Is breastfeeding just painful?

Stephaniegiboney · November 2014

My LO is 7 weeks old this week, and I keep waiting for breastfeeding pain to subside, but it hasn't.

My letdown feels like pins and needles and burns a bit, but that doesn't bother me much. My nipples constantly hurt and are bent
And sometimes blistered. This might be a latch issue, but I am consistent in re-latching if it doesn't feel right. The LC in the NICU mentioned that my daughter has a high palate, maybe this could be the reason. After the initial latching pain, it doesn't really hurt but is sometimes uncomfortable. The main pain is just in between feedings. My nipples hurt when they run against clothing, nursing pads, or are hit by water in the shower. Is this just how breastfeeding is?

Thanks for any insight!!

SteffieR13 · November 2014

If your LO has a high palate, I feel your pain. I am sorry you have been dealing with this pain for 7 weeks!! The first few days of BF were so rough for DS and I. My nipples were cracked and bleeding. LC's told me his latch was great, though, so I figured it'd get better and that it was all normal.

Day 4 or so I was home from the hospital, and the pain was horrible--in my opinion, worse than giving birth. I went to the LC, she looked at my nipples and was shocked at how awful they looked. She looked at DS, and saw he had a high, or "bubble" palate. She gave me a nipple shield, and after several days with that, I was healed. DS is almost 3 months now, and I have continued using the nipple shield, and do not plan to wean him off it, though many people do. I would recommend trying that if you haven't tried it. You can get one at BRU, they are made by Medela and cost around $10. They are clear silicone (easy to lose), so you might want to buy 2!

Richardsmom_817 · November 2014

My son is a month old & I am wondering the same. Will it ever get better? I can't let mine hit the water in the shower, forget it...sometimes mine just go numb when he's on...he's got a great latch, I think its more my anatomy causing the discomfort...

I can't change that.

Aliki · November 2014

Your nipples should not be bent or distorted, that is a sign of a bad latch. When was the last time you had an LC check the latch? It sounds like that is not resolved.

Do you put Lanolin on your nipples between nursings?

Stephaniegiboney · November 2014

I have not seen an LC since two weeks, when she was still in the NICU. I'll admit I'm guilty of not using the lanolin. I feel tender and rubbing things on my nipples makes me cringe!! I have some though so I will try that after feedings today. I am making sure I have a deep latch...
@Richardsmom_817‌ I've had some of that numbness lately too

Unknown · November 2014

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Stephaniegiboney · November 2014

Thank you!

Knottie30597254 · November 2014

you should see a LC again! soreness is normal but not so much pain! good luck!

Aliki · November 2014

Please make an appointment to have an LC evaluate again. I think something is not right, and you shouldn't subject yourself to this kind of pain! Good luck!

opheliainwaders · November 2014

Also, while I second everyone's recs to go back to an LC, I'm allergic to lanolin - using it makes my skin more itchy/irritated. Def try other things instead (you can use any food-grade oil - even olive is fine, but I love coconut). I didn't like the earth mama angel baby nipple butter because it smells really strongly of cocoa, but that's personal preference

Jtiki · November 2014

Sounds you already got some good advice. Please do visit a LC, because that amount of pain seems excessive. I used mostly olive oil on my nipples. But if you do use lanolin, my LC said it's not actually meant to be rubbed in, more like gobs dabbed on as a protective cushion. Wipe the excess before breastfeeding, but not required to be washed off or removed entirely.

seamonkey0814 · December 2014

Totally agree that you should try to see someone but in the meantime, have you tried different positions. My nipples will get sore every once in a while, usually because I've been lazy over night and not corrected a bad latch. When this happens I use the football hold on that side for a day or two. It's way more comfortable and the pain seems to go away faster because it isn't constantly being aggravated from the same angle that the damage was done.

Stephaniegiboney · December 2014

I haven't...I pretty strictly cradle. I guess I could try and mix it up..

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