Fred is now 3 weeks and 4 days old, my mw said I will notice a difference at a month and the Baby Whisperer book says to give it 40 days. will all my soreness go at any point? Please be honest, I just want to know what I'm letting myself in for for the next few months!
xx
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Replies
Good luck x
Please don't despair!!! It was a good 4 weeks for me personally before I felt halfway comfortable feeding LO. As long as he has a good latch it really should'nt be much longer. Are you using lansinoh or anything similar? Its expensive but well worth it, particularly when your nipples are cracked as I found that they ended up sticking to my breast pads and I was pulling off the healing skin and reopening the wounds. Easing the pads off by dripping water down my nipples to loosen the stick helped.
I have to admit that Im pretty sure that the latch was my main problem for prolonging the agony - I know exactly how you feel though; toe-curling came nowhere near describing the excruciating pain I experienced for the first few weeks!!!
Are you able to drop in to see the mw's to check your latch and positioning of baby when feeding? If not only for extra support?
Good luck with however you go about sorting your feeding issues, it will get better one way or another.
One thing I will mention though, is the possibilty of nipple thrush (which I'd never heard of til I got it!) - you say you're getting pain in between feeds and this can be a sign of nipple thrush, although it isnlt necessarily - I had sort of shooting pains within my breast, behind my nipple, and turning over in bed was quite painful - this was before I noticed the shiny red nipples or whiteness in babies mouth that the books tell you about - if you are experiencing anyhting like this I suggest you see your HV who should be able to prescribe cream for you and something for baby to clear it up, and it'll make things feel much easier.
Good luck - and well done for getting this far, you're through the worst, honestly, it can will get better!
Well done you are through the worst honestly xx
PS am using Lansinoh and it is helping x
good luck you're doing great
just wanted to say that Im on day 17 of b'feeding and Ive also gone through this. Really contemplating giving up-esp at night alone with the pain being too much to bear.
I went along to a breastfeeding clinic recommended by my midwife which was excellent-basically a drop in at the hospital where you feed baby and they show you what you're doing wrong. Also been reading a book by Clare Byam-Cook who has alot of good advice and Ive been using nipple shields for te past few days which has helped enormously with the pain. I keep hearing the same thing though, that unless the 'latch' is correct the pain will continue so I dont know what to do about that really. I know if I stopped using the shields they'd start to hurt again-do try them though cause they really do help.
I think Im going to start logging on here at night time to see if any other stressed out new mums are online too lol!
Just think though our babies are getting the best possible start and even if we cant carry on as long as we want nothing can take that away.
Sarah.xx
lol was in the supermarket with OH the other day and practicully had to run thru the chilled section as my boobies couldn't take it - trying to explain it was making my boobs ache to OH - his face was a picture! xx