Ah hun, this happened to me. My nipples were horrendous as my daughter was tongue tied so she couldn't latch on properly. Have you checked that your son isn't tongue tied? The MW or hospital docs didn't pick up on it, the breast feeding advisor did and she had it snipped at 2 days old.

Get plenty of Laniosh cream on, blather your nipples in it. I know this is not what you want to hear but the fastest way for your nipples to get better is to keep feeding. If you start replacing BF for FF your body will get confused with how much milk you need.

I had to count to 30 with each feed before it started to ease off. My hubby always knew when she was on right as my eyes nearly popped out my head and i couldn't breathe. I would go as far as saying it is as bad as labour!

Honestly hun if you can get through the 1st 2 weeks you have cracked it. My right nipple is scarred from my cracks.

Is there a breastfeeding advisor in your area? the MW's where i live didn't really know how to advise properly.

Baby will latch on properly if you don't give it to him until he opens his mouth wide enough. It might take 2 or 3 times, but shape your breast and stroke his top lip with your nipple. Wait until his mouth is wide open and he tilts his head back and then bring him to your breast (not breast to baby) Keep your nipple pointing towards the roof of his mouth and things should ease. If he isn't putting enough breast in your nipples will not get better hun.

Please please ask for the BF advisor, they should have them in your area.

I really feel for you xxx

Thanks for your help guys, he has had formula today and is happy was worried he wouldnt take to the bottle but he has been fine. Mw came and looked at my boobs, covered in bruises and blood blisters dont know what he has been doing to me.

I am not gonna put him back on the boob but I will express and feed him

Is there a breast feeding drop in in your area? They were a life saver for me in the first week and am still going for the social side now. Or a health visitor who can come and help you with latching the baby on. It is very early days breast feeding. Wouldn't give formula as it can affect your supply of breast milk. Try and get help, you could ask in the breastfeeding section on here are i have had great advice from people on there who are pros at breastfeeding.

Has he been checked for a tounge-tie? Sometimes that can interfere with the latch. At five days it is very normal to feel pain and for your nipples to be bleeding. I know, it's really painful. I don't think that there is anything wrong with giving formula, HOWEVER, if you are set on BFing, this will only complicate him learning to latch. A bottle will be MUCH easier for him, and he will have to learn again. If you want to keep BFing and don't want to use a bottle, you can try a nipple shield. Also, use lansinoh cream after every single feed...slather it on there. I had a VERY hard time with my son too...and honestly it took about 6-8 weeks. I had hamburger nipples, bleeding, blisters, purples bruises...it was PAINFUL. So, I feel for you hon.

As the others have said, it hurts like hell at first (as you know) but after a couple of weeks, your nipples toughen up, and you dont feel a thing thereafter

yep i hope it gets easier for you once you get past those 2 weeks it improves i remember i used to get my oh to give me chinese burns or pinch me or somthing while hse latched on he didnt want to do it lol bc he said he didnt want to hurt me but crazilly it helped