Nipple appearance when pumping?

I "think" I may have found the culprit for my frustration with nursing after giving the babies a bottle at the previous feeding. Please chime in with your thoughts!

I believe that the 20-25 minute pumping session is the problem!!

The pain that I feel when I accuse the babies of a bad latch is not really on the nipple tip, but on the tissue outside of their mouth, near their lips. It is very tender and I think that the extended pumping session is the problem. I generally pump for just 10-15 minutes after nursing 3x a day, but extend the time for the missed nursing session at 3am when a bottle is given.

Now, how do I determine if the breast-shields are the correct size? By the end of the pumping session, a lot of areola tissue is pulled into the shield...I am not sure if this is normal? At first, when my breasts are full, it is just the nipple in the shield...and then as they empty, the tissue gets sucked in, too. I am not sure how to describe how it looks...it also seems to stick a bit to the sides?

Can someone tell me if this is normal? I am always a bit tender after nursing and pumping, compared to just nursing.

Thanks!

 

HERE is the information about how to choose the right size shield. I moved up to a large b/c it was rubbing alot while pumping and was actually pretty painful to pump. I mentioned this to my LC (we were still in the hospital) and she measured me and got me the size large shields. Make sure that you use lanolin BEFORE pumping and after nursing to reduce irritation as well. 25 minutes is a long time to pump too. I would probably cut the time down a bit if it doesn't bother you until the end of the session and you don't seem to be producing more at that point anyway.

HTH

 

I had this problem too - my nipples were very sore and swollen in the beginning - when I could get my preemies to latch onto my (giant) nipple, it felt very sore, raw, and bruised.

I went to see a LC and tried out two different sizes of shields. I had to use the 36mm for awhile, but eventually the swelling decreased, and I was able to use smaller shields.

 

I've never used nipple shields, but I do know that you can change the size of the flanges on the breast pump I have. The standard Medela pump comes with 24mm flanges, which I used until I met with a lactation consultant at 6 weeks. She let me try out different sizes-27mm and 30 mm--to see which was most comfortable.

I now have 27mm flanges, and they are much more comfortable.

However, I would say that my nipple looks just as you described yours when I pump--I've always thought that you want to have a lotof the areola tissue in the flanges.

 

Last night we didn't give a bottle (so no pumping) and I nursed both babies...my nipples were not as tender ar the next session.

This morning when I pumped after nursing, I turned the suction to the lowest setting and still got almost 2 oz of milk. My nipples still feel pretty good...

I hope the tenderness I have been experiencing is related to pumping and not to nursing! I am hopeful I have identified the problem ^_^

 

QUOTE(SMax @ Aug 28 2008, 12:43 PM) [snapback]951715[/snapback]
Last night we didn't give a bottle (so no pumping) and I nursed both babies...my nipples were not as tender ar the next session.

This morning when I pumped after nursing, I turned the suction to the lowest setting and still got almost 2 oz of milk. My nipples still feel pretty good...

I hope the tenderness I have been experiencing is related to pumping and not to nursing! I am hopeful I have identified the problem ^_^


I sure hope you found the problem. I know how exasperating the whole process can be. Keep it up

 

QUOTE(SMax @ Aug 28 2008, 11:43 AM) [snapback]951715[/snapback]
Last night we didn't give a bottle (so no pumping) and I nursed both babies...my nipples were not as tender ar the next session.

This morning when I pumped after nursing, I turned the suction to the lowest setting and still got almost 2 oz of milk. My nipples still feel pretty good...

I hope the tenderness I have been experiencing is related to pumping and not to nursing! I am hopeful I have identified the problem ^_^


:yahoo: Hope that was it!