How Long Is "Too Long" for Painful Breastfeeding?

Hello J.,
I can't help you out with the painful aspect of it since I never had any problems breast feeding. But remember everyone is different. One thing, beofre you go out and buy a breast pump contact the lactation consultant at the hospital first and find out if they have breast pumps you can rent/borrow from them. I know it seems crazy to borrow one that has been used already but trust me they clean and sanitize them very good. I did borrow one from my hospital until I had the funds to puchase a good one that I knew would work. I hope this helped and good luck! It does get better just don't give up!!!

My first thing I want to say is dont give up. I had pain for the first two months. Do you get WIC? If you do, theyhave a breastfeeding technician that will come to your home and help you out for free. USE THIS SERVICE! I used it I get wic and the lactation help was great. She got me thru mastitis and a yeast infection of the breast and poor latch. I even was able to get a loaner pump for a week to get me thru the infection. I put up with such horrilbe pain sometimes I would almost cry. But I was dedicated and stuck with it and eventually little by little the pain went away. I am still exclusively bfing my 5 mth old DD. You can get thru this . Email me on here if you need to talk
A.

Hi J., I breastfed my 3 year old for 1 year and am currently breastfeeding my 5 month old. I remember it hurting for awhile but i really think you should contact the lactating nurse, they really do help. And they can answer your question about how long the pain last. With my 5 month old it hur for almost a month until we both got comfortable with the feeding process. The lactating nurses are there to help you! Good Luck!!!

I have a 4 month old, and the first several weeks of breastfeeding was extremely painful for me as well. They were cracked, bleeding, just gross. I used the cream as well, but that only worked a little. I ended up having to buy a nipple shield. I know some pediatricians don't like them for whatever reason, but it was a life saver for me. I couldn't have gone on without it. You can buy one (or 2) at Babies R Us. It also helped my daughter latch on better, and she got just as much milk, if not more since she was able to suck better. Ever since she was 8 weeks, I stopped using it and she has been breastfeeding like a champ ever since. Good luck!

J.,

Congrats on your new daughter and to you for deciding to breastfeed! It's actually not too late to meet with a Lactation Consultant. The one at the hospital where you had your daughter would probably be more than happy to meet with you now to make nursing more comfortable. It might be as simple as changing your daughter's position before she feeds to make sure her head is at the right angle to start with. I actually called my hospital and met with my LC about 3-4 weeks after my son was born and it was easier since my milk had come in pretty well by then. An LC can also check you for other things like a plugged milk duct or infection (mastitis) which can cause pain. Contacting La Leche League is a good suggestion, they may have a local chapter in your area with other moms you can talk to.

My experience with pumps was that the cheaper ones hurt more than nursing, and I finally got a Medella Pump-In-Style on Ebay for much less than new. That one is wonderful. But you can rent great pumps from your hospital to try it out and save money in the meantime.

For me, the first pain from latching on was quick and never went away completely, but once my son (and I) got better at it, the general soreness went away for good. He did prefer one side, so I always ended getting more from one breast than the other when I did pump. Keep up the good work and post back to let us know how you're doing!

Wow. I was in the exact same position 3 months ago. I almost gave up. I was chatting with another mother online who told me not to give up that sometimes it can take 2 months to straighten out. At the time I seriously doubted that I would last that long. I had blisters where she hadn't latched correctly and then on top of that I got mastitis and then I got thrush from the antibiotics I was taking for that. I am still fighting the thrush but as long as I use the ointment they gave me I am fine. I think most of it was a positional problem, though, even though I went to a lactation consultant and they told me her latch was fine and everything. But finally around 2 1/2 months we got into the groove of it and it seemed to work itself out. Please don't give up. Sometimes it just takes time to get into the rhythm. My daughter is now 4 months old and now I think I can make it a year, whereas I was only planning on 6 months. Also, I would say to pump the bad side (or even both sides if it's that bad) and then feed her through an eyedropper, cup (believe it or not she will probably take a cup) or, if she'll take it, a bottle. This will give some time for your nipples to heal. This is what the lactation consultant told me. Good luck!

It hurt for three weeks for me. However, I have a friend who says it hurts her for 3months with each baby (she has 3). I would call a lactation consutant ( you peditrician should be able to recomend one) and have her watch you breast feed, she will be able to help you get a proper latch on. Whatever you do, don't give up! Breast feeding is best for babies and coming directly from the breast is best!!

well I would say don't give up yet, my nipples were sore for several weeks, I developed little blisters where my daughter didn't latch on correctly, but we were just glad to get her on there, so I endured and in the end everything worked out. I would definitely consult a la Leche league group in your area, they could refer you to some close by or could offer more help. I don't think that it is a problem to not breastfeed on the one side very long, but if you are having to express milk almost every feeding then you should invest in a pump. Advent makes a great hand held that is not hard to use and is very gentle, that is what I used and loved it. I know it may sound weird but scrub your nipples and surrounding area with a loffa sponge or a wash clothe, this can help toughen up your nipples so that the breastfeeding doesn't hurt so bad. you don't want to be too rough, but it will help them toughen up a little faster. you may also want to try to put her on a boppy pillow or just a firm pillow and that way she is more in line with your breast and hopefully will latch on to the center and not the upper part. I wish you the best.

