Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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:
zaphod · 22/04/2004 23:27

With my third child had problems similar to yours, he was sucking in his lower lip as he was latched on, but I couldn't see this as breast was in the way, just pulled gently on his chin, lip came out and all was OK. Hope this helps.

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 23/04/2004 10:31

Thanks so much for the advice and support, everyone. The feeds are still hurting, but I am planning to ring a breastfeeding counsellor sometime today. I haven't tried lots of different positions but will do. Will also send dh out for some lansinoh cream (I wasn't going to get any commercial preparations but it's worth a try as several of you have recommended it).
We have a breastfeeding clinic here in Oxford which is open on Monday so if I'm still having problems then I'll go and see them.

OP posts:
mears · 23/04/2004 10:35

Hewlwttsdaughter - until recently it was advised that nipples shoud be exposed to the air to heal. However, the recommendation is now moist wound healing. In the same way that you would put something on chapped lips to moisturise and aid healing (the last thing you do is leave them dry). Lansinoh and Purelan are really the only 2 recommended products for sore nipples because of their purity. Best to get some I think.

lemonice · 23/04/2004 11:24

So pleased to see this thread today as dd is hurting from dgs born on Monday. Interested to see that you can be doing everything right and still have pain. I have just rung revolting teenager ds to buy Lansinoh (I had bought dd calendula cream but she hasn't used it because it actually doen't seem to be the right thing these days?) I also suggested the exposing to air still not sure from replies whether good or bad? And how often should you wash breasts/nipples and what with? Do you have to be an NCT member to talk to breast feeding counsellor?

mears · 23/04/2004 11:37

Only wash nipples when having a shower or bath and only with water. Do not put soap anywhere near them as it dries them out. No need to wash nipples between feeds, just wipe off lansinoh. Anyone can speak to a B/F counsellor.

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 23/04/2004 15:07

Mears (or anyone else), can you explain the 'rugby ball hold' a bit more? Not sure I can visualise it.

OP posts:
suedonim · 23/04/2004 15:44

HD, you hold the baby with his body and feet tucked under your arm on the same side as he's latched on, instead of him being across your tummy. I found it useful to have a support cushion if feeding this way. There's a picture here halfway down the page. HTH!

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 23/04/2004 15:57

Thanks very much suedonim - just in time for the next feed!

OP posts:
suedonim · 23/04/2004 17:10

Hope the feed went a bit better, HD. My eyes are watering for you.

ZolaPola · 23/04/2004 17:41

Hi there. Congratulations and well done for hanging on in there with the breastfeeding. Having said that, if it really gets too much I'd say don't be afraid to stop or express (even though the NCT will heartily discourage you from doing so). I ended up expressing for nrly 10 months with no problem (and best of all NO pain!) in order to give him breast milk.
Having fed him direct for 6 weeks, much reading of various books and advice from GP, midwife, health visitor, NCT counsellor who said I wasn't doing anything 'wrong' in terms of technique, I gave up as it hurt SO much and I just couldn't hack it any longer. Trust your instincts and give yourself a break - a happier mum with an expressed/formula milk fed baby is better than a miserable mum in so much pain she resents her baby.
Good luck whatever you do.

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 23/04/2004 21:50

Hi, just an update. Last feed was worst ever - tried rugby ball hold but couldn't get it right and as we were both getting frustrated went back to the usual position. Cried all over dd for first five minutes or so of feed . Have since rung NCT helpline - counsellor I spoke to thinks she can't be latching correctly. I may be holding dd's head too rigidly - should be supporting her back more and allowing her head to tilt back slightly. Apparently chin/lower jaw should meet breast first and nose should be clear of breast during feed (this hasn't been the case). The counsellor said it's probably dd's tongue causing the damage and I need to work on getting the nipple way back in her mouth so this can't happen.
Have bought lansinoh, and will try helpline advice next feed. Dreading it already though...
Thanks for your post, ZolaPola.

OP posts:
suedonim · 23/04/2004 22:11

Oh HD, I'm sorry it's so awful atm. I hope the NCT tips help. Will a BFC come and see you, if necessary? I know nipple shields are not bfc's fave items and I understand the reasons why, but they did save the day for me. I found I only needed them until the let down and could then take them off and continue virtually pain-free for the rest of the feed. I only needed them for about 48hrs, which was enough time for my nipples to heal.

Zolapola, ime NCT doesn't 'heartily discourage' anyone from doing anything. They provide information and support for women to come to the decision that is best for them and their baby. The following is part of their mission statement.

"The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) offers support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. We aim to give every parent the chance to make informed choices."

ZolaPola · 23/04/2004 23:19

All the best for the next feeds then, it should get better over the next few weeks.

