Pain at initial latch

Ballstategrad · October 2013

DD is 4 days old. I'm finding the first 30-60 seconds of each feed really painful. Like take-your-breath-away painful. I'm getting anxious before each feed as I know it's going to hurt initially. We had LC assessment in the hospital and she gushes about DDs latch and how well she was doing.

Will this pass? Are my nips just toughening up? Any advice?

germanpickle · October 2013

With PJ it definantely started this way and lasted a few weeks. I found that deep breaths and rolling my shoulders back to relax myself really helped me calm down and move past those first seconds of pain. It does get so much better.

Bunkster2008 · October 2013

Yes, it will pass! The pain is terrible buI Iit should be gone in anout a week or 10 days. Im on day 5/6 and the pain was worst day 4. The LC at my hospital said the pain should be under a minute.
Nursing will eventually be pain free.

norbert5 · October 2013

Same here, it is excruciating. But it only lasts a week or so.

I use lanolin to help but breast milk can help as well. Just put some on your nipples after each feeding and before a shower.

I had this issue with DD1. It was tough but knowing there is an end is helpful.

shelliescove3 · October 2013

She may just be a bit aggressive with her initial latch each time, she will adjust and your nips will get tougher. It's not easy momma, but it will get better!

Ballstategrad · October 2013

Thanks for the encouragement!

Gatorsgirl731 · October 2013

The initial latch always freaked me out with DS and made BF'ing so hard. It will pass though. Try a deep breath and exhale through the latch.

SuperTreesa · October 2013

I had the same thing with DD1. The first 6 weeks were like that with every latch, everytime. I tried everything but I couldn't get her to latch right. I screamed in pain every latch. Finally she latched right and I nursed her til 18 months. DD2 had an awesome latch from the beginning. Deft check with a LC to see if they can get the baby to latch better.

SnoopyLuv · October 2013

I had this too, I found that it was because she latching onto my nipple instead of areola. I did some laid back nursing and switched positions a lot, and that helped. Side lying nursing was my only guaranteed comfortable latch position for a long time.

blondolphn · October 2013

SnoopyLuv said:
I had this too, I found that it was because she latching onto my nipple instead of areola. I did some laid back nursing and switched positions a lot, and that helped. Side lying nursing was my only guaranteed comfortable latch position for a long time.

This is what I was told at my bf class. Is she latching on to just the nipple?

chuicafina · October 2013

Even with a perfect, deep, latch, it hurts at the initial latch. But fortunately, like others said, it goes away. Don't be discouraged if it takes your nipples longer than a week to adjust. With DS, it took a few weeks to get in a good rhythm and 6 weeks until things became "easy" with our BFing relationship.

DD is 1 day old and her latch is really good, but I'm still getting pain at initial latch like you are. Hold tight! It'll get easier.

Gwyneddlesliegrace · October 2013

Yup. Third baby, perfect latch, pain like hell at first latch. Should go away in two weeks or so.

kdjudd · October 2013

That is completely normal and it will get better and better every time you nurse. Things are just really sore right now because they are adjusting. Hang in there!

HFrizzle · October 2013

It's normal unfortunately, but if it continues, have babe checked out for being tongue tied. All 3 of mine were in one for or another and needed to be snipped for an easy latch. I'm excepting it with this one too, but luckily know what to look out for.

mrsblueeyes · October 2013

Pretty much as stated above, the initial pain should last no more than 60 seconds and I found by 10 days out there is pretty much no pain. I was using a lot of lanolin at first, because the nipples were pretty cracked.