still really painful after 3.5 weeks

Genevieve_kris · October 2010

Hi Ladies,

I've been lurking on this board since my daughter was born, but this is my first post.

Breastfeeding has been incredibly painful since the beginning. We had maybe a 2 day period about a week ago where the pain subsided a little, but it is back in full effect now.

Basically every time she latches on, I'm writhing in pain in my nipple. It literally takes my breath away every time. My nipples are extremely sore when she's not nursing too. We've had LCs evaluate and approve of the latch, so I'm wondering if anyone has any other suggestions (or encouragement?!).

I'm also considering seeing a doctor or LC to rule out any possible infection (neither of us has any obvious symptoms, but the nipple pain has to be caused by something, right?).

Before she was born, I intended to BF for 6 months to a year.... I'd hate to cut it short, but it's hard to imagine being in this kind of pain for a year.

Any suggestions, guidance, encouragement would be welcome. TIA!

jlthompson19 · October 2010

Are you using Lansinoh cream after each feeding? That was my only mild relief. Everywhere I went I always had to be sure I had the purple tube with me!

I hated bfing at first b/c of the pain as well. I told myself I was going to get to 6 weeks and if it still hurt, then I was done. When 6 weeks rolled around, I realized I was no longer in pain. But it pretty much took the full 6 weeks. DD is now 4 months old, and while I don't love bfing like I'd hoped, it no longer hurts and it's just life now-I don't know any different. I fully plan to get to a year provided my supply keeps up and DD doesn't self wean.

I can't promise, b/c I'm sure everyone is different, but I really think it will get better in a short time. But, please do not feel guilty if you decide to quit. As long as your baby is fed enough, that is what matters.

Genevieve_kris · October 2010

jlthompson19:

Are you using Lansinoh cream after each feeding? That was my only mild relief. Everywhere I went I always had to be sure I had the purple tube with me!

I hated bfing at first b/c of the pain as well. I told myself I was going to get to 6 weeks and if it still hurt, then I was done. When 6 weeks rolled around, I realized I was no longer in pain. But it pretty much took the full 6 weeks. DD is now 4 months old, and while I don't love bfing like I'd hoped, it no longer hurts and it's just life now-I don't know any different. I fully plan to get to a year provided my supply keeps up and DD doesn't self wean.

I can't promise, b/c I'm sure everyone is different, but I really think it will get better in a short time. But, please do not feel guilty if you decide to quit. As long as your baby is fed enough, that is what matters.

Thank you. This is encouraging (though six weeks still feels like a long ways away.... and in the meantime I hate that I hate feeding my child). I do have Lansinoh and I haven't been good about using it. At the hospital they gave me these cool gel pads that felt great, but I've used them all up now and the replacement ones I got at Target are worthless. Good tip on getting back to the Lansinoh, though. I will start that up again today. Thanks again - it just helps so much to know that I'm not in this alone

bsktbllqt11 · October 2010

It will get better! I was the the same way, andonce3-4 weeks hit, it was like magically it didn't hurt anymore and it became a breeze. I never thought I would make it this far, now my goal is a year. Definitely use the Lansinoh cream, even before you shower, it helped me a ton. Good luck!

cindyhow · October 2010

Even if the LC approved your latch, something could be going on now that is causing pain due to the latch. I find it hurt less in the early days when DD really opened WIDE. Check out this link, maybe it will help !

https://www.mother-2-mother.com/latching.htm#openwide

jlthompson19 · October 2010

Genevieve_kris:
jlthompson19:

Are you using Lansinoh cream after each feeding? That was my only mild relief. Everywhere I went I always had to be sure I had the purple tube with me!

I hated bfing at first b/c of the pain as well. I told myself I was going to get to 6 weeks and if it still hurt, then I was done. When 6 weeks rolled around, I realized I was no longer in pain. But it pretty much took the full 6 weeks. DD is now 4 months old, and while I don't love bfing like I'd hoped, it no longer hurts and it's just life now-I don't know any different. I fully plan to get to a year provided my supply keeps up and DD doesn't self wean.

I can't promise, b/c I'm sure everyone is different, but I really think it will get better in a short time. But, please do not feel guilty if you decide to quit. As long as your baby is fed enough, that is what matters.

Thank you. This is encouraging (though six weeks still feels like a long ways away.... and in the meantime I hate that I hate feeding my child). I do have Lansinoh and I haven't been good about using it. At the hospital they gave me these cool gel pads that felt great, but I've used them all up now and the replacement ones I got at Target are worthless. Good tip on getting back to the Lansinoh, though. I will start that up again today. Thanks again - it just helps so much to know that I'm not in this alone

I know how you feel. It also didn't help when she'd go through a growth spurt and want to eat every 2 hours. I felt like a milk machine and nothing else. Adding to that the pain, I couldn't understand why I was continuing. It is so daunting, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Not only is it better for DD, she does so well on it, I was afraid to go through trial and errors with different formulas, it's way cheaper, and I lost all my baby weight plus 19lbs in 4 months-can't beat that!

Mouseygail · October 2010

It really hurt me, like toe curling pain, until about six weeks. Then it didn't hurt every time... And by about eight weeks it was most ok! Hang in there! You rechecking into all the rightthings, just wanted to share that ithurt like a *** fir me for a while too!

