Breastfeeding is SO painful

[LindsayLucas]

I had my son early in the morning July 2nd. My whole plan was to breastfeed- eventually switching strictly to pumping. I didn't realize how painful breastfeeding is. I figured they'd be sore at first but it is excruciating while he is suckling- to the point where i'm crying and trying to not pull away from him. I seem to have the positions right and he gets a big mouth full of my breast. Is it just me? Will it go away soon? I'm on the verge of switching to formula.

 

[babyclements]

It gets better!!! It's so hard in the first few days, you may have a latch issue but try not to give up!! I was where you are now but got through the first week or two and your nipples toughen up grab yourself a nipple shield before you give up! Try without if you can but if its a choice between quitting or using a shield temporarily try the shield. It's ironic how something so natural can hurt so bloody bad!!!!!! Grab yourself some nipple cream too. Stick to it! It's so easy once you get the hang of it!

 

[Dk1234]

It gets better. Go to the breastfeeding section and you'll get lots of information. Remember you are not only having a whole new thing going on with your nipples that neither of you have ever done, but you also have a lot of hormonal things going on that causes breast and nipple pain and your milk has likely not come in. Is he making noise? If there is a smacking noise then it isn't going right and even if there isn't I'd still have someone check your latch. Give it two weeks, I was pain free at that point. But take it from me, if you have bleeding or cracked nipples, get on a probiotic ASAP to prevent thrush cause the pain now is nothing like thrush can get

 

[Dk1234]

Oh and good luck!!!! Breastfeeding seems so hard at first but you'll look back one day and think how easy it is. Also, consider keeping breastfeeding going rather than just pumping be a use if you ask any exclusive pumper you'll find out that its so much harder than just breastfeeding and pumping occassionally

 

[sue_88]

Buy some Lanolin cream to help a little.

 

[Anderson8]

I thought I had the latch right as well with ds in the first few days but it wasn't until the midwife pointed it put I realised it was wrong. It does get so much easier, the first 3/4 days are the hardest, after that its a breeze!

 

[shelx]

not the kind of thread I want to read when planning to breast feed

 

[bekkie]

It really does get better... I know that's impossible to believe right now, I remember feeling that way and dreading when DS needed to nurse (and he clusterfed constantly...) they hurt so bad, and I would cry every time he latched on... but it did stop hurting, and we nursed for 2 years - it really was worth it. but do what is best for you and your baby - if that's fighting through the pain for now, or switching to formula... all that matters is baby is fed and you have your sanity!

 

[d_b]

It will get better, i found the first week terrible. i was in tears every time i bf and i saw a number of lactation comsultants to get the latch right. it took about two weeks for me for the pain to go away and then I bf for a year and loved it! Stick with it, in the long run it is definitely worth it.

 

[080509]

The first week for us was agonising, its difficult because in books you read it should only hurt for the first few sucks, its most likely just getting used to your baby being attatched, but of course if it perseveres then seek help from a midwife/HV/BF counsellor who can check latch. Have you tried lansinoh or medela lanolin? It helped a little but really the first week was so painful, i used to cry at each feed it stung so much. xx

 

[babyhopes2010]

please please dont give up. i did instead of getting the proper help. and iv regretted it ever since

 

[HHenderson]

I thought it would hurt a little but this seems horrible. Now Im scared. Yikes.

 

[Mummyxofx2]

I also had my bubba on the second of July. And I do totally relate with you and posted on here that I really don't like breastfeeding at all due to it hurting a lot. The first night home lo was on me for 11 hours straight so my nipples got shredded. They are a tad better now but it still is hurting a lot. Both midwives have said that her latch is great I just have very sensitive nipples so heading to shop to get some shields now my milk is in if they don't work I will ebf good luck Hun xxx

 

[Tiff]

I moved your thread to the Breastfeeding section, there are lots of wonderful ladies who use this part of the forum and can possibly help you and give advice etc.

 

[little_lady]

It might not be the latch. Both my two were painful feeders at first to the point where I wanted to scream when they latched on. But they both have a lip tie, so it's worth getting them checked for this. Or you can check yourself, is there a line of skin attaching the lip to the bottom of the top gum? Or skin attaching the tongue to the bottom of the mouth?

 

[Annie77]

It may help to get methodical here- get baby's tongue checked to rule out tongue-tie, ask midwife to check latch-on and/or try rugby hold to see if this helps, invest in some nipple cream (midwives get lansinoh testers so worth asking before spending £10) and remember your labour breathing for those toe curling 20 seconds at latch on.

Check your nipple isn't lipstick shaped when your baby detaches as this is what alerted me to my latch not being quite right (& this was with 3rd baby after feeding two previous babies for 7/8 mths)

 

[BellaRosa8302]

I know most people probably won't agree with me due to so called "nipple confusion" (which my LO never struggled with - she always prefers the boob over any artificial nipple) but my nipples were so sore and I became so engorged when my milk came in that I (at the suggestion of my lactation consultant) started pumping and bottle feeding the expressed milk, but promised myself I would nurse at least one time per day. Eventually that one time per day became two times per day and so on until now I am exclusively nursing it's wonderful! Try to stick it out if you can & remember - baby steps!

 

[LindsayLucas]

Ever since my milk came in it has been so much less painful. Unsure why but I don't care!. It's going very well now, a little toe curling at first but it goes away. The only problem is now sometimes he has a hard time latching b/c my boobs are ginormous.

 

[Fortune Cooki]

My nipples were cracked and bleeding for the first 3 weeks. I kept applying Lanolin, which is generally really great, but horrible for your nipples if you actually have thrush, which I did. So use coconut oil instead, because it is anti-fungal. The pain goes away eventually.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

Yup that's how it started for me.

It does get easier now. I used to cry and was so close to giving up but knew I'd regret it.

Now I'm soooo glad I stuck with it. And I'm sure my little boobie loving DD is too.