About to Throw in the Towel on Breastfeeding...

Hello -

I think it is great that you are reaching out before giving up. You are not alone in having trouble with BF...to continue you need the right support!!!

My Lactation Consultant is amazing and will help you through this!!!!

Carol Chamblin @ ###-###-####
http://breastbabyproducts.com/

Best of luck!

Courtney

You can always pump milk and give it to him. You will be less dependent on the baby, he will get the nutrients. I did that with my second one he was a preemy, was not able to latch at all, I pumped from day 1 for 8 month.

Please go to www.kellymom.com They will walk you through this. Also if you want a really good lactation consultant, go to Carol Chamblin is St Charles. Her website is www.breastandbabyproducts.com (Or something close - you can google it.)

For pain relief, i would get those Gerber nursing Gel pads...you can get them at Target by the bottle and breast pumps.

Stick them in the fridge...after breastfeeding, but them on your nipples and i swear it will soothe them like crazy.

Good luck, but honestly, breastfeeding isn't for everyone. It should be a joyous experience, and if it isn't, then don;t feel bad for pumping and giving him the bottles- he's stil getting the milk! Or even just switching to formula.

Do whats best for you guys!

Hi A., My daughter is 9 weeks old and I had the exact same problems as yourself. I eventually did give up on Breastfeeding although, I really, really didn't want to. My Dr. told me to put the baby on Goats Milk-not formula-it has too many chemicals in it. I put liquid vitamins and Goats milk, plus liquid DHA. It is the closest thing you can get to Breastmilk. I stopped beating myself up and moved on. We as parents will beat ourselves up for plenty of things as the years go by (I have 4 kids) and as long as I can give the baby the closest thing, then we are both full and happy. If you can breastfeed-Wonderful! but sadly, not everyone can. The intense pain I experienced from Breastfeeding, took away from the joy of being a parent. Good Luck :) Maria

You have a lot of good reasons not to breastfeed. Go ahead and stop and don't give in to those who pressure you to keep trying. Your son will not care, in fact, he will welcome having a M. who is not stressed and a bottle that gives him all the milk he wants.

Congratulations on how far you have come. You really should be proud of your dedication. You need to do what is best for you and your baby (nutrition as well as to reduce your stress). While bottle feeding isn't the end of the world and may be best in your situation to reduce your stress, it does sound like you really do want to continue breastfeeding. If you do want to continue to breastfeed, I highly recommend calling La Leche League. www.llli.org They have a help line and if you go to the local pages you can find a group near you. The women who are leaders are there to answer questions from new moms who they have never met who need breastfeeding help. They are supportive, nurturing and kind and a call might help you right away, although a meeting with lots of other moms would be great too. Best of all, it is FREE! Also call up your local hospital and find out information about lactation consultants. They aren't free, but may be covered by your insurance. And again, your dedication is very impressive. Good job!

Good luck and really, your dedication is impressive.

I hate the misconception that breastfeeding is easy and natural. On my third child I actually had to go back to a certified lactation consultant...What a God send. She showed me how to get him to latch on correctly because underneath his tongue where it attaches was too short. I also learned how to use a Boppy pillow which helped. Finally, I had to learn to just relax....then everything seemed to fall into place. Don't feel like you are failing if you choose to go the formula route, which I did with my first...she turned out fine and actually has no allergies vs the other two who have food allergies up the wazoo..also dad can participate more! Do what works best for your family

First off let me start with some sympathy...you and your sweet baby have had a rough few weeks, I am so sorry.

Next, If you feel like not breastfeeding and switching to formula, DO NOT feel guilty about it, its ok. This can be such a stressful time that is supposed to be enjoyable, if it is adding to your frustration you should consider other options. You have to take care of you to take care of him! So, you first!

Finally, if you are going to try to continue to breastfeed you have to get his mouth and your nipples completley healed. If you aren't healed up you are probably passing it back to him, its a vicious cycle of back and forth!
Make sure you are wiping out his mouth after each feeding with a clean wet washcloth. Let your nipples air out every chance you get. Yeast / Thrush loves warm moist places... add breast pads and its almost impossible to get rid of it. Sleep braless and shirtless if you can and every opportunity you get wear loose fitting breathable clothing. You can use monistat on your nipples if you wash it off before feeding, it does help. Also, start taking a probiotic, it will help your body balance between good and bad bacteria so that neither over produces. You can usually find it in the supplement area of any drugstore.

