Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Help! Finding breast feeding soooo painful...

94 replies

hewlettsdaughter · 22/04/2004 18:41

Hi all
After a shaky start I breastfed ds for 6-9 months about 4 and a half years ago. I'm now trying to establish breastfeeding with dd, who was born last Sunday. I know it's early days, but I'm finding it really really painful when she clamps on - the pain does lessen after a short while but nevertheless persists throughout the feed (and if she has a rest - still attached - and then starts sucking again, the intensity of the pain is renewed).
Does this sound like she is not latching correctly? I know what is supposed to happen, ie she is meant to get as much of the areola in her mouth as possible - and I try to make this happen, but am not sure if it is. My milk started to come in Tuesday night, and my nipples are now sore and damaged-looking. During the feed we just completed, my hand that was supporting my breast was shaking with the pain. This can't be right, can it???

OP posts:
aloha · 22/04/2004 19:02

Ooh, no, that sounds awful. With my ds I just kept reattaching him until it didn't hurt any more ( apart from the sharp, shooting sensation of letdown). Sometimes it took quite a few adjustments, but for me 'right' was when it didn't hurt.

Chandra · 22/04/2004 19:07

It could be that she is not latching correctly or... it could be that she is sucking very hard... DS sucked so hard that I was bleeding in less than 10 days, 3 health visitors and the doctor checked that he was latching correctly and he was but still it was very painful. Another possibility it that you have got thrush (Sp?), it is horribly painful, well worth a check soon before the skin deteriorates even more.
All my sympathy, hope the painful feeds stop soon

gemilou · 22/04/2004 19:12

Hi hewlettsdaughter,
It doesnt sound like dd is latching on properly. try to aim her nose to your nipple, this should make her open her mouth nice and wide so that she gets plenty in.
Good luck hd

Codswallop · 22/04/2004 19:12

It just hurts with me

took 6weeks to stop but I was so glad I persevered. Blinking cried each time and had to do breathing...

Lisa78 · 22/04/2004 19:16

same as coddy here too, it hurt so much that my leg would shoot out everytime, then the pain would ease off after a minute or two. It was 6 -8 weeks before it stopped
But I think its worth getting checked out for positioning, thrush etc
Lots of hugs and luck

gemilou · 22/04/2004 19:22

Do you know if there is a breastfeeding support group in your area?

Homsa · 22/04/2004 19:29

I just wanted to kick everyone who gave me this "it doesn't hurt if you're doing it properly" line! I was in agony for about 10 days, then my nipples toughened up and it was fine. I found those gel pads you can put in the fridge were quite soothing. I also used nipple shields when the pain was just too much, but that didn't really help with dd's technique, so I ditched them as soon as I could bear it. I'm still breastfeeding my 10-month-old and very glad I persevered!
Do get your positioning checked, but it might just be that your nipples have to get used to it and you'll be fine in a week or so. Good luck!

Clayhead · 22/04/2004 19:30

My expereince is the same as Homsa, Coddy & Lisa78.

Good luck.

pollyanna · 22/04/2004 19:34

Me too - it took 6 weeks to feel better, but I persevered and it was worth it in the end. (bloody painful though - I used to be in tears).

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 22/04/2004 20:06

Thanks for your replies. Sounds like I should get someone to check the latching (and also get checked out for thrush?). Although the fact that many of you had this and put up with it for 6-8 weeks is a bit depressing...

OP posts:
Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 22/04/2004 20:07

Where can you get the gel pads?

OP posts:
kiwisbird · 22/04/2004 20:22

buy here

gel pad and other goodies

Codswallop · 22/04/2004 20:32

hey lisa I forgot about hte leg reflex

amlmost reduced MY dad to tears (68) as I latched ds3 on and cried silent tears

eddm · 22/04/2004 20:40

Sympathise remember it was agony at first ? do your toes curl when dd latches on? I know is very very irritating going on about latch but really is worth seeing a b/f counsellor asap to make sure it's right. Surgery or HVs should have details. IME b/f counsellor knows exactly what they are doing, unlike GPs/HVs.
It shouldn't be hurting that much (otherwise how would human beings have survived pre-formula).
I really really wish I'd a. got my latch checked out earlier and b. been really firm about re-latching ds when it hurt, even if that meant several times at the start of a feed. And if your nipples are cracked, squeeze out some extra milk at the end of the feed and put it on ? works better than any nipple cream.
Hope it gets easier soon, really do feel for you.

