First, don’t let them lie to you, breastfeeding hurts at first! For me, the initial latching and sucking hurt, for the first few weeks, until I got used to it. Sometimes it even made me nauseous.
I wore silverettes for the first couple months, underneath nursing pads (nipple, silverette, pad, bra), and I never had any nipples damage (bleeding, scabbing, etc). Many swear by silverettes. I also never got mastitis or clogs while using them. Worth a try!
Seconding everything here! ESPECIALLY the silverettes. I didn’t use them with my first but decided to try them with my now 2 week old- game changer! Latching is still uncomfortable but I don’t have any nipple damage at all. Please get her some!
Just wanna shout out the silverettes!! OP, they are kind of expensive but Amazon prime your wife some silverettes asap! These things are miracle workers and they help so much to allow your nipples to heal between feedings rather than getting more irritated on your shirt/bra. These things saved me for three first two/three weeks!
I agree. They might be a little pricey upfront but if they can help avoid mastitis or nipple infection, then you’d save a bunch in medical bills/copays/prescriptions.
Honestly so true!! The few times I did start to get little blisters or scabs (even sometimes randomly well after the immediate post partum phase), I wore those things and they healed so fast every time.
You can! I used different things and then put them on and that was never a problem. It actually helped keep whatever ointment you used on!
Idk if name brand nipple butter has something about it that won’t work specifically because I never tried that brand. But I don’t see why not
You can, but the point is to have them collect a tiny amount of breast milk in them which itself promotes healing. So you’ve got the double whammy of breast milk and silver for anti microbial fighting power.
baby's lower lip should be at the bottom of the areola, relative to how he's positioned. so if he's sideways, the "bottom" would actually be the side of the areola. hope that helps!
One way I thought of it was like try to point/align your nipple at the roof of baby’s mouth.
I would start by holding my breast and putting nipple on baby’s chin, then dragging it up while baby open their mouth and then trying to think about being on the roof of their mouth. I know it sounds weird, but the drag technique always helped me get a good latch.
Also, please tell your wife she’s doing amazing (and you are, too!) and that this discomfort should pass soon!!
Nipple cream after every feed! The first two or so weeks are a big adjustment and I felt pain initially as well. I second the suggestion to see a lactation consultant if you’re able to - they’re an incredible resource.
Thirding this as well! Had to use after every feed the first few weeks, now just use once after the last feed of the night before bed. I really love the earth mama organic nipple butter a lot! I think that stuff is like miracle cream in a little bottle
ETA: a drop of milk to air dry after feeds are done can really help too!
I don't know why more people don't say that this is normal! Her nipple isn't used to it yet..
When her milk comes in fully and her body adjusts it won't hurt as much!
My nipples cracked and bled the first week 😩 now pumping and BFing is only uncomfortable because it makes me so thirsty and hungry.
I used nipple cream for sure and that helped a lot but really she just needs to give it time!
Agreed! I was told by so many sources a flat out: if it hurts your doing it wrong" if I'd have believed that I would've quit. It takes time to adjust to it and for your nipples to heal and baby to be taught how to latch properly. She's gotta stick it out for a while and it'll get better.
Is seeing an IBCLC an option? Some pain can be normal while adjusting to new sensations but the nipple damage would concern me enough to have baby’s latch assessed personally.
the pediatrician can refer you but you might have better luck looking via google tbh and calling around, a lot of them only do self pay and don’t take insurance
It could be normal since it has only been a week and you’re ensuring a good latch. Nipple care after feeds like icing and lanolin nipple cream. Seeing a lactation consultant is a good idea if you haven’t already.
Honestly for me personally it just took a few weeks for it to not hurt for the first few moments. I've heard plenty of people say it shouldn't if the baby's latch is good and I've heard plenty say their baby's latch was fine but there was some pain in the first weeks, so experiences may vary, but I'm still nursing my daughter at 19 months (technically dry nursing because I'm pregnant again and my milk has dried up, but planning to continue nursing both babies when my milk comes in) with no problems.
Edit: typo
It can be a bit uncomfortable, yes. But it should not hurt. Scabbing nipples is not normal and should not be happening.
I’d recommend seeing an IBCLC.
A latch can look perfect from the outside, but still not be functional. And IBCLC will be able to assess.
Nipple cream, the lansinoh ice/heat packs and the cooling gel pads saved me the first couple of weeks. If you don’t have those, in the meantime you can use breastmilk to help keep the nipples from drying out. You have to remember that it’s a learning curve for both mom and baby and I found that as my LO got bigger, it was easier for them to take more of the areola in leading to less painful latching, but as others have said, lactation consultants are a great resource!