Genevieve_kris · October 2010

jlthompson19:
Genevieve_kris:
jlthompson19:

Are you using Lansinoh cream after each feeding? That was my only mild relief. Everywhere I went I always had to be sure I had the purple tube with me!

I hated bfing at first b/c of the pain as well. I told myself I was going to get to 6 weeks and if it still hurt, then I was done. When 6 weeks rolled around, I realized I was no longer in pain. But it pretty much took the full 6 weeks. DD is now 4 months old, and while I don't love bfing like I'd hoped, it no longer hurts and it's just life now-I don't know any different. I fully plan to get to a year provided my supply keeps up and DD doesn't self wean.

I can't promise, b/c I'm sure everyone is different, but I really think it will get better in a short time. But, please do not feel guilty if you decide to quit. As long as your baby is fed enough, that is what matters.

Thank you. This is encouraging (though six weeks still feels like a long ways away.... and in the meantime I hate that I hate feeding my child). I do have Lansinoh and I haven't been good about using it. At the hospital they gave me these cool gel pads that felt great, but I've used them all up now and the replacement ones I got at Target are worthless. Good tip on getting back to the Lansinoh, though. I will start that up again today. Thanks again - it just helps so much to know that I'm not in this alone

I know how you feel. It also didn't help when she'd go through a growth spurt and want to eat every 2 hours. I felt like a milk machine and nothing else. Adding to that the pain, I couldn't understand why I was continuing. It is so daunting, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Not only is it better for DD, she does so well on it, I was afraid to go through trial and errors with different formulas, it's way cheaper, and I lost all my baby weight plus 19lbs in 4 months-can't beat that!

That is awesome! And super encouraging to make this work. I have a friend who wanted to BF but couldn't, and is now having a hard time losing the last 20 pounds of her pregnancy weight.

And thanks also to the previous poster who put the link to the latch-on website. I think part of my problem is that it hurts so badly when she latches on that I delay feeding her until she's quite hungry, and then she's so frantic to eat that it's impossible to "practice" the latch.

Lilrdmandy · October 2010

It took me about 7 weeks until it wasn't super painful. It might seem like a long time now but it is soooo worth it. It'll get to a point where it doesn't hurt at all and where you could almost fall asleep nursing (i know some mom's that do). I agree it might be the latch. Don't be afraid to stick your fingers there and check to see how she is latched. Your whole nipple should be in her mouth and not the part she is chomping on. For me it took a while to figure that out and then a while longer to heal even though DS was latching correctly.

cindyhow · October 2010

You might try putting her to breast when she's somewhat sleepy, def waiting till she is frantic won't help! Also let your nipples air dry with a little BM, don't put on lanolin when they are wet, that can lead to thrush. It does get better, it improved when DD was older and her mouth was bigger to get more of nipple in her mouth.

josie12367 · October 2010

I agree with AmgG....I fed on only one breast per feeding and switched positions everytime I fed her.....My LO has a very high palate which makes her tongue rub in a weird way that the LC basically said that i'd just have to wait it out and let my nips toughen up and be a stickler about a proper latch....and to use the cream of course. It took about 6 weeks for the pain to lessen into a soreness....and now it's completely gone and BF is actually enjoyable

Also a pump really helped in the beginning...if one breast was particularly sore/painful (I had a blood blister on one...my latch was all wrong and I didn't catch it soon enough) I would pump for a few feedings on that breast to give it a rest/healing period....we fed the expressed milk by spoon and syringe....It's tough but you can do it!! Good luck!

Stephanie2167 · October 2010

The first 6 weeks SUCKED for me. When people would tell me it would get better I thought they were lying. And then...it did! I swear after 6 weeks it no longer hurt. I remember in the early days, after I would feed her I would hold my boobs because they would hurt so bad. Stick with it if you can. It will be worth it in the long run.

I also recommend MotherLove Nipple Cream. I love this stuff and still use it. I ordered it on Amazon. I hated the thickness of the Lansinoh cream.

Genevieve_kris · October 2010

You ladies are the best - thank you so much. I just called the lactation consultant. I hope to rule out infection and get some advice on the latch. Thank you so much for all of the in depth tips and encouragement. I feel much more optimistic about BFing now.

harper14 · October 2010

You could also try using a nipple shield - it helps them open their mouths more and not put so much pressure just on your nipple. They sell them at Target or Babies R Us. I don't think I could have kept going on without it. I stopped using it at about 2/3 months when her and I figured out what we were doing (Plus my husband thought he lost it so I didn't have much of a choice at the time - I still remeber being afraid of the pain coming back, but I was just fine - practice had made it much better). Keep trying all of the different techniques listed above - re-latch until it's more comfortable, you'll know when you and her find what works. It does get better!

lunurse2007 · October 2010

The pain won't last the whole time! I had a lot of pain (like took my breath away, tears in my eyes) for about the first 6 weeks then after that it started getting better and better each day! I used the hydrogel pads and would put them in the fridge while I nursed then put them on when he finished eating. Also, the nipple creams help, and letting your nipples air dry (like not drying them off with a towel or something) after your nursing session helps. There were so many days where I would tell my husband that I was quiting and that there was no way I could BF for another day, but then I would talk to a friend of mine who had BF her baby and she kept encouraging me to just "give it one more week and see how you feel!" and here I am still BFing and my LO will be 8 months old this weekend! You can do it!!! If you get frustrated or ready to quit just get on here and post and I'm sure you'll get plenty of encouraging words that will help you feel like you can keep doing it!

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