It is also ok to supplement with formula in addition to your breastmilk.

Guess all I have to say is that you have to figure out what works best for you and your family!!!

Good Luck and Hope you find some relief soon!

Two ways to look at this:

#1. If you haven't consulted with a quality lactation consultant, it just might be worth your while. Notice I said 'quality'; you may need to do a lot of research on this one because there are good ones and not so good ones. A really good one will be able to help you and your son achieve the success you are looking for.

#2. If after all is said and done you are still so stressed ("I feel like I'm always stressed out around feeding time and that can't be good for either one of us"), then DO NOT feel guilty if you make the decision to restore mental/emotional/physical balance in your family's life by making the decision to stop breastfeeding! Everyone in the world can call you a quitter (and their opinions do NOT matter because they do not live your life), but ultimately you have to make the decision that works best for you and your son. If you have exhausted all your options and resources and still feel badly about the nursing, then give yourself permission to find alternate ways to feed and nourish your son - I guaranteed he will be just fine, the two of you will still bond, and he'll grow up healthy.

Good luck with whatever decision you make! Your sanity, your baby, YOUR CHOICE :D

Hi A.,
You have so many responses and I'm not reading through them all so I apologize if I am repeating, but: you should absolutely do what you are most comfortable with, what works for you, and feel no guilt. I had a girlfriend that went through much of what you're describing and was miserable. With number 2 her mom said, "you don't have to put yourself through that again." She didn't and enjoyed her healthy, happy baby much more easily. Now, all that said, if you are interested in hanging in there a bit longer, it took me until week 10 to feel no pain and have breastfeeding be the natural, breezy thing I'd envisioned. I thought something was wrong with me that it hurt so intensely until then, particularly when the baby latched on. I had gel inserts for my bra in between feedings to try to soothe my nipples and would dread that latch. But it did get easier and after that first 10 weeks, it was so terrific and simplified my life - no bottles, no formula, no getting stuck anywhere without the ability to feed the baby. Good luck making this decision and remember that whatever you decide, you are doing the best thing for you and your baby in this situation. Either way will have its pros and cons. Enjoy, this is such a precious time.

Hi A.,

I know what you are going through. I had two children who I nursed for 7 months with no problems. Then my third had tongue tie. My doctor didn't want us to have his tongue clipped, so I had to tough it out for as long as I could stand it. I wish I had pursued the tongue clipping as you did.

Anyhow, nursing was excruciating for me. It took multiple tries to latch on and he could never stay on for more than a few minutes. I didn't get thrush like you did, but I understand what it feels like to be in discomfort all the time because of blisters and irritation on my breasts. Anyhow, what I did, rather than give up nursing altogether, was to limit the nursing to once or twice a day, then pump the other feedings. This way, I was able to get through a few more months of nursing. Plus, when you pump, you often are able to get out more milk then you need, especially at the phase you are in (Around the two month mark there seems to be a lot of excess milk which I noticed when I pumped at work.) The extra milk can be frozen and the baby will be able to have breast milk a few more weeks after you've stopped nursing.

In any case, do what feels right for you. Having your first baby is stressful, and if for your own sanity you feel like you want to give up nursing, do it! Don't let other people judge whatever decision you make. And remember, just because your first was not easy to breastfeed, your next child could be a great nurser, and you can try again.

Listen to your instincts, A.. I went through the same scenario -- just add that my daughter was allergic to milk -- and was colicky for 10 weeks. When I switched to formula, I was able to enjoy my duaghter and not be only focused on the pain and failures I was experiencing. BEst of luck!

It's okay to bottle feed. You have gone above and beyond trying to breast feed. Why are you putting so much pressure on yourself? I have two beautiful girls that were both bottle fed, both are very healthy and both are very smart. Not breastfeeding does not make you a bad mom. Give it up and go to the bottle. You and your child will be much happier.

