Breastfeeding - how long to break my breasts in

[Peppertime]

Hi, I’m breastfeeding my 4 week old and still finding that my boobs feel hot and my nipples are quite sensitive. I don’t think my baby has the best latch, which I’m trying to get help with. But I feel like all the messaging around breastfeeding makes out like it’s not normal to still have any pain or sensitivity at this point. I just wondered if it took any other mums a bit more time to break in and be pain free breastfeeding? Thanks

It took me weeks and weeks to be pain free but that was because DD had a tongue tie that had been missed (by both NICU nurse and hospital BF counsellor). Eventually diagnosed by private lactation consultant.

A poor latch is often the ongoing cause so you are right to have that investigated sore nipples are a sign of this. Are they cracked or bleeding?

Just watch out for mastitis if your breasts are very hot, or indeed you are running a low grade fever as this needs antibiotics quickly

I can't quite remember, but it was longer than I'd expected. Lanolin cream helps. On the plus side, once you've passed it, it is really pain free, easy etc- so hang in there x

Have you tried nipple shields. I don't think they are best all the time or long term as I don't think the baby always gets the best feed using them (especially hind milk) but good for a break for your poor nipples.

Lansinoh cream?

Took me a good 6 weeks but then it got easier and easier, helps when they can start guzzling more rather than being attached 24/7 with no nipple break!

I think there should be more made about how difficult it is / can be - it makes you feel like a failure because it isn't a perfect magical pain free experience when the reality is that your nipples aren't used to being chomped on!

It does get easier though I promise :) lanolin is the saviour in the meantime! I found expressing sometimes helped as well just to keep the milk going but to give nipples a break

Could try different holds to help with the latch google them or go on YouTube for alternative breastfeeding positions: this might also help!

I only had pain for the first few days, however it did come back as I got thrush on my nipples (and DD got it in her mouth). That was a very sharp pain when feeding so worth keeping an eye out for that as well.

The bad pain from cracks etc eased for me at about two weeks both times, and then the discomfort from getting engorged before feeds once my supply settled at 6-8 weeks.

Basically, the first few weeks are tough, then there's an improvement, then the 6 week growth spurt is really really tiring and then you're home and dry - that was my experience and most of my friends' anyway.

It took me 8 weeks and 4 tubes of lansinoh!

My first was utter agony all the time and I used nipple shields for 4 months! I honestly don't know how I kept going with him.

My second was very painful weeks 2-4 and then ok.

I used to break it down to manageable chunks. I'd say, ok I'll try to get through the next feed and if I don't want to breastfeed again after that it's ok. Then I'd say ok I'll try to breastfeed until the end of today and then if I don't want to keep going tomorrow, that's fine. Etc etc. It was worth it both times and I fed until 7.5m with each of them - the benefits really did begin to outweigh the discomfort.

I know you'll have tried this but different holds can be less excruciating - the rugby ball hold was always least painful for me and was used a lot when they were tiny.

Good luck.

This doesn't sound right. It's not necessarily completely pain-free at 4 weeks, but hot boobs, latch issues and oversensitive nipples are all potential red flags.

When you say you're getting help with the latch who are you getting support from? I would strongly suggest it's important you get good, experienced BF support which is probably a BFC or IBCLC.

About 6-8 weeks for me.

I had quite a bit of pain I think at 4 weeks I had to stop by on the left side and only pump on that side for about a day to give my nipple a break. Do your breasts feel hot and tight all the time even when your baby isn't nursing? If so I think that sounds like an infection and I would try to get at least a telehealth appt.

Hey some nipple shields ASAP. Medea sell the best ones. Check you get the right size for you (medium or large is probably best bet to try unless you are extremely petite.

They are amazing and will help.

Know it takes about 6 weeks to really establish bf, but it should not be painful. The shields will help until baby gets a hang of it.

A pump for let down is good too. At this point, you may have lots of milk coming in and baby isn’t taking it all, so letdown will help avoid mastitis.

If you’re still in pain by 6-8 weeks, consider combi feeding or expressing.

It’s still early days, so try different latches, speak to your hv or midwife.

Hope it all goes well x

6-8 weeks with heavy use of lansinoh for all my children and the pain got worse the more children I had .
To put it in perspective though, I breastfed each till they were ~30 months old. So the initial pain felt like forever but in the grand scheme of things it was just a blip.
It does suck but it sounds like you are on the right track. Clench the toes, sharp in take of breath and don't forget the lansinoh. Ugh cracked nipples.... shudder.

Breastfeeding is painful.
I hate it when women's pain is dismissed.
Some women don't feel pain. Good for them but as my consultant says "you are not a cow with tips out all day every day scratching the floor. It's going to hurt".

So many people give up because they think they are doing it wrong just because female pain has no mechanical reason to exist. Ugh. Boils my piss. We are not machines. Human nipples are sensitive things!

I’ve booked in with a private consultant next week so I’m hoping they will be able to identify or rule this out.

I saw the NHS latch and attach constant yesterday but she was stumped by my babies shallow latch and refusal to tip her head back and open wide after trying their usual tricks. I’m hoping I’ll have more joy with the private specialist.

Really hoping and looking forward to getting past the pain barrier! :)

@Peppertime

Hi, I’m breastfeeding my 4 week old and still finding that my boobs feel hot and my nipples are quite sensitive. I don’t think my baby has the best latch, which I’m trying to get help with. But I feel like all the messaging around breastfeeding makes out like it’s not normal to still have any pain or sensitivity at this point. I just wondered if it took any other mums a bit more time to break in and be pain free breastfeeding? Thanks

How far back is your nipple in baby’s mouth? He should have the whole areola inside his mouth and the mouth movement should be less sucky and more blowy, in that his cheeks will puff out as he drinks.

If you need help pls dm me: in the meantime take paracetamol, and go to the GP to make sure you haven’t got mastitis. Also, if you’re worried, you could look up lactation consultants in your local area - these ladies are pediatricians, midwives, or health visitors who know about breastfeeding (and often tongue ties and other facial abnormalities that specifically impact bf) and how to support you through that. In some areas these services are on the NHS and in others you pay.

I also agree that lanisoh is amazing. So is feeding more (not less) when you’re in pain.

I tried these in the beginning when I was blistered, but found them a little tricky. Might have another go with them when I need a nipple rest though! I was actually using them for a while when not feeding, just to keep clothes off the skin.

That sounds really tough, I’ll keep an eye out for it :)

Thank you, this is really encouraging and reassuring!

Nobody told me it hurt.Then the smug NCT told me I was a failure
Then I had PND and wanted to die.