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Before your baby is born devise a list of reasons why you want to nurse. Then if things get difficult or painful, refer to the list to remind yourself of why you’re doing this. Here’s my list: It saves money, nursed babies are smarter, nursed babies are healthier, breast milk gives antibodies, it helps mom burn calories, it helps mom’s uterus return to its normal size, it’s always the right temperature, God made the formula of breast milk perfect!
Before your baby is born determine if you have flat or inverted nipples. Use nipple shields to correct this condition before trying to nurse. If you still need help after baby comes a lactation consultant can give you nursing success!
With my second baby, I used purified lanolin during my last trimester on my nipples each morning and night to help prepare them for nursing. Once baby was born I applied the lanolin after each feeding. I did not experience new nursing pain with this baby.
I developed nipple eczema with my third and fourth babies. The lanolin did not help in this case.
First time nursing can be difficult, because not every baby is born knowing how to nurse. If you deliver in a hospital, don’t leave without feeling comfortable with the nursing. Keep asking for help from the nurses to get the baby to latch on correctly. If you deliver at home call an experienced friend or two for help. If there isn’t anyone you know to call, it’s worth it to hire a lactation consultant. Being able to nurse will more than pay for the hired help over the cost of formula. Not to mention the health benefits for you and baby. It took 3-4 people to get my first three babies to nurse for the first 4 days.
If you have a difficult time getting baby to nurse, let me give you hope. My first three would have starved to death if I didn’t have so much help teaching them to nurse, but my 4th was born looking for the nipple, and latched on correctly the first and every time. It can happen if you keep having babies, smile. (oh, and my first 3 babies did eventually learn to nurse. They became nice plump babies)
Don’t give up on nursing because of the pain. Give it at least 2 weeks. During the painful period, use lanolin before, after and during nursing, if necessary, to get through it. I haven’t heard of anyone experiencing pain after the first two weeks, unless they have a secondary condition such as thrush, eczema, or baby latching on incorrectly.
To help ease first time nursing pain, change the nursing position for each feeding. For example start with the football hold, then side lying, then sitting up with the baby across from you.
To help a new baby latch on correctly make sure his belly is against your belly. For some reason newborns can get confused if they are crooked. I always seem to forget this part, because it doesn’t take long before baby will learn to nurse in any position. I’ve even seen toddlers nurse standing up.
A note about eczema: I have chronic nipple eczema. Mine is not caused by thrush, or bacteria, or food in baby’s mouth. Mine is not related to laundry detergent or any known allergies. It is exaggerated by moisture, sweat, saliva, and friction. There is no cure (except a miracle which I am praying for) but steroids can control it (I don’t like using steroids when nursing or pregnant). I have tried everything and found help from Elidel non-steroid prescription cream (but it’s very expensive and not highly tested), frequent bathing, topical Evening Primrose Oil, and hydrocortisone cream (a mild steroid.) If you also have eczema, I feel your pain. You can keep nursing. Let’s support each other!
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