I'm working with a mom who has hypersensitive nipples.  On first visit, day 3
when baby was latched in my office, mom came out of chair and scream with
tears running down her face.  She tells me that her nipples have always been
extremely sensitive.  So, I get the pump out and she pumps (using Cl- - - -
c), she is still in pain on lowest setting, but less than with baby nursing.
Nipples didn't appear to have any trama.  Her milk was transitioning to mature
milk. I taught her and the daddy to finger feed and come back in  two days and
we will try at breast again.  She calls the following day with what sounds
like severe engorgement.  Suggest cabbage leaves.  On day 5, she comes back in
and supply is great, she's 20 oz ahead of the baby and breast are beginning to
soften some.  We put baby to breast and he seems latched well, but doesn't
suck.  Milk is dripping into his mouth and he won't suck, mom is crying that
she really wants to breastfeed.  I get out a nipple shield (I use very few of
these and only with good supply).  Baby nurses great, very little pain to mom,
mom is smiling and happy.  Baby transferes 3 oz on first breast and doesn't
want second.

Today (day 7), mom calls and is in great pain again with both nipples and
breast.  She says after nursing all day with the nipple shield, nipples were
extremely sore.  She went back to pumping and finger feeding.  She is pumping
8 oz at a pumping and says that the pumping is also painful.  Breast feel
engorged again.  I suggest wearing cabbage in between pumpings and not to pump
quite so much at a time.  Also, suggest she drink a couple cups of sage tea
which she says she can't drink tea as she is prone to kidney stones.

I was hopefull that the nipple shield would help with the hypersensitive
nipples.  Any other suggestions.  Poor mom, she really wants this to work.

Pat Lindsey, IBCLC near Orlando, FL