OK....seriously about BF "not hurting"

LeoChic · December 2009

So, I had DD#2 on Tuesday and am trying to breastfeed this time. I'd really like to have success but cannot get past the pain. Obviously, most BF experts would say that we are not latching properly but I don't know what could be wrong. The lactation consultant at the hospital thought that her latch was good. Our first BF session on the left breast though caused some nipple trauma so that side is really painful and I don't think that's due to latch. The right side was fine but the more sessions we do, the more sore my nipple becomes. Right now I'm to the point that I don't want anything touching my boobs because they hurt so bad. And DH is going to give DD a couple of bottles because I just can't put her to the breast right now.

Here's the thing.....I have extremely sensitive nipples in general. Normally I have pain just having clothes touch my nipples. I hate when DH tries to touch them. I have to wear bras to bed because I can't stand having a shirt rub against my nipples. So I have a hard time believing the BFing experts who claim that BF shouldn't hurt. For me, I think it's going to be uncomfortable. I'm just wondering if the soreness I'm experiencing is actually pretty normal. It hurts (like painful) when she first latches. But then the session just becomes somewhat uncomfortable. And then there's moments of pain again throughout the session.

I've thought about calling a lactation consultant but am not sure what they can do for me. Without watching me BF I don't see how they can help me with latch. Besides, at this point I feel like I'm so sore that the only thing that's going to make them feel better is to just let them be left alone for a while which means giving DD bottles. I feel like I'm at a crossroads at this very moment and what happens next will determine whether we have BF success or not. I'm just really frustrated because I feel like the lactation consultants are so BFing crazy that they aren't helpful for someone like me who doesn't have strong feelings about BFing. More than anything....I'm pretty convinced that my extreme nipple sensitivity that I have normally will effect my BFing but I don't anticipate having a lactation consultant be understanding of that. I would really like to have success this time but DD#1 was given formula and she's just fine. But in the end I don't want to just give up this time either. I really just don't know what I should do.....

RachelBride2006 · December 2009

Hang in there, it gets better. (Probably because some of the nerves die!) My LO's latch was fine and it still was toe curling pain at the beginning of every session and just uncomfortable. There were times I'd just cry, nothing else I could do. It took a week or two for my poor nipples to get used to it. In the meantime, use Lanolin and cold packs if you need them and a bottle break for a feeding or two will help.

beckytr · December 2009

I met with an LC and she watched me BF. I am really glad I called one when I was having trouble at the beginning. The one I met was nice - at the time I was supplementing with formula after feedings because DS was having some hydration issues before my milk came in & she was okay with that. GL.

MamiJam · December 2009

It does get better! The first 2-3 weeks were the most painful for me but gradually the pain went away. I had toe curling pain at the beginning then discomfort too but eventually all of that went away. I'd say at about 6 weeks, I felt fine and eventually he was able to latch on his own without my help. In those first couple weeks, I hung out topless and just let the cold air soothe my nipples in between nursing sessions. I'd try seeing an LC, have them watch you and help you with positioning. I saw one when DS was first born and it helped a lot!

smilelari · December 2009

I think that pain when you first start BFing must be normal. Most people around here seem to say that they had some pain and I certainly had some pain (and cracked nipples) as well. I did meet with a LC and she did watch me BF. Turns out everything was fine, but it was reassuring to here that latch and everything were good

Seems like the pain went away around week 5 or 6

souledoutgirl · December 2009

Hang in there! It does hurt SO bad at first. Every woman I know who has BF or is BFing had pain at first, some worse than others. Give it a few weeks. Your nipples will become so desensitised; it's crazy - I promise. This varies for everyone, just so you're prepared: for me, I felt better at about the 3 week mark of nursing, for one friend it was 5 weeks and for another it was 10 weeks. But once it gets better, you'll be a pro and it's so worth it! I would definitely recommend talking to an LC, just to have her double check the latch, plus the encouragement really helps.

Redrose101307 · December 2009

it does get better try to hang in there.

i had a really badly cracked nipple and i got the dr. newman's nipple cream from my dr and it helped the pain within 2 days. i still have a little bit of initial latch pain but the rest of the feeding goes just fine. GL and hang in there!

sgrl · December 2009

I think people who say it doesn't hurt at first are full of sh*t. I had to start supplementing after the first week and a half because my supply sucks, but for the first ten days, she was nursing pretty much constantly (because she wasn't getting enough milk), and I was in horrendous pain. I had to beat my feet against the floor and bite my lip when she latched on - and her latch is perfect. The thing that helped me the most were Hydrogel wound dressings that one of the nurses gave me in the hospital - I just stuck them in my bra over my nipple and oh, sweet relief. You can buy them but I cannot remember the brand name.

CubbyMama · December 2009

In my experience with both kids, BF'ing hurts like a MOFO for about two months. I had an LC watch me nurse with both girls and wasn't doing anything "wrong," but it hurt badly enough that I'd get tears in my eyes each time they latched on. After the 6-8 week point, it was smooth sailing. Good luck!

mb~zf · December 2009

I had toe curling pain for the first 3 weeks. It did go away.

catrinawaves · December 2009

I'm not sure why the "experts" claim that if you're doing it right, it doesn't hurt at the beginning. You're essentially taking a body part that is sensitive to begin with, and exposing it to a whole lotta use it wasn't getting before. Really, why wouldn't it hurt?

Toe-curling pain is exactly what it was for me (literally) but it went away after a few weeks. My DH, rockstar husband that he is, would massage my feet while I BF'd to try and distract me from the pain. Watching TV helped some too.