I applaud your struggle of 7 weeks, if you really want to breastfeed call up your hospital and ask if they have a certified lactation consultant that you could arrange to talk to. If not, if you just want to enjoy your child and not add extra stress, you could just pump and feed. I love breastfeeding and it's benefits but I love the Mother child relationship more and want you to not resent the child to get something everyone else is pushing for. Do what you feel in your heart. A breastfeeding consultant will help you get through some painful things and help learn proper latching to prevent pain. You are blessed with whatever you choose to do, follow your heart.

I too had a really hard time nursing my son. He wouldn't latch properly in the beginning and my nipples got cracked and sore and were bleeding. Then I got mastitis. And he wasn't getting enough from me either because it hurt so much. I totally know what you are going through! I wanted to give up too. It took 8 weeks for him to finally latch on properly, and once that was working, he started to gain more weight. But I never made enough milk to make him happy, so for the entire year I was breastfeeding I supplemented with a couple of ounces of formula a couple of times a day. It was rough and I wanted to give up, but we made it one year. After going through that, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to just give formula. Breastfeeding does not come easily for everyone, even though it's supposed to be natural. I just had my daughter 2 weeks ago, and she nurses so much better than my son did. She is a pig and eats all the time, so my milk supply is not low like it was before. Every baby is different. Some things to try: the Lansinoh breastfeeding cream. Helped me to heal and felt really nice. I used the Johnson & Johnson breast pads after I put on the cream. The pads have a slightly raised center for the nipple and adhesive to keep the pad in your bra. Helps to keep the bra from rubbing. Having an appointment with a certified lactation consultant to help your son with his latching would probably be the most beneficial thing to do. And if you decide that all this is just too much and it's stressing you out, you are NOT a bad mother or a failure if you decide to give him formula instead. What's most important is that you are giving him lots of love. I hope this helps and good luck! If you would like to talk further, just send me a message. :)

You have gotten lots of responses so I will be brief....there are lots of good suggestions..with the ointments and nursing pads. There are also shells that are made by Medela that are hard plastic with a softer plaster inner layer. You put your nipple through the hole on the soft layer and it keeps your nipple in the space between the layers...keeps it dry and from rubbing on your bra. These were a lifesaver for me in the early days.

The pain you are talking about might still partially be the thrush, but it also may be improper latch/positioning. A LC is going to be the best bet to help you with this, or a LLL leader. Some things that helped me alot with positioning were the Medela nursing stool that lifts your legs up just the right amount/angle to hold the baby up to your breast and the My Breast Friend nursing pillow. Alot of people say to use the Boppy cause it is most common, but the My Breast Friend is infinitely better, it has a divet for the baby's head and a it is contoured to you and your baby. It is very firm and steady. It worked miracles for me with my first baby.

I know how hard it is....I had all kinds of problems with my first as well. But it is worth it if you can stick it out. Don't feel bad though if you just can't handle it....I came very close to quitting myself. But know there is alot of support out there if you do choose to stick it out and believe it or not it is really easy once everything clicks.

Dear A.,
It sounds like you answered your own question. Breast feeding isn't for every mom and baby, and you should not feel badly if it can't continue for you and your son. When my younger son was born, he is now 23 years of age, I was very stressed and could not produce enough milk for him. He cried a lot-the poor guy was always hungry. Even at ten days, I started putting rice cereal in his formula. It was better for both of us. Good luck to you, but if i were you, I'd consult the baby's pediatrician about formula and make the switch. Both you and your son will have a chance to heal. Good luck.
S.

First of all, if you really can't handle it, pumped milk is just as nutritional. And,if you keep the bottle feeding personal with a loving face on the other side you can still have the bonding.
That being said there are a few more resources for you if you want to keep trying. Contact La Leche League, there are people who can come out and help you, probably at no cost, even after you get out of the hospital.
Also, you need to try lanolin for your sore nipples. There is a product called Lansiol I think (or something like that) that will really help. Walmart and lots of other places sell it. You put it on after you nurse every time and it helps with healing and chapping it is perfectly safe for your baby when he nurses.
Eating lots of yogurt preferably low sugar varieties will help prevent thrush from coming back.
To help with the stress try to create a different environment for nursing. Make it a retreat where you and your baby go to a quite place to spend some intimate time together. If you are able to nurse laying down maybe try your bed or if not then maybe a cozy recliner in a corner. Don't just nurse your baby, mother him while he nurses, cuddle your baby and stroke him, admire him. Nursing is natures way of forcing busy moms to sit down and rest and enjoy their babies for a few minutes every so often, in spite of the busy world with all its demands. You may already be doing all or some of these things but on the chance that any of it helps I wanted to mention it.

