Pain When Baby Latches On

I had the same pain. I would grip the side of the chair when my first daughter latched on. It eventually went away. These are the things that everyone forgets to tell new mothers. It did not happen with my second child. You can try to change positions but it will go away. Hang in there. It is worth it.

I had that pain too when I was breasfeeding my 2 daughters. I no other symptoms like you. My doctor told me that when they finished eating to express a little milk and rub it into the nipple area. It helped, but I remember that it lasted for a little bit before it went away. Good luck. I know it is uncomfortable.

Hi M.! My name is L. and I have a 5 month old baby girl. I experienced the same thing and it is perfectly normal. When my little one latched on it was very painful at first then the pain went away after a few minutes of her feeding. As your little one continues to feed it will get better, I promise. I hope I was a bit of help, have a good day!

Make sure he is latching on correctly, not chomping. The next thing to do is when you get through with one side, squeeze out a little milk and rub it on your nipple. This will help relieve the soreness. It won't be long until everything goes well.

Yes, this a normal part of breastfeeding. Your nipples will toughen up in time and should get less and less painful. The pain now is only temporary.

M.,

That is completely normal. The pain will go away altogether shortly. Hang in there.

K.

Hi M.. WELCOME to the joys of breastfeeding. You made the right choice for your son, unfortunately, comes a little pain for you. Good news is, it will pass. I even had scabs form on my nipples, once they healed , the nipples were much "tougher" and the pain was gone. You will get through it. I nursed twins and would wince and tear up when they latched on, it hurt so bad, but it will get better. ONLY put pure lanolin on them for releif.
Happy breastfeeding, it is the right thing to do if you can.
A.

Hi M.,

I had the same experience -- pain right when my son latched on and then ok after a minute or so. I would recommend using some nipple cream with lanolin, like Lansinoh. I would also express a little breast milk and smooth over the nipple and let them air dry before pulling up your nursing bra. After a few weeks the pain stopped completely. I know it's tough, but it's worth it in the long run.

Good luck, you are doing great!

K.

congratulations! dont know if this helpful, as i am also a new mom (my little girl turned 2 wks yesterday) I still have pain when she latches on. I am sure you already know how to check that it's a good latch (will hurt more if shes on wrong) i tried nipple shields in the beginning; it helped somewhat

Make sure he has as much of the nipple in his mouth as possible from the start. Also, it might help to hand-express a little milk before he starts, especially if it hurts on both breasts at each feeding. It's usually easy to express from the second one while the baby nurses the first one. Either give each feeding from alternating breasts, or if you feed from both each time, always START on the the last one used (use left/right, then at the next feeding it's right/left, then left/right, etc)

P.S. I have 4 (grown) kids, and my 'after-pains' as they nursed got harder with each child. With the last 2 they were WAY WORSE than labor for a couple of days and left me with a SORE abdomen! It was worth it, though.

Hi M.,

I remember that same feeling during the first 2-3 weeks of breastfeeding but it did go away. I did not have an infection, I just needed to "toughen up" I guess. The word that I used to describe the feeling when he latched on was electrifying because I could feel the discomfort throughout my body but it went away and after a while I did not feel any pain at all.

Good Luck!

K.

Although I've heard that some women say nursing can be painful or that let down can be uncomfortable, it was not the case for me with either of my boys. Let down for me just felt like a tightening or the breasts and then slow ease as the milk beban to flow. With my 1st, my nipples did get sore after the first week or so and could become quite painful. I used the lanolin cream from medela and this helped between feeding. My pain was just a raw nipple sensation though. Is your pain from the nipple or feel more like its inside the breast? If its the nipple, make sure he's latch on correctly. I never had any problems with cracking, bleeding, clogged ducts, or infection and I was always careful about him latching on properly. My only problem with my 1st the entire year I breastfed was sore nipples in the first couple of months. I'm at 9 mths with my 2nd and haven't had any trouble at all this time. You could just be feeling your let down but I wouldn't think it'd be "a lot of pain". I'd suggest discusses with your ped. My ped. was also a mom who had breastfed so I could discuss these issues with her. If you can't with yours contact a lactation consultant, most hospitals have one for your stay in the hospital and they usually give you their card when you leave in case you need help. My ped. actually now has one on staff. Or you could contact La Leche. You can find your local group and contact info on their website. http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html

Hi - It was my experience that some pain was normal, but should pass. I found the position of my daughter's mouth could be very subtly wrong sometimes, and frequent adjustments were needed. It also seemed like there were lots of hormonal adjustments that changed the sensation of nursing, too. You'll know if you have an infection or clogged duct - hard red hot spots on the breast. This pain will probably pass.

