Use a nipple shield until your nipples heal. It helps a lot and continue using a nipple cream. Make sure to put a cold compress on your nipples before and after feedings if you choose not to use the nipple shield. Before so they can get numb and after to reduce the swelling and pain.

@lovejors it has gotten a lot better. It still hurts when she first latches on but it's wayyyy better than before

I hope things are going better for you @texxie! I know my journey has improved but there are still times when it’s tough. ESP when she won’t latch at 3am and we are both tired and cranky!

@lovejors I've started pumping to give my nipples a break. The lactation consultant told me to put some coconut oil on them after letting my breast milk dry. I'm trying that to see if it works

My pedi who is also a lactation consultant actually prescribed me a heavy duty nipple cream for this same type of issue when my dd was 4 days old. We also discovered that for a few days I had to do a little pumping before she ate cuz otherwise my nipples were too stiff for her to latch correctly. The pain was intense for several days but now 3 weeks pp it is improving.

I'm going to schedule an appt with the lactation consultant bc something just isn't right. Since switching to pumping while giving my nipples a break, it looked like they may be healing....just a tad. So I tried out breastfeeding yesterday and I'll say1 out of 4 times, the latch was good. No pain. Not sure what I did but I'm going to figure it out!! Also today I bought one of those hot/cold gel compress in the purple box. I'm going to test it out and see how it works!!

Massage your breasts firmly. I also put a hot rice bag on my breasts while pumping, not while nursing bc I don't want to choke baby. For me, the first 4-5 weeks of nursing was painful and now at almost 7w it is so much better! I've been waiting for this! You got this momma. Also use nipple cream after nursing or pumping.

Book another consult with an ICBLC. Get them to check for lip/tongue ties (correct surgically if required by paediatrician or specialist dentist).

Engorgement is normal at this time as breast tissues expand/grow (it’s not all milk that hasn’t drained). Use hot compress (hot towel or warm shower) before breastfeeding or expressing) and cold compress (ice pack or frozen wet newborn nappy) to relieve pain from engorgement.

Thanks ladies. She definitely isn't latching well. And this morning when she was nursing, there was blood coming out so I stopped nursing completely until my nipples are healed. Even the nipple shields don't work. I've been using lanolin but I don't feel like it's working. And I don't know what to do at this point. The lactation consultant came to see me before I was discharged.

Sounds like Baby isn’t latching well. I had that in the beginning so I started relatching if it was a shallow latch to make sure the latch was deep. Once Baby figures out what it’s doing u don’t need to check on the latch anymore (1 month into it for me). Make sure you use Vaseline of some sort for the nipples, makes a huge difference. Keep doing what you’re doing and things will get better. Also in the beginning I pumped when my milk just came in like 2-3 times from opposite boob cuz they were engorged and I needed relief. I don’t have over supply like everyone else Says u will. I think if u only pump a couple times it won’t affect your supply. Good luck with everything

Hand express to relieve the engorgement. Save it! I always let breastmilk air dry on my nipples to help with pain.

Make sure the latch is nice and deep. Get baby to open really wide. If it hurts that much, they latch isn’t right. Maybe get a lactation consultant to help

Make sure younger using a good nipple ointment after every feeding. It is super painful in the beginning, but know it gets better. You got this mama!