What can i do to help with the pain?

Lindsay - posted on 12/04/2009

I hope you were able to attend the La Leche League meeting and got some help! If you are still having issues, check out Dr. Jack Newman (you can google him) - his website has illustrations and videos showing how to achieve a proper latch. Like many other wise mamas said, breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. If there's pain, it means there's an issue!

Hannah - posted on 12/03/2009

i have the same problem... my daughter is three months old and she didnt latch on at first i acually just got her to latch on on tuesday, but before that i had to use a breast shield and even now she still doesnt latch on prperly so while i teach her how i sometimes use the breast shiel it helps with soreness.

Louise - posted on 12/03/2009

Try feeding him whilst in the bath together, skin to skin contact and a more relaxed environment might help. My daughter got oral thrush and I became incredibly sore, even having a split nipple, Lanasol cream helped and the baby is ok to fed from you whilst you have the cream on. You can get heat/cold pads they can help the milk to come through. I never got on with nipple shields personally but they can help a baby to latch on. If he is using a dummy this can sometimes confuse him, according to the health Visitor, however my daugter has one and she has never had a problem. Bear with it as it is worth it, it can take some time, but my daughter is two months old now and we have no problems and its not painful.

Rebecca - posted on 12/03/2009

Breastfeeding should never be painful. It should be a beautiful experience for both mother & child. Since he can latch correctly at times I would suggest looking at his mouth when he is latched correctly. His lips should be flared around your breast with his tongue circling your nipple. You should not hear slurping. Once you know what his correct latch looks like you will be able to fix his latch when he goes on wrong. Nursing takes practice for both mom & baby so please be patient. Also check at your local WIC office for a breastfeeding peer counselor or at your local hospital for a lactation consultant & attend a local La Leche meeting. It is much easier to continue nursing with support! Good luck!

Rachel - posted on 12/03/2009

Call the public health nurse. I found then to be very helpful. If you are dealing with really sore or cracked nipples ask your doctor to perscribe Dr. Newmans nipple ointment. It really works. I only had to use it a couple of times and it help to heal my nipples. Also if you look up Dr. Newman on the web you might find that sit to be very helpful.

Mattee - posted on 12/02/2009

Hey ladies! Thanks so much for your tips :) There's a Le Leche meeting in our town tomorrow and I think I'm going to go. Until then I'm trying the tea bags lol :)

Brenda - posted on 12/02/2009

I hurt so much with my now seven month old I would get tears in my eyes at the worst (about three weeks in). With my first son, I didn't have any soreness, but boy with my second I did. It has a lot to do with how vigorous of a sucker they are. My first was a lazy sucker and latch, my second is a freaking hoover vacuum. If you apply ice to your nipples prior to nursing, it will numb them and help. You can always get an Lactation consultant to check your latch, but even with perfect latch you may still be sore. Those gell pads by Medela and Lansinoh are great, and if it bothers you a lot buy breast shells, they keep your clothes off the nipple between nursing.

Erika - posted on 12/02/2009

Have you tried using a nipple shield? I had to use one with my son, he was tongue tied.
Make sure your son isn't, that might make it harder for him to latch on.

Hope this helps. Best Wishes!

Erika
http://4MyFamilyandMe.com

Sarah - posted on 12/02/2009

MAKE SURE THAT HIS MOUTH OPENS FULL AND WIDE BEFORE YOU LATCH HIM ON! DON'T WORRY I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY SON EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE MY NIPPLES WERE PURPLE/RED BRUISED AND CHAPPED UNTIL HE WAS FOUR WEEKS OLD. ONE DAY WE JUST SORT OF WORKED TOGETHER MY NIPPLES HEALED AND HE IS STILL ON 7 MONTHS AND GROWING STRONG!!!

Kara - posted on 12/02/2009

i breastfed my daughter for about 3 weeks untill a nurse came over and showed me a trick...she told me to gently squeeze my breast as she latched and it helped...never had a problem again

Jackie - posted on 12/02/2009

Check his lips. He should literally have fishy lips.. or an over pronounced kissy lips. If he doesn't don't unlatch him but try pulling his lip down/up depending on which one isn't pushed out properly. You are right in your thinking that it shouldn't hurt. Nursing doesn't hurt if done PROPERLY. Its mother natures way of letting you know there is an issue. Definitely do NOT nurse if it hurts. Make your baby relatch... like I said pain is a sign and you don't want to hurt yourself or under fed your baby because the latch is wrong. Practice does make perfect and it will take a little bit to sort out.

Francesca - posted on 12/02/2009

You are doing great! I know its unbearable at first. I cried almost every latch for the first three weeks. I blistered, bled, pussed and got mastitis. I even went to see a Lactation Consultant to make sure my bub was latched correctly. If your worried about latch, you can always call one too. I really liked La Leche. And where I am from we get a public health nurse check up in our home post delivery. Both were very helpful.



I was told I could take a little tylenol if I really needed it. The pharmacist verified it was okay but to avoid knock offs of the brand while I breastfeed.



I liked a warm compress. I hear lanosil is great. But avoid just any nipple cream. You baby has to ingest it. So make sure its okay with your doctor.



But it will get better. Our nipples are not used to so much action.



Good luck!

Pam - posted on 12/02/2009

really hold off until he latches properly...he may get frustrated, but its imprtant to teach him the right way - not just for pain, but because it can also affect your milk supply.
Stay calm and just keep trying until he opens real wide! :) (tease his lips with your nipple to help)

Kim - posted on 12/02/2009

takes along time for both baby and mommy to get the hang of breast feeding, was very painful for me, people say it shouldn't hurt but it always dose for the first few weeks, try lancinal cream, and if it gets really bad pump for a couple of days, oh and wet very cold tea bags, put them in your bra with nursing pads on and put cold fresh ones on after every nursing sesion, do this for about a week or so, tust me it works wonders.

Alexis - posted on 12/02/2009

Do you have access to a health nurse? They can be very helpful.