Today I've been expressing and bottle feeding Henry to give my boobs a break, they have started getting cracked and sore again and they were improving. I've been topping up the expressed feed with a short feed on each breast, just to keep my supply well stimulated and to ensure he doesn't get too used to a bottle teat. I've noticed though, that when he comes off the breast he burps a lot more than when he comes off the bottle, do you think that there is a possibility he still isn't latching on properly? The midwife seems to think that he must have a good latch to be gaining all of the weight he has, he has gained 13oz a week for the last 2 weeks, but I'm still not confident. My nipples haven't really healed at all, although they did improve slightly, but they are a still mis-shapen when he de-latches (look like the tip of a lipstick)..
MW posted the idea of thrush, but there are no signs of it in his mouth...
What do you think ladies? Any advice welcome...

Sounds like the problems I've had. I was told that if your nipples are that shape that they don't have a proper latch. For ages I had to physically curl down Lucas' lip once he was on as he didn't quite get the hang of it. Still have to do it occassionally and doesn't seem to bother him at all.

mine looks like that and amelias latch is fine. If you sore too though it could be how he latching on.... try a pillow under him and make sure his ears are wiggling as he drinks. That is a good way to make sure. Also take him to breast and make sure he takes not just nipple but the a lot of the aerola(?) too.

d xx

Thanks both of you, I always thought he had an excellent latch, nice wide mouth, lips turned out, wiggly ears and temples and big big gulps, but it's just this mis-shapen nipple that worries me.
I use a pillow Dee, the only thing I really struggle with is taking him to the breast so to speak, because he is soooo bloody heavy I generally have to get him into the right position and then pop the nipple into his mouth, obviously I don't get to be hands free then because I have to support him where he is and the breast with the other hand to keep everything in the same place!
I've got some gel now for Thrush and I'm gonna try that, maybe it is Thrush that just isn't presenting itself externally yet that is causing the soreness, it doesn't seem likely, since I have visible cracks on the nipple I'm pretty sure it's down to that, I just don't seem to be able to fix his latch properly...