I'm not sure if I have what it takes....

[laura88]

So, my nipple blistered up during a clogged duct/bitting episode w/Caleb. Ever since it hurts really bad to nurse. It breaksopen daily to let milk out. Add all the extra nursng sessions he's been having, the crying when I put away my boob (like he's playing on the floor)....I don't know if I an keep on nursing. It may sound silly, but this is way harder than the beggining. I feel like I should be getting some sleep, and he should be able to play w/o needing to see my nipple, and the pain doesn't help. I need to feel happy to BF again!!! This is my faveorite time w/my son, and now I dread it!!!! I really wanted to make it to a year, and was hoping for 18mnths to 2yrs and now.......:ohno: IDK.....Help?

[MamaKat]

:hugs: I have no advice, sorry!

[laura88]

Bump
Now my nipple is bleeding!

[cheeksy]

What did your doctor say?

[midgeend]

Awww Hugs momma! :hugs: I'm so sorry you're going through this. I don't have any advice on the need for Caleb to have your nipple exposed while not bfing. Maybe some of the guru bfing momma's do.

As far as your nipple, and the healing process...I remember from when my nipples were all beat up, that it just took a while before they actually healed, and that even though it seemed like the wounds were getting reopened every time I nursed, that they were somehow healing through it all. I'm sure you're using lansinoh or the like, and clearly you're air drying.

I'm sure it will get better...I hope sooner rather than later. You can do it momma!

[maine06]

:hugs: he;s comforted by it. Maybe some sort of transition plan where you can be with a bra on, then a shirt ??

You can do it, mama. 9 months is a hard time, too. Major developmental stuff going on, growth spurt (again!!) all that. You can do it. You're doing it. It's hard, but, you will make it work.

You've got to heal your nipple, though. Treat like you used to in the beginning. breastmilk, then, air dry, then load up on lanolin, then, the shells (not shields, the shells) and just try to heal it.

hugs, mama, you can do it!!

[teachermom]

I have no advice but lots of hugs!

[tri-girl]

Just wanted you to know you're not alone...I'm also having a lot of pain, bleeding nipples, not sleeping well, thinking about quitting. Hugs, mama--here's hoping it gets better!!!
BTW, my doctor is also an IBCLC and she said don't worry about the bleeding--he'll ingest it but it won't hurt him. And she said to take ibuprofen for the pain, which helps some.

[laura88]

Thanks ladies!I never had to use the shells or anything before so I forgot about them! Thanks for the support. He's really getting possesive over my boobs! He can't be around me w/o wanting them...

[ColtsFan1912]

((((hugs)))) sounds like my Caleb

[laura88]

Anyone have tips for dealing with an aggressive nurser?

[eenchoo]

My ds is an agressive nurser too, I just gave him the boob that hurt the least, I don't know what else to say sorry. I know how you feel.:hugs::hugs::hugs:

[laura88]

My ds is an agressive nurser too, I just gave him the boob that hurt the least, I don't know what else to say sorry. I know how you feel.:hugs::hugs::hugs:
Thanks.....unfortunately he favors a side, which is of course, the one bleeding! I do love to nurse him, and vacation helped me some....so did the Anxiety meds.....makes me care less that I hurt I guess.....but then I got really sick (still am) and I feel horrible.....sore throat, super congested....makes it hard to do the late night nursing...but he's getting better. We have added diluted (very) apple juice, he loves it. I know some will cruicify me for it, but it's a major relief for me. Plus, he's doing really well with it and the BFing since we started it, so it's great.

[mom2disney6]

There's nothing wrong with giving him some apple juice, don't beat yourself up about it. I would probably save the sore side for times when he is a little sleepy or offer it second in hopes that he would be a little more gentle. Lots of lansinoh and ibuprofen. Have you talked to a LC about getting it to heal up? Big hugs, I know it hurts, bad!

[Stephie]

No advice, but hugs. I hope things get better.

[laura88]

There's nothing wrong with giving him some apple juice, don't beat yourself up about it. I would probably save the sore side for times when he is a little sleepy or offer it second in hopes that he would be a little more gentle. Lots of lansinoh and ibuprofen. Have you talked to a LC about getting it to heal up? Big hugs, I know it hurts, bad!
Thanks. It is healing, which is weird that the bleeding started now. He doesn't like the other side....I do try to get him to nurse there first, but sometimes that just makes him mad, which is never good.....I guess I'm just gonna have to suffer through this!

[sundrip]

I don't know what your parenting philosophy is but, you could consider doing some night weaning to give yourself a bit of a break. You will need help from your DH for that though. Is he taking in several solids meals a day? Or, would he consent to a bottle or cup? You could try pumping for at least one session a day. Also, you may be getting dehydrated or having your supply dip more than you expect from being sick and that could be causing him more frustration/ aggression. So, you might try increasing your fluids just to be safe.

Finally, is there a nursing group in your area you could attend? Having mommies right there to support you could really help. Do you have access to a LC? Maybe through the hospital you delivered at?

