Soothies for sore boobies?

[SuperchargedMom]

Ok, breastfeeding is working! Mason has a GREAT latch for the most part. It takes a couple tries but we are doing good. Especially since this is my first time too, we are both ahead of the learning curve.

But O M G my nips are sore. We had two marathon feeding sessions today that were close to 45 minutes. And he was sucking and swallowing almost the whole time!

So the lactation nurse suggested that mike run to target for soothies. He got Landinoh soothies gel pads. They are helping keep my nipples from rubbing my shirts but I am so sore. I'm pretty sure it's a new to BFing issue. Once he is about 5 minutes into the feeding it kinda subsides.
What ideas can I try?

We have a nice deep latch ( working on a picture for you all). I'm so proud of us!


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[lilbunnygirl]

Fantastic, you are doing awesome mama!!!

What worked for my sore boobies like nothing else was Booby Tubes, put them on warm before a feeding and cold after.

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/breastfeeding-support/booby-tubes.html

The pain gets better, the first week is the hardest!

[SuperchargedMom]

Maybe I should retitle this 'my breast feeding questions thread' :love:
So I seem to get a better latch and longer feed on my left than my right. I have had the best success with the football hold than anything else...

He seems to pull off a lot faster on the right side and just doesn't swallow as much.
How do I know if it's me or my hold that is the issue?

Is it going to be hard to get used to feeding without the adjustable bed?
I honestly love being able to move the angles to help me hold the baby.

Should I get a my brestfreiend pillow or is a boppy better? We don't have a boppy yet.

La leache league... Yes or no?

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[SuperchargedMom]

Fantastic, you are doing awesome mama!!!

What worked for my sore boobies like nothing else was Booby Tubes, put them on warm before a feeding and cold after.

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/breastfeeding-support/booby-tubes.html

The pain gets better, the first week is the hardest!

Consider them bought! (does bru or target carry them? Or order online?)

Are the infinitely reusable or should I get a few sets?


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[Elaine]

Yay!!! So glad to hear things are going well! :hula:

Lanolin, some kind of nipple butter (I know some moms here used one that is apparently great), or breast milk and air drying. Squirt a little milk out, rub it on your nips and let the girls air dry. That will definitely help ease the pain.

My doctor always compared it to breaking in a new pair of shoes. It takes a few weeks to 'break' your nips in. The constant friction is going to agitate and cause pain but it will get better! :support:

[Elaine]

Maybe I should retitle this 'my breast feeding questions thread' :love:
So I seem to get a better latch and longer feed on my left than my right. I have had the best success with the football hold than anything else...

He seems to pull off a lot faster on the right side and just doesn't swallow as much.
How do I know if it's me or my hold that is the issue?

Is it going to be hard to get used to feeding without the adjustable bed?
I honestly love being able to move the angles to help me hold the baby.

Should I get a my brestfreiend pillow or is a boppy better? We don't have a boppy yet.

La leache league... Yes or no?

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LLL - YES! If you have any questions get in contact with them. Obviously their a little pro-breast feeding :hehe: but everyone I know that has contacted them has nothing but good things to say.

I never used a 'special' breast feeding pillow. I had one and hated it. I found a regular pillow worked better at the beginning when I was using the football hold with Thomas and as switched over to the cradle hold I didn't need a pillow because he'd basically sit in my lap. All that said, I'm a small person (5 feet tall) and the BF pillows lifted the baby up too high.

I found it easier to nurse without the adjustable bed. It was easier to sit up straight, especially when using the football hold, then I had control over my let-down (I could lean back so Thomas was almost sitting straight up and he wouldn't choke).

It's not uncommon for a baby to prefer one side over the other. Keep 'practicing' on the side they don't prefer and hopefully you'll both get the hang of it. It is possible to nurse off one side more than the other but you'll end up with lopsided boobs. :hehe:

[Jojo]

First off congrats!! That is awesome :yahoo:

James prefers my left even though I have more milk in my right. I like holding him to my left too.

I pretty much only used the football hold the first few months. It was the easiest for me. I have the boppy but don't use it. We use a regular pillow or nothing.

