Bit of a random one - nipple toughness!!!

Hi

I have a 15th month old and am 6 weeks pregnant. When my son was born I really struggled with breastfeeding. It wasn't perhaps the usual problems, rather I suffered from excruciating pain with bleeding nipples that hurt so bad I would be in tears and breathing through the pain. I was determined not to give up and so with a mixture of pumping (blood included) and breathing through the pain, nipple shields and every other idea you could imagine I eventually got to a pain free breast feeding stage.

I was very proud of my determination but I don't feel I could go through that again, having a new born and a two year old to look after.

I still breastfeed once a day but my son has started biting at the end of his feed. I'm thinking about stopping at some point but what I'd like any advice on or others personal experience of is how long nipples take to go back to 'normal'. I want mine to stay the tough nipples they now are so I can breastfeed my new baby with no problems but I imagine it wouldn't take long for the toughness to revert to pre breastfeeding softness!

So, if anybody out there can relate and has any personal experience of this situation, please share. Anything I can do to keep them toughened up?

Thanks for your help.

Bleeding sore nipples with a newborn is no fun and can set you up for mastitis. With this new LO you may want to consider consultation with a lactation consultant/specialist. Many times soreness to the point of bleeding is improper latch or it could be nipple shape. I know a friend of mine who was told to use nipple guards because of her nipple shape and it helped her tremendously. Sometimes hospitals are reluctant to give second time moms a consultation with a lactation consultant for some stupid reason. Hopefully if you tell them what you went thought the first time they will have one come and see you when you are in the hospital. I know how much it can hurt and take the fun out of being a new mom:(

Thanks for your reply.

I had various 'experts' play around with the latching and I was told it was all perfect. Shields, creams, weird cup things - I tried it all. I had mastitis 4 times too. It was an awful experience, hence my desire to keep toughened up!!

It was a similar experience with my first son but not quite as bad although I shut up shop on one side due to the pain!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

I had similar experiences with ds1, and eventually he "bit" my right nipple off. I had extreme over active letdoewn, he had a tongue tie, and would try so hard to slow the flow. I worked closely with a LC but the skin just died and fll off and never grew back the right way. I tried to nurse ds2 but the pain was so extreme I am convinced I have some sort of nerve damage or something there so u pumped exclusively for four months. With the baby we're ttc, I'm just going to do formula only. I fully realize "breast is best" but EP is a lifestyle in itself that is more than our family can handle. I am fully at peace with this decision.

Oh my word, that is extreme! You're amazing for even managing to pump, having gone through that.

Yes, I'm thinking - I've done my time, I went through such extreme pain and as I don't feel I will be able to cope with that with a newborn and a toddler I will more easily go the formula route to top up or soley if needs be, as that would be best for all of us. I may try to continue breastfeeding my 15 month old for a while longer, in the hope my nipples stay tough but if not, like you say about making peace, I shouldn't feel guilty.

I had a pretty rough time getting started with my first (very flat nipples and also was allergic to lanolin and they had me using it for several days before I realized I was having a reaction to it) and my nips have stayed tough with all my subsequent pg. Even after the 13 year gap between DS 2 and 3, I did not have anywhere near the level of issues with my first and the cracked, bleeding nips. I hope that's true for you too!

It hurt for me with dd1 she was a tung thruster! Big time!! After that had no issues with dd2 or 3. As my mom says they are like old rubber boots lol dd1 broke them in the first time. I wouldn't let it scare you. Just do your best and you will be fine.

Here's hoping for the tough rubber boot experience!

I too am fearful of this. I am still breastfeeding DS2 but only on the left. I never got it "right" on the right hand side & so after over 2 years of pain I weaned off the right & we've been happily feeding off left only for 6 months solid. I only breastfed DS1 for 3 weeks mostly due to pain & it was significantly worse on the right. I saw numerous LCs & midwives & I'm an active member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association - NOTHING helped. If DS2 keeps feeding I'm considering getting him to try the right to toughen it up. Or perhaps use me Medela pump (which feels very similar to breastfeeding) to toughen it. Not sure. Very apprehensive.


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MY Medela pump. Not "me". OMG. Grammar fail!! ^^^


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Thanks for sharing. It's not nice but it helps to know I'm not the only one who has had such difficulties. I know people immediately assume wrong latching but it really isn't always the case at all. I'm also convinced my rather ample size (although currently much smaller!) didn't help either, nor does the fact they aren't exactly pert!!!

I think it's a good idea to start trying the right side again. I did the same with ds2 and it's amazing now I can feed him from both sides without any pain.

I think I'm going to try to keep it up until towards the end of the year if I can and then have a small break before baby no. 3 comes along. I wish you could buy some kind of hardening cream though!!!

They say you can use the cream a few weeks before baby comes to condition them so it doesn't hurt so bad. With DS1 I had the usual expected soreness for about a week. I went on to nurse him for a year.
With DS2 it was excruciating for about three weeks. It looked like he was latched on properly - but it was the way he was sucking that was causing the problem. Only his doctor caught on to that when I told him how sore and are I was. He put his finger in his mouth and noticed the way his tongue 'got in way or pushed it out' all the while he had a good deep latch then he'd press harder to keep my nipple in. I had to train his tongue by putting my finger in his mouth and keeping his tongue pressed down so he wasn't pushing out. Then everything was great, and nursed him for over a year. He favored a side so occasionally one would get too full and I'd have to pump.
You can try again, every baby nurses different. Once past the expected first week of soreness if it still hurts don't torture yourself.


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