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Does every breast feeding mom think that her experience qualifies her as a "boob guru"? I certainly do! Nine months of breast feeding and boy, am I done...drained (literally) and with a pair that have suddenly lost their purpose in life. They are mourning, drooping about aimlessly, withering away from non-use.....but also relieved that the days of oversupply, undersupply and non-supply are finally over. I must have had every ailment in the book. In fact, in retrospect, I believe I would contract an ailment within one week of reading about it. How's that for mind over breast? So in order to perk you ladies up, I figure I would share some tips. Here goes....

1. Don't give up: Sore nipples! What a useless term for "screaming, burning nipples that render a shower impossible". This, however, is not to advise you to stop bathing! But keep feeding the baby! Believe it or not, nursing through your soreness actually makes it better and prevents secondary complications (and you certainly don't want those). Nurse on the sore side second. If nursing only on one side, well then, grit your teeth, don't yell too loud (or you will startle the baby) and let your baby do what he does best.
2. Get to the root of the mammer (get it?! heehee): Ask yourself some questions. Is the milk flowing well but the nipple sore? Is soreness accompanied by hardness/engorgement? Are there visible cracks around the nipple? Are there white spots/blisters on the nipple? As you can see, this is a complex matter.
3. Get some quick relief: Applying Lansinoh, a little expressed breast milk (on the nipple, on the nipple) all help. If you can manage walking around the home with exposed breasts for about 5 to 10 minutes after feeding that will help too. Avoid all mirrors. Avoid people as well. These remedies are effective if you can see some cracks around the base of the nipple and there is general soreness but the milk seems to be flowing well.
Ah yes, train your baby to latch correctly. I cannot express the wealth of information available to do thisall that confusing stuffturn your child into a football, hold them backwards, stand on your head.just kidding. The advice I found the best? Aim your nipple towards the baby's palette and not straight in. Keep the chin touching the breast and not the nose. Do break the hold if it's not comfortable and do it again. Don't suffer through a whole session because "something seems to be happening". Rinse your breasts lightly after the session and apply some L .
4. Treat

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