One Sore Nipple?

[nycmama]

Okay, my DS4 has been continually making the nipple on my right breast sore...
I get a good latch on the left side but on the right my nipple is extremely sore. It's because I have a weird nipple on that side. I put Lanisoh on it. He always sucks his lips, there are not pursed outward when he latches so I try to fix him. I know we have a bad latch on that side because when he is done nursing my nipple has a funny lipstick-kind of shape.

What can I try to get him to latch better on that side? And does a bad latch improve when they get older? Thankfully, my nipple hasn't cracked or anything.

TIA

[Stargazer]

I always had one more sore than the other. I always figured it was just that dd would latch better with one angle, vs another. It did get quite a bit better as they got older, and their mouths grew.

[Nipple_nectar]

What position are you using? You need to change position, changing positions allow for you to get pressure at different angles and using the same dedicated position can lead to problems, if there is just a slight flaw with the latch.

I recommend the side lying position as best because it does allow optimum rest for both mom and baby, it is worth the hassle to learn. There is a step by step tutorial in the Archives forum, if you are interested, I could fetch it.

It is good that you know his lips need to be flanged and keep working on that, insist that he get it right, you may have to re~latch him more than once. Watch the good latch versus bad latch video tutorial at www.drjacknewman.com for some helpful hints.

For pain management, I recommend owning a pair of silverette as they are quick and superior for healing nipple trauma without the use of creams or concoctions, you can read more about them here, www.breastfeedingheaven.com

Their latch will improve with age but a bad or shallow latch needs to be corrected before serious problems set in.

[nycmama]

Well he only nurses in the side lying position (OALD, and a whole other issue as he won't nurse at all in any other)

What kind of problems would/could set in with a shallow latch. I know he clicks when he nurses sometimes though, then I also read on kellymom that some babies do that when they suck their tongues which he does since birth....

[Nipple_nectar]

If he was a flawless, efficient nurser then it wouldn't even be an issue, lot's of babies prefer a certain position and I say if it works, stick with it.

The only other problem that might occur would be weight gain issues, you may just have to keep an eye on it. When you say that nipple is weird, how do you mean?

[nycmama]

Well his weight has been fine so far... he was born 8lbs 10 oz and when he was 9-10 weeks he weighed in at 14lbs 8oz. He is very sensitive since birth. So far he has striked for OALD, Has gotten scared (while DH was annoying me I screamed and he was nursing) and when I miss his hunger cues for whatever reasons he refuses to nurse, oh also when I/Someone gives him a bottle.
(Thats when side-lying nursing is a problem I can't NIP because he doesn't nurse at ALL)

When I say my nipple is weird I mean it doesn't stick out like the left one. Not sure if that it can be called a flat nipple as I never seen one but I think it is...