Quick Intro and a Kind of Specific Nipple Soreness Question

[dashook]

Hey everyone!  

FTM here, recent TB deserter. I was very active on the January 2015 BMB and had hoped to get involved on more boards once my LO was born, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you ask I suppose) the whole place imploded less than a week after he was born so I never got the chance.  But here I am, joining in! 

So, question...my son will be 4 weeks old tomorrow and we are EBF.  He has a moderate tongue tie and so we have been using a nipple shield since the hospital.  (Side note: I know at some point I should probably try latching him without it, but I am kind of scared to do so [scared of pain, I think, and also failing], plus my pediatrician says there's no issue with continuing to use it.)  The shield protects me from having any of the cracks or damage that I know other BF'ing moms experience, but I am still experiencing a lot of sensitivity and some pain when I'm not nursing, i.e., from clothing, or really ANYthing, rubbing against my nipples.

My question is, does anyone else have experience using a nipple shield and know if the products (like soothie pads or Earth Mama Angel Baby balm) that are designed to help with nipple pain are also effective for the kind of sensitivity I'm having?  Or are they really just meant to heal the kind of damage that comes from a direct latch?  TIA!

[Deleted]

the soothies and nipple cremes and cool compresses alternating with warmth like warm water soaks will speed healing of any soreness.
be sure to get tongue tie evaluated, because it can interfere with milk transfer if baby can't get a good latch even with the shield not just tongue tie causing damaged nips. And yes you should work to try one feeding a day without the shield, and then work up from there to wean from it gradually.

[sgio7485]

I have the earth mama cream and soothies and both are great! I alternate when I use them but I find them very helpful for sore or sensitive nipples.

[dashook]

Thanks, everyone! @amyg do you think trying a shieldless feeding for the first feeding of the day makes sense, since that's probably when the most milk is available?

Sorry, I've been doing this BFing thing for 4 weeks now but still feel like such a noob.

[Deleted]

sure you can do whatever feeding of the day that works best. it might be the first one of the day when supply is highest. but if baby slept a "longer" time they might be a bit extra hungry and not be able to figure it out. so they might do better midday when you are both wide awake. some do better when half asleep.

some do better if they start with the shield and then once the nipple is primed do well to have it slipped off midfeed.

You could also just make yourself a pattern like for one day I will try one time at one feeding, and then I will try one time at two feedings for two days, then try at three feedings for three days. until you try at every feeding of a day. by then you'll probaby have some success and can figure out what is working and what isn't.

lots of ways to do it, there is no one right way.

[spacedew]

Feb 4, 2015 19:20:20 GMT -5 @amyg said:

some do better if they start with the shield and then once the nipple is primed do well to have it slipped off midfeed.

This is what worked for DD and I when we were ready. I also think experimenting to find the right feeding is a good idea.

[Lrachelle80]

In the mean time, using this between sessions SAVED MY NIPPLES like so much:

amzn.to/1I5OfRh

So highly recommended and so comfortable. I tried the Medela ones, too, howevery they saved my nipples but made the rest of my boob hurt. These were so great.