First time mum breastfeeding - Help!

[ajohnson1991]

My DS was born on Friday and I'm breastfeeding him. He's latching and feeding well but the pain is awful! I'm reduced to tears most time I feed him - I need a little advice! Will this get better or is there any creams or remedies that will help?

Thanks

[Rumours]

For me the initial latch on was always painful but I got used to it, once the feeding started there was no pain.

Give your MW a call, she'll be able to visit and help

[makeminea6x]

Lansinoh, applied rigidly after every feed.

Ask a midwife to check your latch.

For me it did hurt with my second for a week or so, just til my nipples had got used to his strong suck. With my first it was not that bad. It will get better.

[NerrSnerr]

I used nipple sheilds (got them on next day delivery from mothercare). They really helped. I stopped using them after about 4 weeks and it let my nipples heal.

[ajohnson1991]

I've had two midwives check his latch, and for the left breast has to be held a different way to the right or he won't take. Could it be how much breasts have swelled etc? I can barely touch them. Nearly 3 additional bra sizes in less than 3 days....

[breakfastinbread]

Stopped properly hurting at 4-5weeks for me. Latch repeatedly checked by BF counsellors etc.

It made me really angry with our NCT class leader who just kept breezily saying that if it hurt, you were doing it wrong. Had me blind convinced that I couldn't BF properly and almost gave up. Would have been far more useful if they'd just said to expect discomfort and pain, but to persist and things would get easier!

It was always my goal to get to 6 weeks and reevaluate then, but like I said, it got easier well before then. BF up to 5 months in the end, but would have carried on had DS not started to refuse the boob!

Oh, and lasinoh, lasinoh and lasinoh

[BBQueen]

Another recommendation for lansinoh - before and after each feed.

[LisaMWill]

I was surprised how much breastfeeding hurt in the first couple of weeks. Nobody told me about that bit!! But like everyone else said it's just until your nipples get used to it and only lasts about a week. Again agree with everyone about lanoshin. It'll get easier, I remember waking up one day and the pain just disappeared

[Milkyway1304]

It is normal to have some pain in the beginning at initial latch, which should ease within a minute or so. If pain is throughout the feed there is likely to be a latch issue, even if it looks good outwardly. Ask your midwife to watch a feed, or see if there are any breastfeeding cafes nearby. In the meantime try to encourage as deep a latch as possible, Google laid back feeding and the "flipper" technique. Take a look at the shape of your nipples after a feed- are they pinched or misshapen? They should be essentially the same shape at the end of a feed. There's a lot of good advice on the infant feeding board.

[Milkyway1304]

Flipple technique!

[breakfastinbread]

You mentioned your breasts are really big/engorged?

Occasionally I would have to hand express 30 or so mls just to relieve some of the "pressure" to get DS to latch on. That also helped as I had a very fast let down and poor DS would be spluttering and de-latching at the beginning of each feed. Again, all settled by the 4-5week mark.

Keep trying, it'll get better x

[MrsBojingles]

My Mum always warned me it hurt like hell to start with, but after 6 weeks it will be fine. Good advice!

If your boobs are really swollen it's not going to help - I used to stand over the bath and express a little (only had to press a bit) to ease that. Also massage, massage, massage your boobs, helps make sure you're not getting any build up in any spots. Hot flannel over the breast, then firm massage.

Bizzarely I found the old cabbage leaves down the bra trick helped a lot too! Keep going, it will get easier!

[tbtc]

Is it painful nipples, pain when latching on and the let-down?

Are your breasts really full/engorged at the moment? Hot rocks I used to call them!

Do you have anyone nearby who successfully BF who could pop round and keep you company?

[Daffodil1210]

I had this with my DS when my milk came in. For engorged breasts, I used Lansinoh heat pads which were a godsend www.amazon.co.uk/Lansinoh-TheraPearl-Cold-Breast-Therapy/dp/B009G1RUF2?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[ShipShapeAhoy]

I think it took me about two weeks before it stopped hurting. I didn't use any products or creams just fed as often as she wanted (which was near enough constantly). I think part of the problem is tiny newborns have very small mouths! It really does get so much better though.

[ShipShapeAhoy]

Also, hand express a little before each feed if your breasts are really engorged.

[SonceyD0g]

Very painful for me for about a week. Rubbing your nipples with your breast milk will help. Holding baby under my armpit to feed was less painful I found. Stick with it it will pass

[Lunastarfish]

My DD is 5 days old and I'm having the same problem. We're off to boots in a bit to buy nipple sshields. That said , she is currently feeding off the left breast (the v v sore nipple) & it doesn't hurt as much as it did last night

[cookiefiend]

I found aswell that my nipples were agony for the first couple of weeks- I coild wolfram a towel round myself getting out of the shower or anything it was so sore. So no matter how good you latch it would still hurt. Check whether you are getting any cuts or if your nipples finish a feed flat and white. If so the latch is a problem. There are great videos on you tube for the flipple technique. I watched them each time she fed for a week or so to ensure I had it right. Lasinoh is great too- after every feed. It will get easier.

[AntiHop]

Has anyone checked the baby for tongue tie? That can chase latch problems and pain. Is there a breast feeding support service in your area?

[tbtc]

FWIW - it doesn't always hurt.

I BF both mine for years and while it was certainly uncomfortable dealing with engorgement I never had toe-curling pain. I know it can hurt and that's often just part of things settling down but it shouldn't be expected or be accepted as being part of BF.

[ajohnson1991]

Midwife is visiting today so will speak to her again. Two others have checked already and given everything the OK.

After all comments, think it's two things, rather sore nipples and my breasts being so enlarged. I'm going to get some of that cream today and try expressing a little before BF.

Fingers crossed that will be the issues if not will speak to midwife again. Thanks for the advice!

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

I found BFing more painful than labour at first.

Tip with the lansinoh - put it between your legs whilst you're feeding. By the time you come to put it on it will have warmed up and softened and be easier to apply. If it's cold it's really hard to work in.

[karigan]

I agree with Cupcakes. The first two days were fine but day 3-7 were far far more painful than labour. I remember sitting and crying through feeding her on day 5 because it was so painful. But! My milk came in on day 5 and the breast milk really helped heal everything and on day 8 I got up and braced myself for feeding and it didn't hurt at all. :) (and hasn't ever since)

Definately get the mw to check your latch but don't buy into the 'it doesn't hurt if you do it right' line. I am still feeding my 10 month old and latching and feeding her exactly the same as I did in the first few days. For me at least the pain was just a transition thing whilet my body adapted to feeding her.
It is horrible though so lots of sympathy from me. (Hugs)

[WombOfOnesOwn]

Try a different position. The first six weeks are often very painful not because your nipples are "toughening," but because a baby who cannot lift its own head has to latch in a terrible (for them) position when you are seated.

www.mothering.com/articles/natural-breastfeeding/

Read this article for more; I think you'll really like what you find--this helps a lot of new moms a TON with pain!

[SweepTheHalls]

Lansinoh and counting down from 10 helped me, it was rarely still painful by the end of the count.