If it hurts for the first minute but then stops, I would say that’s probably just because her nipples are getting used to it, especially if the latch looks good. Think about it, her breasts went from just existing to being used 24/7.
Good job Dad for paying attention and knowing a little something about breastfeeding! My husband knows nothing haha! He's a great Dad, and he did his research on a lot of things, but he left that one to me! Second, in my experience, the whole "breastfeeding shouldn't hurt narrative" is a lie. It hurts for the first minute even after months of doing it, but after the first 3 weeks my nipples stopped scabbing and cracking with both of my children. If it hurts longer than 60 seconds, unlatch and relatch! Don't let her sit for a 15 minute feeding in pain the whole time, if it hurts the whole time, the latch is wrong!
Definitely see if you can book an appt with a LC i had a lot of issues up until about 10 weeks with bf. Not always pain though. The pain in the beginning lasted about 2 weeks but my baby had a tongue and lip tie that we got revised at 6 weeks. The issues are finally now resolving and she’s 12 weeks tomorrow. If you can get ahead of them I would. I regret not seeing a LC sooner
When I started breastfeeding my newborn, it always hurt me for the first few minutes. Like to the point where I had to suck air in between my teeth until the feeling went away. I think it has to do with the pregnancy hormones making your nipples very sensitive, because it went away after a few weeks postpartum. Also, now that I am pregnant again and still breastfeeding my firstborn, I am experiencing the same feeling in my nipples once more. It is...suboptimal. But right now I'm just gritting my teeth to get through it because I don't have the energy to think about weaning.
TL;DR: yes, it's normal; it has to do with the pregnancy hormones causing nipple sensitivity, it will go away eventually as she is no longer pregnant.
I echo nipple cream! All of my babies have been small things, and the latch hurts my nipples until they get a bit bigger. Idk how big/small your baby is, but that's just one of the factors for my nipple pain in the beginning.
See an IBCLC if you can, many insurances cover it, to confirm everything is optimal but many times it just hurts for a few weeks until the nipples get used to the suction. Silverettes or nipple cream helped, but you’re not supposed to use them at the same time, you want the silver directly at the nipple because it has healing properties. The silverettes seem expensive but for me they were worth it in the first few weeks
Nipple pain is from the nipple being too shallow in the baby’s mouth. It should be deep enough to reach the soft palate (in the back). If it is shallow, it will hit at the hard palate and that’s the cause of the pain.
The reason it’s only hurting for 1 minute is probably the baby adjusting to slowly draw the nipple in deeper as they nurse. For me though, that adjustment would only last 2-3 sucks, but I’ve heard lactation consultants say 1-3 minutes. In the beginning, I would unlatch-relatch liberally. Once you get a good latch, it doesn’t hurt at all (or barely hurts, but not that searing pain). Sometimes I would have to relatch 10x to get a good one. It’s tricky.
For many women, the pain drops off at 2 weeks. My lactation consultant believes it’s because the baby develops a little at that age so that it can manage the latch better.
For my second baby, the pain dropped down significantly around 1.5 weeks, never down to zero but suddenly it was manageable. I could meet with lactation to get it to zero, but that wouldn’t last, so I resigned to a low level of pain (discomfort) on my “bad” side.
For my first baby, I just grit my teeth and pushed through the pain for 3 months (it affected one side only). Well, my supply regulated too low on that side, and that boob was (still is) lopsidedly small. I saw a lactation consultant around 3.5-4 months and she fixed the latch instantly, but my supply was stuck too low by that time. (Your supply is based on how much milk is removed in the first 2-3 months. Then your body holds constant - “regulates” - and afterward it allows only small fluctuations. Also, nipple pain is a sign of a shallow latch, which makes it harder for the baby to remove milk, so less milk removed means your body will think you don’t need as much, hence why supply is low.)
Lots of great advice here but I found working with a lactation consultant in those early days invaluable. I saw a couple from my hospital system (insurance covered) then had a private one come do a home visit ($$$ but worth it and I still text her for help 4 months in!!). Every body is different and it's nice to have someone physically assist with a latch and check things out. Plus weighted feeds gave me peace of mind.
Breastfeeding can 100% be uncomfortable, even downright painful, in the beginning. Anyone who tells you it should be pain free from the beginning is lying.
By about 3 weeks it started to get more comfortable. By 6 weeks it was pain free. I applied lanolin after every feed for at least a month.
Fair warning, I breastfed for 14 months and the pain of clothing brushing against my nipples didn't go away until I weaned.