Congratulations on your little boy.

Do you use nursing pads? I always use them to protect my nipples. I like the reusable kind, they are softer.

Talk to a lactation consultant, they can be very helpful.

If you're worried he's not getting enough milk, oatmeal and fenugreek (herb supplement) can help your milk supply. Also, make sure you're relaxing when you nurse. It can be stressful, I try to take deep breaths to help my milk come down.

7 weeks is the peak of difficulty (in my experience-four kids). The baby is fussiest, you are exhausted and you're ready for a break. It will get better.

I recommend the book On Becoming Babywise to get on a good schedule, it helped me so much-twins sleeping through the night by 2 1/2 months (and happier during the day too).

Good luck!

Hang in there! Here's what I'd recommend (take what works for you, leave what doesn't)... Keep breastfeeding - you've already been through so much I feel like you're so close now. Just know that as overwhelming as it seems, this too shall pass, and when it does you'll be so glad that you stuck it out. In the meantime, feed him as long as he will, and as long as you can stand it. After each feeding, offer him a bottle of formula. That way he's still getting breastmilk, you're keeping your milk up, and he's still getting plenty of food. Good luck!

Sorry to hear about your struggles! It seems very unfair that something so important as breastfeeding can come with so many challenges.

I don't want to repeat a lot of the other posts, but I do want to stress that you might find relief from Dr. Newman's Nipple Cream. I had a yeast infection as well as mastitis in the first few months of nursing and it provided much relief from the nipple pain and discomfort. There are only a few pharmacies in the city that will make it since it has to be compounded by hand. Your OB/Midwife should be able to tell you where to get it.

Also, I found kellymom.com to be extremely helpful with most of my breastfeeding questions and have referred many friends to it, as well.

http://kellymom.com/newman/03b-treatments_sore_nipples_br...

A.,

Please know that whatever you do, the baby will be just fine. Bottle or breast, whatever works best for you and your family. That being said, I have nursed 4, and let me tell you with all certainty that the first couple of months are hard regardless of the baby, and the first baby is the hardest by far. With my oldest I was lost - couldn't find the right position, I had to use a nipple shield on one side, she wouldn't latch on the right way, it was extremely painful AND I ended up having to supplement her with formula THROUGH AN EYE DROPPER, so she wouldn't get nipple confusion because her jaundice wouldn't go away. I thought how am I EVER going to do this?! Well, I did keep going and then by the time she was 2 months, we had the mechanics down pat. We still had more to learn, because with your first you always do! But, I was more comfortable and was able to nurse her until she was a year old. At that time I got pg with my second, and when he came, he latched right on and there were no problems. It still hurt though for awhile, because no matter how long or how many babies you nurse, it does take your nipple some time to toughen up again. Lanisoh works wonders for that. Also, I would recommend a lactation consultant as well.

Good luck!

A.:

It is so stressful! It seems that it should be the easiest thing in the world to breastfeed - but it is not! I would say if you can give it a few more days -you might get through the thrush. There is nothing more painful than thrush! When I tried to get rid of it my ob/gyn was out of town and his partenr did not want to do anything so he sent me to the internal medicine doctor. She was horrible! Said she had never heard of anyone having thrush on the nipple and gave me prescription for some oral medicine. I cried all the way home. My husband then called teh ob back and told them they had to give me a prescription. It took a few days, but then the pain went away. Saying all that however, if you are too stressed about it I would say you have given it your all - and you are still a great mom even if you don't breastfed!

I survived the thrush and mastitis and a pretty bad bite - to breastfeed my son for 16 months(until I was 3 months pregnant) and my daughter for 18! good luck!

