How long...

[codegirl]

does it take for the "toe curling, eye watering" pain to subside when bf? I just gave up the nipple shield yesterday and I can hardly stand the pain! How long (approx) do I have to bare this before it gets better?

Edward is only 19 days old (if that makes a difference)

Help!

 

[tone]

I'm afraid to say mine lasted till about 8 weeks (sorry!!)
i almost gave up! I'm so happy i didnt because i absoluley LOVE Bf'ing.
I hated it in those painful days but its totally worth it.
Hang in there girlie. You can do it!

 

[elm]

Have you had someone check Edward is latching on properly? All the people I've seen (and it's been loads over the past week!!) say it shouldn't be painful. Having said that I can't feed properly at the moment as I think my nipples are bruised (having huge issues with breastfeeding but not giving up on it!

Have you considered using an alternative for some feeds? We are using a supplement system at the moment ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000W73YKY/ref=nosim/coffeeuk11758-21 ) that we were given at the hospital. Instead of taping it to a nipple you can attach the tube to your finger and your baby sucks the end of your finger while the milk drips out. We've also done some cup feeding which is a bit messy and slower but worked and didn't put him off breastfeeding.

I was really worried I was going to have to stop breastfeeding a couple of days ago but was advised to use this method and I've been able to give him one breast feed so far today (he knew instantly what to do, think it must take a while for them to forget what to do!) and I was hugely relieved. Just going to breast feed on every other feed using different breasts now to give them a break and make sure I don't get in the same position of being in so much pain again.

(Elliot is having his tongue tie sorted on Wednesday so I'm hoping that feeding will be loads easier after that).

Sorry for waffling on! xxx

 

[angie0235]

Have you tried the lanolin ointment? I think it's called lanosil, it's in a purple tube and Boots do it. I found it really helped. i put it on after every feed. I also asked a really nice midwife to watch me feed and she spotted that Kathryn wasn't latched on properly. After she showed me a new way the pain subsided (about 3/4 days later). You can also get advice from NCT website. I never understood how painful it was going to be and reading your post brings it back. It will pass - keep saying this to yourself!

 

[codegirl]

Thanks for your answers and support! I'm trying different positions as well to try and give different spots a rest when I can. I have an appointment to a bf clinic next week so hopefully I'll be able to tough it out until then.

 

[KarenLV]

Mine lasted 3 weeks.Now it is very relaxing and positive experience. Good for you for sticking out with it!

 

[Whisper]

for me it was about 4wks, but then i got mastitis and things got painful again so i would say in all about 6wks.

Honestly the pain does stop it if was like that everytime all the time, then i most certaintly would not be b/fing anymore (my LO is 6mnths).

Well done for sticking at it, each day gets easier i would say you are over the worst although at the time it probably doesn't seem like it.

 

[Ducky77]

Mine lasted about 3 weeks, one time one of my breast was really hurt and the nurse counsellor had to ask me to stop breast feed my baby from that side for couple days.
But after all the hurt is gone, the experience is really amazing. Please don't give up! when I have to wean my baby I was sooo sad

 

[Poppeteer]

Mine lasted around a week, but her latch was so bad initially that my nipples had blood blisters and were literally bleeding. I used Lasinoh (think thats what it's called) and we got the latch sorted and now we are loving BF'ing.