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Infant feeding

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

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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:

Fennel · 12/05/2004 20:41

My dd1 and now dd3 did/do that "slipping into sucking a straw" mode too. I think with dd1 she just got better at not doing it, and her mouth got bigger which helped, and my breasts got tougher. by 6 weeks the pain stopped with her. I think I was told with dd1 to just unlatch her when she did it and make her latch on again til she did it right.
am going to try the gaping at dd3 to see if she copies!

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 12/05/2004 21:28

There'll be all these new mothers gaping inanely at their newborns now...
I have been told about unlatching dd and then re-latching her if things aren't right but trouble is we don't seem to get much improvement if any...

OP posts:

midden · 12/05/2004 21:41

hewlettsdaughter - I know what you are going through. I b/f my first for 8 mths after going through 2 months of agony, cracked/sore/bleeding ds puking up my blood cried at every feed and hated myself for not "doing it right". when it came to no 2 I never imagined that I would experience all that again, just assumed i would be fine as my nipples would have toughned up/ my technique perfected - how wrong I was!

My babies were both latching on fine and I just eventually came to the conclusion that some womens nipples are more sensitive than others. are you fair haired ? Apparently that makes a difference.

You know how rewarding and enjoyable it becomes in the end - if you can just make it through the first few weeks - best of luck!

Fennel · 13/05/2004 11:47

HD - I don't actually find the unlatching and relatching works desperately well either, but sometimes it improves things a bit.

I'd agree with Midden some women have more sensitive nipples/breasts. I'm fair skinned but not sure if that makes it worse. My babies have small mouths which I am sure doesn't help. Even when they gape it doesn't really cover the aureola area.

there was an article in the paper this week which said 90% of women who give up breastfeeding in the first 6 weeks regret it - there's a reason to persevere...

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 13/05/2004 12:04

Thanks for your support, folks. Fennel, I am fair-skinned too and think both my children have quite small mouths - maybe as dd grows things will get easier.

OP posts:

PenelopePitstop · 13/05/2004 14:41

HD - I think mainly it just got better with time, when my nipples got over the shock of this constant munching monster!! Agree some more sensitive than others - had to just keep thinking I KNOW that this will get better, I really, really do!! It IS hard to persevere thru pain tho. Found the rugby ball position the best to use as an alternative to usual on knee?! position, even it if was just once in a while for relief. Could only manage it on one side tho and had to lift dd2 on lots of cushions positioned just so (oh the fun working that out!!)Oh and definitely couldn't have done it without those nipple shields for the first few weeks. HTH

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 13/05/2004 14:46

Ah yes - all the cushions, that have to be placed in just the right way
Can't see myself breastfeeding in public just yet (can't exactly take all my cushions, and my next directory - which i use as a footrest - out with me!)

OP posts:

hercules · 14/05/2004 10:14

Just a thought hewlettsd - my brothers baby had problems latching and they went to formula. At 3 months they day a cranialosteopath for colic and were told that as it ws a quicvk birth the baby had a slight problem opening its jaw fully and was then sorted out by the co. He said this might have explained the probs with breastfeeding.

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 14/05/2004 13:05

Thanks hercules - it's a good suggestion. In fact we saw an osteopath last Friday who didn't think there was too much wrong mechanically, IYSWIM - however dd is going to have another couple of treatments, so who knows, it may help.

OP posts:

tiktok · 14/05/2004 13:46

HD - about yelling - no your tongue might be at the bottom of your mouth but it is 'humped' in the middle and it closes off the available area of the mouth. That's why it's not a good way for babies to latch

GeorginaA · 20/05/2004 12:43

hd - was thinking of you today. How's it going now?

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 20/05/2004 12:54

Hi GA! Nice of you to think of me
Well, I'm still bf, but dd is still hanging off the end. Refuses to open her mouth wide (or else I am missing the opportunity). Am waiting for the independent midwife who helped me last week to come back off holiday (this Sat) but as every day goes by I wonder if it's going to be possible to 'retrain' the pair of us...

OP posts:

GeorginaA · 20/05/2004 13:00

Ouch That sounds very sore still.

I have every faith that you will be able to "retrain" yourselves - but I know what you mean about the every day thing. Feeding is such a large part of the day, it's a major stress & worry, isn't it?

Lots of hugs and good boob vibes coming your way.

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 20/05/2004 13:00

Good boob vibes - I like it

OP posts:

GeorginaA · 20/05/2004 13:08

It does sound good, doesn't it

For some reason now, I have the following going around in my head sung to "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys...

"I'm picking up boob vibrations..."

I need to get out more.

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 20/05/2004 13:14

OP posts:

Original poster

hewlettsdaughter · 28/05/2004 16:20

Georgina - think your good boob vibes worked - that and having the midwife back again, and the osteopath, and the homeopathic remedy I've been taking this week (I've tried everything ). Babe is still not taking a big mouthful but I haven't used the nipple shields since Monday, my milk supply seems to have increased this week, and although I'm still a bit sore after feeds it's nothing like it was...
For anyone else reading this thread because the title is ringing bells - get all the help you can, as soon as you can!

OP posts:

GeorginaA · 28/05/2004 16:58

hd that's fantastic news! I'm so pleased things are going better... fingers crossed it's all a smooth, enjoyable experience from now on

codswallop · 28/05/2004 17:01

well done HD

that is great!

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