Question for lactating ladies while inducing, first time inducing SOS

[Mark]

Hi, Question for the lactating ladies and those who are successful. We have a possible issue and need some advice.

My amazing girlfriend has been inducing via pump since end of July, and started pumping a lot more the last 3 weeks. It was 4x a day, then more pumping at 6x a day. She’s also started taking Dom and herbs – oatmama capsule(goats ru, moringa, shatavari) and blessed thistle. She’s at 20mg of Dom 4x a day.

Happily we started nursing in person Saturday! It’s been amazing. That’s beside the point… But things changed more once we were in person. Saturday and Sunday no noticeable tastes. Monday and Tuesday maybe I had some sweetness with each nursing. Subtle but I think there is some sweetness, say 75% chance and 25% chance I’m imagining things.

Starting yesterday and WAY more today her breasts feel engorged. Super heavy. Her nipples actually hurt and are so so tender; they were very erect almost all day. Her breasts are hurting tonight. And her nipples hurt too.

She never had children or made milk before and we’re both fairly new.

Help!? Please. Any advice on this? Is it normal? Is anything wrong? Keep on keeping on? Did any other women experience this, and how long? How can we try to relieve the pain?
Feel free to respond here or in a private message.

Thanks so much!

[Johan]

If she’s engorged and hurting you need to help her release her milk. Gently massage her breast until slowly start leaking. Or she could take a hot shower which the hot water will help her start leaking and release her full breast.
Having her be engorged it’s not good for her cause if she doesn’t empty her full breast it can clogged her milk glams and be in serious pain and trouble.
If you can help her by latching at her breast gently it would do a lot for her.
Otherwise have her take a hot shower to make her breast start leaking on their own… she can massage them and put a bit of pressure to help the milk come out faster if she feels that it’s not hurting anymore.

Good luck.

[Bella]

This can be a hodgepodge of things going on. First are you latched properly? Nipple pain can come from an improper latch therefore improper milk flow.

I feel there is a major difference in stimulation from a pump and actually nursing. Usually after a session, the next day production and sensations are in overdrive. There is a correlation with saliva, breastfeeding an infant and production, there isn’t research on that for adult nursing. I feel her response to you nursing for four days is normal. With that has she truly emptied her breast or have your taken the place of the pump?

To relieve the pain, massaging, hand expressing or pumping, warm compresses, hand expressing while in the shower. Coconut oil, nipple cream or lanolin can help soothe her nipples.

Congrats to GF for inducing solo! It’s not easy, it takes a lot of commitment and energy.

[Joe]

Yes proper latch is very important. If not done rite you can make her sore. Also can crush her milk ducks. As well as hinder her milk production.

[Mark]

Thanks for the responses! Some things.

She doesn’t have any milk yet. Maybe a few drops. None when she pumps, and I maybe taste sweet when we nurse.

We’ve researched latching and think it’s ok. She says it feels better than the pump, much better. It doesn’t feel like I’m sucking. I’m getting all of her areola and nipple in my mouth and manipulating all of it with my tongue on the roof of my mouth.

Bella – your statement – Usually after a session, the next day production and sensations are in overdrive.
This may be it. We can feel the milk ducts, a lot.

When she started pumping her breasts went up a cup size, and when we started nursing they feel heavier and nipples internally sore. Nipples are not sore from latching or position. Her breasts are very heavy.
It may be her milk ducts are jump-started into overdrive from in person nursing and this is all normal. Thoughts?

[welsh boy]

how long did ahe take tho to lactate ?

[Anonymous]

I’ve had my nipples like almost scab up and peel after beginning a active ANR.. they hurt so bad.. he latched very well, he had a very strong suckle.. we nursed often in 2-3 days!!
It was very painful and lasted maybe 7 days and the scab like nipples heeled and we were good to go!!

I also seem to, well my breasts balloon up when I have an actual partner and not exclusively just pumping!!
I take 60mg Dom 3x a day! And get very little milk pumping but my partner says he gets plenty of sweet milk!!

[Mark]

Thanks all for the help! It’s been very helpful, no pun intended. 🙂

We think it’s her milk coming in, and starting to come in strong. When we suckle that’s 10x better than pumping, at least. I’m pretty sure I am tasting some sweet milk, just a small small bit. Her milk ducts are very well formed and easy to feel on her breasts – all up and down them and especially near her nipples.

Jules – your point about having an actual partner seem to fit. Things go better when we are together and nursing, and she gets more relief than pumping or massage or hot shower or compress.

Her nipples are not sore, no scabbing. The latch is good. No blistering either. The soreness is internal to her nipples as is the rest of her breast soreness.

Thanks again!

[Author]

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