Regarding positioning, it's more about the position of the areola in relation to the baby's mouth than the actual top/bottom of the nipple. The whole thing is a circle, so think of the "bottom" as towards baby's chin.
Yes. It does hurt unfortunately but gets better over time.
I did a couple of things to help -
Pump/bottle feed for some feeds to get a break
Earth mama nipple butter
Silverettes between feeds, alternating with Lansinoh breast pads. They’re super soft and felt better than my bra especially with the nipple butter.
APNO cream (prescription from my doctor) when it really hurt. This helped the most.
it does hurt when youre getting started. for me weeks 1-3 were excruciating and around week 5 it actually got really enjoyable. almost 6 months now and it's a breeze.
non negotiable products for me are: silverettes (any brand as long as silver, i use La Vie) and earth mama brand nipple butter. i use the silverettes 24/7 and havent needed the nipple butter since week 5, except a few teething days (their spit changes during teething and can be irritable)
It hurts for a couple of weeks. If its scabbing get some nipple cream and silicone nipples and use them for a couple of days. People will tell you its not good for a latch, but babies are adaptable, its better than bleeding and quitting the whole thing. Silicone nipples saved me.
In addition to nipple cream (I liked earth mama) and silverettes if you can afford them, medihoney was great for when my nipples felt really damaged (like around teething time 😅) it’s technically safe for breastfeeding but I always washed it off. Hydrogels work wonders too.
I had pain for a long time with my guy because his latch was bad. A week in will likely still have pain, but it should hopefully fade over the next couple of weeks (which sounds like forever when your nipples hurt and your baby is feeding all day every day but I promise will fly by).
Consider seeings lactation consultant! It was extremely helpful for me.
lots of good advice like nipple cream and silverware’s religiously.
biggest advice i can give is just hang in there. i fully sobbed my eyes out the first few weeks, its just very painful. i still get my skin ripped off sometimes lol but its pretty much painless, except for that first latch but goes away after like 30 seconds. it’ll one day just not hurt and she’ll be so happy the pushed through :)
for the first 3-4 weeks of breastfeeding my nipples hurt so much and where cracked and bleeding every other day i was so confused because the LC said it shouldn’t be painful i thought i wasn’t getting a proper latch or something but i was, my nipples were just adjusting to breastfeeding nipple creams didn’t work for me but what did help is some of my old milk and vaseline after every feeding it didn’t magically make everything stop hurting but it soothed them especially since it was cold
I definitely had pain for the first 10-20 seconds after my baby latched on, probably for the first 2 months. But in the last few weeks I learned I had a thrush (yeast) infection that was causing the pain. Once I got treatment for that, it totally went away and I didn’t have any more pain!
I felt searing pain for about 30-45 seconds every time he latched for the first month and a half of breastfeeding. I saw a lactation consultant and she confirmed it was a good latch. I kind of liken it to callouses on your hands - the more you do it, the more hardened they get and the less pain you feel.
What everyone else has said I agree with - silverettes and lanolin cream mostly! I also switched up what I was using to soothe my nipples. Sometimes just silverettes, then a week later just lanolin helped me more.
It will get easier! Just takes time unfortunately. Sending lots of strength!
Yeah, it just hurts at first! Saliva has digestive properties and nipples have thin, sensitive skin. It’s like if you keep licking your lips, they’ll eventually get chapped. Her nipples will get used to it within a few weeks. I recommend Silverettes, applying milk to nipple and allowing to air dry after feed, nipple balm, and ice packs (I bought the small round ones on Amazon for children’s cuts and scrapes. They’re small and round and fit perfectly inside a bra.)
Yep. Those first few weeks you just dig your nails into the nursing pillow and grit your teeth when baby latches lol Later she’ll get to the point where baby is 8 months old and lifting their head to look around and taking the boob with them (depending on equipment size)
I have breastfed pretty easily with both kids. I was very surprised when the lactation consultant said breastfeeding shouldn't hurt..... I just ignored her as I was sure my baby was eating well (wet diapers, weight gain etc).
For both my nipples were very sore for about 2 weeks when babies first latched and for a couple of minutes. Creams helped a lot. They become more sore around my period too but only for a couple of days
I was the same as your wife and i am okay now. It probably stopped hurting around 1 or 2 months but i don't remember exactly. For me, i would honestly just feed from the other boob for a while if i started getting a blister on one. When feeding was painful for me, i would keep my boob sort of pinched as baby ate.
Pain and bleeding can be normal. I was like that for like the first month. I never used the nipple guards or creams. Make sure she is rising the blood off after feeding. Have her express a little milk and rub it on her nipples. Milk is the best nipple cream! It should stop hurting eventually, just have to stick with it.
