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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

If feeding was painful for you how long did it last?

31 replies

Stefka · 08/12/2007 12:45

He will be seven weeks tomorrow and it still hurts. I can see healing on my nipples, in fact sometimes on the right side it doesn't hurt at all then the next time it will. I can see no difference in what I am doing though.

I am starting to wonder if I am just officially crap at breast feeding and that I am just going to have to grit my teeth for six months.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stefka · 08/12/2007 12:46

Just to add that it isn't as sore as it was a few weeks ago so at least that's something.

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bohemianbint · 08/12/2007 12:48

You are not crap! You've done really well! Has someone checked your latch, as it's not supposed to hurt - although if you're healing then I can understand how it might. It really does get easier and easier, and eventually you'll be doing it (maybe literally) in your sleep. If you are really struggling though, see if you can get hold of a counsellor. Whereabouts are you?

Original poster
Stefka · 08/12/2007 12:51

6 people have checked it so far which is why it is so frustrating. Of course they might be wrong but I don't know who else to contact now. I wish Jack Newman was my friend! Or that Tictok lived in Scotland!

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bohemianbint · 08/12/2007 12:55

Jesus, I can see why you'd be losing faith!

I've got a load of info somewhere about getting the latch right (I trained as a counsellor earlier this year), I can have a whirl at emailing it to you if you think it would help?

CoteDAzur · 08/12/2007 12:56

It was painful for me as well. For a very long time. I found comfort in using silicon nipples - sterilize them, and put over your nipple before feeding. Dd didn't seem to mind. You should have them in pharmacies. Good luck & well done for persevering!

fishie · 08/12/2007 13:04

stefka things really started to get better for me at about 9 weeks, ds grew a bit so his mouth was not so tiny. he never did get hang of gape and even now sort of sucks to latch on. by 4 months it was completely fine and still going strong at 2.5 years (couldn't bear to waste all that pain and effort by stopping prematurely)

BroccoliSpears · 08/12/2007 13:06

You are definitely not crap. You are utterly brilliant for giving your baby the best start even though it's so painful.

Loads of people checked my latch and said it was fine too, but it obviously wasn't because I was in so much pain. Has anyone stayed with you and checked your nipple shape after a feed? Shouldn't be all squished and pointy. It was the smallest change to out latch that made all the difference for us.

I was in agony for 5 weeks. Sobbing and bleeding.
The next fortnight started to get a bit better - I had whole feeds that didn't make me cry sometimes!
By about 8 weeks I had one side about sorted for painful ititial latch but then painless feeding once she was on, but one bad feed on either side would set us right back.
Up until about 12 weeks I was very cautious and frankly scared of doing it 'wrong' and experiencing the pain again. Mostly good days but the occasional bad patch.

Good news: we worked it out in the end and joyfully fed until dd was about 14 months old. I never ever lost the feeling of happiness that I was feeding my baby and it didn't hurt

I wish I had shouted louder and got the help I needed sooner. But no harm in the long run.

You'll get there.

Original poster
Stefka · 08/12/2007 13:10

It would be great to get that info - am I allowed to put my email addy on here? I will take all the help I can get. I hope I can get there - I am starting to loose my sanity!

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moondog · 08/12/2007 13:34

Stefka,you poor poor thing.
it took me 6 or 7 weeks to get right.
Your news about it being less painful is good.
Remind me-you are doing the Lansinoh thing and letting the air get to them right?

Original poster
Stefka · 08/12/2007 14:03

Lansinoh and jelonet combination at the moment.

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SufferingSuccotash · 08/12/2007 18:28

It was 9 weeks for me, just hang in there i really didnt think it would ever get easy! Still bfing at 10 months.Think it just took time for my skin to toughen up a bit, it was so nice to be able to dry my boobs after a shower without the sting!

constancereader · 08/12/2007 18:36

It was about seven weeks for me. I'm glad you are healing! Jelonet is good stuff, it worked for me. I am still bf at 11 months with no pain, you WILL get there, you are doing all the right things.

pinetreedog · 08/12/2007 18:43

excrutiating pain for two weeks exactly. I was that close to throwing in the towel.

FrannyandZooey · 08/12/2007 18:47

I think about 6 weeks

hope it gets better for you very soon

goingfor3christmaspuddings · 08/12/2007 18:54

With DD1 I was sore for 11 weeks and couldn't take it anymore, my latch was very good according to the HV's who checked. It took over a month for me not to have tears of pain in my eyes when putting on and removing my bra after stopping.

