Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Natural Methods to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply sore nipples

I am have super sore nipples. I have been pumping 7-8 times a day. My nipples are too sore to pump. I still going getting only drops. I can hand express without it hurting as much other than that I my nipples hurt like the dickens. I am also putting lanolin on my nipples. Somebody please help

What setting are you pumping on? You should not go past medium. Make sure that your nipple is centered in the horn. You may need to get the bigger flanges if your nipples are especially large. Also give your nipples a chance to breathe. Go without a bra and if possible without a top for a little while so the air can get to them daily.

Also try olive oil on your nipples to reduce friction on your nipples. I hope they heal quickly!!

My Flanges are the right size, but I think that I have been pumping to much. So can I still hand express until they start feeling better? Or am I going to have to endure the painful pumping? I don't think that I can stand it right now

You need to keep the stimulation up. Maybe try to alternate between hand expressing and pumping. Stick to the lower settings for now.

I am having some bruising on my nipples. I feel frustrated because the advice from my lactation consultant (who's never consulted someone in inducing lactation...) was to pump on the highest setting I could stand without hurting myself. So, I've worked up to the strongest setting...I really wasn't hurting...uncomfortalbe...but, not hurting. And she also suggested to pump every 3-4 hours for around 15 mintues. I'm getting drips...after about a week of this. Is bruising normal?

No bruising is not normal!!! Although it will vary with which pump you are using, you shouldn't be pumping on more than a medium setting. You can damage your nipples by pumping at to high as setting. This is one time your lactation consultant may not be giving you accurate information. I think you will find that the ladies on here can be a good resource for questions like this.

You also might trying putting a few drops of olive oil to lubricate the flanges so you aren't causing to much friction on your nipples. I started 4 times/day for 15 minutes to get my nipples used to the pumping and slowly increased up to every 2-3 hours for 15-20 minutes. How much time do you have until your baby is born? Our daughter was born via gestational surrogate, so I pumped for 7 months so I had the time to slow gear up.

Good luck!!!

Thanks Michele! I guess the setting was too high....I was just doing what I was told, and I really didn't hurt until after I bruised. I feel so silly...I'm going to a Le Leche League meeting tonight (there just happens to be one tonight, thank God!)...hopefully I can get some more great advice. My son will be born in early November...so, time is not something I have an abundance of unfortunately.
When I spoke with the lactation consultant she made it sound like it was too late for any medications...but I don't know that it is. I'm not sure that I want to use any...but I would have been interested in discussing them.
I am understanding that I may not produce enough to have this be is sole source of nutrition...but I still wanted to give my best shot!! Thanks for the encouragement!

Don't feel silly you were following the advice of an "expert". Unfortunately there aren't a lot of lactation consultants who know about induced lactation. Tell your lactation consultant about this website so she can have a reference. Dr Jack Newman is a world renowned expert with whom she should be familiar.

I know that I was able to produce about 5-6 oz by using Domperidone, Fenugreek, and Blessed Thistle and pumping. The Domperidone really made a difference for me. I was able to supplement with the frozen milk using a Lact-Aid supplementer.

The Lact-Aid is the preferred supplementer, rather than the Medella SNS that is the one most LC are familiar with. However the SNS free flows since the most common reason to use it is babies who have problems with weak sucking. The Lact-aid requires that baby has a good suck because that stimulates your breast to make more milk while supplementing.

I know that seems like a lot of information right now, but you have time to read a lot of old posts and get up to speed on things. Plus you can always post questions as you have them.

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!!!