When do the uncomfortable breasts get better?

[elvislives2012]

Hi. Am EBF my 4 week old daughter. Had a few ups and downs with cracked nipples and discomfort when feeding, issues now resolving thanks to BFing counsellor and my mother. I was wondering whether the discomfort in the breasts and tingling in the nipples that is there constantly, not just when feeding, will go? I find i am in constant discomfort withthe breast pain!
Also, when she first 'bites down' when latching on, the pain is toe curling but goes after 10 seconds. Does this improve?

[AndMiffyWentToSleep]

It does get easier!

I think your supply changes at 6 weeks and so things may settle done then - hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along soon to confirm/offer more advice...

[BigWhoop]

Oh yes, it really does improve. I remember the toe curling few weeks! Before you know it the pain will have gone altogether and your nipples will be about an inch long
Enjoy the snuggles

[MrsTerryPratchett]

The first 6 weeks are awful, then the next few get better, then you will thanks your lucky stars you chose this route. It really is easy, convenient, free and great after the hellish agony that is the first few weeks.

Do make sure that you are in regular contact with your BF counsellor, if that is helping. DD and I had huge ups and downs but I am really glad I stuck it out.

[elvislives2012]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I just expected for things to improve after 4 weeks. Sometimes I have to walk bent over and holding my boobs as they're so tender. When I go outside or the trmerature changes that also makes them sore. It helps that I'm fairly bloody minded determined to bf otherwise I think I'd have given up by now- although I've come close a couple of times! I think it has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I also find flopping my boobs out all the time, and sitting around with them flopped out, difficult as its not the most attractive of looks! Whilst I'm not that bothered about looking attractive, after pregnancy, it would be nice to be a bit more normal again!

[ThreeWheelsGood]

This is reassuring! I'm at 4 weeks too and I can't stand wearing anything on my breasts at the moment, obviously I do when I have to but I was hoping the dull ache and sensitive nipples would clear up soon. I've been sitting around with my boobs out when I can too, such a good look!

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Well done for persisting elvis! I used to leap and screech if DH would come and give me an unexpected cuddle and ditto to hating cold weather or a sudden gust of wind! All was OK after 8 weeks.

Stay bloody minded and it will be the best few weeks you ever committed to anything

[elvislives2012]

EIGHT weeks?!! GAH I was hoping for four weeks and three days

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Meh. Doesn't feel like it was as long as 8 weeks now, plus we had complicating factors like major nipple damage and thrush which prolonged things.

Definitely worth it!

[hufflepuffle]

I'm 4.5 weeks and about to give up! Too many complicstions have exhausted me and I am struggling to enjoy baby at all. Nipple damage on one side means total expressing in that side but v hungry baby and struggling to keep up. Hav had to add on some formula past few days. BF advisor comin to see me this eve as really do not want to give up. Constant discomfort doing head in generally but if thought 6 wks would FI it I would keep going! Lack of feeding on bad side though might just make it impossible.

[elvislives2012]

huffle I sympathise totally (and I recognise u from the October ante natal thread! ). BFibg is the hardest thing I've ever done. I think, for me, it's hardest at night particularly with engorged breasts and cracked nipples. DH is great and would feed her if he could, but I do fe alone sometimes! I've started going to a BFing support group and tats helped as I see women a few weeks ahead of me whopping them out like noones business breast feeding with confidence and it helps me to keep going, is there something similar you can go to? How did it go with BFing counsellor? I found it very useful when she visited me.

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

about 7 months for me (sorry not what you want to hear, but if it stays miserable for months with no 2 I will FF and actually ENJOY my baby and have some good memories of its first months!)

[hufflepuffle]

Hey Elvis , thanks. It is the hardest thing isn't it? Not what we are led to believe ante natally and that makes me cross. Just had visit. Incredibly helpful. My positioning of baby was totally wrong even tho latch good. I feel a million times better. Lesson learned- if you have a problem, ask for help!! So so relieved

[ElphabaTheGreen]

I think if they were truthful, or at least more open, about how horribly hard it can be antenatally, breast feeding rates would be even poorer than they are because people who might otherwise have tried may not even attempt it. That said, there was recently a thread on here canvassing how many people didn't have problems with BFing and there were a lot. Maybe we're a minority in a minority...? It would be interesting to know the figures of those who make it to 6 months EBFing, how many had difficulty compared with those that didn't.

Oh, hey. Now that you mention it, I will be 6 months EBFing TOMORROW! I believe only 7% of UK babies/mums have that bragging right. Did I say how sticking with it through all that pain was the best thing I've ever done? Seriously - get every shred of help you can. It's so worth it.

[BuddyTheChristmasElf]

I disagree, I think if they were honest about the problems it would be an oportunity for them to talk about possible solutions and help available and people wouldn't give up when they hit a wall, instead they would know what might be wrong and where they might find solutions

[ElphabaTheGreen]

That's a good point actually. And pointing out that a lot of the hard stuff that nobody mentions is absolutely normal, and yes, it's hard, but it ends.

[elvislives2012]

When we did our NCT classes we had a seperate BFing session where they showed us videos and gave advice etc. but tbh I can't remember a lot of it and watching a video about latching on 4 weeks before having the baby, made it quite unreal. We didn't talk much about cluster feeding and this is something that I now have first hand knowledge of! No wonder my boobs hurt. I'm not sure how much info you can be given beforehand. Nothing prepares you got it! Instead I think seeking out the support in RL and using forums like this, is the best you can do.
I can totally understand why people give it up in the early days. It's hard (ill say it again!)! DD has started smiling now and that goes ALONG way to making it worth it :)

[Spoonpaws]

Hi Elvis

I just saw your comment about going outside or temperature changes making your boobs sore - I wondered, have you heard of Raynauds Phenomenon? Its something that can cause pain whilst / after breastfeeding and if it is something that is contributing to your soreness it might be worth being aware of how you can avert the pain!

Hard to tell, without further information but you can take a look here for more information.

Good luck :)

[hufflepuffle]

Spoonpaws I hav Raynauds, have known for years. Did not know there was a link. I am not a total disaster then! Mumsnet is a wonderful place. Thank you

[TransatlanticCityGirl]

For me, thing magically became easier at about 10 weeks.

[BertieBotts]

It gets easier at about 6 weeks (once you've got into the swing of things) and then easier again at about 3 months, when your milk supply regulates - you'll stop getting engorged between feeds and hopefully stop leaking too. :)

[elvislives2012]

That link is interesting as a little while after feeding the other day, I noticed nipples were an odd colour. Whitey blue. Hmm will keep an eye on them. Thanks for the replies, it seems 6-10 weeks seem about the time for the boob pain to calm down...