10 days old baby, cracked nipples, fussy when latching...help!

[Fiver]

It's so hard to tell when they're so small and so new to the world.  Everything is pretty alien to them.  If it was me, I think I'd carry on as I was for now and see what happens over the next few weeks.

[ENMS]

I agree, I'd carry on but keep a close eye. DS had a diaper rash, just a ring around the anus, that wouldn't go away no matter what I used on it. Many drs saw it, prescribed different creams, and nothing worked. I read later that it was called an 'allergy ring' and was due to him being MSPI.

If it's a normal rash on her butt, I'd use lots of diaper cream and wait and see.

[ZacsMumme]

I agree, I'd carry on but keep a close eye. DS had a diaper rash, just a ring around the anus, that wouldn't go away no matter what I used on it. Many drs saw it, prescribed different creams, and nothing worked. I read later that it was called an 'allergy ring' and was due to him being MSPI..

Omg t had this! The things you learn on BW. His wasnt real bad but persistent with all the creams too

Hugs Hun, fx things come right soon

[Me.and.my.two.boys]

The clamping sounds like when I had OAL - I nursed laying back and it just took time but around 6 weeks he seemed to suddenly be OK with it

The latching pain sounds exactly what I had - I think I described it one day as "having someone rip my nipple off and sew it back on" - I totally get where your coming from.

I know its not much consolation but it does get better (((HUGS))) xx

[TB9]

Re: diaper rash

DD had very very sensitive skin, we HAD to use the Huggies diapers for sensitve skin, not sure what the actual name of them is but they are hypoallergenic/no perfumes, etc.  Even if the diapers had no perfume they would still give her a rash if they weren't hypoallergenic.  Doctor I saw at the clinic recommended vaseline as the best for diaper rashes and I ended up just having to use a lot until her skin was healed.

[Marie-O]

Although I remember well that toe curling pain when latching on

^^this and

I think I described it one day as "having someone rip my nipple off and sew it back on"

^^this....exactly what it feels like.

So a lactation consultant came today. She said I'm doing everything right when latching since I'm following all hers and other LC advises.
She said baby might be slighly TT and it can only be corrected with a laser procedure  . The soonest appointment I've got was for Jan 7th. A doctor speciallized in this will assess if its necessary to do it.
She gave me other tips to help heal my cracked nipples faster and for now I'll nurse from one side and pump the other then switch sides, to reduce the exposure to the biting.
She said that if the TT is not corrected she will keep biting until she outgrows it (her mouth growing), but by then I could develop severe injury and probably infection which is less than ideal.

Let's see how it goes...I'll keep you posted 

[ENMS]

Marie I had the laser procedure done for my DS so feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

(((hugs))) I hope it goes well until then.

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs. It is great the LC could give you an answer though

[*Ali*]

Good to have a reason at least but must feel like a lifetime away.

Does she take a bottle? Can you just pump and bottle feed for one feed a day to give your nipples a longer time to heal between the feeds either side of that bottle?

I found counting really fast until the initial pain dulled helped me focus on  it reducing and I came to know that by the times I got to 60 it would no longer hurt.

[Fiver]

The pain with a TT is a pretty special one, to be fair.  No amount of distraction works to relieve it and it tends not to just pass, as BF pains often do, unfortunately.

Elise, didn't you end up having DS's redone with the blunt ended scissors or am I remembering incorrectly?

Marie, if you can get someone who will divide with scissors rather than laser it may be more effective for you.  In the UK they don't seem to use lasers for dividing TTs in babies.

[*Ali*]

Oh dear, I was talking about the pain of infected, open wounds on nipples. I found even though excruciating it did seem to go numb and be less all-consuming after the first minute. I've not had a TT baby. I didn't realise that was a different pain. Wow that must be awful.

[Fiver]

Ah, understood
And yes, ouch.

[ENMS]

Elise, didn't you end up having DS's redone with the blunt ended scissors or am I remembering incorrectly?

Totally right Amanda

We had the laser done, twice. And then we got it done with the scissors and it fixed it. In all honesty though DS had a very severe, posterior tongue tie. Do ask if they need to numb him locally before doing the laser procedure. I know they needed to do it for DS (but I think it may have been because his was so severe, not sure if it's standard) and tbh I think the pain was worse from this than from actually cutting it with the scissors the last time (with only topical orajel), kwim? He also recuperated better from the scissors.

I'm not sure where you are in Canada, but here drs are not very knowledgeable about TT. We had the dentist do the laser thing but since it didn't quite work for us, I did lots of research and found a GP specialized in TT and she's the one who really helped us. I'm trying to find the website where there were those TT specialists throughout Canada, I'll continue searching and will post it here if I find it.

More (((hugs))) hon.

[Fiver]

You might be able to find a local IBCLC who is qualified to divide TTs here http://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3337

The UK listings show which ones can do this, but I have no idea if they're even allowed to do this in Canada, but one may be able to point you in the right direction.

[Marie-O]

I'm not sure where you are in Canada, but here drs are not very knowledgeable about TT

I'm in Ottawa. my LC recommended this doctor who is specialized in TT and knows how can it affect BF'ing and the importance of correcting it fast.
My LC says my baby doesn't seem to have a severe one...but let's see what this doctor says.

Yes it is forever...Jan 7th is too long away.

For now I'm using breast shells and BF'ing only one side and pumping the other to aloud healing, then switching to the other side for the next feeding. My DD2 takes the bottle with no problem. I don't want to give up BF'ing!!! My DH sees me in such pain that he says is not worth it...but it is!

Today I cry for nothing, I cried while BF'ing asking DD2 please not to bite. I don't want this to become unbearable I don't want to quit. But as DH says it is important to take care of my phisical and mental health also....this is starting to affect me a lot emotionally.

I know I can do this....I hope my nipples heal fast and hope the TT laser will solve the problem.