Congratulations on nursing - it's such a wonderful thing to do! Good luck with everything...

Hi M.! Congratulations on your new baby! Make sure that he is taking as much of the breast into his mouth as possible when latching on. Not just the nipple, but the full areola as well - this will minimize the discomfort. As your breasts get used to nursing this should pass. You could also try varying the positions in which you nurse to see what is the most comfortable. Use lanolin (NOT vasoline) on your breasts after each session - it is safe for the baby and you. If you do get a fever or any more pain, then be sure to contact your doctor. Best wishes and keep up the great work!

I think it depends on the degree of pain you're feeling. If this is just a little soreness then it could be your nipples adjusting to their new "job". In that case you can use some of those lanolin creams to help them adjust. If the pain is excruciating, then it could be something more. I actually did have mastitis when my daughter was just a couple of weeks old, and my only symptom was the pain I felt when she latched. However, that pain was severe and left me screaming in pain.

So, just try to evaluate what type of pain you're feeling, and go from there. If you think it might be mastitis, then call your doc immediately and have them help you out!

My kids are 9 & 11 now, so it has been awhile for me. But, I do remember that pain you are talking about. Once your breasts get used to the idea, it will get better. But one thing that might be happening is, the milk is coming down really fast. If you can express some before he eats, it might help. Keep it up though. Enjoy it all...it goes by so fast. Breast milk is definetly best.

Oh yes, I remember that feeling. It happened with both my kids. Use Lansinoh. You probably got some from the hospital. You just rub it on your nipples. It helps to relieve soreness and cracked nipples. You can find it at any pharmacy, Wal-mart or Target. You will still have some pain. Also, if he has changed the way he latches on that will cause pain. Lacation consultants at the hospital are wonderful and they will can help to figure out if he is latching on correctly. My son did not latch correctly for almost 2 months. It was very painful....and then he figured it out. RELIEF! Usually the lactation consult is cover by health insurance. Good luck and happy Breast Feeding. Isn't it just amazing! - K.

I felt the same thing and it really did go away. It is just the initial latch on, which makes sense. Just make sure it only lasts about a minute (I know it seems longer) :)! I think around the 3rd week or so, I did have some scabbing on one side but very minor and it did go away. Also, just food for thought, a couple best tips for me: NEVER use any kind of lotion or cream...the breast naturally cleans and hydrates itself. Also there is something they gave me in the hospital (I found the same thing at Babies R Us by Gerber) that is like a gel pad (it is rubbery and cold) it feels very comforting in between feedings. Good job on nursing, it is so amazing! :)

Blessings,
Amanda

This is normal. I have a 23 month old that is still nursing. Your little one is still learning how to latch and takes him a minute to remember. Congrats on your new little bundle. Keep at it, once you get past this stage it is so easy.

Try changing the nursing position that you nurse him in every time you nurse. That way he is not latching on to the exact same place every time. It will hurt a little right at first and then the pain fades as you nurse. After a couple of weeks all the pain will go away. I did not use any creams because I thought it made it worse to have to wash them off before I nursed the baby the next time.

M., hi! I'm a mother of five--three grown and two under 18. I exclusively breast-fed my last two and learned the hard way what to do and not do! It sounds to me like you may only experiencing the pain that you feel when your baby has not latched onto your breast properly. Mske sure he has taken the entire nipple into his mouth every time you start to nurse. If he is properly latched on there should be no pain at all. This problem is perfectly normal and is probably a common thing. Relax!--sounds like you're doing a great job! A good resource I used was the La Leche League 'Bible' (published around 1993...not sure of the exact title)--which was a comprehensive treatment of the entire subject; I would highly recommend hunting this book down--it's invaluable. However, the best source for questions is of course other successful breast-feeding moms. Hope this helps!

It maybe thrush. Look for pink rash on your nipples and/or white spots (like milk curd) in babies mouth, cheek, tongue, or lips. If in doubt call you ped or OB.

