It feels like my nipples are RIPPING OFF!!!!!! PLEASE READ if you have breastfed!?

Question

im breastfeeding my 6 week old and he just started nursing MUCH more vigorously. well, to put it bluntly....my nipples are ripping off!!!!!! literally! i have tears and cutts and they are bleeding! when he nurses, it feels like someone cutting my nipples with a razor then top it off with some alcohol! so, im feeling like a failure now because i nursed my first 2 babies and didnt wuss out. i literally see spots when he nurses because of the pain! i just gave him some formula for the first time just because i want my nipples to heal, then nurse him again. im gonna pump until they heal. but i guess my main question is...."is the formula ok to give him for a while?" has anyone else ever gone through this?

Answer 1

Formula will be ok. When mine got sore I gave my son formula and I did just as you said you are going to do, I pumped to keep my supply up. If you can't seem to pump as much as he eats then mix the breast milk that you pump with the formula.

So mix up 2 ounces of formula and then pour in 2 ounces of breast milk. So this way your little one is getting full and he is getting the nutrition from your breast milk.....and you b*****s will be ale to heal.

Hope this helps!!!

Answer 2

Oh, you poor thing! That sounds horrible. I had a similar problem with my second son, and turns out he wasnt latching correctly. He was just latching on to the nipple, not the entire areola. Could this be the problem?You should definitely get some lansinoh, or a cream to soothe them, and maybe you could talk to a lactation consultant for advice?

Answer 3

Ok, take a deep breath! You're not a failure, you're a great mom for trying in the first place.

   Stop wearing breastpads, like you say they just stop healing, try and wear black tops if you don't like the soggy tshirt look as the dont show it as much.

   Express for a few days, so they have a chance to heal, give him this milk as much as possible, but if you need to top it up with formula it wont hurt. Unless you think you'll be tempted to give up on breastfeeding, in which case try and avoid the formula.

   If it hurts or causes damage, he's not latching on right. If you can, a lactation consultant could really help try ;

http://www.laleche.org.uk/

   If you can't then i can give a little advice, try making him open his mouth wider, in his rush to latch on it sounds like he's only on the nipple. Most of the areola should be in his mouth as well, which stops any pulling on the nipple. To get his mouth open wider, tickle his nose with the nipple, he'll open his mouth to latch on. If his mouth is'nt wide enough, keep doing it, it'll open wider. Then try to push the nipple into his mouth as he latches on, just to make sure he gets enough not to be on the nipple. If it's not right, keep calm and try again, gently removing him from the boob so as not to do more harm.

   Hope this helps.

Answer 4

sound slike your baby is latching on incorrectly or you have thrush. You need to see a lactation consultant to help you out on this one NOT a regular docto because they know squat about breastfeeding. use the lanolin cream and put leave the milk on your nipples to dry. do not wash your nipple with soap. once you see a lactation consultant and latch your baby on correctly or see waht's going on i promise you'll feel much better. in the mean time, giving formula will only compromise your supply even if you are pumping too because pumps don't get nearly the amount of milk out. so if you still plan on doing that make surre you ONLY nurse when you are healed and don't offer bottles, it will be the only way to get your supply back to where it belongs

MAKE sure MOST of your areloa is in your baby's mouth too

Answer 5

Sounds like he is having a latching problem.  You may need to re-teach him the proper latch (do the lip flip thing once he starts).  In the meantime, get some Lanisoh cream.  I would be careful about giving him too much formula, as you don't want him to lose his taste for the real thing.  If you are pumping anyway, just give him your milk.  Check with your OB, his pediatrician or a lactation consultant, because it should not hurt like that if he is doing it right.

I had some problems after about 6 months, when mine thought it was funny to bite me (with his teeth!).  The more I reacted, the funnier he thought it was.  Since he was a little older, I had to just take the boobie away for a few minutes until he realized he needed to stop being a comedian.  I did get sore from that, and the Lanisoh cream helped.

Answer 6

I know what you mean. I had trouble with my second one.  Have you tried Kamilosan cream? It's herbal so is ok for you and baby.  I used it every hour or two and it did wonders.  Formula will be ok for a while but you may find the little one doesn't want to go back to the breast because it's much easier to drink milk from the bottle.  Try still feeding, I know it'll be very painful but with the cream it will help quite quickly.

Have you tried latching him on in a different position.  I found holding mine on my side helped.