Hey J.!
Dont give up. It does hurt at first. Mine hurt for a few weeks, and I mean completely raw, cracked and bleeding. When my daughter started nursing I had to hold my breath and hold on to the chair! It will go away though, I promise! Are you using the cream the hospital gave you, Lanolin, or something like that? Also I got some gel pads (you can get them at Target) and you put them over your nipples in between feedings, they protect them from rubbing on your bra, and when you are nursing, put the pads in the fridge, when you are done nursing you put them on and it feels so good! I remember when my baby was young it took me FOREVER to nurse, first I had to "prepare" myself, then I nursed her, then I had to put myself back together! But before you know it you will just have to undo your bra! Seriously- it DOES get easier and become and wonderful experience!

I had a hard time getting my daughter to latch on, for about the first 2 months the only way I could nurse was with her in the football hold. I could NOT do it with her in the cradle hold! It was just easier to get her latched on right with the football hold. I also had to put about 3 blankets under my hand that was supporting her head to get her to the right spot for it to be comfortable for us both. Once she got bigger it was easier to hold her and once SHE got the hang of latching on I was able to nurse her in different positions.

DONT GIVE UP!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!

If you would like to char drop me a line!

Hey J.!! Just want to congratulate you on your new arrival and for breastfeeding. I have a 13 month old that I still breastfeed. I know how painful it can be. It took me almost 6 weeks before my breasts adjusted! Everyone is different...so keep trying. The only other great advice I have and it sounds crazy..(this will help in latching on and getting the whole thing in the babes mouth).. picture the top of your breast as "12"(noon on a clock) going to your left 1 2 and so on.. with your left breast take your left hand (thumb at 2 and pointing finger at 7 and make sure they are on the outer most point of the areola(spelling??)and pull back. You also have to take the babes head in your opposite hand and direct their head onto the nipple (bottom to top) I know this all probably sounds absolutely nuts but it was in a pamphlet that the hospital sent home with me. It really helped me alot. Also applying something cold after nursing really helps. I had a bag of cranberries that I used. Put a cloth over the breast then the cold. Lansinoh helped me too.

Also about pumping. Contact the health dept. about getting a pump. They are free. I live in Haywood Co. and they had the best pumps that you can buy, and they let you "rent" them for as long as you need it. Just keep trying.. it only gets easier.. I promise!! Much easier than preparing and washing bottles!! Good Luck! H. Wood

It sounds like it could be her latch by the way you described the apperance of your nipple after a feeding. Call back to the hospital nursery you delivered at and ask how to reach a LC. If you delivered at CJW I can give you their #. Also, you can come to a bfing support group on Tues. for FREE and see a LC there. It's from 10-12 at Chipenham. Park in the parking deck and you'll see a sign at the first elevators telling you where to go. DON'T give up, you can get it worked out. You're doing a great thing for your baby, hang in there!

It took almost 2 months before the pain went away for me.

HI! Congrats on your little one! Where are you located? I ask because I have a breast pump I never used and was going to sell it but if you need one I would be willing to give it to you. I never used it because I had already been given one and it was an absolute godsend!! I pumped and breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months and then kept breastfeeding until 2 years old.

Are you close to Madison, Alabama?? Let me know.

A lot of moms have answered you, but I wanted to add my two cents. I had the same experience with my first child. Really painful, scabs, etc. And everyone just kept telling me that he was latching incorrectly or his position was wrong, etc. I think the lactation people really want us to nurse (rightly so), and I felt like they just were lying to me about it! They wouldn't admit to me that nursing is painful, and difficult at the beginning. I remember at around five weeks sitting up in bed in the middle of the night and thinking, okay, tommorrow I will get some bottles. I was about to give up! Then it just suddenly got easier. Just give it some time, don't give up. I'm so glad I didn't, he nursed for 18 months. I had no problems at all with my second child. Also, do you have a boppy pillow? I had one with my second child, it never left my side for about 6 months! Good luck and hang in there!