I had the same problem when my daughter was 2 weeks old and it lasted for a week or two. I really had to brace myself for the sharp pain when she latched on, but the rest of the feeding wasn't painful. It's part of the process and it will get better. Use lanolin to keep your nipples from cracking and bleeding, and use Dr.-approved pain medication if you need it.

Congratulations and hang in there! It'll get better. I'm still breastfeeding my now 10-month old and we haven't had any problems since the first month.

Hi M.,

Congrats on breast feeding your baby. The benefits for your baby are worth all the pain and discomfort. Not to mention, it helps you lose that pregnancy weight so much faster.

If the pain is on the outside and just soreness, then your baby probably isn't latching on correctly at first. He probably only opens his mouth just enough to get the nipple in and sucks on the nipple until he gets enough of the breast in his mouth to suckle correctly. This "chewing" on the nipple WILL make them very sore and may even crack and bleed.

My suggestion is to get a good hold of both your breast and his head, tickle his bottom lip with your nipple and wait for him to open wide, then push push him onto the breast so that he latches on correctly from the get-go, and your nipples will have a break.

Another tip would be to change positions frequently. This will keep from too much friction in one place and will help them to heal faster.

If you are still having pain, what always worked for me was to use freshly boiled (cooled a little though :))tea bags. Put them on your breast, then put plastic wrap over them to keep them on you and off everything else, and then a towel. Keep them on for at least 10 each side. You can do this on your own, or on one breast while he is feeding on the other, then swap.

Good luck to you! Hang in there!
L. B

A little about me: full-time mom and wife, part-time swim instructor and am beginning to work from home part-time.

It is fairly normal when you're starting out. I did both of my sons. But you'll want to check for any cracks in your nipple as well. If you aren't already using a lanolin cream, you might want to use that after every feeding and after showers. If the nipple is cracked, it will get worse if you don't treat it.

Congratulations on breastfeeding, though. Though not perfect or always easy, it is a wonderful experience.

I was wondering if your nipples and areola may be drying out... before u nurse your baby try warm compresses to relieve some of the pressure and see if that relives the pain and discomfort... U said the baby has a good latch and the baby maybe latching on too good... he may be sucking really hard and that could explain the pain and discomfort u are feeling... congrats on your new baby and i hope all the information u recieve helps...

this happens some times . if it contines you might wnat to put vasiline on them between feedings and clean them be fore feedings .

Yes, it is normal, and it will go away. I remember this happening. Sort of a stinging sensation on the tip of your nipple for a short time, then it is fine. You can also put lanolin on your nipples after each feeding to see if that helps. I remembers mine being sore for a while in the beginning. Before you know it, baby will be turning her head at 180 degrees and you won't even feel it...

Hi M.,
I had the same agonizing experience and it was because I had not placed the nipple far enough into the mouth when I started. It felt like someone flipping me with a credit card right on the end of my nipple! The La Leche person told me to hold Destinee in the football position and fake her out once until she opened wide enough to completely get me inside of her mouth. The football position is on one arm right next to the breast you're using at the time. She even said I could put my finger in her mouth to pry it a little more open if needed but the deal is to get your nipple beyond the tip of their tongue further into the mouth so it's not so painful. I was absolutely determined to breast feed my daughter and I'm so glad I didn't quit after that first week or two. She has been very healthy and a good eater, sleeper, etc...well balanced personality and secure. You're in my prayers! ;-)

I had the same problem. Sometimes it just takes awhile to get adjusted to the latch on. But what I found that helped was to make sure the baby gets as much of the nipple and areola in his mouth as possible. If he's just sucking on the nipple, that will cause it to hurt more. So make sure you have him latch on once he opens his mouth really big. I had more trouble with my second child with this as her mouth was really small. But she did better once her mouth got a little bigger. But when I noticed that pain, I would be more aware of making sure my child had a big open mouth and got a good bit of the areola in their mouth as well. That seemed to make the pain go away. Good luck! Sounds like you are doing really well. I was in so much pain and had so much trouble I almost gave up at around 3 weeks into it with my first child. But I stuck it out and hung in there. Good luck!

