is it suppose to hurt

[nandodianenicole]

My baby is 5 days old and nursing well. My nipples are so raw and crusty and bleed after nursing. The initial sucks bring tears to my eyes. I saw a la leche league volunteer and besides a lower lip a bit out of place, it all looks good. So do most moms experience this the first week or so or is this something I need to worry about. I feel like it will never get better because it hurts so much each time I must be doing damage. Should I see another lactation consultant?

[EdnaMarie]

I think you should see another consultant. I'm not an expert but my nipples only hurt for three or four days and they DEFINITELY didn't bleed. I don't think bleeding can be good in any case. If you can afford it, get some food-grade nipple butter for the time being and be sure to leave them open to the air as much as possible. I used Earth Mama Angel Baby butter and it worked nicely to keep them from cracking.

If you saw the consultant a few days ago, before they were bleeding, maybe you could see her again with the bleeding issue. Or if you prefer see another one. You know your body and what is normal and acceptable- make sure their advice corresponds to what you know.

I really feel for you... please do hang in there and we are thinking of you!

[rmzbm]

It could be normal, it could be some latch issue - if you're really worried I would go ahead & see another LC. It is totally normal for it to hurt (and hurt BAD) for a while early on though. The bleeding however concerns me more. Yeah, I'd go see another LC. Good luck to you & hang in there!

[trini]

Congrats on the new baby!

Beginning nursing was terribly, terribly painful for me. I had blisters, bleeding, swelling, you name it. I had toe-curling pain, especially when he first latched on. The only thing that kept me nursing was my sheer determination. I used to ice my nipples when he wasn't nursing. My ds did have latch issues.

It won't be this painful forever. If it was, I'd never have made it to 20 months and going strong! But for you now, that doesn't matter. I remembering dreading each time he woke up.

Please, please, do not give up. (Not that you were implying you would, but I know how difficult it can be.) Continue to consult a lactation specialist until you have it worked out.

Are you fair-skinned by any chance? I've heard that can make it more painful. Don't know if it's true.

I recommend keeping your nipples coated in lanolin, too.

[gwynthfair]

It hurt for me in the beginning as well, your nipples just aren't used to that much stimulation and it definitely gets better! Hang in there.

[gottaknit]

I had the same problem in the beginning, even though we didn't appear to have any latch issues. Lansinoh works wonders. I'd put a thick layer of it on and then use cotton breast pads to keep it from getting my bra goopy. Change the pads frequently (a few times a day) to avoid getting a yeast infection.

It only lasted a few days for me, but it hurt like hell.

[mama2walden&luna]

That's all normal stuff. It does hurt badly at first for most people. I know that the blood won't hurt your baby, but you should be careful not to develop mastitis. Don't wash your nipples with soap, that will only dry them out more, and the lanolin does help a lot to sooth and heal the cracks and dryness. I used to put a thick layer on after every shower and keep breast pads on, that you should change frequently, to keep my bra clean. That has been said, but I'm just reiterating from my own experience.
A really good resource for questions you might have is www.askdrsears.com. Or you could go by his book, The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. William Sears. It has a lot of great information about breastfeeding difficulties. He and his wife raised 8 breastfed children! Good luck, and definitely hang in there, it WILL get better!!

[prettypixels]

Originally Posted by trini

Congrats on the new baby!

Beginning nursing was terribly, terribly painful for me. I had blisters, bleeding, swelling, you name it. I had toe-curling pain, especially when he first latched on. The only thing that kept me nursing was my sheer determination. I used to ice my nipples when he wasn't nursing. My ds did have latch issues.

It won't be this painful forever. If it was, I'd never have made it to 20 months and going strong! But for you now, that doesn't matter. I remembering dreading each time he woke up.

Please, please, do not give up. (Not that you were implying you would, but I know how difficult it can be.) Continue to consult a lactation specialist until you have it worked out.

Are you fair-skinned by any chance? I've heard that can make it more painful. Don't know if it's true.

I recommend keeping your nipples coated in lanolin, too.

I'm sorry, but that is not normal and it's not ok. Some soreness is normal... toe-curling pain, cracking and bleeding are bad latch. Or maybe some kind of mouth problem in the baby. If you saw an LC who said your latch was ok, get a second opinion. LLL leaders, love them though I do, are volunteers and don't have the training an LC does... so bless that LLL's heart for being in the right place and get a good LC to come help with your latch.

