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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Initial pain when feeding - normal??

21 replies

KiwiPanda · 29/12/2008 19:58

Hello, would really appreciate some advice

my 10 day old had a rocky start with a week on the neo natal unit with kidney failure but now - touch wood - seems to be fine and all the tests are good. Anyway because of that breastfeeding got off to a very slow start and we've only really been doing it for 5 days.

When she latches on it's initially very very painful - for about 10 seconds or less, then pain subsides and it's fine. Is that normal? As far as I can tell (and god knows I'm no expert) her latch seems to look good - lips turned out etc - and she's putting on weight so she's certainly getting the milk in. But i just wanted to check if this pain is normal, due to sensitivity, and therefore will go away...? I hope so!

Thanks very much

OP posts:

scorpio1 · 29/12/2008 19:59

is nipple more pink/shiny/white spots.....white covering over her tongue? Wonder if it may be starting of thrush?

Shitemum · 29/12/2008 20:01

I found it hurt for the first fortnight or so till nipples got used to it.

popsycal · 29/12/2008 20:01

coyuld you hsave thrush?

popsycal · 29/12/2008 20:02

is it pain in the nipple or deep in the breast

whomovedmychocolate · 29/12/2008 20:03

Does it feel like a hot pain? It could be letdown pains. When the milk 'let's down' that is flows from the milk ducts into the nipple it can hurt, in the first few weeks - it's due to high prolactin levels.

higgledy · 29/12/2008 20:05

When I first started it didn't hurt for a day, and then the pain was absolutely excruciating, so much that I wanted to dig forks into my eyes to counteract it, but as with you, it wore off (after quite a bit more than 10 seconds, maybe a minute) and after about 10 days breastfeeding, that pain had gone altogether.

jeminthecity · 29/12/2008 20:08

Is it that 'let down' milk feelimg, which can be a bit painful?

jeminthecity · 29/12/2008 20:09

God my computer is slow tonight sorry

Original poster

KiwiPanda · 29/12/2008 20:10

no sign of pinkness or white spots or white on her tongue, and pain is definitely in the nipple area rather than deep in the breast. Higgeldy like you the first day was fine then the pain kicked in - hopefully like you it will wear off!

OP posts:

popsycal · 29/12/2008 20:14

it doe sound like the latch then

juuule · 29/12/2008 20:17

Normal for me. Similar to higgledy's experience. Toe-curling.
I was like that for at least 2 weeks with my 9. One didn't go until 6weeks-ish.
Hopefully it will settle soon for you.

XmasPud · 29/12/2008 20:17

You could be describing the let down milk initial toe curling feeling. I found the initial latching on and sucking incredibly painful and would count down from ten to help me get over it. Hopefully, if this is what it is, it should stop after a while as you body adjusts. My sister (who is bf in the room here now) has just asked me to add in that the toe curling thing lasted for about a month for her. It was each feed for about ten seconds and then relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the feed.

If you find your nipple is sore throughout the feed, or starting to remain painful and throbbing afterwards, talk to your mw/bf advisor. They can check your latching on position and be able to advise you. Also, keep an eye on your nipples for sore patches, red, inflamed, any bleeding, cracking etc. The sooner you act, the sooner you can heal and feel better
hth

nicewarmslippers · 29/12/2008 20:31

I screamed for gas and air for the first 2 weeks with first and 1st week with 2nd then it got better but still really hurt toe curling for about 10 seconds, this was let down. I hope its OK for you. At times I had worse pain and the nipple looked sore but that was after a poor latched feed. The toe curling was let down and therefore normal but it has got less painful

Joolyjoolyjoo · 29/12/2008 20:38

Yup- I was curling my toes and wincing at the start of every feed with all 3 of mine, but it did subside- hang on in there! One of my mws told me that redheads (like me) and other fair people seemed to be more sensitive to this- no idea if it is true though!

higgledy · 29/12/2008 20:57

I am red-haired. Does this mean we feel all pain more? Can I get a certificate to prove it?

higgledy · 29/12/2008 21:00

One of my nipples did bleed quite a lot in the first week, as well, because the skin was really just not used to being sucked that hard for that long (feeds took an hour) so there were times it was raw with the top layer of skin missing, rather than cracked, and that is obviously going to hurt - but the one that wasn't bleeding hurt exactly the same. It feels like it will never stop, so I couldn't believe it on the day when it finally did totally stop. I hope you manage to hang on! It's unbelievably painful.

juuule · 29/12/2008 21:16

I've heard that about red-heads and fair people. Don't know where it went wrong with me. I have v. dark brown hair.
Higgledy - it's agonising isn't it? I had the bleeding, too. Plus cracks.
As you say it does stop if you can hang on long enough.

Sputnik · 29/12/2008 21:57

It was normal for me with both of mine, and I know others experienced the same thing, it became known as the "oh f**k" moment. After a few excruciating seconds it died down and the rest of the feed was ok, this went on for a couple of weeks.

callmeovercautious · 29/12/2008 22:00

Normal for me with my one. I had let down pains and nipple pains. Both subsided once DD and I got used to BFing. Mostly once my supply calmed down as I was over producing.

annatee · 29/12/2008 22:09

Yes total agony for me for the first few weeks. I couldn't believe people actually managed to persevere with BF when it hurt so much! And then it was fine, and couldn't imagine how much it had hurt! Flared up again a few times when my baby was particularly hungry but still going 4 months on and is totally pain free. Chin up!

Original poster

KiwiPanda · 30/12/2008 09:38

Thanks very much guys, very reassuring to know others have had the same pain! I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed it goes before too long ...

OP posts:

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