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You will get there. I was where you are and things get better. Try breastmilk and air drying your nipple but they will take time to heal.

Do not feel like a failure!!!! Do what is best for your baby and try not to put too much pressure on yourself...

I would also give it a little more time - it's so hard in the beginning and it hurts!!! I also had cracked bleeding nipples - I remember my SIL commenting on me nursing and the baby getting my blood, whatever. After a couple weeks it was SO much better.

My advise: lanolin ALL THE TIME! Every single time after you nurse. I wasn't doing it enough in the beginning while my nipples were "toughening up" and the LC I met with said to keep using it.

I also got into a more comfortable position which helped.

I also iced my nipples after feeding.

It just takes a little time - but you can do it! And if you have to give a little pumped milk or formula, don't worry too much, and just keep nursing!

I have not been there, but know so, so many mothers who have been. For those who pushed through it, they are happy they did so. And for those who chose the formula path, they know their baby is loved and healthy.

I think it was a thread on here that stuck out in my mind. . .it seems like an average, it takes about 6 weeks before things are easy and natural feeling with breast feeding. I remember thinking that seemed like a long time, but was surprised how common that length of time is!

If you're open to it, a shield can definitely help. My LO wouldn't latch in the hospital and we used shields every time until 7 weeks. For the past week or so, we've been trying to nurse without the shield and it works 50% of the time! I think we won't need them at all in a few weeks. He just needed to get a bit older and get the hang of nursing! They definitely don't have to be a forever thing.

Hang in there!! I switched off using tons of lanolin and coconut oil and air drying as much as possible (just walked around with my nursing tank pulled down). I was probably about a week in when I decided that the lanolin and coconut oil just weren't helping enough and ordered something off amazon (not remembering what now). By the time it arrived two days later, I didn't even need it anymore! Definitely check with the LC, and you are getting some great advice here, but you really may be close to the point where it starts getting better!

You are doing a great job!! I did as others said constant lanolin and lived in gel pad soothies for like 6 weeks. Took a warm shower everyday, making sure nipples were dry and pretty much spent the month topless!! I cried everyday for the first few weeks bc of the pain and her latch was fine. You do what is best for you and baby.

Try not to beat yourself up. 1) 5 days is still early. Give yourself some time. I think it's tough on most moms. 2) the hormones probably aren't helping so if you feel weepy and distraught and just a mess it's mostly hormones. 3) hang in there. Try different positions.

I was still in the hospital at 5 days and so desperate I saw every LC on rotation. I was terrified every time she was hungry.
Honestly, it gets better. I would just try to stay distracted while she nursed so as not to focus on the discomfort.

Gel pads are best for really torn up nipples. Seriously they are how I bounced back from LO puncturing mine when he got teeth and decided to use them Lanolin is great but more for minor soreness in my experience.

Breathe! If you need to get shields, do a little formula feeding or pump a bit, do it! So many of us had a hard time in the beginning. It does get better!

So sorry hun! The first few weeks are brutal...if your nipples are really torn up, I would make sure to have her evaluated for a tongue/lip tie (including posterior ties, which are not always obvious). Also, using All purpose nipple cream (APNO) helped me heal SO fast. Your OB can write a prescription but it needs to be filled at a compounding pharmacy. Hang in there!

Hugs -- I understand what you're going through. Have you confirmed that your LO doesn't have tongue or lip ties? We saw a LC a few days after my DD was born but after a couple weeks, things still aren't right (including difficulty maintaining a proper latch and nipple pain, though not nearly as bad as yours). Through some HB searches, I started to suspect some sort of tie and, sure enough, when I checked her upper lip, it looks to me like a classic tie. Our LC confirmed she had only checked the bottom so we're going to have it evaluated tomorrow to see if my suspicions are correct. Anyway, it's just an idea but maybe make sure your LO was thoroughly checked?

This was exactly my experience. I nursed one sir and pumped the other until I could heal. After a week or so I get healed I was able to BF fine and we had a great relationship for 18 months. Take care of yourself! R

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. You can do it though! Maybe try a different lactation consultant if this one doesn't seem to be helping?