There are exceptions to every rule, but it really bothers me to see anyone telling a new mom that it's normal to feel this level of pain. It absolutely is not and there is nothing in lactation literature which agrees with that. It'd be like me telling new moms that low milk supply is normal.. it is not. I'm really sorry you went through that, but it's not normal, it's not ok, and it's not what a new mom should expect.

Make sure the baby is taking in A LOT of breast tissue.. the bottom of your areola and almost all the way to the top should be covered by your babies mouth. The baby should be sucking on your breast, NOT on your nipple. Really though, for me I needed literal hands-on help to get it.

[prettypixels]

Originally Posted by walden's momma

That's all normal stuff. It does hurt badly at first for most people. I know that the blood won't hurt your baby, but you should be careful not to develop mastitis. Don't wash your nipples with soap, that will only dry them out more, and the lanolin does help a lot to sooth and heal the cracks and dryness. I used to put a thick layer on after every shower and keep breast pads on, that you should change frequently, to keep my bra clean. That has been said, but I'm just reiterating from my own experience.
A really good resource for questions you might have is www.askdrsears.com. Or you could go by his book, The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. William Sears. It has a lot of great information about breastfeeding difficulties. He and his wife raised 8 breastfed children! Good luck, and definitely hang in there, it WILL get better!!

No, it's not normal. No, most moms don't hurt badly at first, or they shouldn't... that's a sign of bad latch.

It's just not true that you should EXPECT to suffer! Breastfeeding shouldn't cause severe pain like what is being described here.

[prettypixels]

A proper latch is crucial to success. This is the key to successful breastfeeding. Unfortunately, too many mothers are being "helped" by people who don’t know what a proper latch is. If you are being told your two day old’s latch is good despite your having very sore nipples, be sceptical, and ask for help from someone else who knows.

http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.ph...d=37&Itemid=67

Sore nipples are usually due to one or both of two causes. Either the baby is not positioned and latched properly, or the baby is not suckling properly, or both. However, babies learn to suck properly by getting milk from the breast when they are latched on well. (They learn by doing). Thus, “suck” problems are often caused by poor latching on.

http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.ph...d=57&Itemid=87

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I was very lucky to only have a tiny bit of pain with dd that I was able to fix with making sure her upper lip wasnt curling in. I knew about the bottom lip and was concentrating so much on it I forgot to check her top one I made sure at every single feed to bring both lips out even if it looked like they already were I would use my finger to push it a bit to make 100% sure.

I hope you get it worked out soon the description you gave had me wanted to grab my breasts :

[prettypixels]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I was very lucky to only have a tiny bit of pain with dd that I was able to fix with making sure her upper lip wasnt curling in. I knew about the bottom lip and was concentrating so much on it I forgot to check her top one I made sure at every single feed to bring both lips out even if it looked like they already were I would use my finger to push it a bit to make 100% sure.

I hope you get it worked out soon the description you gave had me wanted to grab my breasts :

Getting the fishy flare is important, but that's only part of a good latch. I had the flare part, but not enough breast tissue in the mouth, in my case... and from talking with two LC's, that's pretty common. It's hard to explain to someone without showing them on their own breast, how much breast tissue you want to get into the babies mouth, except to say... A LOT... as much as possible.

I really believe a consultation with a lactation consultant is worth its weight in gold, and I also believe that no mama should have to suffer through intense breastfeeding pain!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I totally agree if the option is there jump on it. I have read some posts were I was just cringing and wishing I could come help.

[trini]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

I'm sorry, but that is not normal and it's not ok. Some soreness is normal... toe-curling pain, cracking and bleeding are bad latch. Or maybe some kind of mouth problem in the baby. If you saw an LC who said your latch was ok, get a second opinion. LLL leaders, love them though I do, are volunteers and don't have the training an LC does... so bless that LLL's heart for being in the right place and get a good LC to come help with your latch.

There are exceptions to every rule, but it really bothers me to see anyone telling a new mom that it's normal to feel this level of pain. It absolutely is not and there is nothing in lactation literature which agrees with that. It'd be like me telling new moms that low milk supply is normal.. it is not. I'm really sorry you went through that, but it's not normal, it's not ok, and it's not what a new mom should expect.

