Breast Feeding Dilema……………?
My daughter is a week old today. I’ve read several books on breastfeeding, my pediatrician has seen her latch on properly. Yet every time I nurse I’m in soo much pain Ibite my lip to keep from screaming, I have large breasts and proportioned to them nipples. Football hold is easiest, I watch for “fish lips” what am I doing wrong? Does anyone else have this problem?
Suggestions appreciated
Thank You in advance for any help.
Using lanolin, tried ice packs and tea bags, nipples lightly bleeding, but I really want this to work!
Besides the fish lips – can you tell if she is using her tongue properly? While nursing, it should come out over her lower gumline.
Make sure she is taking in a good portion of your areola and not just your nipple. You can help with this if you make a “nipple sandwich” when you are latching her on. Compressing the breast tissue as if you were going to take a bite out of a big sandwich can help her to take in more areola and may make you more comfortable. Also, make sure you are aligning your hand properly to her mouth when you support the breast. In the football hold, your hand will resemble a “C” on your breast. In cradle or cross cradle your hand will form a “U” on the breast.
Make sure you are supporting her head well so she isn’t pulling down on the nipple. Both football hold and cross cradle are good for this.
Make sure you are keeping the lanolin on there all the time. Give them a few mins to air dry after feeding.
Check out the links below. Consider calling your local LLL Leader for help. She will help for FREE and with such a young baby may be willing to visit you at home.