I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier!

wendybdh

wendybdh

Cathlete
Brooke is 2 weeks old and my nipples are still getting sore. I've talked to a lactation consultant via telephone and it did help some. But, Brooke is very impatient and comes at me with vice grips}( Then she'll suck for a few minutes then stop. Then she'll pull away from my breast with my nipple still in her mouth! OUCH!!!!

I'm trying to get used to the (Medella InStyle) breastpump for when I go back to work but it hurts! I'm thinking of getting a nipple shield just so my nipples can heal.

Any suggestions?

TIA
 
I'd make suer you have your technique down right-- can you go visit with the consultant? Is she getting milk? Can you feel let down?

Beyond that, the nipples of a new mom are very different than someone who's nursed before. (This would explain why my nipples look like sewing thimbles on steroids). Baby literally has the 'draw' your nipple out to smash between the roof of her mouth and her tongue. And, if she's nursing correctly, she has a lot more than nipple in her mouth.

good luck- you sound a little down. I think 2 weeks is a hard time- you've lost the exhiliration of having the baby, and just tired, sore, hormonal, and feeling gross.


kristan
 
Hey Wendy. Oh, I remember this well. I remember digging my heals in when she would nurse, just waiting for the pain to stop. If it is something you want to do, I can tell you that it is worth it to stick it out. I think for me by week 3, things were going well and the pain was pretty much gone. What helped me was Lansilo (I think that is how you spell it). It should be by the nursing pads in your store. It is a cream specifically for nipples and it helps keep them from getting chapped. If you don't have this, get it, get it NOW!!! I would put this on right before she would nurse and right after. EVERY TIME. This really helped me, but you will still have the pain. It just helps from them getting chapped and cracked.

Good luck to you. This is a wonderful, extremely hard, time but so totally worth it!
 
Wendy -

It gets better, don't worry. And I second the advice to get some Lanolin cream. It helps wonders. I can remember when both my kids would latch on just seeing stars for a moment or two!

Good luck!
 
You're right Kristan. I am feeling a bit down. I knew my life would change but I in the back of my head I thought I'd still get everything done like before but with a baby in my arms-WRONG! It takes me 3 times as long to get 1/2 as much done.

My DH does so much around the house but I still feel like his life hasn't changed all that much and mine has been turned upside down. I guess the hormones and lack of sleep are getting the best of me lately.

I guess the anal retentive side of me thought I'd have this all figured out and be in a "routine" already-I guess not. Don't get me wrong- I love Brooke more than I ever imagined- I just feel overwhelmed.
 
Hi Wendy. Please don't get discouraged with bfing. It's the best thing for your baby? Why are you pumping so early? When do you go back to work? If you can, try to focus on getting the hang of nursing before figuring out the Medela Pump (great choice BTW). I didn't begin to pump until Justin was about a month old (then to store excess in freezer for work). Good luck, it'll get better. Oh! GET HELP FROM A LACTATION CONSULTATNT PRONTO, if things don't improve. One on one help may be all you need.

The comment about sewing thimble with steriods above just cracked me up!! LOL. Too funny!!!!

**Melanie**
baby to be 11/28/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94

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The best advice I got was it gets easier after 1 month. This was true. The first month was pure torture but as each month went by it got easier by month 2 I couldn't even feel my dd nurse and my nipples were no longer bleading.
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

I had a hard time with breast feeding/pumping so I started supplementing with formula early on!

Breast feeding just wasn't for us so I started using the manual pump and then the Medela In Style Electric Pump. Neither lasted very long for me. It was sooo time consuming to pump and THEN feed Joey...it was double work and it just wasn't for me so I gave him what breast milk I could by pumping until I finally gave it up and switched him entirely to formula. He is a thriving and healthy 5 month old now!:+

Yes, breast milk is best, but even the smallest amount of time you do that is better than nothing. If it ends up not working for you and or Brooke, don't feel bad.

I'm NOT telling you to give up by any means, Wendy...just giving you another prospective.

Best of luck no matter you do!:)
 
Oh Wendy, my heart is going out to you. I truly remember how agonizing those first few weeks were. They were blissful too, but the hormones and exhaustion really skew your perspective on things. Hugs, Hugs, Hugs.

I had to use a nipple shield for my son. The lactation consultant gave it to me at the hosptial because I have small/flat nipples and Cody couldn't latch on. Eventually I got both of us weaned off of the shield, but it took a couple of months. The shield was a godsend for me though, otherwise I probably would have been beating my head against a wall.