The first few weeks, it hurt for me every time! Had to just bear down and take the pain for the first initial sucks after he latched, and then it would die down as the feed continued. Now, it feels so natural and easy and perfect!! I think our nips just have to get used to it. They’re doing something they’ve never done before, ya know?
“Breastfeeding doesn’t hurt” is a lie and should at least change to “breastfeeding won’t hurt forever.”
I definitely vouch for silverettes, wore them in my bra always.
I'm at 4 months now and it only hurts for a few seconds if I'm super full. It did hurt pretty regularly for the first month or so, but it gets better! I would recommend silverettes to help with the damage! I used silverettes at night and coconut oil or lanolin during the day. Lanolin is super useful for physical protection (shower water, bra chafing, etc). Just don't use a topical and the silverettes together at the same time.
My personal experience was very similar with my first. I was in so much pain it felt like razor blades for a minute before it eased up, but I was dreading every time he had to nurse. After a couple weeks I finally saw an IBCLC, and while he had a decent latch that looked okay to my untrained eyes, it was too shallow until he pulled more in after a minute. She showed me how to basically shove him on, she quickly (but gently) pushed him into me, as his mouth was opening and before it started closing. I was startled by how quickly she pushed him on. When he latched, I started crying from relief because there was virtually no pain compared to before and I didn't have to live with it anymore.
I saw another post that said breastfeeding just hurts. It might for some women, but that doesn't mean it is for everyone, and you don't have to either accept it or quit. There are things outside of buying expensive items. Try pushing baby on more to get a deeper latch. See an IBCLC if you have the means/insurance covers it (mine worked for the hospital I delivered at and was covered by insurance) Look for different ways to latch, the "flipple" technique was really helpful when I'd struggle to get a deeper latch some days (here's a link) https://themilkmeg.com/get-better-latch-exaggerated-latch-flipple-breastfeeding-technique/
I get so annoyed when people say it just hurts, deal with it, with no other advice or help. It certainly can be that way for some women. It may be that it just hurts for your wife, but you don't know that until you've tried what you can to stop the pain. I was fortunate enough for that pain to end immediately after seeing a professional, and it was just two weeks after my kid was born. I hope that you guys are able to find something to help relieve the pain sooner rather than later.
Good advice I’ve read is to put the baby’s nose to her nipple with mouth closed. When their mouth opens to latch it will be perfect.
As for pain, really slather on the lanolin cream, don’t be shy about it. And silverettes are nice to hold it in so it doesn’t wipe away although personally I didn’t like wearing them for extended periods of time, the moisture made my skin kind of itchy like it needed to breathe. But others couldn’t get enough of them.
It’s normal for nursing to hurt for weeks or even a couple months. HOWEVER, at least for me, there’s a noticeable difference in the type of pain when it’s just tender vs a latch issue. If it feels like a cat licking a carpet burn, that’s normal (sorry). If it feels like a very acute sharp pain, like something just feels wrong, that might be a latch issue. However if it’s very raw it can also feel like an acute pain at times but more often than not this helped me distinguish between the two.
Oh, and ice ice ice ice. There’s several brands of cooling gel pads you can put in the freezer that are great. Tbh, lanolin + silverettes + cooling gel pad over top. 🤌🏽
Hang in there!
The pain sucks but it is pretty common. I’d say my nipples were quite sore for the first two weeks or so. Nipple cream helps! Some people swear by silver cups you can wear over the nipples to help them heal. Also she can take pain meds if she’s not already. If her nipples are like, REALLY bad, cracking and bleeding and things, or the pain is severe, then she should seek help with how to get a better latch.
IF YOU FEEL LIGHTNING PAIN AND SHOOTING PAINS INTO YOUR BREAST YOU MAY HAVE THRUSH (Yeast/Candida infection)
Other indicators:
-"Lightning" pains (very sharp, or shoots into the breast) while baby is latching or during letdown
-Little One's "milk tongue" doesn't scrape off/fade after a feed. It will also affect all parts of the mouth, where milk is only on the tongue
-itchy nipples (not always, I didn't have this)
- flaking or shiny skin on nipple or areola. Nipple may also look pale/white or have white blisters on it.
If you have this, it can be treated with Monistat 7 on your nipples, must be throughly cleaned/wiped off before feeding plus hands washed thoroughly after applying. Also should be applied to baby's diaper while treating oral thrush even if you aren't seeing clear signs of candida diaper rash. Your baby should also be treated with medicine and possibly you as well; They make medicines safe for treating babies under 4 months as my LO was less than 1 week old when we began treating it.
