Baby hitting a nerve while feeding??

[StillPukin]

When baby feeds from one side it is really uncomfortable. I know it sounds stupid but I cant decide whether it is a pain or an intense tickle but it really goes through me. Its like a shooting sensation that goes across the breast and down my leg in a really toe curling way. Is she catching a nerve? Do we have nerves in our breasts??
Has anyone any experience of this or is it just me??

It does sound odd. For some women, the let down can feel a bit like that ... but I'd expect you to get the pain on both sides.

When does the pain happen? All through the feed, just once, intermittently? When, in the feed, does it happen?

If it hurts throughout the feed, it's likely to be bad latch. If you look at the shape of the nipple, and it looks a bit crushed, then latch is the problem.

Oh, and how old is your baby?

She's 10 days old and it only happens when she feeds and it is all the way through the feed.
I think the latch is ok, she's a little tongue tied so that might affect the latch but the other side doesn't feel like this.

It sounds like it's likely to be the latch on that side, then. The position on that side could be a bit different, or the shape of your breast or nipple.

Can you look at the shape of that nipple before and after a feed? If after a feed, the tip looks angled, like the tip of a tube of lipstick, or if there are ridges on the sides of the nipple, then your baby is crushing your nipple, and latch is absolutely the problem.

If you are having no pain on the other side, then she can feed fine with her tongue tie (which does happen!), so it's just down to positioning. Which is good news - it's possible to fix this without cutting the tie.

So - to fix the positioning:

1. I can try to talk you through it all, although I'm not used to doing it this way
2. You can phone a BF helpline
3. You can go to a drop in.
4. You can read up on the cross-cradle hold and asymmetric latch, have a fiddle, and see where you get. Generally: the problem is, your baby is not latched asymmetrically. You can tell this is the case because her nose is touching your breast during the feed. To fix this, use a position where you are not holding your baby's head (just neck and shoulders), and then shift your baby, while latched on, slightly in the direction of her feet. Her head should tilt back, and her nose come clear. Hopefully the pain will go away (although, if your nipple is damaged, then it may just hurt less, initially, rather than not at all)

#3 is maybe the best, if there is a good drop in in your neighbourhood?

I suppose it would make sense that it could be a latching issue as it seems most feeding issues are. But I just can see where it coulld be wrong, it looks right. The end of the nipple is slightly slopped after feeding which would support this but I dont seem to be able to work out how to change it.
I suppose I'd better just keep trying - in the meantime I'll keep curling my toes and gritting my teeth

It's worth maybe having a fiddle with the position, or going along to a group if you can find one?

It will tend to get better over time, anyway as a) your baby will get bigger and b) your baby wants to latch better as she will get more milk for less effort, with a better latch, anyway.