You will know if you have mastitis - trust me! It hurts so bad...I had it when I was breastfeeding my daughter. I would get it about every three weeks. I heard that underwire bras can cause it so I stopped wearign the underwire and it seememd to help.

It sounds as if you are doing well. This first pain may be your own sensitivity which will go away as you get more proficient, and he does too. The only sugg I have is to find a la leche group and go and see what they have to say. Are you nursing often enough that he is not ravenous when he latches? You might try feeding him before he gets starving.

Hi, I am a mother of five. And I breastfed all of them for a year each. You will be sore for a while until the skin around the area toughens up. That is why alot of mothers give up. You just have to take your mind off it. There are these rubber disc put out by playtex that you put over your breast like a bottle. That will help some. You need to keep your nipple area dry as much as possible. You can use breast shields to help. You should let them air dry when you have a chance. And also sunlight is good for them. Not enough to get a sunburn but just a few minutes. Anyway try to stick with it. It really helps your kids. My children have been really healthy through out their lives. And I think alot of it had to do with the breastfeeding. Goodluck

M.,
Just read your post and thought I would just say congratulations! I hope that you are enjoying breastfeeding your new little angel despite the pain. I will say from experience that it passes and your discomfort will stop. I used lansinoh cream after every nursing period with my little boy and it helped some. Now since I have another little one...there is no more pain. I hope that this helps. Just stick in there...I remember the pain, too.
A.

Your nipples could be sore and need to heal. It is difficult for them to do that when babies are that young because they feed so often. You should try getting some nipple shields. That will help your nipples to heal. You can also try airing them out after he feeds. Lastly, you can apply some Lanosolin on them after he feeds. Another suggestion is to get in touch with a lacatation consultant to make sure he is latching on properly.

Dear M., it has been a long time, twenty years. As a matter of fact. But my daughter breastfeed, my grandson. Just last year. If you take Hot tea bags, as hot as you can take them. They will take the soreness out. Do this about 3 or 4 times a day. I hope this helps. COngrats on your new Baby boy!!!

This is perfectly normal! Your breasts/nipples just need time to adjust to this new activity. Eventually the discomfort will go away. Just make sure he's taking in as much areola as possible. Don't worry, you're doing great!

This is totally normal. It was the same thing that happened to me when our daughter, and, like you, I was wondering if it was a problem. It was not, but you can check with a lactation specialist if it would help. I did and they told us that her latch was perfect. She said the key was the pain going away. If the pain continues for the whole feeding, then there is a problem.
Good news--your pain will go away soon. By the time he is a month you should be completely pain free.

Hi, M.,

I had the pain and discomfort when I nursed my children. It's due to your nipples not being used to being sucked on. My nipples even cracked and bled when I nursed my first child. Anyway, the lanolin topical breast cream helped me a lot. Apply the cream directly onto your nipples after each feeding and it will ease the pain and heal the cracking within days. It's not harmful to the baby, so don't worry about cleaning your nipples before nursing, unless that's what you do anyway. The cream is available at Babies R Us. The brand name is Lansinoh, with a purple box. Best wishes.

While still in the hospital I got a cracked nipple...it really hurt...the nurse and lactation consultant both gave my hydrogels...they are AMAZING. I went from having skipped two feedings to never missing another. I didn't expereince a lot of pain after leaving the hospital...but when I did I just wore a piece of hydrogel...infact I wore them all the time for about the first month jsut because they were so soothing. I never had to buy any, as they gave me a full sheet...it is just a sheet and you cut out a small square to go over your nipple and it sort of sticks there...doesn't actually stick...just stays in place. They said I could get more at any pharmacy...just hydrogel...it is a wound dressing and was perfect. I have had several people tell me I would need creams, etc...I never did. Also...I never had any pain after the first 6 weeks or so and my daughter is now 7 months old and we are still exclusively breast feeding...the only time I have pain now is right before my period...yes, it came back after three months, even though I am exclusively breast feeding...what a bummer! Anyway...just another suggestion.

Hello M.,
There are creams that you can use otc for chaffing and cracking of the areola and nipple. You'd think that baby's should just naturally latch on and for some it is but for others it isn't so easy. You should talk to a pharmacist about the best creams. Also did the nurses in the hospital tell you that there is a specific way that you are suppose to wash your breast when you are in the shower? I hope that all works out for you and congrats on the new baby.
T.