I never said it was "normal" and did NOT mean to imply that it was normal. I did state that MY ds had latch issues. I guess I wasn't clear enough about that.

I also recommended that she continue to see an LC.

Beginning nursing was terribly, terribly painful for me. I had blisters, bleeding, swelling, you name it. I had toe-curling pain, especially when he first latched on. The only thing that kept me nursing was my sheer determination. I used to ice my nipples when he wasn't nursing. My ds did have latch issues.

It won't be this painful forever. If it was, I'd never have made it to 20 months and going strong! But for you now, that doesn't matter. I remembering dreading each time he woke up.

Please, please, do not give up. (Not that you were implying you would, but I know how difficult it can be.) Continue to consult a lactation specialist until you have it worked out.

[Uma'sMom]

Originally Posted by nandodianenicole

My baby is 5 days old and nursing well. My nipples are so raw and crusty and bleed after nursing. The initial sucks bring tears to my eyes. I saw a la leche league volunteer and besides a lower lip a bit out of place, it all looks good. So do most moms experience this the first week or so or is this something I need to worry about. I feel like it will never get better because it hurts so much each time I must be doing damage. Should I see another lactation consultant?

hurray!!! a new baby... i hope you are resting and drinking lots of water and eating well. You need to be well nurished to been able to give back to your baby.
It seems to your baby is an avid feeder. That is good news. About your nipples: i do not think it is normal they bleed. They need to heal otherwise it will continue to hurt. Great advise from all this moms:
Do not wash the with soap... Keep them mosturized with lanolin... If you can, be do not wear your bra for a while and keep the nipples out in the air... Breastfeeding should not hurt. From time to time your nipples will be tender, but they do not need to be raw, sore and bleeding.
The most important thing to remember is that YOU ARE DOING GREAT!!!!! There may be a problem with your baby's latching. Something that helped me a lot was to feed my girl in one position only for a while, until we both got used to feeding. I would consult somebody else. There is nothing better that having somebody else watching a feeding sesion so she can give you some advise.
Do not give up and try to have your baby's mouth open BBBBBBBBIIIIIIGGGGGGer than life before your get yout nipple inside the tiny mouth.
When you feel lots of peaceful waves while breatfeeding, you'll know you have arrived.
In the meantime, do not get discourage....

Martha
: : :

[nandodianenicole]

Thanks for all your replies, I just left a message for a LC my mw recommended. Although it seems to be getting better I def. think we are having issues. I have no intention of giving up. With dd I ended up pumping for 7 months due to flat nipples and little patience, it was double the work and I was so excited to have this one latch and nurse. Part of the issue is that he did draw out the flat nipples and that is why I think they hurt, that and bad latch. I hope to correct that soon so I can nurse for a very long time.

[EdnaMarie]

good luck!

[FreeThinkinMama]

Both times I have nursed it hurt and I get so tired of hearing that if you're doing it right it doesn't hurt. Even when we were doing it right my nipples would be sore afterwards. With my first I ended up with bleeding, cracked nipples. Fortunately I avoided that this time around but even up until 2 months old my nipples were so sore I couldnt stand to have dh touch them or have them rub against anything like a towel coming out of the shower, even though they weren't bleeding or cracked and I knew ds was latched on right.

My advice to you is to keep working on getting a proper latch. If it hurts and you need to correct the latch, dont be afraid to stick a finger in there, break the suction and try again until babe gets it right. Sometimes it took us 20 times in a feeding to latch on correctly in our early days. I'm glad you're getting help though, if you're having latching issues it could have an impact on babe's weight gain and hydration. Keep an eye on those diapers, not just the number but make sure they're sopping wet with clear urine, not concentrated with crystals. I saw a LC early on with my ds who said we were latched on just fine and his diapers were normal but it turned out she was completely wrong so keep an eye out for signs of dehydration and good luck!

[SPOpa]

I'm glad you called the LC. Hugs, mama!

[crooa]

It should not hurt!! see another LC as soon as possible. Try searching LC's in your area. You can sometimes find private LC's that will come to your home. If you continue to endure the pain, you can damage your nipples. I have an ulcerated nipple that has lead to prime conditions for yeast. Please do yourself a favor and keep looking for someone to help you. Even with all my problems breast feeding is very rewarding as you know you are giving him the best start in life.