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Is this pain normal (breastfeeding)

1stComesLove4211stComesLove421 member
edited November 2015 in October 2015 Moms
I am so engorged and have intense pains. My baby has what I was told was a perfect latch and is a natural breastfeeder. However whenever she latches on an intense pain takes over my body. I cry, scream, shake, bite my lip until it bleeds. It causes my chest to hurt (not good because I have a heart condition), it causes pain throughout my entire body, and I've almost passed out a few times because I just couldn't breathe through it. At times I can't feel or move my legs and toes.

Is this normal? I really wanted to breastfeed but if it stays like this I'm afraid I will die from a cardio attack which I'm very prone to and have to be careful of. Would it be bad to switch to pumping? I felt like such a failure with my first because I couldn't breastfeed for these reasons, but for her she couldn't latch and also didn't want my breast like our new baby does. She ended up on formula. I don't want that to happen again, I was judged harshly for it. And people are already making comments about this one saying I won't be able to breastfeed her.
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Re: Is this pain normal (breastfeeding)

  • 1stComesLove4211stComesLove421 member
    P.s. I'm only 3 days postpartum. Milk came in within less than a day and I have an oversupply. Tried to pump a few minutes just to get relief and within minutes had a 4 ounce bottle and my breast was still hard and in pain. I'm not sure why I'm producing so much, but my breast are very large now and very full. I just fed her and I'm still leaking and both breast are still hard. Not firm. They are solid hard!
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  • babykitcatbabykitcat member
    With that much pain Id say definitely not normal! Call your doctor and Id even be tempted to go to the ER seriously you need some relief that sounds terrible!!
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  • J1DJ1D member
    No! That much pain isn't even a little bit normal! Talk to your doc about that.
    If pumping doesn't hurt and you have a good supply just pump and bottle feed until you can talk to a doc about your pain.
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  • christina4436christina4436 member
    Def not normal. Soreness of nipples or pain from engorgement yes but not what you describe. I had an over supply just pump for relief but don't fully empty. Normal to leak and still be hard after as your baby is only 3 days old and not eating nearly what u produce. I pumped after feeding for a couple weeks. Have you thought about exclusively pumping and bottle feeding? Sounds like that may work better for you.
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  • chelseagrrl123chelseagrrl123 member
    Sometimes pumping can be a reason for over production. Hand expression and massaging your breasts all over can help with engorgement. Doing that in the shower is what gave me relief during this part of milk production.
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  • 1stComesLove4211stComesLove421 member
    chelseagrrl123 said:

    Sometimes pumping can be a reason for over production. Hand expression and massaging your breasts all over can help with engorgement. Doing that in the shower is what gave me relief during this part of milk production.

    I didn't start pumping until late last night and it was only for a few brief minutes. I've tried hand expression and all of those things. I'm waiting for a lactation consultant office to open so I can call.

    I've literally been awake for several days now, so I feel like that's adding to the pain :(
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  • amberrmariee20amberrmariee20 member
    Pain is not normal. Some nipple pain and engorgment is when you first start. But all over body pain is not ...
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  • agrhicksagrhicks member
    Ask your dr about mastitis
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  • BingjBingj member
    edited November 2015
    Could be mastitis or a yeast infection. Either one of those and you need medication. I hope you are ok!

    Edit to say: Check into Raynaud's...
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  • spud1318spud1318 member
    I feel your pain...literally. Normally a lurker but am going through the se thing (minus the cardiac condition) I thought things were going ok with breastfeeding and then all of a sudden they weren't and the initial pain with the latch was so intense and I would just sit there and bawl. Then I noticed a white patch at the back of her tongue, DH told me it was nothing and that I just wasn't latching properly (cuz he's an expert?!). I went with my instinct and booked a Dr appointment. It's thrush. My nipples are in really bad shape and now really sensitive to cold, and now my breasts are sore.

    Just picked up our prescription and on our way to see a lactation consultant. Hoping things look up from here!
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  • dchiapelladchiapella member
    This happened to me too (well, not the over supply, I actually have the opposite problem and couldn't provide enough for my little munchkin). I spoke to three different lactation consultants when I was in the hospital, every time they told me "oh, it's normal, it's normal" and I somehow believed that it was true even though in my heart I knew it wasn't. My boy also has a perfect latch and is a natural breast feeder. 

    I went to the pediatrician and she was asking about the situation (had ended up supplementing with formula because the pain was nearly as bad as labor in the late stages! She had me have him latch on and then pushed him much further into my chest and raised him up much higher... like that the intensity went away. I mean it wasn't 100% painless, it still hurt, but I wasn't sobbing and suppressing screams like before. She also had be switch hands, it felt natural to me to hold him with the arm his head was on but she said that actually starts pulling you out of their mouth.  

    There was another mom there dealing with the same thing as well and once she made those adjustments, same thing, MUCH less pain. Try adjusting your hold. I thought I was holding him perfectly because I had done the research, gone to the classes, been approved by the three dif consultants... but that's exactly what was causing the pain. Too far down and not tight enough. 

    Also, if the pain doesn't subside but you're able to produce that much, do NOT be afraid to pump. I know, not what you had in the plan, right? People judge? I am sorry but screw them. I never thought I'd have to switch to formula in a million years but that's just what had to happen for all of us to be safe and healthy. You're still giving your baby the nutrients of breast milk by pumping but also giving your baby a happy mama who enjoys delivering those nutrients to them. I felt like the world's worst mother when I was dealing with this and through lots of talking with my husband and my own mom, I realized my baby would be a LOT healthier with not breastfeeding and having a mama who loved feeding him than breastfeeding and being raised by a mama who could barely hold him because she was so scared of that pain, because you're right, it is inexplicably painful! If you and you're baby are healthy that is ALL that matters. 

    Good luck! Know you are not alone in this. Like I mentioned, re-evaluate the hold but by all means do what makes the most sense to you and your family. 
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  • cindykinnearcindykinnear member
    I went through this the first week. My baby latched on great and was getting milk, but my breasts were so sore and my nipples were cracking and bleeding :( turns out she was tongue tied. I took her to the ENT and he clipped her frenulum (skin under tongue) and now Everything is fine! No more excruciating pain. Something you may want to check for. It is very often overlooked at the hospital!
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