Don't keep suffering because you think that it will go away eventually. When I breastfed my daughter, I was having the same problem but never asked for any help because I thought that it was just part of the package-it hurt so bad that I would cry while my daughter was nursing. When I went for my 6 week postpartum checkup, I found out that the problem that I had been having was becuase of thrush and that my daughter and I both needed to be treated for it in order for the problem to go away.
The other thing you can do is go to http://www.lalecheleague.org and search for group leaders in your area who are more than willing to help and answer any questions that you have so that you can have a positive breastfeeding experience. I only wish I had called my group leader earlier-she is wonderful! Most of them are willing to come to your home or meet you somewhere to help you. You can also search their archives for articles related to problems and remedies for certain breastfeeding issues.
Good luck and hang in there!

Nursing is no joke. Your nipples may be sore for several weeks. This is what saved me from giving up: A NIPPLE GUARD! I got it at Target and it is a little thin plastic nipple that you put over your own. I know several people who have used them....nipple confusion is not an issue. The plastic is very thin and forms to your own breast. The baby will suck, your milk will come, but the baby will not be making direct friction with your tender skin. I used mine every other time I nursed to give my skin a rest, but also gradually toughen them up. I had to do this for a few weeks and then nursing finally became something that I could relax while doing instead of cringing! Good luck!!

Hang in there J., try standing in a warm shower and expressing your milk with your hand,you may just need to relax and not try so hard. La Leche League is a wonderful source of free information if they are still around. They helped me through all 4 babies.If you find a spot that's more painful and seems warm or feverish you may want to call your doctor for advice.

When my daughter was born (it's been almost 11 years) it hurt to breastfeed her for about the first 3 to 3 1/2 weeks. It got so bad for me that my nipples actually got scabs on them. I tried the ointment from the hospital and a friend gave me bag-balm to try - they didn't help at all. But by the time she was a month old, the pain was completely gone. As for the breast pump - the best one I ever used was a cheap plastic thing the hospital gave me. Much better than the one I purchased from the store after my son was born. I wish I knew something more to help.

J.,
I feel your pain.. literally. My daughter is 8 months and for the first 3-4 weeks of breastfeeding I had blisters, cracks and bleeding nipples. It hurt really bad. As far as soothing the nipples, there are quite a few products that really help. First thing is a nipple sheild. It is a thin flexible piece of plastic (silicone?) that ii shaped like a nipple and has holes in the tip. You can get them at Target.
Brookwood hospital has a WONDERFUL lactation department. You can call them and they will help you with anything. You can buy nipple sheilds and the other products I will mention as well as bras and rent pumps from them. Their number is ###-###-####. They are in Birmingham and they will help you no matter what hopital you delivered in!
Anyway, the nipple sheilds saved my breastfeeding experience. Also things called hydrogell pads, gerber makes the same thing called soothies. You can get them at walmart and target I believe. They are shaped like nursing pads but are made of some kind of gel that soothes nipples better than lanolin! If you would want to use the lanolin and hydrogels, don't use them at the same time, alternate them. Also you have to wipe your nipples off before you nurse with the hydrogel pads.
As far as the expressing milk, the reason you are so full is because when you express you don't get as much milk out as the baby does. So that would make sence.
Latching on is always difficult with a little one. One thing that helped me is resting my breast on her chin with the nipple about at the bottom of her nose and as she opens her mouth, roll the nipple into her mouth. This almost forces her to open her jaw more and allow more of the nipple in.
A website that has really helped me is kellymom.com. It is a great site with lots of helpful suggestions.
I hope this helps, good luck. If you are in Birmingham, there are many bf support groups that meet on mondays, tuesdays and thrusdays if you are interested let me know or Brookwood Lactation can tell you about them! It will get better! Good luck!
J. S

You need to find a local lactation consultation to call to help you with this. Also I had that problem when my baby was close to that age and it was because she had thrush in her mouth so it was irritating my breasts. I called the lactation consultant and she gave me lots of tips. Also i had to take my baby to the dr to get her some drops to put in her mouth to clear up the thrush and i was told to put it on my breasts as well. Also it was painful to breastfeed for me for awhile so i would give my baby formula at one feeding to let my breasts rest a little then nurse her at the next feeding. i would also put the breast creame on my breasts after every feeding and pump session. even now sometimes (i have been nursing for nine months) i put the creame on after every feeding and pump just so my breasts dont get so sore.

Ok yes some pain is expected. It is something new to your body. But, my question is does it feel like it is still full in some areas of your breast? If so you might want to think about mastitis. 1 in 5 women will get it. I honestly think that I have it right now and am going to the dr. tomorrow. But anyways, when breastfeeding her squish your breast down for her. Like kind of squeeze it close to the nipple so that it all gets in there. Another thing you might also have thrush which is a yeast infection of the breast. If you do and not careful you can pass it on. She si going to keep whats comfortable for her her mouth is tiny. she will eventually get the hang of it and open wider. But please for your sake call you ob and go to him/her. You might have something wrong and iw ould hate for you to let it go and it get bad for you and your daughter. If you ahve any questions about this things you can email me or send a message. My email is ____@____.com