GreySquirrel · 22/04/2004 20:42

I also had this with feeding both my daughters, worse with the second one but only lasted max two weeks both times. i really sympathise with the pain, remember having to bite my lip to stop from screaming.. but lasinoh cream helped for me (with healing the cracked nipples) but i do agree that they have to go through that a bit until they toughen up

Lisa78 · 22/04/2004 20:46

yes, my toes curled and I used to do involuntary pelvic floor exercises too...! Lansinoh cream was WONDERFUL - I would have given up bf long before I did if it wasn't for that cream

Bouj · 22/04/2004 20:52

I had the same sort of experience as you, and ended up stopping at 6 days (I expressed for 3 months because I am stubborn) but I truly wish I had posted what you have - and had the support to persevere - Definitely seek out breastfeeding counsellors (I did, but it was unfortunately too little too late) and hang in there. And congratulations on your beautiful baby daughter.

suedonim · 22/04/2004 20:57

Oh g*d, my toes are curling in sympathy, HD, I remember it all too well. You can call an NCT breastfeeding counsellor anytime between 8am-10pm on 0870 444 8708 for help. Best wishes.

Codswallop · 22/04/2004 21:04

ditto Bouj

think LONG TERM

aloha · 22/04/2004 21:04

I honestly don't think my nipples toughened up at all - for me it was definitely positioning. You are all very brave though. If I'd had agony/bleeding/cracked nipples and all, I'm sure I would have given up.

JulieF · 22/04/2004 21:39

I got cracked nipples after ds finally managed to learn how to breastfeed and the HV said the positioning looked fine. I probably would have put it down to needing to toughen my nipples up if a very experienced midwife hadn't told me that my nipple was going against the hard palate not the soft, possibly due to him being so small.

Lansinoh again saved the day whilst she gave advice on how to encourage better positioning.

Gem13 · 22/04/2004 21:51

Lots of sympathy HD - it will get better but it is horrible while it hurts.

I only continued with DD because I'd done it for DS so had to do it for her and I was really pro-breast feeding. She is 10 weeks tomorrow and I have to look down now to see if she's feeding.

Bung on some Vaseline if you have some in the house (and get the cream everyone recommends tomorrow) and savoy cabbage leaves straight from the fridge were fab too.

AussieSim · 22/04/2004 22:10

I'm going with the 'toughening up time' crew. I recommend Breast Shells - leaves nipples out in the air instead of crushed in bra - so that they can heal up (ouch!).

mears · 22/04/2004 22:52

Hewlettsdaughter - are you trying varying positions? When you have damaged nipples it can be aggravated when always feeding in the same position. Try the rugby ball hold with dd under your arm, make sure her head and body are facing the breast in a straight line. You don't want her lying with her head turned to the side. Also make sure she is not sucking her way on - make sure her mouth is gaping and lift her swiftly up onto the breast. Don't try and poke the nipple into her mouth. Get some Lansinoh which will help. If your nipple is really sore you can numb it with a bit of ice wrapped in a bag, the coldness numbs the nipple for a short while. The nipple should not be sore all the way through the feed. They will start to improve now if the latch is good. My nipples with ds2 were an absolute state but I found that by the 10th day they were much better. I just expressed breast milk and rubbed that on them at the end of each feed.

toddlerbob · 22/04/2004 23:12

Mine are so tough they can be twisted around completely twice (you learn these things with a 14 month old)but intially he would have been pulled off for any such crimes against nipples. I agree with Mears to try different positions, maybe lying down so you don't have to support as much baby weight whilst trying to get the latch right.