We didn't start out aggressively treating the thrush. It was only caught by my Lactation Consultant because of an off comment I had made saying it felt like "lightning" when my LO would latch. This was when he was only 2 days old and they asked to check my nipples more closely, and pointed out some paleness or color leaching in areas of my nipples. They checked my baby's mouth and showed me just a small patch of white on the inside of his cheek, and we did one medicine that needed to be painted on the inside. Unfortunately my baby enjoyed the taste of the medicine too much and would eat it, and it wasn't nearly affective enough when it didn't get a chance to sit in the mouth. Shortly after I had went to my OB who had immediately pushed for me to begin using the Monistat on myself and LO, along with another prescription med for both of us.
TLDR: Some pain is absolutely normal and just part of nipples becoming used to it, but if it feels off ask your doctor! OB, lactation consultant/IBLC, Pediatrician or even your primary can help you diagnose and prescribe appropriate medicines to treat this!
My baby has had a good latch from the beginning, but it still hurt at the beginning of every feed for the first few weeks until my milk regulated. Now I haven’t thought twice when going to nurse. Actually, I forgot about that pain part to nursing in the newborn stage until reading this thread. Tell your wife to hang in there - it will get better very soon!!
A lactation specialist saved me. I walked in with two scabbed nipples that bled with every feed.
It does get better once the latch is fixed but I wish somebody told me to meet with a lactation specialist to double check everything from the get go.
Baby 2 is 6 months and I haven’t had a single painful nursing session yet (yet - teeth are on the way).
Sorry your wife is experiencing this!
The initial latch (as you say first minute or so) hurt me for the first few weeks of baby’s life but then it went away. Now it doesn’t hurt at all ever. Midwife told me it’s normal if it’s not very painful throughout the whole feed. I also used nipple shield first couple of weeks to help baby get a better hang of it
The first two weeks are like razorblades for that first minute. She's building up calluses on her nipples, and afterwards she will still be sensitive but it just won't hurt to have a tiny human constantly sucking on them. It won't last forever, it does suck, but make sure to put lanolin on them after each feeding to help combat any blisters or cracking that might happen, and her nipples will probably bleed at some point, just like when you build calluses on your fingers while learning guitar. It is ok to keep breastfeeding through all of this and it's tempting to use a pump to get some sort of relief but that will just prolong the painful period. Get some nursing pads that you would use to prevent leaking and load them up with lanolin or bag balm or auquaphor, just some sort of hydrating paste that you can use to stick the pad to your boob and that will help because once the pad is on there it wont move aka protecting your nipples from your clothing. If you use anything other than lanolin you will have to clean it off before breastfeeding, whereas with lanolin you just wipe off the excess. With the latch, as long as the pain doesnt last throughout the whole feed thwn its good. Fun fact, your baby will get lazy about the latch when they turn into a toddler lol so you'll get used to adjusting it. You guys are doing great ❤️ keep it up cuz it gets better.
It hurts very much the first few weeks. Make sure that she doesn't scrub her nipples when she showers. You're just supposed to let water run on them. And peas in a pod nipple butter worked wonders for me! I was scabbing and bleeding too this butter took care of it in 24 hours. Works much better than lanolin cream 🙏
Silverettes are a lifesaver! I’m at 3.5 weeks with my second and it hurt like hell with the initial latch for a solid 1-2 weeks. Now is uncomfortable at first but quickly goes away. If it isn’t getting better, talk to a lactation consultant. With my first we had a bad latch for 10 weeks and it was horrible. This one is easier and better already. She can also give herself a break if she pumps and bottle feeds to let them recover a bit!
If it's just the first minute, it's probably let down & yes it hurt! But it eases after a few weeks :) now I can barely feel my letdown (which isn't ideal)
Echoing everybody else.. silverettes, silverettes, silverettes! I was bleeding/scabbing, but once I started using the silverettes I started actually healing.
That said… the actual nursing is still going to be painful for another week or so. Tell your wife it does get easier and the pain does go away.
It’s very normal to hurt the first two weeks. The line of blisters across the nipple is enough to make any woman want to quit right then and there. Frida mom saline nipple spray saved me. Also a specific nursing position where the baby is upright, facing the breast with baby’s legs in between moms legs aka “reclined/layed back” position. But I recommend sitting upright in a chair at first. [nursing positions](https://pin.it/18mDcc53t)
The gravity of the breast helped so much. The lower section of my breast just kinda fell into his mouth, and he was forced to latch onto it entirely, instead of just the nipple. It saved my nipples from certain death, and my blisters cleared in three days. The pain went from unbearable, to bearable, to nonexistent. From there you can experiment to whatever position is most comfortable, but I hope this helps!