You could also try rubbing some of your milk into the nipple as your milk has healing properties in it.

Good Luck xx

Answer 7

sorry to hear that , how about you try some breast cream or ointment like lanolin or medela . you can find them anywhere that sells baby products . an try expressing a bi tof milk out with your hands before you feed baby so it wont be so hard fro him to latch on . i went trough this and went to the er because of it and try pumping . here is a link to those cream http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp... good luck and i hope you feel better

Answer 8

Just do formula.  Nothing is worth that.  My first baby was formula fed and she turned out just great.  My second was a gentle great nurser so we did it for 10 months.  Every baby is different and every baby has a different nursing style.  

If you have a good latch and that is still happening I would say you gave it a good 6 weeks and he got a good start and call it quits.  If you can work on fixing your latch if perhaps it isn't the best then see a lactation consultant and see if she has any tips.  

He'll be just fine on formula.  Whether it be one bottle a day to let your nipples heal or if it's every day every feeding.  

Good luck.  You're not a failure.  That shouldn't be pressuring you to continue something that is painful.  

Edit: I dont know if this is what someone else meant but NEVER MIX FORMULA WITH BREASTMILK. Give the breastmilk first then give formula.  Don't take a chance on wasting precious breastmilk on the chance he won't finish the bottle.

Answer 9

try pumping, and give the breastmilk via bottle.

use a nipple cream and nipple shield.

Answer 10

My breast were sore also in the beginning, same as you cut and chapped and sticking to breast pads.  I used alot of lanolin ointment.  I pumped for 3 days and fed the baby the pumped breast milk and let them heal.  After that it got much better and it now they are tough.  I wouldn't give your baby too much formula, you don't want him to get used to it.  Can you pump? and give it to baby in bottle for now.

Answer 11

I feel so bad for you! I know the feeling. I know it helps to make sure to grip your boob and make sure that enough of your nipple goes within the baby's mouth. Otherwise, the milk doesn't come out and the baby tries harder to get it out. I'm glad you have given yourself a break. Remember that your breast milk could help heal your b*****s.

Use the formula as a supplement and switch to the boob when your infant isn't so hungry and desperate. If you can't keep it up after all that, at least you tried. Maybe there is something that would work better then the breast pads or maybe you're not using enough ointment and changing them often enough.

I went through this and gave up. It turns out my baby was failing to thrive without the formula anyway.

Answer 12

He's not latched on properly, the first sign of an incorrect latch is pain, then it will often progress to white lines when the baby unlatches, if you still don't do anything those white lines eventually become cracks.

If you start bottle feeding (regardless of what is in the bottle) you will make this problem worse, not better.  You really, really need to get assistance in person TODAY to get your son back to latching properly.  The lactation consultant will also show you how to cup or syringe feed which will not make the situation worse like a bottle does.

Either get silicone breastpads (lilypadz) or put a thick layer of vaseline, lanoline, water based gel on your nipples before the breast pad (or preferably non-stick gauze pads available at any drugstore -but even the non stick can stick without a barrier cream).

As to the formula I won't pretend its not without risks, nor that it will kill your baby.  However its not on my top list of things to feed a baby.

Lots of info on formula here: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/i...

Healing Tips for Nipple Cracks or Abrasions

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/...

La Leche League

FREE in person breastfeeding support and meetings

International: http://www.llli.org/webindex.html

USA: 1-877-4-LaLeche

IBLCE - International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners

Listings

http://www.iblce.org/

Answer 13

<<shudders>>

Use lansinoh lanolin after each feeding, & after they stop hurting express a bit of milk & let it to air dry on your nipples after each feed.

I'm so sorry you're going through this!!

God Bless

Answer 14

I had this problem in the beginning of breastfeeding. I totally believe in the Lansinoh Breast Cream. It conditions the nipple and it will keep them from sticking to your breastpad. Has this been a problem since the beginning or was it just like a spur of the moment type thing that has happened?

You should definately give yourself some time to heal. I gave my little girl formula and breastmilk until I healed all the way.(I pumped) The formula will be okay for him. Maybe when he starts to get really vigorous w/your nipples while feeding take him off and start over again. Maybe he is latching on differently. Or try to nurse before he gets really really hungry. That way he won't kill you once he gets ahold of your b*****s.

You should also talk to a lactation consultant at your local hospital. I'm sure that they will have good advice for you also.