Gah! My nips huuuuuurt!!!

Hunterloren

Can anyone tell me about how long it takes for the PAIN to go away? I'd like to have an idea. I practically break into a cold sweat whenever I have to nurse. We have a good latch, too, so that isn't the problem. I kept the lactation consultant in my back pocket while Seth was in the NICU. 

Melzig76

I still occasionally get nip pain, I feel you it sucks, especially knowing it's coming.  It will get better though. Don't get discouraged.

SeptemberBride'08

Sounds like your latch might not be right. BF shouldn't  cause you this much pain. See if you can get a highly recommended LC to come to your house. I was like you in major pain and the LC solved everything by helping me get the latch the correct way vs the way the hospital LC did it aka shove her head on my boob. BF does not have to be painful. Best of luck!

k3montel

Does it hurt the whole time, or just when you first get LO to latch? Mine's getting better and DS is 2 weeks old. It only hurts at the initial latch.

ghdst1

It hurts for some women.  I have a great latch, DS2 eats amazingly and it still hurts at times.  It just happens.  It does go away as your DS will get  better at feeding and as his mouth grows it becomes easier.

I use the medela breast shells.  THey are for sore nipples.  I avoid using lanolin cream because it prevents air getting to the nipples to heal.  The shells allow for air and I just express some BM after feedings to help heal nipples.  It works great.

Hunterloren

k3montel:

Does it hurt the whole time, or just when you first get LO to latch? Mine's getting better and DS is 2 weeks old. It only hurts at the initial latch.

It is only initial latch. My left breast got chapped and it was for the whole feeding once or twice, but I think we have gotten beyond that. But ZOWEEEE!!! When we have that initial latch, I could scream! 

k3montel

Hunterloren:

k3montel:

Does it hurt the whole time, or just when you first get LO to latch? Mine's getting better and DS is 2 weeks old. It only hurts at the initial latch.

It is only initial latch. My left breast got chapped and it was for the whole feeding once or twice, but I think we have gotten beyond that. But ZOWEEEE!!! When we have that initial latch, I could scream! 

My OB told me this is completely normal for 2 weeks to one month. If it continues after that it would be abnormal. Trust me, I've started biting down on my tongue when he latches bc I was biting my teeth together do hard, I was giving myself migraines. I also curl my toes and brace for the latch, so I get it. It is getting better though.

Also, my OB gave me a Rx for "Newman's Nipple Cream" it took care of the cracks and chapped nipples, which has played a major role in the pain subsiding. Good luck! 

DBride2006

My LC gave me some AMAZING Ameda gel breast pads. They are made from material used to regrow skin on burn patients. They helped SO much. She claims you can't get them in store, but it looks like the Ameda ones you can find online might be similar, if you can't get some from your LC. 

The key was to let my nipple air dry and use those gel pads. My left side was completely healed by 1 week and my right one is only SLIGHTLY sore now. With DS, I was in pain for 6 weeks with blisters, so this is a HUGE improvement.  

casoldier03

Rubbing some breastmilk on really does help a lot! It worked better than the lanolin for me.  I was thinking your latch may not be the best, but when you said it only hurts during the initial latch, I think its normal.  Sometimes it hurts when DS latches and sometimes it doesn't.  Glad to hear that this will also pass soon.  Sorry I am no help, but know you are not alone!

Hunterloren:

k3montel:

Does it hurt the whole time, or just when you first get LO to latch? Mine's getting better and DS is 2 weeks old. It only hurts at the initial latch.

It is only initial latch. My left breast got chapped and it was for the whole feeding once or twice, but I think we have gotten beyond that. But ZOWEEEE!!! When we have that initial latch, I could scream! 

neya28

It really shouldn't hurt past 6 weeks. You could have a good latch and still be in pain. Some women just have more sensitive nips. It'll stop hurting by 6 weeks though most cases. The baby will get bigger (bigger mouth) and better at taking in more nip and pain will go away. In the meantime try motherlove nip cream. It's olive oil based and way easier to put on than lenolin.

xoxoxox

my lil boy is not even 2 weeks old and i have been going through this also.  i've been in tears because of the pain...  my lactation consultant gave me coconut oil when she visited and its awesome.  get some and rub it on after each feeding.  slowly but surely, i am healing.

btartaroind

I am EPing and it isn't any better! The suction on that bad boy is terrible! I do both breasts at the same time so they never het a break throughout the day! They aren't chapped but they are bright red and it looks like some blood vessels have burst. It only is getting worse too... Joy...

marissaw5

If its just for the first few seconds and goes away there is probably nothing wrong with your latch. What you're probably feeling is those first few seconds of milk letdown. It comes out so forcefully at first that it can cause tons of pain. It's also worse obviously just because your nipples need to adjust to being sucked on so dang hard For instance.. for me, one side I absolutely want to die for the first few sucks after she latches (but the nipple is also sore) but it goes away. On the other side it is just minimal pain for the first few seconds of milk letdown.