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Breastfeeding - I can't take the pain anymore
in Baby
Hi everyone,
I think the hormones are kicking in hard core today!
My baby is only 3 days old and have struggled a bit with breastfeeding but have had a lot of support from midwives etc on how to get her to latch on etc. I thought I was doing ok but i'm just in so much pain. My milk started coming in yesterday too so that probably doesn't help but it just hurts so much.
I was feeding my baby earlier today when she pulled off and I saw my nipple was bleeding, alot. Then I winded her and she was sick and there was alot of blood in it. I burst into tears as I felt so awful.
I was really considering putting her onto formula but haven't yet. I expressed a bottle this morning as my boobs were so full and ended up giving it to hear for her next feed as I couldn't stand it. Because of that my boobs are like rocks as she didn't feed from them last time. I hope this is making sense!
I'm about to go for a bath and have bought some gel pads so will put those on after but my baby will need feeding again at 7.30pm and i'm dreading it.
I feel like such a failure. All I have to do is feed her and I already want to give in. I'm crying as i'm writting this as wish I wasn't such a wimp.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so what did you do and if you put your baby onto formula, did you really regret it and feel bad or was it the right decision.
I don't have a problem with formula at all, so don't know why i'm feeling like this. Probably the hormones!
Thank you for reading this,
Amy xxxxxxxxxxx
I think the hormones are kicking in hard core today!
My baby is only 3 days old and have struggled a bit with breastfeeding but have had a lot of support from midwives etc on how to get her to latch on etc. I thought I was doing ok but i'm just in so much pain. My milk started coming in yesterday too so that probably doesn't help but it just hurts so much.
I was feeding my baby earlier today when she pulled off and I saw my nipple was bleeding, alot. Then I winded her and she was sick and there was alot of blood in it. I burst into tears as I felt so awful.
I was really considering putting her onto formula but haven't yet. I expressed a bottle this morning as my boobs were so full and ended up giving it to hear for her next feed as I couldn't stand it. Because of that my boobs are like rocks as she didn't feed from them last time. I hope this is making sense!
I'm about to go for a bath and have bought some gel pads so will put those on after but my baby will need feeding again at 7.30pm and i'm dreading it.
I feel like such a failure. All I have to do is feed her and I already want to give in. I'm crying as i'm writting this as wish I wasn't such a wimp.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? If so what did you do and if you put your baby onto formula, did you really regret it and feel bad or was it the right decision.
I don't have a problem with formula at all, so don't know why i'm feeling like this. Probably the hormones!
Thank you for reading this,
Amy xxxxxxxxxxx
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Replies
take care & good luck.
I cant tell you what to do, but if you do go onto formula you have nothing at all to feel bad about! If you really want to keep bf it does get easier really it does! Abbie is 10 months now and we are still going,
If you would like any help or anything then my email address is mel_hackworth@hotmail.com im not claiming to be an expert but ive been through and come out the other side of the pain, we have experienced all problems, cracked nipples, thrush, mastitus so i might be able to help, i have msn also if you want to add me
Good luck love mel xxx
I think that whatever you decide then it'll be the best decision but I can say it definately gets easier the longer you do it and although it hurts, that does stop. I remember stamping my feet and clutching a cloth to stop me from screaming sometimes - my dh thought I was going mad!! (I know Jools Oliver, Jamie's wife went through this too so I was in good company!)
It might help to express from the bleeding boob and feed you lo from the other until it's healed a little.
Hope it goes well!
personally i was glad i didn't give up, maybe get midwife/ hv to check for thrush/infection and latching on properly.
i can't quite remember how long it takes for your boobs to settle down, i'm sure it's only a few days... can anyone help on that one??
at the end of the day make sure your doing what YOU want to do, that's the most important thing xx.
I really feel for you at the moment its so so tough when you are in this amount of pain.I too had very sore nipples about 8 months ago when my lo was newborn.It was tough but the good news is we got through it and I am still breast feeding her now.
You def should get the Lanisoh cream its about ??10.00 a tube but so worth the money.Use loads of it on your nipples don't be mean with it !!
I would also soak in the bath and put warm flannels on my breasts.I couldn't shower as the water felt like needles on my nipples.
Double check your position when b/f my m/w told me count to 10 after baby latched on if its still really sore then break babys latch with your little finger and start again.
I also b/f loads lying down in bed I don't know why but it was less painful
When my milk came in I cried all day its normal to feel like this!!
Make sure you get as much rest when you can and limit visitors your rest is more important.