@Vegmama: hang in there! I have to second everything @Ree723 said. It is so incredibly painful...breast feeding in the beginning was probably the most physically and mentally difficult experience of my life...it definitely wears on you being sleep deprived and have PP hormones and not really getting a break from it. But just like @Ree723 said, somehow the pain starts to not be as bad around 2-3 weeks...it really magically lessens...for me it was one side was not as painful and then a few weeks later the other side wasn't as painful and by 3 months it was definitely pain free. It was so so so so tough that I can completely understand why some people choose to stop breast feeding...but I will say I was so happy to have gotten through the painful first few weeks bc it was so easy after that - no bottles to wash, no formula to buy or mix or pack with you...it's so easy traveling bc all you need is your boobs. Just know that it's so incredibly tough the first few weeks...hang in there and absolutely no judgment however you decide you want to feed your baby

You are doing awesome! The ladies above have given great ideas!

I will join all the others in letting you know that you're not alone!! My nipples didn't even bleed that much and I cried every nursing session for a long, long time. Someone would bring me the baby and I would cry "no!!!" I wish I had seen a lactation consultant or asked for help earlier. It will definitely get better. If you need to take a break don't feel badly about it.. You can always try again tomorrow or even in a few hours. And I second the lanolin. It helped me so much.

Seconding APNO and the gel pads (refrigerate them!). I promise it will get better, you're not a failure, and hormones are making everything worse. Hang in there!

Hang in there! The first few weeks are def the hardest!! My LC had me use Neosporin on my nipples after each feeding. This also helped prevent infection and helped them heal once they were damaged. Once they healed and LO was latching better, it was do much easier and pain free. Good luck and take care of yourself mama. This time is very draining but so worth it!

@Vegmama: you are doing GREAT you are doing GREAT you are doing GREAT! When I started breastfeeding I did not find the support I needed (I was not on hellobee!). The LCs and nurses did nothing to help me and I was intimidated to reach out to le leche. Honestly I cried my way through it a lot. It is the second most painful thing I have ever done aside from labor. Let me tell you: no one no one no one ever told me! If someone had told me how painful frustrating and life changing and stressful it would be I would have been more mentally prepared.

I took all these classes for labor day and my one breastfeeding class did zip to prepare me. I wanted to start an organization called, "breastfeeding is kind of a nightmare but it is worth it" to give people like me who HATED it but were determined to persevere a place to turn for support. I felt like no one would understand. Especially not a place that was pro-breastfeeding like le leche (though now rationally I am sure they might...), just what I was going through. I hated it it hurt and tbere was no way I was not going to do it! In that way I think it is on par with unmedicated labor... decide beforehand because why WOULD you not take the drugs in this day and age? I was determined to breastfeed no matter WHAT and that is the only reason I made it through. (Through to this time at 7 months when I love it!)

I was a hellobee lurker and I read one post where someone said they loved breastfeeding and I thought they were absolutely off the deep end. They just had an older baby!

Along the way I found glimmers of hope... a random doc that said "a LOT of first time moms struggle with it" or the ped nurse that said "at first it is painful and frustrating"...THANK YOU people. Thank you. All I ever heard was "it shouldn't hurt blah blah bullshit." (I am passionate about this.)

I can honestly say I love it now and I never ever thought I would say it. It was the hardest second most painful thing I have ever done and the most rewarding and charming and beautiful thing I have ever done. I am just trying to offer some support and let you know I know how awful it can be and how amazing it will be. Persevere! And know that few things have such highs and lows as breast feeding (if anything does!)

It's okay!! My lo had a tongue tie so his latch was awful even after we got it clipped. Our nursing relationship was saved because of breast shells, a properly fitted nipple shield and a double breast pump. Don't feel like a failure. It took us 7 weeks to finally lose the shield and then it was smooth sailing.

Personally I hated lanolin, I just used expressed breast milk on my torn up nipples.

Also, I gave my baby formula in the beginning too because I was starting to resent him and breastfeeding. We are at 6 months now and EBF. YOU can do it mama! You do what is best for you and lo and that's it.

You are in the exact position I was and I remember feeling so defeated. Get some shields until you heal! Gel pads that you can keep cool between use! The little plastic dome things to keep your nipples dry helped too. I found pumping exacerbated the problem and was depressing. You are doing great and even if it doesn't work, your baby will be perfect.