You may not be able to articulate what you feel when your baby is feeding, but the shape of your nipple at the end of a feed, will tell a hundred truths!
Frustratingly for many moms, their nipples always seem to end up pinched and this is a sign that the nipple is being compressed again the roof of baby’s mouth during the feeds.
Now many of you will be familiar with my indepth approach to positioning and attachment – but for those of you who are new to the site – I don’t like any form of band aid therapy…we need to get to the root of your problem and eliminate it.
So, this brings me to the heading – What’s up? Have you ever looked at the roof of your baby’s mouth? Or have you even looked inside your baby’s mouth at all?
You see, as your baby will be compressing the breast tissue against the roof of his or her mouth, your breast and nipple will be moulded into that shape to some degree.
Yes it is important to first check that your positioning and attachment is correct and tailor made to your breast and nipple size/shape but it is important to realise that sometimes, nature does get things wrong and pairs a baby with a small mouth with a ‘large nippled’ mom.
So before you decide to throw in the towel, have a look at the sore nipple guide. You may find that actually, the pain you are experiencing now is just temporary and you can maintain your supply using other methods – until you have resolved the root of your problem and can return to pain free breastfeeding!
Don’t be bullied into believing that all moms and babies can breastfeed, as this simply is not always the case. Trust your motherly or gut instinct..it is there for a reason!
Your primary concern should be to feed and water your baby and to ensure that you are not running yourself into the ground doing so!
If you are running yourself into the ground, you are probably not getting the right advice or support to meet your individual needs, even though your supporters are doing everything in their power to facilitate this!
Keep in touch, Geraldine
