PLEASE HELP,IM DESPERATE.?

Question

My health visitor doesn't have a clue and i need help asap.I breast fed my first child without any problems and and breastfeeding my second baby who is now 12 weeks old.He often pulls at my breast during a feed,like hes stretching my nipple.This has led to one nipple totally cracking.Its been bleeding a little and is extremely painful.I am using Lanolin cream and using breast Shields on that nipple when feeding now, but its still a bit painful and I'm so tense with waiting for it to hurt,that my shoulders neck and head hurts now.Am i able to just leave him off that breast altogether and just feed him all the time on the other one?(He latches on ok ,I'm just now breaking him off gently when he starts to pull.)Will my "good" breast make more milk if he continues to feed off only that one?Will my bad breast be ok if he never uss it again,or at least till its healed.Thanks.

Answer 1

Your "good" breast will probably be plenty able to make enough milk for your child, but it may take a few days for it to adjust to having to make all the milk.  

But once your body accomodates, you should be able to feed with just one breast.  However, you may look very lopsided!  Your "good" breast will continue to fill with milk, but your "bad" breast will stop producing if you don't use it, so it will stay smaller, and may take a while to start producing again.

My child did the nipple stretching thing too, but she had reflux, and I'm not sure if it had anything to do with that.  The best thing to do is to tell him NO, firmly, when he pulls.  It might take a while for him to understand this since he's just 12 weeks old, but eventually he'll get the picture.

In the meantime, try to keep nursing on the "bad" breast, to keep your supply up there.  Maybe wait until he's sleepy and then switch him to the "bad" one.  Watch what he does when he eats....does he start pulling immediately, or is it later in the feed, or does he stop pulling when he gets sleepy?   Try to put him on the "bad" breast when he is less likely to pull.

If you can't, at least try to pump on that side a little until it heals so you can keep the supply going there.    

I'm sorry you are having to go through this, but you're doing the best thing for your child!  I dealt with extreme pain (I just had really sensitive nipples) for the first two months, but I was determined and stuck with it.  I ended up nursing for just over two years.

Answer 2

You are going to have to pump on the bad breast if you want it to still produce milk. That may be easier for you then having a baby sucking on it. Good Luck to ya!

Answer 3

I, too, had better results with one side.  It's tough but use the cream, try to better his latch and just in case get checked out by someone who does have a clue to make sure nothing else is going on.  The shields were a huge help for me.  I had to wear them continuously, though, for awhile.  Also make sure after you feed that you let your nipples dry on there on.. and no soap (just in case you didn't already know that).  Good luck.

Answer 4

I can totally feel you're pain. I have twin 10 month olds and for me, it was just easier to pump. There were MANY times when my poor little nipples would crack and bleed and then they'd take forever to heal. I called my lactation consultant and she told me to apply salt water several times a day. I did this and it helped them heal a LOT faster. I would definitely not recommend stopping the nursing on the sore breast though b/c it's definitely true about having lopsided b*****s once you're done nursing if you don't do it evenly. If you have a pump, use it on the sore side on a low setting (it'll take awhile with it being on a gentle setting, but worth it). Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I had a similar situation.  Try nursing in a different position (for as long as you can stand it) on the bad side (eg, the football hold).  Yes, your "good" breast will produce more milk, but do NOT neglect the "hurt" breast.  Keep putting cream on the hurt breast, feed and pump this pump to keep up milk supply.  Once this breast is better, feed off it a little bit more to build up your milk supply.

Answer 6

Hi i breastfeed my 16 month old and she prefers the right breast and has been using that one for about 6 months now and ive still got milk in the other breast and its not sore or anything so it should be ok

Answer 7

The next time he pulls at it, hold him tight against your breast so he can't pull away. It will take a few times but he will get the "idea" not to do this.

Babies do this for several diff. reasons:

Teething is the most common

followed by:

you may have a plugged milk duct or the beginning of mastitis.

apply an ice pack and use tylenol between feedings.

Also, if you alt. b*****s during feedings start with the problem breast.

That way he is usually too busy eating to pull. As soon as he's done on this breast, take him off and go to the 2nd.

Answer 8

Oh that sounds awful.  Yes - give your breast a break for a few days (it might engorge though).  I've always had one breast that 'performed' better than the other and it will make up for the lost one temporarily.  Then just be really careful with latching on next time with that breast.  In my own experience though I just kept using the Lansinol cream and tried to improve my latch on.  While it healed I did two feeds on the good breast and one on the sore.

PS I FORGOT - always let your breast air dry after feeding.  It is very good for them.  My husband found this very amusing!