With DD2 I was uncomfortable for about a month and only on one side, I breastfed her for 2 1/2 years!

IorekByrnison · 08/12/2007 19:06

Was about 9 weeks for me (and still feeding dd now at 2.2 - like fishie, having gone through the initial nightmare I wasn't going to give up in a hurry) It's a really good sign that it's getting better - congratulations on getting over the worst.

If you haven't already, have a look at hunker's blog - it's great.

bohemianbint · 09/12/2007 12:32

Hi Stefka, I'll dig that stuff out and email it to you as soon as I find it if you let me know your email address. Will prob be later today or tomorrow.

mrsgrimwig · 09/12/2007 12:55

So sorry to hear what you're going through but it WILL get better. I had exactly the same experience - there is nothing more painful than cracked sore nipples, - but persevered and now I am happily feeding a 7 month old (who now has his teeth!). You may just have a baby who is a vigorous sucker or who feeds frequently.

I found the Lansinoh cream the best but wished someone would've told me to start using it from the very beginning! Keep asking the counsellors/health visitor for help as well - at the very least they will give you moral support and reassurance.

Just keep reminding yourself how well you've done and how much your baby is benefiting. You sound like a brilliant mum and I can guarantee you will still be breastfeeding in 6 months time.

Good luck!

indiemummy · 09/12/2007 13:02

Hi, it was excruciatingly painful for me for the first 6 weeks (worse on one side than the other), then still painful until about 12 weeks.

We're still going strong and dd is 1 year old!

Please do stick with it if that's what you want, it WILL stop hurting soon, I promise! Good luck.

StressInAMangerTeddy · 09/12/2007 13:10

hello you - so painful for the first 6/7 weeks
Cabbage leaves in bra are very helpful and ease pain
Keep with it if you can - it gets to be lovely
Good luck babe and you are doing really well

(If you do feel that you can't stand it though and need to stop PLEASE don't beat yourself up. Everyone's journey with breastfeeding is very different)
XX

Original poster
Stefka · 09/12/2007 13:12

Thank you - it is so good to hear that others have got through this. I so badly want to BF but it is really disheartening when it hurts so much.

My email addy is [email protected] - thanks for sending that info

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Davidsmom · 09/12/2007 15:07

Hi,

Lots of different pains up to about 9 weeks! From annoying smarting pains throught to DEEP aching/excruciating sensitivity. For about 4 weeks could hardly bear a dressing gown/top/sheet/duvet/baby on my nips let alone holding LO to burp over shoulder while pressing on chest.

Wasn't the great bonding experience I expected esp as DS had problems latching on as well. Towel was thrown in several times...then always thought I'll just try again to see if it....ouch! Yes still hurt but supposed I better finish the feed- repeat again and again.....! Always hoped maybe the next time would be miraculously pain free.

Then just seemed to get better once LO could suck better and feeding time went from 1-2hrs to 30-45 mins. (And stopped expressing after every feed which dont think helped. Eventually I realised we were actually enjoying it.

Been reading some of your posts over the weeks and think you are a star to carry on BF. Try to get some time to yourself to have a bath or whatever relaxes you and hope you get some time pain free to enjoy your LO.

All the best.

ProjectIcarus · 09/12/2007 15:47

About 6 weeks I think. Have you contacted La Leche? There are a few volunteers in central scotland.

Original poster
Stefka · 09/12/2007 16:06

Thanks Davidsmom - I feel I missed out on some early bonding because of these problems and I worry that the anxiety I have been feeling about feeding will have passed on to him. Why do you think the expressing didn't help? I usually express a bit after each feed so that at the end of the day my DH can give him a bottle so that I and my boobs can have a break.

Haven't tried La Leche actually - had the NCT out - didn't know La Leche were in Scotalnd will check it out.

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JulesJules · 09/12/2007 16:20

I found bfing v painful for the first couple of months - started with cracked and bruised nipples from first day, didn't get latch on / position right initially. Then, just as that started getting better, all the antibiotics (ha! Another story!) resulted in thrush in dds mouth and then in my nipple. Ouch ouch ouchity ouch. BUT it did get better, much better, and one day I just realised it was great. Ended up bfing for 2 years. Good luck. If and when you do stop, don't beat yourself over the head with it - you have already done a great job.