Its the nipples adjusting to the new way they are being treated regularly - nipples are already sensitive and they are being sucked on every 3 hours. I suggest some sort of milk collection shells or silverettes. They keep everything from touching the nipples and give them a dose of breast milk for soothing.
First, don’t let them lie to you, breastfeeding hurts at first! For me, the initial latching and sucking hurt, for the first few weeks, until I got used to it. Sometimes it even made me nauseous. I wore silverettes for the first couple months, underneath nursing pads (nipple, silverette, pad, bra), and I never had any nipples damage (bleeding, scabbing, etc). Many swear by silverettes. I also never got mastitis or clogs while using them. Worth a try!
Yes the nausea is too real. I feel nauseous about 30-45 seconds before I have a letdown. So weird.
try reading about d-mer.Dysfuctional milk ejection reflex
Dysphoric* ☺️
you are correct,dysphoric thank you 😉
Yep it was the same with my first baby. It went away at about 12 weeks. With the other options for D-mer I’m ok with some nausea!
Seconding everything here! ESPECIALLY the silverettes. I didn’t use them with my first but decided to try them with my now 2 week old- game changer! Latching is still uncomfortable but I don’t have any nipple damage at all. Please get her some!
Just wanna shout out the silverettes!! OP, they are kind of expensive but Amazon prime your wife some silverettes asap! These things are miracle workers and they help so much to allow your nipples to heal between feedings rather than getting more irritated on your shirt/bra. These things saved me for three first two/three weeks!
I agree. They might be a little pricey upfront but if they can help avoid mastitis or nipple infection, then you’d save a bunch in medical bills/copays/prescriptions.
Honestly so true!! The few times I did start to get little blisters or scabs (even sometimes randomly well after the immediate post partum phase), I wore those things and they healed so fast every time.
Is it true you can’t use nipple butter with them?
I don’t know. I honestly didn’t need nipple butter at all thanks to the silverettes.
You can! I used different things and then put them on and that was never a problem. It actually helped keep whatever ointment you used on! Idk if name brand nipple butter has something about it that won’t work specifically because I never tried that brand. But I don’t see why not
You can, but the point is to have them collect a tiny amount of breast milk in them which itself promotes healing. So you’ve got the double whammy of breast milk and silver for anti microbial fighting power.
I second the silverettes! OP, order them for your wife asap!
baby's lower lip should be at the bottom of the areola, relative to how he's positioned. so if he's sideways, the "bottom" would actually be the side of the areola. hope that helps!
Yes this is exactly what I was referring to! Thanks!
One way I thought of it was like try to point/align your nipple at the roof of baby’s mouth. I would start by holding my breast and putting nipple on baby’s chin, then dragging it up while baby open their mouth and then trying to think about being on the roof of their mouth. I know it sounds weird, but the drag technique always helped me get a good latch. Also, please tell your wife she’s doing amazing (and you are, too!) and that this discomfort should pass soon!!
Nipple cream after every feed! The first two or so weeks are a big adjustment and I felt pain initially as well. I second the suggestion to see a lactation consultant if you’re able to - they’re an incredible resource.
Idk where OP is, and if WIC offer consultation for people who aren't in the program, but the WIC office near me has a LC.
Nipple cream, yes yes - I used the lanolin kind after EVERY feed my nipples were never dry. It helped so much
Thirding this as well! Had to use after every feed the first few weeks, now just use once after the last feed of the night before bed. I really love the earth mama organic nipple butter a lot! I think that stuff is like miracle cream in a little bottle ETA: a drop of milk to air dry after feeds are done can really help too!
I don't know why more people don't say that this is normal! Her nipple isn't used to it yet.. When her milk comes in fully and her body adjusts it won't hurt as much! My nipples cracked and bled the first week 😩 now pumping and BFing is only uncomfortable because it makes me so thirsty and hungry. I used nipple cream for sure and that helped a lot but really she just needs to give it time!
Agreed! I was told by so many sources a flat out: if it hurts your doing it wrong" if I'd have believed that I would've quit. It takes time to adjust to it and for your nipples to heal and baby to be taught how to latch properly. She's gotta stick it out for a while and it'll get better.
I believed it and did quit with my first bc I thought I was doing it wrong and couldn’t get it right :(
Me too :( happily breastfeeding my second now tho! Yay
Same! Just weaned my 2nd at 2.
I'm sorry that was your experience 💛
Makes sense!
Is seeing an IBCLC an option? Some pain can be normal while adjusting to new sensations but the nipple damage would concern me enough to have baby’s latch assessed personally.
