Need help- bleeding nipples

Hi.

I have a 3 day old.

I have been trying to breastfeed and really give it a go.

My nipples are so sore and bleeding. it is such a painful process.

I have had to literally stop when I saw blood around DS 's mouth.

I am told that lanolin should help the situation.

I am also reading that the bleeding can occur due to a poor latch. I have tried many positions and have come up with ones that are most comfortable for me.

When I cannot feed I have given him a little formula, He has thrown it up twice and there was a little blood in it. I actually am waiting on a call from my ped's office.

Please tell me this gets better



I am hoping this is just my breasts getting adjusted to this new experience.

HELP PLEASE.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

This happened to me with my last dd , I stopped Bf'ing her and pumped it for a week to let my nipples heal and I used the nipple cream ! It was from her not latching on right ! If you can go to the OB so they can show you or they will be able to give you a recomendation for someone to come to your house

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

I used lanisol (sp?) cream for the nipples (its in the purple container) It helped clear it up quickly and then from there on put on after pumping each time.

eta: i was also told to avoid bfing on the breast that is bleeding b/c the blood can upset the babies stomach.. but if your having on both.. not sure what you can do.

I found the football hold worked best for me.

Message edited 1/31/2009 4:20:21 PM.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

definitely call the ped or hospital and ask for a lactation consultant

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Im so sorry. I know how you feel..when DD was 3 days old I posted a "depressed" thread. Its rough where you are right now...I feel your pain. Did you try a nipple sheild? I could only BF with it on. It helped a million times over.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Oh that happened to me. When DC threw up blood - I was so scared because I thought it came from him but it was from me.

BF has been a really painful process for me because I never got his latch right from the beginning. My advice would be to work on that first. After months of pain I finally went back to work and only nurse 1x in the morning and 2x at night. I pump 2-3 times per day. it has really helped. The pump is easier on my body than the baby is.

Good luck.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

after you're done nursing let your nipples air dry. then put on the lansinoh ointment. it takes a little while, but eventually this WILL pass.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Well I put some lanisol on. Hopefully that will help,

In the meantime, I gave him some pedialyte at the suggestion of the Ped.

At his next feeding I will have to give him formula.

Let's hope this helps.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Posted by alexlynn7

after you're done nursing let your nipples air dry. then put on the lansinoh ointment. it takes a little while, but eventually this WILL pass.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Aww you poor thing. I also had these gel-like discs in the hospital that brought a lot of relief. I think they were called Soothies. Feel better!

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

I'm so sorry I went through this - the first few weeks were so hard with BF - I honestly thought i would never make it. But, I ended up BF for 10 mos...you will be amazed in just a few weeks you will feel so much better - there will be no more pain and it will b/c more natural for you.

As another poster said, for me too it was an issue of my body just getting used ot it. I had the lactation consultants in the hospital come in every day and at home I had one come to my house twice - it wasn't the latch, it was me and him - I had the bleeding, cracking and eventually ended up with matitis I also freaked out one day when i saw a tiny streak of blood in DS's spit up thinking it was from him - it only happened once or twice but I spoke to everyone about it - from the hospital nurses to the ped to two different lactation consultants and they all said it was not harmful to him AT ALL and was still much better to continue then to give him formula - so I wouldn't worry about that.

It will get better I would try to BF on one side at a feeding if you can and pump instead of nursing on the side that is injured worse to let it heal - and try giving the pumped milk in bottles during those feedings instead to let your body heal.

ETA: I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT SOOTHIES - THey sell them at rite aid and they are a GOD SEND - get them!!

Message edited 1/31/2009 7:10:56 PM.

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

You poor thing!!!!!!!!! I experienced the SAME thing!!!!! I'm sorry to say but it takes a little while for them to "toughen up" I still cringe when he feeds for a few minutes. I'm going on week 3. Try pumping a few times a day I find it to be less painful and it helps to toughen them up as well. Keep at it though with time, you'll feel better!!!
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Please find a lactation consultant in your area. I cannot recommend them enough. She'll help you with your latch as well as give you tips on how to help heal you quickly.

Lactation consultants

Good luck- we are ALL here for support.....

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

Thanks everyone.

It is not the latching at all, he does that well.

I had a lot of help in the hospital with that. I just think my breasts are very sensitive. He also chomps on them like he has the jaws of life lol.

I will definitely seek additional help.

I pray that I am able to continue with this. I may have to put on more cream as they are still sore since I last posted.

Give me strength.

Thanks again

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

hang in there! give it 2-3 weeks...that's how long it took me both times. it hurts SO BAD, and then one day the pain just goes away and it's like it never happened...

Re: Need help- bleeding nipples

The same thing happened to me the day DD was born. Her latch is so strong that she literally drew blood from both sides.

Someone before mentioned a nipple shield, and this thing literally SAVED me. Though she still drew blood the first few times, it got better literally within the next day.

You can buy these at Babies R Us, but they come in different sizes, so you'll definitely want to check with a lactation consultant to figure out which size to use.

Good luck--it'll get better, I promise!