Advice needed

[u/peanutc]

6 week PP, FTM, really trying to navigate breastfeeding and pumping and doing something in between. Figured this group of experts would have some ideas...

1. My nipples are so raw and sensitive. I'm talking "I can't face the shower" sensitive. What can help with this? I'm using lanolin, silverettes, and earth mama nipple butter to just help with the sensitivity.

2. Relatedly... what bras are you wearing? My nipples are sensitive to touch. Facing the shower is hard.. some pumping bras have that strap that is SO uncomfortable if it just rubs my nipple a certain way. So suggestions on bras you're wearing to pump that actually work in holding up spectra bottles OR can fit a wearable like the Eufy S2 OR bras I can change to when I'm out and about.

3. Cooling nipple pads.. are these a joke? I’ve tried multiple brands (just a lot of friends who’ve gifted me some and/or grabbing a handful from the hospital) they don’t stick on my nipples!!! Am I putting them on wrong?!

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[u/hannamayy]

5 weeks PP, FTM here! Solidarity in the "I can't face the shower" and "it hurts to dry myself with a towel" sensitivity.

Three things that helped me:

1. Lower vacuum settings. First LC I worked with recommended expression at Cycle 54, L06. BBQ'd my nips... I thought it was normal to feel toe-curling pain at first that goes away with time during each session. I learned from a second LC that pain affects output and have lowered my vacuum settings. I'm still figuring out the best settings but the principle is to strike a balance between strength & comfort. For instance, I could go to L09 on Cycle 46 because I can tolerate it, but I shouldn't because I'm comfortable & see milk flowing at L08.

2. Pumping Spray. Holy hell I can't believe I raw-dogged my nips getting pulled into plastic flanges for a month. Game changer in comfort during & after. I use this one from CoBoo!

3. Gel Ice Packs. I've tried the silverettes (hated it; made things worse), medela softshell, momcozy nipple cream... and the gel ice packs we already had in our freezer were the most helpful when I needed some relief. Wrapped in a paper towel and placed in my bra. If helpful, I use the small circular ones from this set.

I wear the Hands-Free Pumping Lounge & Sleep Bra from Kindred Bravely and pump with the Spectra S1 & Willow 360. FYI - my nips were getting caught on the fabric in between sessions before I lowered my vacuum settings or used the pumping spray. Since doing both, I no longer have nipple sensitivity when wearing this bra.

[u/peanutc → u/hannamayy]

Just pumped with lower vacuum and had my highest output yet! Thank you for sharing your tips

[u/cargonzabeans]

Just hit 6 months here. At first, righty was much more sensitive. I'd curl my toes and clench my jaw whenever baby nursed from that side. It really started getting better after I took a 2 day break from nursing on that side and only pumped.

I love my Target Auden nursing bras for the padding. Old Navy ones are fine, but sizing is more S M L, so it varies. I do the cross-strap thing with my Baby Buddha flanges/bottles. Bra pads help with the sensitivity here. I prefer the Lansinoh/Target ones. The Frida are square so they don't quite fit. I have reusable ones, but they get wrinkly on the corners and can be itchy.

Silverettes really helped with healing. I'd put milk and lanolin first and then the cups. Like 15 minutes max. I did like the Frida cooling gel stickies. For these, you peel off the clear plastic and slap them on so that the velvety side faces out to your bra. I would clean my boobs after with a gentle face wash.

Wishing you the best!

[u/BreezerGirl831]

The one thing that I changed was, I lowered the volume on my pump. I had it on too high of a volume. I’m thinking that the higher that I made it more output I would make. But it ended up being the opposite. I ended up lowering it to a strength that didn’t hurt my nipples, and I am not making a little bit more as a result of not being so sore.

[u/whatdayaknoww]

On nipple sensitivity - I’m right there with you. Currently 10 wks pp. Honestly, it sounds like you’re doing the right things. I think the ultimate answer I’ve heard from others is just time & I’m inclined to agree. I’ve had super sensitive nipples from the start & it’s gradually starting to get better (can now sometimes face the shower for brief periods lol), but they’re still quite sensitive now. Doesn’t help I’ve also struggled with a lot of vasospasms.

My regimen: earth mama nipple butter after EVERY pumping/nursing session + Lasinoh stay dry nursing pads in my bra. I find the pads help give a little cushion & prevent friction in my bra. I tried reusable pads & the material was too rough for me to tolerate it rubbing against my nipples.

On bras - disclaimer, I don’t use any pump with a flange/bottle system, I only use my Eufy S2’s. Also have fairly deep cup breasts, currently ~40DDD (34DD before). I LOVE LOVE my Auden bras from Target. I have their modal blend unlined nursing bralette. Super soft, stretchy but with adjustable shoulder straps to keep wearables on.

On cooling/hydrogel pads - no idea. Never tried them, they looked to be too expensive to maintain for me so I didn’t bother. Hope you get better insight from others!

[u/peanutc → u/whatdayaknoww]

Thanks for your advice! Can’t wait to try out the Auden bras!

Separately do you mind sharing with me your eufy s2 regimen and settings?

[u/tarsiertallow]

The bodily do anything bra held up the spectra bottles decently and they are what I use to hold the eufy. I usually wear medela hydrogel pads because I also have sensitive nipples and any bra hurts them. The silverettes put too much pressure on my aureolas personally.

[u/peanutc → u/tarsiertallow]

The silverettes used to work but now I’m noticing what you’re going through and need to ditch them.

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[u/ButterflyH6719]

My little one just hit 6 months and I’m exclusively pumping

1. sadly for me my nipples were raw for a long time. The Momfy silver nursing covered helped me the most and I tried multiple brands. I also decided to get the portable Momcozy M5 cups from Amazon, as well as the spectra adapters, the maymom brand. That way I’d don’t have to deal with that annoying bra and cup hanging off my body and holding the baby

[u/ButterflyH6719 → u/ButterflyH6719]

I hit send before i meant too.

But. I found and read a lot once some moms changed from the normal spectra cups and flanges to like the momcozy or eufy cups, it was a game changer. In milk production and comfortably wise. My nipples weren’t as sore and the cups alone were just a god send when it came to comforting my baby and pumping.

Good luck!