It's only day 3 and from the very first feed it has been sore - but I had an induced labour with only gas and air and very fast dilation - which I guess must have left me with a low pain tolerance... I am now in agony with really sore, cracked (scabbed) nipples. I had to give up with my first 2 children as they weren't gaining weight, but it couldn't have hurt as much as this, as I don't know how I could possibly have got past it. And it is I am really struggling to look after my other two as having them within 2 feet of me leaves me stiff in anticipation of them getting anywhere near my nipples.

Saw the midwife today who was nice but not exactly helpful. She got me to try a different angle (rugby one) but agreed that I was latching him on fine, but then he moves by himself.

I am so frustrated, and in so much pain. I have already given him a few bottles now as the pain was so unbearable. And he has a very strong suck! I have fair, very sensitive skin.

Please please please can someone offer me some advice???

PP please, please ring one of the breastfeeding helplines and get a BFC out to see you and help you.

your nipples should NOT be sore and cracked. it is most likely that you have a latch issue which can be sorted, but the easiest way for someone to help you is if they can watch you and figure out what the problem is.

has baby been checked for tongue tie?

I have no real advice but bump for someone who can properly help.

OK, please ring a BF counsellor as soon as you can, perhaps even tonight.

Are you putting anything on them? Lansinoh is best but vaseline will work if you don't have any. Please don't follow advice to air them: you need to keep them moist to help them heal without scabbing over again.

Try taking some nurofen it might help.

Please try to get help tomorrow from a trained BF specialist - go back to hospital if necessary... I'll bet either your latch is not fine but you need someone with more experience to diagnose it; or it may be a tongue tie which lots on here have had...

And bear up; it's really really hard when it's like this and I have been there. You can do a lot of healing in a few hours if you use something like Lansinoh. But you also need to think about supply - could you express milk and give that in a bottle which would keep supply levels up, if you can't bear to feed?

If you can express and give milk either in a cup or syringe then you'll know that the pump does have the correct latch and should be less painful than your DS feeding.

If expressing gives the same level of pain as your DS, there could be a possibility of thrush - some of the symptoms are sensitivity to cold, unable to let water from the shower touch your nipples, raised pink 'bubbles' on your nipples, white patches in your DS' mouth. These are just some of the symptoms and you may not have all of them. The pain with thrush is agonising and described as feeding through broken glass.

I also agree with the others - you should definitely ring one of the breasfeeding helplines. They are so helpful and supportive. Good luck and hoping you sort it out (((hugs)))

Lots and lots of lansinoh on the nips after each feed- its expensive but worth every penny.

I found laching on so painful in the first 4 weeks that I used to bite on a muslin for the first couple of minutes until it was bearable. Also, showers were agonising and the pain of just wrapping a towel around me afterwards could have me being scraped from the ceiling.

Definitely get onto a BFC tomorrow for some good advice and help with your latch. Good luck.

I know lots of people don't like them, but you could try nipple shields instead of a bottle.

I agree that you should get a bfc to help you urgently - i was in the same position 5 weeks ago. I found that self attachment (where the baby moves himself to the nipple was my lifesaver) also second lansinoh.

it does get better.