Suedonim - my comments on the NCT were from my own experience having had a lot to do with them and certainly not uncommon amongst the people I know, right through from antenatal classes.
The mission statement is of course well-meant, I just question the effect the NCT have in practice.

suedonim · 23/04/2004 23:59

Zolapola, I'm sorry about your experience but it isn't what the NCT is about and I hope you complained to them. From my involvement with NCT their top people would not be happy to think that you had been actively discouraged to take a particular course of action and I think I can say with virtually 100% certainty that no one in my branch would ever take that attitude.

Chandra · 24/04/2004 00:29

I went to see my ginecologyst back in my country and when I told him about how painful breastfeeding was he was soooo anoyed that nobody had provided any information about how to prepare my breasts for breastfeeding before the baby arrived, we went into other topics and in my new-to-motherhood distracted state of mind I forgot to ask him how to prepare them, has anybody heard of anything like this?

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 24/04/2004 10:55

My mum said she was taught to prepare hers with some product or other - and I guess nipple-twiddling helps (not that I did any of this).
Midwife coming this morning, will speak to her re the feeding (am trying to correct positioning but it's hard without direct help).

OP posts:
eddm · 24/04/2004 11:11

Hope midwife helps HD and well done for hanging on in there. I tried all the tips on this thread, and all the products (expressed milk best for cracked nipples IME) and each gave me enough of a breather to do the next feed. But the thing that made a huge difference, so that I kept feeding until going back to work at 7 months, was seeing a b/f counsellor in person who was a. an expert in b/f (some HVs/midwives v. good but not as expert) and b. could physically see what was wrong with the latch and show me what to do about it.
Really hope this works out for you.

eddm · 24/04/2004 11:14

Oh, one thing b/f counsellor did was explain that if it made your toes curl the latch was wrong; if it hurts like breaking in new shoes at the start of the feed that's normal apparently when first b/f.
And she left me a diagram and description of perfect latch which I kept by my chair so even if struggling and upset I had something to refer to rather than just giving up and putting up with agonising feed IYSWIM.
Really hope this works out for you.

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 24/04/2004 11:23

Thanks eddm - I'm defintely getting the toe-curling (and gnashing of teeth, and impulse to pull away from dd). Is difficult to get her off though, once she's on (even using a finger to break suction) - and I've no guarantee that I'll get a better latch after doing so.
God, this is such a downer - in all other respects we're doing fine, but I don't know how much longer I can keep doing feeds like this.

OP posts:
morocco · 24/04/2004 15:58

I was given various stuff to put on my nipples to prepare them before ds 1 and 2 were born but didn't bother using them - as far as I know one of them was a type of alcohol to 'toughen them up' - maybe that is what your doctor meant chandra?
with ds1 I had no probs with pain until I got thrush (toe curling - the only other time I've had such bad pain was giving birth) and so with ds2 I was very blase - I don't need to toughen up my nipples etc - but ouch!
anyhow, I think in the uk it's frowned upon to use that kind of alcohol wipe thing

squirmyworm · 24/04/2004 17:54

hi there hd - sorry it's so painful - I know exactly what you mean - I cried all over ds for about six weeks. Haven't read the whole thread but have you been examined for thrush? I only ask because it's what made bf so agonising for me - like morocco I just couldn't believe it was so painful. After being treated for thrush (which was hard to spot as we had atypical symptoms) it became a pleasure within a few days to my huge relief. It was the BF clinic that spotted it for me - just as I was getting to the end of my tether and eyeing up formula and bottles in every chemist I passsed.

squirmyworm · 24/04/2004 17:58

had a bit more of a read and you say you've been checked for thrush I think - if pain carries on I'd say check again - first time we were looked at we were told it must be the latch...thrush was ruled out but eventually turned out to be the main problem. does it hurt when you shower or bath? that was a killer for me. also any rubbing or chafing of clothes was agony. I bought two plastic tea strainers (sounds daft but bear with me) and put them in my bra (with the handles cut off!) to protect my horrendously sore nipples from rubbing on anything. It really helped as it also helped them to heal in the air. might be worth a try

Codswallop · 24/04/2004 18:20

yes squirly and mine weere poster paint red, the whol nipple

squirmyworm · 24/04/2004 18:27

eek coddy....I remember reading a leaflet saying if you had thrush it could look like your nipples were 'frosted! that's exactly what mine looked like - pink and shiny - almost as if I'd put shimmery highlighter on them....

Original poster
hewlettsdaughter · 24/04/2004 18:28

Haven't been checked for thrush but plan to go to breastfeeding clinic on Monday - will ask about this. Definitely getting the chafing thing, but guess this would happen with sore nipples anyway? Midwife this morning thought the latch was actually ok, and suggested nipple shields/expressing as a temporary measure (to give my nipples chance to heal). So - despite reservations - am trying nipple shields. Last feed was certainly easier on me, and dd didn't seem to mind the silicone.

OP posts: