Agony when feeding

[jennyapples]

Hello. I'm really hoping someone can help. I have a two week old and I'm trying trying trying to breastfeed. The problem? He has the jaw of a shark and the suction of a Dyson.

The pain is enough that I cry nearly every time I feed him, I'm nearly shouting in pain sometimes, and I've become terrified of every next feed.

The hospital sent the lactation consultant round, and she said my position and his latch were good so "just hang in there" but I can't...I can't do any more.

I'm starting to get so upset by all these books that say "it shouldn't hurt!" - I don't know what I can do when baby's jaw is smashing down on my boob. I'm a person with a ridiculously high pain tolerance, so I'm not just a wimp!

I'm not really sure what to do next. I have a pump and pump when I can but I really would prefer to nurse directly. If anyone has any wisdom to share, I'd really appreciate the support. Thank you.

If it were me, I would go to Dr Levinkind in North London. He trained with Dr Kotlow who is a leading expert on ties. He uses laser and will treat an upper lip tie if it is needed. I think he charges somewhere between £300 - 400, but honestly IMO, this could be some of the best money you will ever spend.

This is from someone who didn't discover DS1's ties until he was 6yo and you would not believe the number of problems he suffered because of the ties and the high palate which seems to be caused by the tongue tie.

From what you describe, it sounds very much like there is a tie, and given than nobody has spotted it up til now, it is probably a posterior one.

Hello all, just wanted to update you and say a huge THANK YOU for your support and encouragement and info!

The more I read, the more I was convinced that little baby apples has a posterior tongue tie. I rang up my HV who said it certainly sounds like it, so she put through a referral to the clinic I found on the Baby Friendly Initiative page.

In the meantime, i went to hospital discharge appt today and asked midwife. She said WHOA! Posterior tongue tie!!! So I'm vindicated!

Just rang up the hospital and we're going in on Monday for the snip.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Great news, glad you're getting it sorted.

I was tge same as you, I had mastitis in both breasts, thrush in them, severe cracked nipples and I was in so much pain I was streaming at tge eyes and had to bite a pillow every time, the midwives kept telling me I must not be latching her on right, I was! After 2 weeks a hv finally checked for a tongue tie, which she had! I had to stop because feeding was stressful for me and my baby, I yelped in pain when latching her on once and she had a frightened look on her face and I just thought ,scuse the language.....fuck this! I hate formula but I certainly didn't want to stress out or frighten my baby, they should have bloody checked before I left hospital and I would have been able to ebf like I was desperate to do, I feel like a failure now and if we'd had the help things would have worked out, that's what hurts the most. Do your best, I found that lying on my side and feeding helped and using nipple shields one day and then not the next. Sorry it's hard, no one tells you the bad stuff so you always think you must be doing it wrong, but it hurts like hell! X

Yeah, it hurts. Should subside soon though if all is normal.
I had the same, pain got worse not better, even touching my nipples on my clothes hurt like hell. Turned out it was bf thrush. Could be worth getting it checked - I endured 4 weeks of agony needlessly.
Good luck. X

Sorry, missed page 2! Glad you got an answer, hope all goes well. X