Owwwwwww

[medmom7]

Breastfeeding a 3 day old and nipples are so so painful. Despite my best attempts to help my daughter latch on well we are still not getting a great latch. Please remind me how many more days this really painful stage will last.3 days?  I cant remember how long it took with my first baby before nursing was not painful. I am miserable but if I have some sort of reference about how much longer this will last that would help. Thanks!

[Adaline'sMama]

For me it lasted about 4 weeks. We had a great latch according to several friends and an LC. I think there are a lot of people who preach the "if it hurts something isnt right" but honestly I know that is just not true for a lot of ladies. Do you have lanolin? I would send your DH out for a head of cabbage. I spread lanolin on the inside of a cabbage leaf and put it in my bra. Here is what worked best for me for the pain.

Nurse on right side 15 minutes
put cabbage leaf with lanolin on after the milk stopped leaking (I had to hold my boob for a minute)
Nurse on left side 15 minutes
put cabbage leaf with lanolin on after the milk stopped leaking (I had to hold my boob for a minute)
rest a few minutes before going back at it if your babe needs more nursing.

The cabbage are supposed to help with pain and swelling, but honestly I liked them more because I didnt have to spread the lanolin on my boob every time. That can be difficult with a babe in your arms. Oh, and take some tylenol if you arent morally opposed

I did also sometimes put my hemp breastpads in the microwave and then put them in my bra to act as a heating pad.

Good luck with your boobs and congrats on your new baby!!!

[McGucks]

Hang in there!  Hang in there!  And hugs to you!  It is sometimes uncomfortable at the beginning...contact a Lactation Consultant if possible or a La Leche League leader...the emotional support helped me through the pain.

Congratulations on your new child, mama!

[lovebeingamomma]

nipple shield!  saved my nipples.  I just used it until they healed than I weaned her off of it.  took two weeks.  felt like forever, in the long run it's the reason I didn't quit so it was worth it.  But if you're just talking about the engorgement phase, I forgot about it too even with my third, it only lasted 2-3 days. 

[PatioGardener]

Remember you can take regular painkillers (advil or tylenol) to help with the pain. I second the Lansinoh too.

Have you tried laid back breastfeeding or baby led latching? That can help get a better latch sometimes. I had to remind myself to keep baby below my nipple so he'd reach up to latch (asymmetrical latch) and that first week I was always chanting "tummy to tummy, nipple to nose and baby to breast not breast to baby" - thanks to a great LC I saw before birth

Also take a look to make sure baby is not tongue-tied, as that can cause wicked pain too.

Hope it gets better with each feed!

[lunabin]

I would STRONGLY recommend a lactation consultant, preferably someone who can come to your home.  Your hospital or ob/gyn should have a recommendation.  

This may be something that does not resolve itself, so it's important to find out what the problem is (ie. poor latch technique, tongue tied baby, flat/inverted nipples, engorgement, ...).  Don't be afraid to ask about nipple shields, maybe expressing off some milk if you're engorged, etc.  I would even mention it to your pediatrician to be sure the baby's tongue is working as it should.  

I had troubles early on as well, and it just adds more unneeded stress.  For me, the pain did not remit by week 5 after 3 lactation consults and so I ended up exclusively pumping for a year.  You'll find what works for you, but in the mean time reach out and get the help you need/deserve!  

[Taryn237]

Please do call an IBCLC or LLL leader,  In the meantime Dr. Jack Newman's latch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9tLgYn-bA

and this one on laid back bfing http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/video/bn3clip.html

[medmom7]

Thanks for the tips everyone! The latching advice is very helpful, as our latch is getting better the pain is getting better. I still feel like we have a long ways to go on finding a good latch so I am trying to find a LLL meeting to go to and see if the ladies there can give me advice in real time. Also got some of the Newman's nipple cream, I think that really helps as well. Not sure if I really need to be putting high powered antibiotics on my nipples, probably the steroid in there that helps the most, but at this point I don't care, whatever helps!