It hurts

[Stefka]

The latch looks ok to me but it still really hurts. It's day 4 and I am starting to dread feeds. I really want to do this though.

[demonaid]

Does it hurt throughout the feed, or just at the beginning?

[gizmo]

Sorry Stefka I know it can be rough for the first couple of weeks. However, it will get better quite soon: as the baby's mouth and jaw get bigger, they will take in more of your boob and the pressure on the nipple will ease off.

Is it bleeding at all? There are a lot of potions and lotions for dealing with cracks and helping your boobs: Lansinoh is very good, although it won't stop the pain.

I think I'm right in saying you should be able to take a painkiller, but you'd need to double check that with an NCT counsellor or someone who knows what they're talking about...

[saffymum]

HI, Lanisoh is good, just wipe it off when you feed otherwise their mouth slips off. If it persists then you can get little protectors from mothercare which might help save you some of the pain but might not help the feeding much. Watch out for thrush which can cause burning shooting pains and must get treated asap. You will know if you have it baby will have a white tongue, like cream cheese that doesn't come off.

[Stefka]

It hurts the most at the start. They are both damaged, especially the left which is really sore all the way through. I didn't use it yesterday just pumped some milk out of it although I didn't use that milk as I don't want to use a bottle. My right is really sore to start with then slightly less sore but it still nips.

[constancereader]

I would get some help, from LLL or the NCT, or perhaps your mw can refer you to a bf counsellor. I let a similar situation go on for too long and ended up with loads of pain and a slight bf phobia (which I overcame). Loads of mw had told me my latch was fine, but it WASN'T. After help it sorted itself.

Can someone do some helpful links? Have got to run now.
Good luck xxx

[Spockle]

Put a smear of vaseline on after each feed; after a few days they will be much less stinging!

[demonaid]

Hurting right at the start of a feed is perfectly fine (well, it's not fine, it bloody well hurts, but it is normal and will get better). Pain during the feed can be normal as well but it's a good idea to talk to (or if possible see) a breastfeeding counsellor in case you need some minor adjustments to the latch.

Breastfeeding Network 0870 900 8787
NCT supporter line 0870 444 8708
La Leche League 0845 120 2918
Association of BF Mothers 020 7813 1481 and 08444 122 949

By the way, even if you don't want to use bottles, you can feed your baby expressed milk from a small cup (they sort of lap it up) without it causing nipple confusion, if you don't want to waste the milk.

[absandme]

I'd recommend getting latch checked with bf counsllr, best to be on the safe side.

after a feed allow nips to air, don't put bra back on straight away, it should help them heal a lot quicker.

in my first few wks of bf the initial latch used to kill & my toes would curl into the carpet!! can't remember when this stopped but it does!

[spookthief]

Please get someone to look at your latch. Try the helplines already given and try to find out if there's a breastfeeding specialist at your hospital. Although some pain can be normal if your nipples are becoming damaged then it is definitely worth getting things checked out.

In the meantime, have a look here for lots of great breastfeeding advice, and here for more great advice and some online videos showing correct latch which might help. No substitute for having someone actually watch you feed though and it's so much better to get things caught early. It could just be a little adjustment you need to be more comfortable.

And congratulations on your new baby

[kathryn77]

I am no expert but it did hurt - the midwife said to count to ten and then it would go, then it would go altogether..
It did so there is hope, not sure when it disappeared but not more than a month i do nto think

[nickToD]

I know what you are going through I very nearly gave up at the beginning due to same problems as you. I used a nipple shield for a little while which gave the skin a chance to heal. They are a bit of a nuisance as they need to be sterilised but they really helped and after a while I stopped needing them and went on to breast feed dd1 for 10 months and dd2 for 13 months.

[determination]

Yes, definately get someone to check your latch. Or at least call the supporter lines.

Also, the use of Silverette would completely heal you within 2 days or there abouts. I found them amazing.

[Stefka]

Thanks everyone - will check out this links as soon as I get a spare second! Midwife thought the latch looked fine and said the pain was due to nipple trauma and they just need to heal.

I am determined to get through this but god it is hard going. I hadn't thought about a shield. Will the disrupt establishing the milk at all?

[MrsBadger]

they can - if you can do without shields then do, although they have been a lifesaver for some people.
is there a baby cafe near you?

[NineUnlikelyTales]

Stefka I went to a talk about nipple shileds recently (strange life I lead) and the woman who gave it had done a lot of research. She said that whilst they can be useful in a small minority of cases, most of the time they cause more problems than they solve. One of the problems is reducing milk supply. If I were you I would contact one of the BF support groups and ideally get someone to sit with you while you feed. If it were me I would only try nipple shields after I had done this, and with their advice.

Best of luck and congratulations on your baby

[demonaid]

Midwives often (usually) don't have proper breastfeeding training -- yours may have done but if you're in that much pain I would want to see a trained breastfeeding counsellor rather than rely on a midwife's say-so.

[Mum2boys3]

Hello

I suffered horribly with my last baby now 20weeks old a girl. The pain was the same mostly all the way through the feed i had cracked nipples and nipple trauma. I used nipple shields for a few feeds each day to give them a chance to heal. The pain lasted much longer with this baby up in till 12weeks of age she was. But my second baby only took 4 weeks for it to settle down. I nearly gave up this time but please believe me its normal for it to hurt what ever they say but it will sort it out by its self soon and get much better.

I found it hurt less to feed laying down on my side on the bed, have you tried diffrent positions?

Also get a breastfeeding pillow if u have not got one allready it really helps lift baby up so they are not pulling on the nipple at all during feeding.

Keep going you are doing really well x

[Stefka]

Thanks I have a pillow but not tried to lie down and feed. I am scared to - sounds daft I know! I must give it a go though

[beanbearer]

Have just posted elsewhere about the breastcrawl discussion but it's so good, I'll put it up again. But the link to the video seems to have got distorted so use this one for the video they're all talking about. Just give it a try and see if it works for you too. Big hugs cos I feel for you!

[squishie]

don't worry stefka, being determined to do it and sort out problems is more than half the battle won. do ring the helplines, it is exactly what they are there for.

it doesn't sound like mw gave good advice, as if you have got 'nipple trauma' (not a very soothing or helpful thing to tell you) then it's likely to be bad latch which caused it.

[Stefka]

I emailed my local nct counselor but she never replied - I will try calling her tomorrow. I am getting very down about the whole thing as I feel I am just existing from painful feed to painful feed and I am exhausted.

[squishie]

because they're volunteers it does mean can be slightly tricky to get hold of them. (sorry mangled grammar). first time i rang nct helpline i got someone in scotland cooking dinner and i was in london sobbing so it doesn't always quite match up!

have seen suggestion of getting dp to ring round till get someone available while you get on with feeding. it is so worth it, i found a lovely woman from breastfeeding network who came round (they don't always do that) three times till it was ok.

whereabouts are you? perhaps there is somewhere local you can go.

[demonaid]

Try all the lines until you find someone available and/or who can advise you on how to get your latch checked by a qualified counsellor.

[Stefka]

I got hold of someone today who says I can call tomorrow if I want her to come out. The midwife is also testing me for thrush. I am so miserable right now.

[squishie]

yes yes get her out. she'll make you feel better and help you sort latch. excellent re thrush testing too.

it is so horrible when it won't go right, i felt so useless. evenings really bad time too (apart from 3am whcih is usually pretty bad even when you haven't got a baby)