I wanted to give up about this time too...A friend told me to keep going a few more weeks and it will get better. It did! Try to stick with it...If you can't then don't...not worth stressing over and having other issues...but if you can for a little longer, it was wierd it did get better and I was able to keep with it for a year.

Good luck! The first is always hard..you do not know what to expect, what they are getting and how much...it is all new, but it does get better.

A.,
I have not read the other responses sorry. I breastfed both my babies for 14 months each. Let me tell you, in the beginning it is uncomfortable. As times goes by, it will be so much easier and less painful. It sounds like you need a nipple ointment with lanolin to help with the soreness. I think the kind I used was made my medela. Look for a kind that is safe for baby and you can keep it on while he nurses. Also, I bought the disposable nursing pads at first and I hated them. SO, I went to the maternity store and bought resusable cloth pads. You can just throw them in the wash with whites. Also, it sounds like he is still not latching on correctly if it is still painful when he is nursing. Make sure he gets enough of the nipple in his mouth. If it feels like it is pinching, then pull him off by putting your finger in his mouth to break suction, and then latch him on again making sure he gets alot of the nipple and surrounding area in his mouth. You really have to kind of push the whole area into their mouth. When they are latched on properly, you should not really hear any sucking sounds other than swallowing sounds. It is sooo hard in the beginning to figure it all out. Believe me, it gets better and is so worth it. In a few months, you will be enjoying it. My son was tongue tied as well,but it did not seem to cause a problem. My problem was overactive letdown. It would choke them and make them gag and then give them gas which turned into colic...ugh! I really had to research it on my own on the internet and find a solution. Which was latching them on until the letdown, and then pulling them off for the initial spray and just using a burp cloth to spray into. Then I would put them back on and all was fine. Good luck!! I hope things get better for you. One of the most important things is to try and relax when you are nursing. Feel free to email me if you ever need another breastfeeding mom's advice.

You can do it! The first 2-3 months are the hardest, but it gets way easier. I know you live a little far, but may be worth the drive. Hinsdale Hospital has a weekly lactation support class. I think Tuesday, but call to check day and time. I thought they were wonderful. Get help from somewhere/one that gave you a good recommendation. What I liked about Hinsdale, was I never felt the pressure to succeed or that I was giving up. They are all about what is best for Mom and Baby!

I nursed my boys up to 13 months and 15 months.

A.,

I nursed my first for three years with no problem - but my second I had all kinds of trouble, from breaking capillaries to blisters bigger than my nipples for the first two months or so... then, it got easier. You have been through so much, It will get better, to have one thing after another happen just sucks... (pun intended?) but it will get easier. You can do it. You can. It gets better. I promise.

You are not alone in this. I suggest going to a Le Leche League meeting. These women are so very helpful and caring and many are certified in lactation counseling. You can find a chapter in your area by going on-line. You can also contact your local hospital and set up a time to meet with a lactation counselor. Sometimes you just need to tweek a position.

A.:

find an international board certified lactation consultant to help you.. breastfeeding is a "learned art".....

good luck,

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com

You poor dear! MY sympathies to ya! If pumping is less painful for you then I would do that! Breast milk has so many wonderful things in it for your baby! But I could see how you are discouraged.

Do you have the breast buddies? They can be hot/cold and are disks, like a breast pad. I had a bout w/mastitis and found them quite helpful.

Has the doc also told you to apply a topical cream? Ketaconazole or something? It could help the symptoms in the meantime until the diflucan does it's job.

Only you can make the decision to stop but I was there too and I went a few weeks longer, what a difference. The tenderness goes away, so does the engorgement. Your body will regulate and you won't feel so much pain. I did small goals for myself. Make it through the day, the week, ok not so bad....let's go till 3 months. I am now at almost 5 months and still BF. I found it to be VERY rewarding once I got through all the stuff you are experiencing. Plus I thought about how easy it was to wake up and feed and not have to prepare a bottle or if you are out and about. AND, BF is free! Not sure if you are on a budget but we are. Baby steps with the BF but if you are too stressed by all means you need to do what is right for you. I also went to BF support group at my local hospital, highly recommend looking into something like that as well...Good luck.