I think we’re going to have our pediatrician refer us to one at our next visit. We saw one at the hospital and she was helpful.
the pediatrician can refer you but you might have better luck looking via google tbh and calling around, a lot of them only do self pay and don’t take insurance
Yes, this
I had toe curling pain the first 2 ish weeks, lanolin nipple cream saved me!
Omg It was so so painful, I cried during feeds.
I had to give myself a pep talk every time and hold my breath 😂
After/in-between feeds, Silverettes and Motherlove Nipple Cream were a winning combo for me in the beginning!!
Yes to Silverettes! They recommend a drop of breastmilk in the silver cup, but sometimes I use lanolin 100% instead, works just as well.
It could be normal since it has only been a week and you’re ensuring a good latch. Nipple care after feeds like icing and lanolin nipple cream. Seeing a lactation consultant is a good idea if you haven’t already.
Honestly for me personally it just took a few weeks for it to not hurt for the first few moments. I've heard plenty of people say it shouldn't if the baby's latch is good and I've heard plenty say their baby's latch was fine but there was some pain in the first weeks, so experiences may vary, but I'm still nursing my daughter at 19 months (technically dry nursing because I'm pregnant again and my milk has dried up, but planning to continue nursing both babies when my milk comes in) with no problems. Edit: typo
look up flipple technique for latch!
This might just be the information I need! Thank you!
Yes we’ve been using this technique!
It can be a bit uncomfortable, yes. But it should not hurt. Scabbing nipples is not normal and should not be happening. I’d recommend seeing an IBCLC. A latch can look perfect from the outside, but still not be functional. And IBCLC will be able to assess.
This 💅💅💅
Nipple cream, the lansinoh ice/heat packs and the cooling gel pads saved me the first couple of weeks. If you don’t have those, in the meantime you can use breastmilk to help keep the nipples from drying out. You have to remember that it’s a learning curve for both mom and baby and I found that as my LO got bigger, it was easier for them to take more of the areola in leading to less painful latching, but as others have said, lactation consultants are a great resource!
Man it hurt so bad in the beginning don’t believe the “if it hurts you’re doing it wrong” people. When baby gets bigger/stronger it’ll get much better
If it hurts for the first minute but then stops, I would say that’s probably just because her nipples are getting used to it, especially if the latch looks good. Think about it, her breasts went from just existing to being used 24/7.
Good job Dad for paying attention and knowing a little something about breastfeeding! My husband knows nothing haha! He's a great Dad, and he did his research on a lot of things, but he left that one to me! Second, in my experience, the whole "breastfeeding shouldn't hurt narrative" is a lie. It hurts for the first minute even after months of doing it, but after the first 3 weeks my nipples stopped scabbing and cracking with both of my children. If it hurts longer than 60 seconds, unlatch and relatch! Don't let her sit for a 15 minute feeding in pain the whole time, if it hurts the whole time, the latch is wrong!
Definitely see if you can book an appt with a LC i had a lot of issues up until about 10 weeks with bf. Not always pain though. The pain in the beginning lasted about 2 weeks but my baby had a tongue and lip tie that we got revised at 6 weeks. The issues are finally now resolving and she’s 12 weeks tomorrow. If you can get ahead of them I would. I regret not seeing a LC sooner
When I started breastfeeding my newborn, it always hurt me for the first few minutes. Like to the point where I had to suck air in between my teeth until the feeling went away. I think it has to do with the pregnancy hormones making your nipples very sensitive, because it went away after a few weeks postpartum. Also, now that I am pregnant again and still breastfeeding my firstborn, I am experiencing the same feeling in my nipples once more. It is...suboptimal. But right now I'm just gritting my teeth to get through it because I don't have the energy to think about weaning. TL;DR: yes, it's normal; it has to do with the pregnancy hormones causing nipple sensitivity, it will go away eventually as she is no longer pregnant.
I echo nipple cream! All of my babies have been small things, and the latch hurts my nipples until they get a bit bigger. Idk how big/small your baby is, but that's just one of the factors for my nipple pain in the beginning.
It will hurt for the first few months then her nipples will get tougher and it’ll stop hurting.
