OUCH!!!!!!!!!

wendybdh

wendybdh

Cathlete
I'm breastfeeding Brooke (5 days old)and my breasts are killing me!;(
I had no idea they could hurt so bad. Now my milk is coming in and my breasts are hard as rocks. Everytime she latches on I want to cry.

I don't want to give up but does this get better? If so, when?

I could really use some advice and encouragement here.
 
Have you tried lanolin on your nipples? That helps with the latch-on pain. Otherwise, try warm compresses on your breasts and nurse as often as you can to keep the milk flowing.

It's been a while since I breastfed a newborn - I'm sure that you'll get some better advice soon!

Hang in there - it does get much, much easier as your body adjusts to breastfeeding.

Take care!

Erica
 
Wendy, I'm right there with you. YES things get better, but that is little console right now when you are in so much pain. Is there any bleeding? It won't harm Brooke to swallow blood. Your breasts are engorged, which does not mean that you have too much milk, but that the breast tissue is swollen. Start taking Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours, apply lots of lanolin on your nipples after every feeding. Also for the engorgement, take cold cabbage leaves (I'm not kidding, this works!) and put them in your bra for 20 minutes or so. The coolness will feel amazing, and the cabbage helps reduce the swelling. Just before you nurse, put a warm compress on your breast for about 5 minutes. It will soften them up a bit and help with the let down. I've just spent two days doing this, and my breasts are feeling fine again. Nursing on my left side is completely painless now, and the right side is almost painless.

How confident are you that the baby is latching on properly? I'm not saying that you are latching her on wrong, but if she is only feeding on the nipple, your problems will not get any better. Do you have a health nurse or a lactation consultant who can watch you feed?

I saw my midwife yesterday for the first post-natal visit and she told me that my problems were unavoidable because Kate is such a strong baby with a very vigorous suck. Since things are improving, rather than getting worse, I know I've got her latching on correctly. But with Paris, I was not latching her on correctly, and my problems continued for at least 2 months.

Keep it up, Wendy! Take the Ibuprofen. Soak in the bathtub with hot wash clothes on your breasts. After a feeding, rub some of the extra breast milk on the nipple; it's very soothing. Then put the Lanolin on. Cabbage leaves are your friend (even though your husband will look at you like you're insane when you tell him why he needs to go to the grocery store).

Let me know how it goes. I feel for you. It's super, super tough, but you are doing a great job.

Sandra
 
The first 2 weeks of nursing are the worst.lanlolin helps but not much. If your boobs are engorged, try pumping out some extra milk. It does get easier.
 
Good point about making sure that she's latching on correctly. If she's not opening her mouth wide enough, it will hurt and you will become engorged.

Good luck and keep us updated!

Erica
 
Thank you all for the advice. I think she's latching on correctly but I'm not positive. I am going to call a lactation consultant on Monday to see if I can meet with her. Until then I am doing the warm shower first. Then, since all I have in the house is lettuce(precut with carrots:)) and not cabbage, I have salad in my bra afterwards.

Thanks for all the tips and I'll keep you all posted.
 
Also you can express some milk before allowing her to latch on so as to soften the breast/nipple area from all the engorgment thus making it softer for when she latches on. Breast milk itself is also a good healer of the soreness and rawness, so rub some milk on your nipples especially between feedings.

It does get better, I dreaded the first couple of days of nursing when I was having my own kids, the youngest will be turning 9 in a couple of months. Even though it has been awhile I do remember the pain.

Hope you feel better soon.:)
 
Hi and congratulations! I'm no expert, but I have (am am) breastfed both of my babies. It sounds to me like little Brooke isn't latching on right. It really doesn't hurt at ALL if she's got a big enough mouthful. With both my kids, for the first few days I really had to encourage a BIG mouthful by pushing down on their chin, opening their mouth WIDE, and just shove the nipple in far. It sounds rough but it is the "right" way for them to latch. They should not just have nipple in their mouth, but actual breast tissue. So if she's latching with small pursed lips, she's not getting much milk and all you get is pain. After a few days of helping her latch on right, everything will be a breeze and she'll do it on her own. A lactation consultant will be able to show you. I happily attribute my nursing success to the consultant at the hospital- she is the one who made all the difference! The engorgement pain subsides after a minute or two of good nursing.
Hope this helps and good luck,
Lisa
mommy of Alyssa age 2
and Cole almost 4 months old!


 
Thank you so much. She's about ready to nurse again so I'm going to give this a try-I'll let you know how it goes.
 
I'm like LIsa- no expert, just 2 kids. I totally agree with Lisa's analysis. I couldn't have said it better. You almost have to pinch your boob and shove it onto the roof of her mouth (a crude analysis, but true). If she just sucks your nipples, it hurts and the milk won't flow as well. Good luck!
Kristan
due with #3, 11-1
 
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