[laura88]

I don't know what your parenting philosophy is but, you could consider doing some night weaning to give yourself a bit of a break. You will need help from your DH for that though. Is he taking in several solids meals a day? Or, would he consent to a bottle or cup? You could try pumping for at least one session a day. Also, you may be getting dehydrated or having your supply dip more than you expect from being sick and that could be causing him more frustration/ aggression. So, you might try increasing your fluids just to be safe.

Finally, is there a nursing group in your area you could attend? Having mommies right there to support you could really help. Do you have access to a LC? Maybe through the hospital you delivered at?
He'll take a bottle and then still want my boob when he's done. It seems to be a comfort thing. Almost like he thinks I'm going to leave him or something. My mom says this is the "mommy" stage where they have major seperation anxiety and need to be near mommy if she's around. No one else seems to be experiencing this so, IDK if she's right. Now that he's going to be in daycare I might actually be able to go to a support group. No LC access though. Well, I could pay for one, but I don't have the money. This may have peaked. He has been improving since adding the juice bottle, and he's drinking less of that everyday. Maybe he had a GS on top of everything else....I have no idea at this point. I just hope that he is getting better and the worst is behind me......is there a finger crossed smilie? Just imagine me with my fingers crossed!

[sundrip]

Yes, this is a developmentally "clingy" stage. My daughter would rather I never left her side at the moment. Give it a month and you may see it improve. :-)

[laura88]

Thanks!

[Incubus527]

*hugs* you can get through this. :)

[cln1812]

I haven't read all the previous posts, so if I'm rehashing advice from other posters, I apologize.

Once when DD was around 7 months old, she chomped down and bit me good with all her teeth (she was an early teether, so she had both top & bottom teeth by then). That boob hurt so bad and bled constantly. Finally, what I did was I didn't offer that side to nurse for a few days (it was my underproducer, fortunately) and just hand expressed the milk from that side until I healed enough that it didn't hurt. I used Lanisoh and fresh BM on the wound.

As for the aggressive nurser, wish I had some advice there. DD is not an aggressive nurser per se, but she likes to play with the nipple on the boob she is not drinking from while nursing. Those little fingers and nails can pinch too! She frequently switches from side to side, so I don't leave the other side covered because she'll start clawing to get down my shirt.

[laura88]

I haven't read all the previous posts, so if I'm rehashing advice from other posters, I apologize.

Once when DD was around 7 months old, she chomped down and bit me good with all her teeth (she was an early teether, so she had both top & bottom teeth by then). That boob hurt so bad and bled constantly. Finally, what I did was I didn't offer that side to nurse for a few days (it was my underproducer, fortunately) and just hand expressed the milk from that side until I healed enough that it didn't hurt. I used Lanisoh and fresh BM on the wound.

As for the aggressive nurser, wish I had some advice there. DD is not an aggressive nurser per se, but she likes to play with the nipple on the boob she is not drinking from while nursing. Those little fingers and nails can pinch too! She frequently switches from side to side, so I don't leave the other side covered because she'll start clawing to get down my shirt.
Thanks for the tip.....that is sort of what I had to do the last few days. I still have to let him nurse, but if I open it up w/expressing, it doesn't hurt or bleed. I think it's finally healing!!! Getting sick may have made it more tender and harder to heal. I too have to leave my nips out for playing/loving on and get pinched. Ironicaly he's getting a lot better again, which makes me really wonder what was going so next time I know how to deal.

[Ilah's Mamma]

I would try breast milk....to heal it

[alikatgrrl]

oh honey, hugs. I know that we had the SAME problems in the beginning earlier on. I'm so sorry, I don't even know what to say other than you have done an amazing job! I know the efforts and the work that you went through a while back. Even if you do stop now, you have made it such a long, long time! HUGS

[laura88]

oh honey, hugs. I know that we had the SAME problems in the beginning earlier on. I'm so sorry, I don't even know what to say other than you have done an amazing job! I know the efforts and the work that you went through a while back. Even if you do stop now, you have made it such a long, long time! HUGS
Thank you. I am so happy that I made it through this rough patch. I thought I wouldn't. This forum helped so much. Just having ppl say they hoped it would be ok made me fel better. I think the worst part is suffering alone with all of the emotions. I really don't know why he got so aggressive, almost like he was trying to hurt me (but I know he wasn't). I don't know why it got better. My best guess was the blister making it hard to get the milk out. But being hit a slapped and squished and pinched and yanked on all day was horrible. It took all the fun and pleasure of BF away. It was so horrible to start to dread my nusing sessions with him. I felt like crying every day, and was often yelling from pain, I even had trouble wearing a bra for a few days. Then all of sudden, it just went back to normal. I'm so thankfull and worried. I don't know how I'd handle another round of that since I still don't know why it happened...but I'm just going to focu on the fact that it is better and I can love on my son and enjoy nursing him again!