why mf say it shouldnt hurt

margherita76 · 2010-09-04T18:23:09+00:00

why do they say it shouldn't hurt? my nipples are sore and cracked - they haven't had much action lately, til now. Of course it is going to affect the skin, no? Every MF has commented how well my baby latches on so its not that causing the problem is it?!

CaptainKirksNipples · 04/09/2010 19:24

How long have you been feeding?

Miggsie · 04/09/2010 19:28

I hurt like hell...! My nipples were sore, so I used nipple cream. After 2 weeks my nipples were fine but I was one of the very very few who get bad "let down" pains so it was painful when the milk started to flow. That went away too in the end, but the toe curling agony of those first weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, nipples do crack and get sore but they will heal, then it will be ok.

What midwife means is the baby shouldn't be pulling or twisting the nipple.. Everyone I know got cracked nipples from normal feeding. My friend's mad Russian mother says we all should have "hardened our nipples" before the birth by washing them in surgical spirit every day. Pass the vodka mother!

InVinoFerretsAss · 04/09/2010 19:30

Not sure how long you've been feeding but I certainly found it hugely painful with all 3 of my DCs for the first few weeks at least. I was latching on well and they were feeding well so that wasn't the problem.
Just really really hurt!! Toe-curling actually!
I came on MN to ask the same question and found many people in the same boat, I remember one lady actually bit down on an old dummy for the first few seconds!!

It does get less painful but in my experience at least, the pain doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. Everyone is different I think!

StarlightMcKenzie · 04/09/2010 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

thisisyesterday · 04/09/2010 19:35

i agree, it can be painful for some women.

BUT nipples that are sore and cracked are an indication of a problem with latch or positioning.
baby can latch on well and then slip, or appear to be latching but not actually getting on properly, she could be latching on well but you are holding her too high, too low, too far round and pulling on the nipple is causing it

there are SO many reasons why you may have sore/cracked nipples, but it's highly, highly unlikely to just be because your nipples aren'ty used to it. otherwise everyone would get it

i would recommend either calling one of the bf hotlines, or visiting a local breastfeeding counsellor

CheckingCheques · 04/09/2010 20:07

Call one of the helplines (I think there is a sticky), and go to a local bf support group - la leche league, or one run by your local health board and get it checked. If not, the communiuty mothers - ask your mw/hv for contacts

But yes, you are right, it does hurt. toe curling. I don't know anyone that it didn't hurt! Bugs the life out of me when people trot out the whole 'if it hurts, you're doing it wrong' line.

MigGril · 04/09/2010 21:16

Well you nipples shoudn't hurt or be carked and bleeding, as OP have said this is a sure sign of a bad latch.

I never had soure nipple's the only pain I had was (it isn't so much pain) a horrible toe currling sensation at the start of a feed, which did seatle down. This I believe was a strong letdown.

I'd get your latch checked by a BF counciler. Hear are the numbers for the national helplines.
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Operated by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and The Breastfeeding Network
Tel. 0300 100 0212

La Leche League
Tel. 0845 120 2918

National Childbirth Trust
Tel. 0870 444 8708

ClimberChick · 04/09/2010 21:46

I'd always assumed that sore and cracked nipples were from the first few days where LO wasn't expected to have a good latch (in learning phase) and that since they were being used, even with a good latch, it's normal for it to take a couple of weeks to heal. This was I came to understand it anyway.

As for toe-curling letdown, I did get told in hospital that it's normal for it hurt at the start (but no explanation of let down or for how long etc.)

I think more people should be told that in reality it will probably hurt the first few weeks, as few people will ace the latch from the get-go. Also they should be banned from saying "well it shouldn't really be hurting still" without actually offering to help.

MoonFaceMama · 04/09/2010 23:38

I have a friend who sadly gave up bf because she was told that it shouldn't hurt, but they couldn't tell her what was wrong with her latch (mw and nct bfc). I had pain but this settled down after a week or so. No bad latch, just wear and tear.

Nipples are extremly sensitive. How can it be expected that they go from infrequent handling to virtually constant suckleing, getting wet and then dry again, and think this should not cause any chaffing or soreness?

Obviously all bf women should have their latch checked several times. But there is surely a point for saying "i believe your latch is sound. The pain will go away with a little time. If it doesn't begin to ease soon let us know"?

I don't dispute that cracking is a sign of a poor latch, but it is unhelpful to say any pain is also.

MoonFaceMama · 04/09/2010 23:41

I have a friend who sadly gave up bf because she was told that it shouldn't hurt, but they couldn't tell her what was wrong with her latch (mw and nct bfc). I had pain but this settled down after a week or so. No bad latch, just wear and tear.

Nipples are extremly sensitive. How can it be expected that they go from infrequent handling to virtually constant suckleing, getting wet and then dry again, and think this should not cause any chaffing or soreness?

Obviously all bf women should have their latch checked several times. But there is surely a point for saying "i believe your latch is sound. The pain will go away with a little time. If it doesn't begin to ease soon let us know"?

I don't dispute that cracking is a sign of a poor latch, but it is unhelpful to say any pain is also indicative of a poor latch.

MoonFaceMama · 04/09/2010 23:44

oops. Phone error.

solo · 05/09/2010 00:00

Silverettes

I can highly recommend these. I put mine on (after cleaning them) as soon as I got them, wore them over night and by morning the crack was healed. Fantastic! well worth the money IME.

fernie3 · 05/09/2010 07:18

Mine hurt the first couple of days and i got a blister on one which was sore. The midwife told me the samw as you that the latch was fine and encouraged me to cram even more nipple in my baby's mouth (i had already been doing this) after a few days I just let my baby take as much as she wanted in her mouth and the pain stopped, she was getting more satisfied after every feed and started gaining weight which she was struggling to do before. I have not had any pain since then.
It looks like my baby is not latched on properly, she looks like she is only taking the very end of mu nipple in her mouth, but obviously thats right for us even though it doesnt look like the pics of a good latch.
Only thing I can think of is that the homestart breastfeeding support woman said I have extremely "long" nipples (I do they are freakishly long ) so perhaps she needs to take less in her mouth to get a comfortable feed.

Obviously not saying its the same problem just that it may still be the latch even if it looks fine. My baby is only 5 weeks old so I have no idea if this is correct - just my experience!

Original poster

margherita76 · 05/09/2010 10:46

OK. So thank you everyone for all the advice and for explaining your situations, for the helplines and reassurance.

I am only on day 5 and I think that it has already started to improve. As some of you have said it's probably normal due to skin sensitivity, but further pain would not be. The pain does not last beyond the initial latching on and I am very careful to make sure she has as much nipple as possible in her mouth and that she is actually feeding etc. I just found it a little unhelpful ( as some of you have also mentioned ) that there is this point blank denial that BF will hurt ( to begin with).

Let down pain?? is this to come?!

thanks again

OP posts:

Petsville · 05/09/2010 15:13

Not everyone gets let down pain - I've been feeding for 3 weeks now (and am pain free after a toe-curling first ten days) and have never had it, so if you haven't got it you're probably going to be spared!

MumNWLondon · 05/09/2010 17:41

I have feed 3 DC never had any nipple trauma - eg sore or cracked.

The only pain I have had is let down pain, maybe lasted for the first minute of each feed from birth to 6 weeks each time. Now just slightly uncomfortable, and only for a few seconds not painful.

ClimberChick · 05/09/2010 20:47

For me the let down pain peaked around weeks 2 and 3, but also had it a bit from the beginning, so maybe you'll luck out