In constant pain

[aleisen]

Hello--

I have a 2 1/2 week old daughter who is breastfeeding. My nipples are VERY sore. I can barely get dressed, take a shower, etc. When she nurses, I have fairly intense pain as she latches on and pinching pain while she nurses. I've worked with multiple lactation consultants, all of whom tell me that she has a good latch and they are not sure why I'm so sore. Everyone tells me I should get better in a "few days," which has not happened. I've tried all kinds of remedies--Soothies, various creams and salves, air-drying, rubbing breastmilk on my nipples, etc. and nothing is helping.

My question is if there is anyone who has had constant and ongoing nipple pain and soreness that has suddenly gone away on its own? Should I just wait it out? What's the likelihood that this will get better on it's own?

I have to be honest and say that while I'm very committed to breastfeeding, I don't know how much longer I can do this. I'm starting to dread feeding my daughter and I don't want to feel that way. I'm very frustrated.

Thanks for any advice.

[shanti1]

I had terrible nipple pain after ds1 was born......horrible. I'd literally bite my hand, smack the table, cry & silently scream every single time he nursed for 13 straight days. Day 14, the pain was magically gone. I have to say that the best part of nursing ds1 so late into my pregnacy w/ds2 was the fact than I had no nipple pain whatsoever after he was born (about 8 wks after ds1 weaned on his own).

So long as there really isn't a latch problem it should get better, and yes, for me, it happened over night.

[lexbeach]

The pinching pain while she's nursing makes me think that the latch is NOT perfect. How have the LCs you've seen explained it? What does your nipple look like when it comes out of your little one's mouth? Has anyone checked her tongue/frenulum?

I had a very rough/painful start with nursing my twins, and eventually I was able to nurse pain-free. You will get there too, mama, and it will be the best feeling in the world.

Lex

[lawschoolmama]

BTDT, unfortunately--and let me say I can definitely feel your pain! I, too, had insanely sore nipples for weeks and weeks on end. I saw two different LCs, as well as a LLL leader, my DD's pediatrician, and two OBs about the problem, and they all said that DD had a great latch and they weren't sure what the problem was. Honestly--she had a really good latch, but the pain still persisted. I thought about giving up many times. Also, I made the mistake of turning to the pump a lot because it seemed to be easier on my nipples for whatever reason (and DD's doctor encouraged that)--but then DD got used to drinking EBM from a bottle instead of from me, so then I was EP'ing for a long time (except DD would still nurse at night). The pain improved, slowly, but still persisted. Then one day, when DD was about four months old, she magically decided to nurse again instead of taking bottles (I always kept offering the breast when I was EP'ing, but she'd almost always refuse), and the pain decreased more and more, until it was all gone. And now, we're nursing!
I know that four months sounds like an eternity to go through that kind of pain, and like I said, although it improved slowly over time, I thought about quitting many times, and I definitely dreaded so many feedings. I know how hard this is. But, I can tell you that the pain is not necessarily a bad latch (it wasn't that cause for me), and it will get better. Apparently, some of us just have really sensitive skin!
Best wishes to you.

[loraxc]

I encourage you to have baby's tongue rechecked. I saw an LC at two weeks and his posterior tongue tie was not caught till 10 weeks (10 weeks of awful pain, btw).

[chpiper]

I definitely agree...tongue tie may be the issue...I would get that checked...

Also, could it be yeast/thrush? My nipples hurt so much during the time we had yeast...and the latch simply wasn't the problem...

Have you tried nursing in various positions? Are any better than others?

Would you consider having your baby evaluated by a chiropractor/cranial specialist to see if an adjustment or treatment would make a difference? I have seen quite a few terrible situations turn around very quickly after an adjustment...

And what ointments are you using? Some have great results using a lanolin based product, others have a sensitivity and it makes it worse...we loved Motherlove's ointment and the All Purpose Nipple Ointment recommended on Jack Newman's site...

I hope you get some relief soon!!

Take care,
Kara

[Limabean1975]

I agree with the previous posters that you should look deeper into what is causing the pain, get other opinions etc. If there's nothing to be "fixed", do know it WILL get better. It DOES take longer for some women then "they" say it will, though! When I started having the excruciating pain, I too was given times by which it would be gone. They said 10 days. Then they said 2 weeks, max, we promise! Then they said "a month, tops!". It took 8 weeks. After that, it was a DREAM. I suppose I should miss having sensation in my nipples (my DH certainly does!), but I tell ya, I am so happy to feel hardly anything in them now!!

One midwife did point out that almost any area of the body, getting sucked on that much, is going to hurt and take some time to adapt, and that that is normal. Are you fair-skinned? Supposedly fair-skinned woman have a tougher time toughening up.

It will get better!!

[leerypolyp]

I feel your pain. Or, rather, I did, once.

Sometimes a latch looks perfect from the outside, but inside the baby is doing something funky with her tongue. Do you ever have a lipstick-shaped nipple or one that looks like it's been pinched after nursing? The pinching pain means that something is NOT right with the latch. I was lucky to have a very astute LC and LLL leaders who'd seen it before -- and who were very reassuring.

It didn't get better in a few days, but it did get better in a few weeks. It was hard. It was also really worth it. Can you make small goals for yourself? Two weeks, and reevaluate? Another two weeks, and another?

So what is your supply like? Do you have a really forcible letdown, or not so much?

[aleisen]

Thanks for everyone's responses. To answer some questions, I do have very fair skin and could just be sensitive, although my instinct says there is something wrong with her tongue or something. I'm thinking about trying one more lactation consultant to have them check this out. One of the LC's I saw recommended an OT who works with infants to do a complete evaluation of her tongue, jaw, lips, etc. and I think I'll try this, too.

In the meantime, I have used multiple types of nipple cream (Lansinoh, Motherlove's, Vitamin E). I also try to regularly change the position I nurse in.

I have decided to set small goals--I am committed to doing this for 3 more weeks and then I'll reevaulate. I REALLY want to continue nursing but I have to find relief from this pain. I can deal with sleep deprivation but not 24 hour pain on top of it!

Thanks again for all advice and support. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who has had such a painful nursing experience.

[leerypolyp]

That sounds like a good idea, the OT.

Do you have a high supply, low supply, or somewhere in the middle?

[aleisen]

I would say that my supply is somewhere in the middle.

[leerypolyp]

Ah.

I was asking because our issue turned out to be a result of my really heavy letdown -- milk would spray, and my baby would use her tongue to block the flow (pinching the nipple). Then she'd nurse a little bit with that compromised latch (with the tongue too far forward), and then another letdown would cause her to push her tongue forward again to block the spray.

So I don't know that that's your issue, but it's worth considering if your baby is dealing with letdown that way. What I finally figured out (in addition to block feeding to cut supply a little bit) was that I had to pop her off for the first big letdown and allow it to spray into a diaper. Then I could get her latched normally/