Nursing is going GREAT! , but one thing... my right nipple right at the tip has a small what looks like a blood blister?? It isnt bleeding but hurts when he's latched on... what do i do??

help...

I have had that on the same nippel with both of my kids. it is most likely a latch issue. I know it was in my case. That particualr nipple is smaller and I think they had a hard time keeping suctino on it for some reason.

I worked and worked with getting a proper latch with both of them but still had problems the eniter nursing realtionship (not blood blisters always, but often pain)

Hunter nursed until he was almost 3 and Callan is still going stong at newly 2. there wre times especially at the begiinnig that I had to grit my teeth curl my toes adn breath trough it but I did get better as Iworked to correct their latches. It didn't hurt constantly but as they got older and got lazy with latch it would crop up now and again.

The best advice I have is to make sure he is opening his mouth wide to latch on not sucking it in through is lips. (both of my kids liked to do this, ouch!) if you need to press down on his little chin with your finger to get him to open up wider. He needs to get as much areola as possible in his mouth. If you have large areolas (lke me) it will be impossible to get it *all* in ther but as much as possible.

It is possible that he may have a short frenulem (the skin that attatches the tounge to the floor of is mouth) IN retrospect HUnter had this problem. We idn't get it clipped but you might bring it up with the doc if it doesn't improve after working on his latch.

Good luck, I hope it starts to feel better soon. He is simply adorable!

Yep...I agree. I've been going through hell (all over again) with Emma, who is a strong little nurser, and had a patch so bad on my left nipple that I worried about scars! If it hurts, break latch and start over again. It's hard because their little mouths are so small. The pain didn't end for me until Adelaide was 6 weeks old, no matter what I did. She latched fine but just had a tiny mouth. Emma is the same way. ANYWHO...back to you! In the meantime, try to go "au naturale" as much as you can so the air can help it to heal. A little bit of lanolin will help keep the nipples moist and supple (therefore stretch better...youch! ), too. ;)

I was going to suggest lanolin and air as well. I had the same thing with dd3 when she was teeny tiny. It took about a month before we really got the hang of things. It was so hard for her to get a good latch, her mouth was just too tiny! I hope it goes away for you soon. And congrats on the gorgeous little guy!!

Lots of lanolin or vitamin e (get the capsule thingys and poke a hole it with a needle then squeeze some out).

Also, one thing I did when I nursed my first one was to put ice packs on my nipples before nursing to numb them. I know, might not be the best idea, but it worked. :D Then warm compresses afterwards.

:hug: Hope it heals fast!

I agree with what everyone else suggested, but I also suggest trying a different position. You are probably doing cradle hold, so I suggest a football hold or lying down.

HTH

I would hestitate to use the vitamin e capsules, as it could be too concentrated for your baby and too much vitamin e can be dangerous. Symptoms of a vitamin E overdose may include fatigue, weakness, nausea, headache, blurred vision, flatulence, and diarrhea. (http://my.webmd.com/hw/drug_data/d00405a1.asp?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348})

ive been using medela purlan and have been trying to air dry when possible. I have large breasts, so the easiest and most often used postition i've been doing is the football hold. Its hard for me to see over the big boobies to see a good latch if i do it any other way.

this is the first of my babies that have ever had such a good latch, the other two i had to pump and only did for 3months :( , i am really sad , i want this to work cause i know it can and he can, but it is starting to hurt so bad, the bottle is looking better and better to me :( :sob:

should i keep nursing him on the side that hurts? i thought i should, but i dont know if it will burst the blister? my mom says to just nurse on one side, but i know that isnt right ... right??

well, going to bed now, hopefully i'll get thru the next feeding cross your fingers for me !

Yes, keep nursing on the sore side. I know it can be frustrating and discouraging when you are in pain. Honestly what got me through it w/o resorting to bottles was sheer determination. I put the thought of bottles completely out of my mind (they were getting enough to eat) and just put my head down and plowed through it. There were many times I had to grit my teeth and take deep breaths while nursing on the sore side. Just keep telling yourself "it will get better, it will get better" and "I can do it I can do it". BF is soooo worth all the pain and just like labor you forget about the pain really fast! :p BF is the *one* parenting decision I have never second guessed

It may help you to nurse on only one side per feeding so the sore side gets to rest for a long period of time instead of two short ones. YK?


If you feel like it could relieve some paind/pressure you can pop the blood blister and put some antibiotic ointment on it between feedings (just be sure to wipe ot off before latching him on)

I think you are on the right track you just have to keep going! It will get better!

Have you tried to see the LC at the hospital? Maybe they have a breastfeeding clinic you could go to. Our hospital does and it is free. Some hands on latch help may make a world of difference.

I know you can do it!!:D

Calling the LC is a great idea! Also, contact La Leche League in your area. They're nearly always willing to come over for a visit to check the latch, etc. or answer questions over the phone.
Since its only on one breast, it very well could be a latch on problem. With my first my nipples were shaped differently, so one side would be fine, but the other would hurt. I had to make sure I was supporting the breast well (especially important of large breasted mothers) and using a c-hold not a "scissors" hold. Make a c with your hand and have the fingers under the breast, the thumb on top, then compress the breast slightly. That will make the nipple protrude more and could help with the latch on that side. Brewed tea bags that have cooled can help relieve pain. There's also a fairly new product that would be very helpful in your case. It's basically a gel pad you leave on the nipple when you aren't nursing and it helps it heal faster. Kind of like lanolin without the mess.
And yes, continue to nurse on the sore side. Otherwise you're going to have a great supply on one side, no supply on the other. It can make a mama kind of lopsided :D

Start feeding on the non-sore side first, that way the other (less traumatized) nipple gets the most desperate action. Then, when he is on the sore nipple, he won't be so frantic or harsh. Also, support your breast in one hand and his head in the other when you're going to latch, so you can guide him to you. You might also consider taking ibuprofen 30 minutes before each session.

I can totally relate to your frustration and thinking of quitting. I was right there a few weeks ago, even to the point of crying out at the beginning of each nursing session. I had diagonal cracks on both nipples. Hang in there. As you know, it gets easier and soon it will be as easy as breathing, and you know the payoff!