When I send your peeps I'll send you some BFing crap I have laying around. I think I have those gel pads still sealed so I'll throw those in :))

[Heather]

:hula: I'm so glad it's going well! Ditto to everything Elaine said except I LOVE my Brestfriend breastfeeding pillow. I like that it buckles on to you and also provides lower back support and still use mine all the time. As for nips, the stuff Elaine is talking about is the same brand of the stuff that Lily posted a link to, the Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter. It is awesome and doesn't look and smell nasty like Lanolin. I'm not sure where you can buy it in a store as someone had given me mine. I also preferred nursing in a regular chair vs the hospital bed, so I'm sure you'll get used to it. And yes, both times for me it took about a week for my nips to "toughen up", so as bad as it can hurt (mine bled - OUCH!) just know that it shouldn't last too long. And yes, it's fine to nurse from bleeding nipples. Feel free to ask anything, you've got lots of experience rout here on this board! And yes to LLL, you can contact them anytime of the day or night I believe. Also, not that you asked but Dr. Hale's book "Medication and Mother's Milk" seems to be the number one go to choice for most breastfeeding advocates regarding safe mess to take, and usually your local LLL will have a copy of the book. Also www.kellymom.com is an awesome source for all things breastfeeding and also has a medication section that goes off of Dr. Hale's book. Anyway, keep up the great work!! You're doing awesome!!

[SuperchargedMom]

Oh you are incredible ya know that !
I'd be happy to buy those pads from you if you want. I know they aren't cheap. Just let me know.

I'm a pillow *****. I collect them. We probably have 6 or 7 on our bed. Mike uses 1. :) I have a body pillow, a pillow for my recliner, kids each have a few pillows. I find uses for them all!


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[SuperchargedMom]

Thanks heather!

The lanolin doesn't seem to bother me or Mason so far... They gave me a tube of medela tender care lanolin yesterday. I thought it was for chapping, didn't realize it supposed to help soreness too... Can I use both?

Is LLL free or do I pay like a monthly service fee? I'll do more googling when I get home... I honestly was prepared to fail at this. I'm very proud of myself and just determined now.


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[Heather]

I believe LLL is free, although I've never actually used their services. But I think you can just call them up or go to a meeting anytime you like, am I right girls?

[Elaine]

As far as I know it's free. Lactation consultants generally aren't but I believe LLL is.

[lilbunnygirl]

Yes LLL is free!

I could not have BFed my kids without a Boppy, straight up! That's one of my top 3 baby items, I really don't know how people live without them.

It's okay to only feed from one side per nursing session if he seems happy, I've always done it that way. You will have one boob that makes more and that seems more comfortable to use but you have to try to use them both evenly regardless.

Oh the Booby Tubes are washable and reusable, I only ever needed the 1 pair. And you can't buy them in person but Amazon does carry them.

[ShelbysMommy]

Everyone has given great advice. The only thing I can add is that my LC told me (with both my babies) that you can also use tea bags between feedings. Just soak it in water for a few minutes, and then put against your nipples between feedings. The tannin in the tea helps sooth. It sounds weird, but it really does work.

[Heather]

Laura, I've never heard of that. Cool! Also one more thing to mention - my hospital and insurance allows me to call one of the LC's at the hospital with questions for free. When I had my milk blister and clogged duct, I had tried a local LLL person who wasn't much help, so I called the hospital and the LC gave me free advice.

[Jojo]

yeah my insurance covers my LC...if it didn't I don't know what we'd do. Though, if you call them they will tell you don't so ask your OB/pedi if they recommend someone who takes insurance. Mine is an IBCLC so she takes insurance but when I called the insurance company they had no clue what I was talking about (nothing new!) Just a heads up on that.

[Sarah]

Congratulations on successful breastfeeding! I have nothing to add to the advice of the other ladies, but just wanted to tell you that you're doing a good job! :))

[SuperchargedMom]

Thanks for all the input. I'm on baby overload. My tubal was done this morning and I feel like I'm starting all over on my birthing recovery for a 2nd time this week :)

I'm actually excited to be breast feeding now. It's a very liberating feeling...peaceful too.


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[Sarah]

It's definitely very relaxing. :love:

[Elaine]

It's a great way to get away from people too. Or if you're getting antsy at people passing baby around. Or if someone you don't really want to hold your baby is holding your baby. "Oh! It's time for baby to eat!" :twothumbs: :hehe:

[SuperchargedMom]

Awesome idea :)


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