Don't give up! I sometime wonder what hurt worse the labor or the breastfeeding! Give it time it gets better every day and then one time when you feed him you will realize you aren't wincing in pain any more. In my case the sensitivity lasted quite a while but the pain subsided. Hang in there!

it is really hard in the beginning!
i had the same trouble with the cracking/bleeding and would also cry every time my son nursed. my pediatrician gave me a script for some nipple cream that was a godsend. it is their own special blend, but if you are in the city, it might be worth trying them out - lakeview pediatrics on belmont. not cheap, but really helped to heal the skin. the lanolin didn't help me at all.
i also saw a lactation consultant which helped me learn how to accomodate my son's particular issues and also was a big help emotionally. i felt so sad, overwhelmed, incompetant and seeing the consultant really helped me feel like my mother instincts were sound.
we also were able to work out the nursing issues and i just weaned him at 14 mos. in the end, nursing was so much easier (and cheaper) than bottle feeding, but the beginning was just so hard. i'm really glad i stuck it out, but you need to do what you feel is best for you.
best of luck to you. take heart in knowing that it will get better soon and whatever you choose to do, your baby will be fine.

whatever you decide do not feel guilty about you decision. if you will be happier, well rested,feeling better you will be a better mom. i wish someone warned me on the difficulty of nursing then i think i would be a little more prepared. it is very hard. you can do it but, know that if you cannot it is not the end of the world and there are fantastic formulas. best of luck.

Hang in there, A.!

Early breastfeeding can be quite painful, but it sounds like you've had an especially rough time of it. Kudos to you for sticking with it this far!

I would suggest sticking to it for as long as you can manage. Hopefully, soon, your nipples will be more elastic and nursing will be less painful.

In the meantime, lanolin (such as Lansinoh) cream and a warm (or cold) washcloth might help. My OB also recommended a mixture of 1 part hydrocortisone and 1 part neosporin ointment (it won't harm your baby, she said). And I always found my Lamaze breathing techniques helpful for relaxing during painful breastfeeding.

I would also recommend finding a breastfeeding support group. La Leche League has fairly regular meetings (www.lalecheleague.org) and Be By Baby (Roscoe & Lincoln) has "Breastfeeding 911" (the store's website is www.bebybaby.com, but you should call for info. on their classes/to register if you're interested -- it's right next to the Paulina stop on the Brown Line if that's convenient for you.)

You're doing a great job! Try to keep it up as long as you can manage. Every day you breastfeed your baby is good for him (and you), and hopefully you'll get past the pain soon!

Best of luck whatever you decide,
R.

I remember you posting before, and at that time I said that it took us a good 2.5 months before it became easy. In fact, my nipples hurt like crazy, and my husband would come home from work and see me trying to breastfeed and I'd be crying. It was hard!

You are doing great. It will get better, and soon! I suggest you hang in there, and see where you are in a few weeks.

I would try to continue to BF as long as you can stand it. It is painful when you are first starting. I've been lucky and have had very few problems, but I do use the lasinoh nipple cream to help with the sore and cracked nipples and the lasinoh breast pads. If BFing doesn't work out but you can pump do that, you'll still get all the benefits of breastmilk and anyone can feed the baby, letting you get get some shut eye or just get work done elsewhere. I am a SAHM and BF my daughter during the day but my husband gives her a bottle just before bed. He loves the bonding that happens as they gaze at each other. Also, if finances are an issue breastmilk beats out that expensive formula cause breastmilk is made for the baby and there is little you need to do but with formula there are so many brands and types within the brand to figure out what will work with your baby. I know with my niece my sister went through 4-5 types of formula before finding the kind that would give me niece the least amount of problems.
Also, my husband and I have been try to follow the babywise book and it's helped us alot for scheduling. Our 10wk old daughter is sleeping at night 6-8 hours at a crack. A bit of sleep will totally help you out with the stress factor.
Regardless, whatever you choose, do what works the best for you and the baby, be it sticking out with the breastfeeding, pumping and bottle feeding, or formula. I know lots of formula fed babies who are doing wonderfully. Wish you all the best.

-A.

