breastfeeding hurting

[spk926]

DD was just born yesterday and we're getting the hang of breastfeeding. She latches well. I am using a nipple shield. I haven't seen the LC yet but will today. for now though I'm wondering if its normal for it to hurt/sting at this point? is it because my nipples aren't used to it? I'm assuming the pain while breastfeeding should go away?

thanks and sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone.

[barefootcontessa]

Yes, it is normal. It gets easier over time but can be quite difficult at first. You might want to ask the LC about the nipple shield and see what she says. Congratulations!

[Brie]

Congrats!

My LC always said that there will be a "three-suck toe curl" for the first few weeks and that that's normal. In my experience, she was right. It would hurt for a minute when he first got latched on, but would go away after a few sucks. If the pain continues, there may be a problem. I was BFing pain-free by the time he was probably 4-6w old.

I strongly recommend using lanolin or a nipple cream (I like Motherlove) after EVERY feeding. It is a PITA but makes a huge difference. Also, express a little milk before and after feedings to rub in.

[bunch]

Yes, it's very normal. It may hurt for quite some time. The books that say if it hurts that you're doing it wrong are total liars. Congratulations!

[aspentosh]

Congrats!

Totally normal. I used a nipple shield and it hurt more with it than without for the first couple days.

[karinothing]

Some hurt is normal but not all hurt. For me it just kind of felt like chafing? If that makes sense. If your nipples become cracked or bleed you should probably talk to an LC though.

Congrats!

[ijack]

unless you're used to someone sucking on your nipples all the time, it's definitely going to hurt
Congrats!

[Deleted]

Like Brie said: normal to hurt at the beginning, but it should improve as the session goes on. It is NOT normal to have bleeding, cracking, or damage. That almost certainly means the latch isn't right.

[gibbinator]

Congratulations!

It's very normal for it to sting for the first few seconds when the baby latches on. It'll probably be a few weeks before breastfeeding is painless. Week 4 was when bf became much more pleasant for me.

A couple things to note though:
- you shouldn't continue to feel a burning sensation or shooting pain throughout the feeding or after you're done. Mention to your LC if that's the case.
- have your LC check the nipple shield to make sure that it's the right size. I've personally never used one but have heard that a too small one can cause some serious discomfort
- get yourself some nipple butter and/or learn to express milk onto your sore nipple to promote healing. Spend as m ch time as possible letting your boobs air out. I lived in an unsnapped nursing tank for a week

[justjen]

It hurt for me for about 6 weeks, then got better. Of course, I now have a milk blister, so that hurts like a bitch :/

Congrats on your little one!

[h]

Jan 4, 2013 9:48:43 GMT -5 Brie said:

Congrats!

My LC always said that there will be a "three-suck toe curl" for the first few weeks and that that's normal. In my experience, she was right.

My MIL calls it the "60 second sizzle.". . I definitely had significant pain when breast feeding for the first couple weeks with my first. It got better. Applying lanolin helped, as did Soothies (I kept them in the fridge). I would be careful about using the nipple shield all the time unless you really need it in order to nurse.

It really will get lits better relatively soon. Congrats!

[countthestars]

Congrats!

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2013 9:48:43 GMT -5 Brie said:

Congrats!

My LC always said that there will be a "three-suck toe curl" for the first few weeks and that that's normal. In my experience, she was right. It would hurt for a minute when he first got latched on, but would go away after a few sucks. If the pain continues, there may be a problem. I was BFing pain-free by the time he was probably 4-6w old.

I strongly recommend using lanolin or a nipple cream (I like Motherlove) after EVERY feeding. It is a PITA but makes a huge difference. Also, express a little milk before and after feedings to rub in.

This was my experience also. Pain for the first few sucks, then it stopped. That pain lasted until 4-6 weeks, then no pain at all since.

Ditto the nipple cream after EVERY feeding. I liked Earth Mama Angel Baby if you're interested in an organic cream. They have it at Whole Foods and health food stores.

Ditto PP, if she's latching well I would ditch the nipple shield ASAP. I have heard they are hard to wean babies off of. If she's latching well you probably do not need it.