Hang it there, it really will get easier. Nursing is a huge commitment and our expectations are that is should be easy and convenient -- WRONG! There isn't anything easy about the first several weeks.

Thanks for posting, we are all thinking of you!

Tina
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

I feel for you Wendy! I felt exactly the same way- that DH's life is a bit busier, but yours is absolutely UPSIDE down. This past June I had my 2nd baby, and a few weeks after he was born, DH and his dad were outside working on the deck (i.e. living a normal life)but I was stuck on the couch nursing Cole in one of his nonstop marathon feedings, and I just couldn't put him down, so I broke down and SOBBED, pacing around with my infant feeling sorry for myself. It is the hormones!! And I promise, it will get better.
Lisa


 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

As, you can see, you are not alone! It just seems like it. Nursing hurt for me, as well, for the first maybe 3 or so weeks. But then everything got better. Your nipples probably need to be "broken in," nursing is like a shock for them, and then your baby probably needs a little more practice or urging to latch on to the surrounding area of nipple too, so it will not hurt. I hope everything improves for you and baby very soon! I think the first 2-3 months are the hardest. Once your baby sleeps in longer chunks, and you get more sleep, you will feel so much better. Just hold on! It'll happen!
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

Breastfeading can be soooo hard, LOL. I've breastfed two singles and twins. My second single was quite simply the most painful experience ever. I ended up renting a breast pump and pumping for a few days just so my breasts could heal from him. Turns out he was sucking in his lower lip while nursing - I never even realized it because my first had never done that.

Make sure your baby is latched on properly. It seems so simple but for me, that was the only problem.

One of my twins sucked in his lower lip while nursing too but I caught it right away (knew what to look for that time around!) and never had nipple soreness that time.

It does take a while for your breasts to get used to being sucked on so hard - I remember it taking about 2-3 weeks before there was no more pain.

I also highly recommend Lansinoh - you should find it in the baby section of any store. Put it on after every breastfeeding. Every breastfeeding mom should take this stuff to the hospital with her when she gives birth. I started putting it on after the very first breastfeeding. It helps with the chapping big time.

If you are in major pain (I cried every time he latched on, it was so painful) I would recommend pumping every feeding and let your breasts heal for 2-3 days. If you are totally against giving your baby a bottle then make SURE the baby is latched on properly and do your best. JMHO.
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

One thing that gets very little press in breastfeeding lit. is growth spurts. Babies get them at around 3 wks. 5 wks., and then 3 and 5 mos. (roughly). Looks like this: the marathon nsg. where nothing works but breastfeeding. They typically last 24 hrs. and then go away.
What's happening is that your baby is getting ready to grow so ups his/her nursing to make sure you're making enough milk to feed a bigger baby. many moms pack it in that day, not knowing that this is NORMAL and happens for a good reason.
My husband is better than a lot, but he'll even admit that his life didn't change 10% as much as mine did. (Our 3 are all teenagers now, but I remember it well).
Your life is different now and if you can give yourself permission to be easier on yourself, you will ultimately be happier. The best part is that in time, you do learn to go w/ the flow and live on 'mommy time'. It all gets easier.
A visit w/ the lactation consultant to check your baby's positioning and latching on would be ideal. Sometimes a little fine tuning can make a world of difference and keep you nursing where you'd otherwise find it too painful. Good luck w/ all of it . . . .it will get better!
Valerie :)
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

In terms of the pumping hurting, are you using too much suction? I have to actually massage my breast while pumping to get the milk out. I went to the lactation consultants with very damaged nipples from bad latching, especially on one side. They told to only pump for a few days on the really bad side. They also suggested putting vegetable oil or olive oil on my nipple before pumping to make the pumping more comfortable. It helped.
 
RE: I thought breastfeeding and pumping would be easier...

I have a 12 week old and do remember this quite well! I nursed both of my boys (now 8 and 7) for a year without any problems! My 12 week old caused me great pain so much pain my toes would curl everytime she nursed. That nipple cream Lansolin (Sp?) works great! I wouldn't pump anymore and give yourself a break for a week or two. Also, I had nursing bras with a foam padding which caused thrush(check your baby's mouth and look for white on her tongue) I now have cotten bras and no molded cup nursing bras and everything is fine!
 
Thank you all for your suggestions.

I got a nipple shield but DD won't have anything to do with it.

I'm also pumping now just to give my nipples a break so hopefully this will help since my right nipple is still much more sore than the left.

I guess I just need to be patient (unfortunately, I'm not too good at thisx().

Thanks again for the support-I'll keep you posted.
 
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