If after all you decide to bottle feed formula then don't feel guilty.I tried to breast feed my 1st baby and went onto formula after a week as it was just not working out.He is a very healthy strong 6 year old and he didn't care where is milk came from in the end .I think us mums do a good job of beating ourselves up over everything.You have and are trying your best by your baby - that is all you can do.
Good luck with it all and congrats on your lovely new baby.
I was really nervous when i started breastfeeding as i'm sure everyone is, it was soo painful i used to squeeze my partners hand or a pillow everytime a feed was due cause i felt so tense, my mum told me to hang on in there for 2 weeks as it will get easier i couldnt see that happening but i bought some lasinoh nipple cream and before each feed used to put a bit on each nipple (it doesnt harm baby), after a few days using this it felt more comfortable and after 2-3 weeks i was okay, i carried on using the cream for 4 months and then didnt need to. It really helped me and i didnt suffer with bleeding or chapped nipples which i know can make things so much harder. Also, and i know its diff but try try try to be calm and relaxed, dont rush and get yourself worked up if baby is not latching on properly just keep taking you lo off and on until the latch is comfortable as if it isnt it will be painful, just take your time honestly that way in time you will be so natural at it and once you lo does discover the proper way to latch she will just do it naturally then both of you can sit and enjoy the lovely closeness of eachother!!
Good luck, i promise you are not alone and that it does get easier xxxxxxxxxxxx
I totally understand what u are going throu, i have been there myself with my son Arthur when he was little, i bf him for 5 weeks and i couldnt handle it anymore due to fact hes always on my breast every half hour!!!
What i did at first when i was in pain and bleeding like urself is i express some milk and rub it around my nipples and arora area as well and then i put my nipple on top of my sons lips so he can clash on with whole mouth and its did work
Give it a try and see what happened hunni
Good luck and its will get easier trust me!
Cheriste xxxxxxx
Lansinoh is definately worth the money... use it lots and it will help.
I started introducing formula feeds at around 2 weeks cause I was so sore and my son was constantly hungry and now at 11 weeks old he's doing absolutely fine on a combination of breast feeding and formula feeding. The one big thing I did that really helped with the soreness was after I started introducing formula feeds, I spent one day solely expressing for feeds and he had formula and expressed milk only so it gave my nipples a much needed rest and things got easier from there. I found that introducing formula took some of hte pressure off and after an initial guilt trip I felt so much better and my son is happy and gaining weight so I don't feel bad at all.
I was originally told that if the latch is right then it shouldn't hurt but so many midwives in hospital told me that was rubbish.. I think it does get easier as your nipples toughen up ..
Hope you figure out what works for you..
it does get better, yeah your boobs will feel like melons but they do soften, and persivere coz it is worth it! RELAX
fea x
There's so much pressure on us to b/f now, but you have to do what's right for you n baby, what makes you both comfortable and happy. My sis in law's baby is 6 weeks old and she only b/f for 3 days, she didn't want to throughout her pregnancy but felt that she had to. Don't worry about anyone else, do what you want to do, take care x
All your advice has been so hepful.
Well its now the next day and i'm still going.
I can't bear even the thought of breastfeeding her at the mo so have been expressing which hasn't hurt me at all. I have given her my milk from a bottle for the last 4 feeds and have another bottle waiting. My nipples are already so much better.
I have now bought some Lansinoh and I think it might already be doing the trick. I didn't know you could put it on BEFORE a feed though so i'll try that when I get the courage to feed her again.
I also bought some gel pads, so thank you for that tip too. I bought some for my stitches whilst I was there so hoping they help too!
I'm sending hubby off to buy some breast sheld thingys in a min.
I'm really trying to make this work so i'm hoping it will!
Thank you again for all your advice.
Its nice just knowing that its not just me!
Amy xxxxxxxx
Good Luck, hope it starts to feel easier soon
Kerry xx
Hope things are going better for you. My lo is now 2 weeks old and I'm still going with the breast feeding, although had really sore nipples to begin with. I did what you have been, and expressed from the worst side and just fed her from the better side, for a few days.
Lansinoh cream is amazing, and I experimented with all the different positions to get her to latch on better, but the best tip my mw gave me was to expose my nipple to air as much as possible. So there I sat for hours with hubby on the sofa watching TV with my boobs hanging out! It worked though, the scabs soon healed up and now it doesn't hurt at all to feed and I'm really enjoying it.
Good luck and hope you can keep it going.
Niki and Evie xx
hi everyone I wonted to ask i just gave birth one week before and today I have to much pain and burn in my brest,I dont know what to do because evry time that I brestfeed my little girl the pain is more and my nipples are little bit sour.If someone can help me pleas let me know thanks a lot
I suggest you get a breast pump to pump out the milk.