Somehow she managed to split my nipple at the edge a few weeks ago, and it has been really really sore to feed from that side. I noticed a few days ago that now, a wee bud bit of my nipple has actually come off!! Its trying to heal up, but if I squeaze it, it seems a bit - pussey - and will open up again. I tried pumping,and it does the same thing. So I continued to feed her.
But yesterday i fed her after I had my tea, and unfortnately for me it was that breast. She played with it then latched on and OMG the pain...........I actually brought up part of my dinner again .
Thing is that the breast gets really sore and full obviously if I dont feed her.
The pain is getting to me , and I dont want to be taking painkillers all the time, or breaking out in the cold sweat as I am scared of the pain that I know is coming.

I am trying mybest to make sure that she is latched on properly, but we still have issues.

It is REALLY getting me down, and as I have said before I have resorted to giving her a formula feed in the evening due to the pain and the fact that she is feeding so often during the day. I am not sure I can take it any more as the pain is so bad that I have to resist pulling her off the breast and screaming. It has been so bad that my OH has held me as I feed her the pain was so bad.

Is there anything that can numb the nipple? I have tried nipple sheilds but they dont make a difference.

I am very ready to give up.

I had many days like that, cracked really sore nipples where I was in tears just thinking about how the feeding was coming, it was really bad. But it did finally heal, I'm glad I stuck with it because after that things got soooo much easier. Is it any better with a pump? Maybe you can just pump from that side to let it heal, atleast she isn't sucking, it isn't getting as wet, sometimes the pump doesn't hurt as bad. But still nurse on the other side and then give the pumped milk from the other side? Have you been putting any thing on it, like lansinoh cream?

If nipple shields aren't working, try one of the special cracked nipple creams. Your case sounds particularly sore - poor you! Hope you heal quickly.

this sounds horrendous! can you get some help and support from your gp or one of the local breastfeeding groups?

lansinoh cream is great and you don't need to rub it off to feed. get lots of air to your breasts - try not to wear a bra at night and let them air dry after a feed. you can also try rubbing some breast milk onto the sore area. ask your MW or HV or lactation consultant to check your feeding position to make sure baby is latching on properly and ask them for help with positions etc.

I had similar issues to you at the start and for about 3 weeks feeding was agony. I was holding my LO is a strange position because I'd had a c-section and it hurt to have her lying across my scar. She couldn't latch on properly and it destroyed my nipples! They cracked and bled and my boobs got totally engorged. I was an absolute mess! I dreaded feeding and the pain was so great I'd be feeding in tears most of the time. I almost gave up so many times during those first few weeks but I'm so glad I stuck at it. I did all of the above and it got better. It did take a while but now feeding is pain free (unless she bites me!) and I love it.

Good luck. I really hope it gets better soon.

x

I've been having problems too but my HV has been really helpful and came to observe us feeding. She then gave me some advice about how I was positioning him. She also recommended I change positions at each feed - eg. football, cradle and lying down. I found slightly reclining in bed and laying him across my tummy and letting him find the nipple helpful at some feeds really helped. They seem to suck on a slightly different bit of breast which alleviates some of the pain. Things have got better but I appreciate how painful it is and how stressed it makes you feel especially in the middle of the night. Good luck and try and get support in your local area.

Oh! I forgot to tell you about "breast shells". Medela makes these plastic half shells that have holes in them. They fit around your nipple and promote good ventilation and healing. I used them during my thrush infection.
That might help the healing.
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com...08/therashells

i remember having cracked and bleeding nipples hon its very painful at the start, i used tonnes of Lanisoh cream after every feed and eventually it healed up and have had no probs since xx if you think u have an infection i would see your HV or GP tho xxx

it really does get better honest xxx

I have been using Kamiliosan. The Midwife gave me few sachets of Lanisoh to try but for some reason it just made my nipples itch. I am slightly allergic to wool and so wonder if that might be why.

It does get wet when I express, and boy oh boy, they get bigger than when she feeds. Bt I am going to try expressing again tonight.

However, after reading saml1's thread I am begining to wonder if its thrush! I did the tounge scrape thing like the HV said and the white came away, but something isnt 100%right. Its either thrush, or she has silent reflux.

I see the HV tomorrow so I shall be asking!