Keep up the good work! I know you're in some pain now, but it will pass and BFing is sooooo totally worth it. Hang in there!

[Deleted]

Congrats!

Mine hurt like hell for two weeks exactly. I aired them out as much as possible, expressed BM before and after feedings to help heal them, and used some lanolin cream.

[moonstone523]

Jan 4, 2013 9:50:00 GMT -5 bunch said:

Yes, it's very normal. It may hurt for quite some time. The books that say if it hurts that you're doing it wrong are total liars. Congratulations!

EXACTLY. Yes it hurts because your nipples are not used to constant sucking. Mine got cracked and were a little bloody. It sucks, but it doesn't last for long. Butter those babies up after each feeding. I know that even hurts, but it's a must.

[water*drop]

Ditto everybody else - yes, it is normal for it to hurt for the first few weeks, but it should only HURT HURT at the beginning of the session. If the toe-curling pain is lasting the whole time she's nursing, make sure to talk to the LC about that.

Also, make sure to practice latching her on by yourself more than once in front of the LC. DD magically had this perfect latch when the first LC was there, and then an hour later it all went to hell again. Eventually we got the hang of it, but it took a LC having me latch and unlatch her a ton of times in front of her instead of just helping me do it to figure out where the problem was.

[baconlettucetomato]

Congrats!

[cinco]

Jan 4, 2013 9:50:00 GMT -5 bunch said:

Yes, it's very normal. It may hurt for quite some time. The books that say if it hurts that you're doing it wrong are total liars. Congratulations!

Yes! I hate that myth.

[curbsideprophet]

Congrats! Totally normal.

[zeewifeandmama]

Congrats to you!!! Ditto everyone else about the pain! If they get chafed and cracked breast milk and airing them out helped me the most! Good luck!

[dcn]

Congrats! I had pain on and off for about 8 weeks, but we struggled with his latch on my left side.
We used a nipple shield on that side for about 3 weeks. He wouldn't latch at first on that side without it, so it had a purpose. I always offered the breast to him without it first, and tried a couple of times to get him to latch. If he didn't and/or either of us got too frustrated on went the shield. Eventually he only used it occasionally and then not at all.

[catbus]

I was lucky and had very little pain, and it basically went away when I got rid of the nipple shield. A well-intentioned nurse gave me the shield in the hospital when we were having latching problems, but I really didn't need it. I saw an LC 8 days after giving birth and she was able to help me get rid of the shield within ~45 minutes. I had been told I had "flat nipples," but really they're just on the short side. Even with inverted nipples, a baby can latch, so if nipple size/shape is the reason for the shield, definitely look into weaning off it.

[cherry1111]

Lanolin was my best friend the first week or so. It's been 2.5 weeks total and already so much better.

[Deleted]

I just want to add that for me, coconut oil worked better than lanolin.

[Deleted]

Totally normal.

Congrats!!

[redheadk]

I liked mother love nipple butter much more than lanolin. Take heart - if your nips are raw, using lanolin, bm, or nipple butter helps so much and they heal amazingly fast.

The therapearl things from Lansing help for just general breast soreness and can be used hot or cold. Walgreens sells them (along with a surprising amount of bfing supplies). I know that Walgreens is easier for my dh to deal with than target or bru so I thought I'd mention it

[nonsenseabound]

The beast gel pads were a lifesaver! You can keep them in the fridge and put them on post feeding. Best thing ever. Also use lanolin with it even if ppl suggest otherwise, it just breaks down the gel packs a little sooner.

[spk926]

Thanks everyone!! I've quickly read through these but once we are home and I have a minute I'll read all the suggestions more closely. Already I feel like I'm getting a better hang of BF so that's good.

[Ashley&Scott]

It will get better. Like everyone else said the pain should get better after the initial latch. Get some nipple butter & some gel soothies too.

Congrats mama!

[fivenow]

It looks like you've already gotten great suggestions. After pain (and cracking and bleeding) that lasted way too long with my first, with my second I realized that I would "pull" her off when she was done instead of sliding my finger into her mouth like they recommend. So, instead of the latch itself being a problem, it was the way she was de-latching that was the issue. If that makes any sense... Anyway, when I was more careful about that part, it made a big difference.