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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

One week in - does breastfeeding get less painful ?

43 replies

Rosemarybon · 10/01/2022 16:46

Baby has good latch but my gosh the pain - is this how it is or does it improve / get less sensitive ?

OP posts:

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Winniemarysarah · 10/01/2022 16:50

Yes, it takes a couple weeks though ime and may get worse before it gets better. I got annoyed at people telling me the latch must be wrong if it was hurting, it was fine, it just hurts initially having a baby hanging off your nipples for the majority of the day. You’ll be glad if you manage to persevere though because it does get so much easier

AdamRyan · 10/01/2022 16:51

Yes. I always say give it 6 weeks and then see where you are. Keep going, it will get better

foxgoosefinch · 10/01/2022 16:51

It does get less sensitive, especially when breastfeeding establishes properly. You get people saying you’re doing it wrong if it hurts, but some babies just have a rather punishing latch and if you have sensitive nipples even a good latch may be uncomfortable! Keep applying lansinoh religiously after every feed though to stop cracking.

ancientgran · 10/01/2022 16:55

Yes it does get better, not just bearable better but painless better. Well it did for me. Congratulations on your new baby.

Peakypolly · 10/01/2022 16:55

It certainly does and even if you are doing everything correctly it will be uncomfortable in the first few weeks in my experience. I was convinced I must be doing something wrong, but no. It is worth the perseverance in the long run though.

Twizbe · 10/01/2022 16:56

Yep, it's like wearing in new shoes.

There's the sore nipples and nipple cream can help with that.

Breastfeeding also sparks after pains which is your uterus contracting back.

It all passes

BirdsBirdsBird · 10/01/2022 16:57

Sadly for me, the pain didn't get any better. Like others, I was told my latch must be wrong, despite it being checked multiple times. I'd read that after 2 weeks my nipples would toughen up. I persevered for 4 weeks but it did not. It really affected my bond with DD, as I associated her with pain, having to count under my breath to endure it. It ended up with DD losing too much weight and I had to mix feed, which soon turned into 100% bottle feeding. I felt so guilty that it all must be my fault as everything you read seems to say that it will work out if you persevere.

I did a breast feeding course when pregnant with DS. It was very patronising. I still had pain with DS and switched to mixed feeding much sooner and we both thrived.

LifeIsBusy · 10/01/2022 16:57

Yes! It literally takes a couple of bad feeds in the early days for things to get a little sore for a wee while then it all settles down.

Enjoy your journey!

passionfruitpizza · 10/01/2022 17:00

Yes first 2/3 weeks were agony for me but got better after that.

Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 10/01/2022 17:04

I'm not sure it's actually advised but I used nipple shields for about 3 days whilst the blisters healed and that really helped. My health visitor said if you can do the first 3-4 weeks then you'll be fine, which was true for me (but obviously not for everyone!)

Good luck!

SeptemberDreams · 10/01/2022 17:07

It gets so much easier especially with genuinely good advice from professionals, I found the advice I got was very mixed. I had an awful time with DC1, pain for 8 weeks. I’d been told his latch looked good by everyone I asked but when I saw a lactation consultant she watched the angle he was going on at and said it wasn't quite right, a couple of mm can make all the difference apparently! Fed him for 15months in the end, once this was corrected, with no further issues. For DC2 I went straight to a lactation consultant on day 5 as was in pain and didn’t want to go through the same experience for weeks. She recommended putting baby on my tummy and letting her crawl up and latch on herself (terrifying to see a baby chomping their way up towards already sore nipples 😱) and using Multi Mam Compresses to soothe between feeds. In 2-3 days it was transformed for me and no more pain since!

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 10/01/2022 17:10

Yes it absolutely does.
I think their mouths getting bigger really helps along with your nipples toughening up

waterlego · 10/01/2022 17:10

It does get better. My DS had a very strong latch, he would properly clamp on. I remember feeling like my eyes were going to roll into the back of my head or like I was actually levitating out of my chair; almost out-of-body pain experience. It got so much better to the point where it became completely painless and we continued a happy bfing relationship until he was about 16 months.

dannydyerismydad · 10/01/2022 17:11

Are you able to describe the pain? Is it in the entire breast, or just the nipple? When does the pain happen? Between feeds? During a whole feed? At part of a feed? What shape are your nipples before and after a feed? Is there any colour change to your nipples?

Sorry, lots of questions, but it helps to determine what is "normal" discomfort, what might be down to positioning and what might be a different issue altogether.

Whoknowsweknows · 10/01/2022 17:14

Gosh I had forgotten until reading this, but I remember initially the towel brushing me after a shower was awful. Nipples of steel now

DaisyWaldron · 10/01/2022 17:15

Yes, but it can take a while to settle down. DD's latch wasn't great and it probably took a couple of months to stop hurting, and another little while before it felt actually nice, but when it's settled, for a lot of people (although not everyone) the sensation is really pleasant. The first few weeks were absolutely excruciating for me, but once it was sorted I got a lovely hormonal cocktail that made me feel happy and relaxed. I was actually able to get over two different phobias because breastfeeding was more effective than valium at calming me down, so I was able to expose myself to the things I was scared of until the phobia had reduced to a level of mild fear/unease I could live with.

annlee3817 · 10/01/2022 17:21

Yes I remember the first 30 seconds of latching on would sometimes make me cry, particularly with the earlier stages of cluster feeding, but after around three weeks it was fine for me and I breastfed to eight months. I did go against advice and gave a bottle for some feeds to give my nipples a rest.

Hangthetowels · 10/01/2022 17:59

Yes, it took 6 weeks to be completely painless and effortless, so worth it to avoid the total faff of formula (and healthier for both!)

pollyparrot45 · 10/01/2022 18:05

It's going to get 100% better and I say that as someone who is still breastfeeding my two year old. Toddler can latch on in the night without even waking me!

In fact my boobs are sore at the moment (pregnant) and it reminds me of the pain!

Hang in there. I promise you it's easy, convenient and comfortable .... eventually.

Garman · 10/01/2022 18:06

Is it just sore at the start of each feed or the whole way through and/or in between feeds?

Imabitbusyatthemoment · 10/01/2022 18:09

It really does!

I was in agony for the first four to six weeks but then it got better and I went on to feed for a year. It’s so worth it in the end.

Do you have lansinoh?

BlueMoon23 · 10/01/2022 18:13

Yes it can be initially and using lansinoh after each feed and putting bit of Breast milk on nipples afterwards help too but definitely access some professional help to check there is nothing else going on

MsChatterbox · 10/01/2022 18:59

Oh yes I was in agony. Now sometimes don't even notice when she's latched herself on in bed! Hang on in there. A side note one side is still agony. I don't feed on that side (18 months old) and all is well!

babysleephelp · 10/01/2022 19:03

Yes it does op. In my case after about 2 weeks
Just adding to the resounding chorus!!!

KO2018 · 10/01/2022 19:15

It really hurt me too for weeks, I think after about five or six weeks it gradually got better until it was suddenly totally painless. It felt like forever though, I remember. I got through it by taking ibruprofin and knowing that I could stop any time I wanted.

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