A., I had a baby born 3 weeks early. He was jaundiced and the hospital wouldn't let me nurse because they had to know what went into him and what came out. consequently when we were able to take him home from the hospital he didn't want to latch on. I tried and tried and he would eat some but I still ended up giving him a bottle. Drove us all crazy. My suggestion to you would be if you are able to pump then do that. He will still get all the benefits of breast feeding but it will be easier all around on you. Good luck.
S.

There are 2 forums that I know of which have very helpful, informative mothers who may have some good ideas for you...

http://forum.kellymom.net/

http://forums.llli.org/

Here are some pages which also may be of help to you...

http://www.askdrsears.com/search.asp

Here's another cause for nipple pain during breastfeeding...

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching....

http://www.llli.org/search?cx=012805113672795732671%3A72a...

Best wishes,
J.

Call your local Le Leche League right now. They offer incredible help and support.

Hey there.
congratulations on your baby
My son is now 17months old. but I still remember the frustration level when i used to breastfeed.
my nipples were sore..Lensinoh tube is available in the market. you can apply that to your nipple and then feed the baby.its safe even if it goes in baby's mouth. remember to apply every time you feed the baby. it definitely helped me. Don't give up. Have patience. you will be able to do this.
Good luck.

I have so much respect for you. It's easy to breastfeed when it comes naturally but for moms who experience this kind of complexity from the start it seems impossible to stick to it. You have stuck to it for so long now, after many would have given up and I APPLAUD you!! You are fantastic in your love for your baby and I want you to know that there is HOPE.
First, express some of your milk into your clean, freshly washed hand and gently rub it into the nipple and surrounding area. Breast milk is very healing and I've heard from other moms that this works to relieve dryness and soreness.
Next, go to the store (BabysRUs is good) and get yourself a couple tubes of Lansinoh brand lanolin for your nipples. It is very thick and tacky and just the barrier you need for your nipples. There is no better lanolin. It is also safe for your baby to ingest should you have a bit left on your nipple at feeding time. This will really help.
Lastly, go to: http://www.llli.org/Web/Illinois.html and find a La Leche League near you. There will be a listing for a contact person. These women are wonderful and you can call them anytime for help. The women in my LLL chapter would be heartbroken to hear your story and would want to help you. There is much wisdom to be gained from these ladies! They are compassionate and caring.
You CAN get through this. You've done so well already. I hope you make the call. Help is close! God bless you
P.S. There is nothing wrong with pumping your milk for the time being and feeding him with a bottle if that is what it takes to keep him on that wonderful breast milk!

I feel for you. I had bloody nipples from trying. Go see the lactation consultant again. Eventhough when I called my ins. co they said that they wouldn't cover it, some how the hospital sent in the bill and it was covered. They also got my doctor to prescribe a cream to put on my nipples that was a life saver. It is a mixture that not all pharmacies can do. I had to go to one near the hospital in Naperville. This is what the bottle says: #30Mupir2% Nyst/Clotr1%Betamo.1%(PCC)
Only the lactation consultant seemed to know about it.
I know it is hard, but I ended up pumping for 14 mo with both my children. They never latched on. I thought it important for them and I don't regret it. Just a few more dishes and a little extra time, but then other people could also feed them.
Good luck and keep up the good work. You are doing great!

I can sit here and tell you how great breastfeeding is and about all the problems I had too, and how with the swine flu s going around this winter how much safer your baby is going to be with breastmilk, but I am not going to go into all that. Basically I had ,and so have so many moms, a difficult time with breast feeding. Doctors are NOT helpful in this manner. You need to find a support group for moms like you. Call a La Leche League Leader or if you are anywhere near Hoffman Estates area please email me and I will put you in contact with a breast feeding support group. Nursing is not easy (AT FIRST!) but you have made it this far it would be a shame to quit...It only gets easier I promise!!! Please go to lll.org and look for your nearest group and then call the leader...please call them! I needed to talk to someone but it was new years eve and felt so rude but that is why they are leaders they want to help at all times!!! Dont worry about weight gain! He is gaining weight and that is all you need to worry about. You need a lactation consultant to make sure your latch is good as well. Please contact them