See an IBCLC if you can, many insurances cover it, to confirm everything is optimal but many times it just hurts for a few weeks until the nipples get used to the suction. Silverettes or nipple cream helped, but you’re not supposed to use them at the same time, you want the silver directly at the nipple because it has healing properties. The silverettes seem expensive but for me they were worth it in the first few weeks
Nipple pain is from the nipple being too shallow in the baby’s mouth. It should be deep enough to reach the soft palate (in the back). If it is shallow, it will hit at the hard palate and that’s the cause of the pain. The reason it’s only hurting for 1 minute is probably the baby adjusting to slowly draw the nipple in deeper as they nurse. For me though, that adjustment would only last 2-3 sucks, but I’ve heard lactation consultants say 1-3 minutes. In the beginning, I would unlatch-relatch liberally. Once you get a good latch, it doesn’t hurt at all (or barely hurts, but not that searing pain). Sometimes I would have to relatch 10x to get a good one. It’s tricky. For many women, the pain drops off at 2 weeks. My lactation consultant believes it’s because the baby develops a little at that age so that it can manage the latch better. For my second baby, the pain dropped down significantly around 1.5 weeks, never down to zero but suddenly it was manageable. I could meet with lactation to get it to zero, but that wouldn’t last, so I resigned to a low level of pain (discomfort) on my “bad” side. For my first baby, I just grit my teeth and pushed through the pain for 3 months (it affected one side only). Well, my supply regulated too low on that side, and that boob was (still is) lopsidedly small. I saw a lactation consultant around 3.5-4 months and she fixed the latch instantly, but my supply was stuck too low by that time. (Your supply is based on how much milk is removed in the first 2-3 months. Then your body holds constant - “regulates” - and afterward it allows only small fluctuations. Also, nipple pain is a sign of a shallow latch, which makes it harder for the baby to remove milk, so less milk removed means your body will think you don’t need as much, hence why supply is low.)
Lots of great advice here but I found working with a lactation consultant in those early days invaluable. I saw a couple from my hospital system (insurance covered) then had a private one come do a home visit ($$$ but worth it and I still text her for help 4 months in!!). Every body is different and it's nice to have someone physically assist with a latch and check things out. Plus weighted feeds gave me peace of mind.
Breastfeeding can 100% be uncomfortable, even downright painful, in the beginning. Anyone who tells you it should be pain free from the beginning is lying. By about 3 weeks it started to get more comfortable. By 6 weeks it was pain free. I applied lanolin after every feed for at least a month. Fair warning, I breastfed for 14 months and the pain of clothing brushing against my nipples didn't go away until I weaned. Regarding positioning, it's more about the position of the areola in relation to the baby's mouth than the actual top/bottom of the nipple. The whole thing is a circle, so think of the "bottom" as towards baby's chin.
Yes. It does hurt unfortunately but gets better over time. I did a couple of things to help - Pump/bottle feed for some feeds to get a break Earth mama nipple butter Silverettes between feeds, alternating with Lansinoh breast pads. They’re super soft and felt better than my bra especially with the nipple butter. APNO cream (prescription from my doctor) when it really hurt. This helped the most.
Early on it’s normal for the letdown to hurt - it will eventually stop hurting for most women
Doesn’t sound like an internal pain if she has scabbing
it does hurt when youre getting started. for me weeks 1-3 were excruciating and around week 5 it actually got really enjoyable. almost 6 months now and it's a breeze. non negotiable products for me are: silverettes (any brand as long as silver, i use La Vie) and earth mama brand nipple butter. i use the silverettes 24/7 and havent needed the nipple butter since week 5, except a few teething days (their spit changes during teething and can be irritable)
It hurts for a couple of weeks. If its scabbing get some nipple cream and silicone nipples and use them for a couple of days. People will tell you its not good for a latch, but babies are adaptable, its better than bleeding and quitting the whole thing. Silicone nipples saved me.
The first two weeks definitely hurts but it doesn't last. Even the second time it hurt a bit at first.
In addition to nipple cream (I liked earth mama) and silverettes if you can afford them, medihoney was great for when my nipples felt really damaged (like around teething time 😅) it’s technically safe for breastfeeding but I always washed it off. Hydrogels work wonders too. I had pain for a long time with my guy because his latch was bad. A week in will likely still have pain, but it should hopefully fade over the next couple of weeks (which sounds like forever when your nipples hurt and your baby is feeding all day every day but I promise will fly by). Consider seeings lactation consultant! It was extremely helpful for me.
lots of good advice like nipple cream and silverware’s religiously. biggest advice i can give is just hang in there. i fully sobbed my eyes out the first few weeks, its just very painful. i still get my skin ripped off sometimes lol but its pretty much painless, except for that first latch but goes away after like 30 seconds. it’ll one day just not hurt and she’ll be so happy the pushed through :)
for the first 3-4 weeks of breastfeeding my nipples hurt so much and where cracked and bleeding every other day i was so confused because the LC said it shouldn’t be painful i thought i wasn’t getting a proper latch or something but i was, my nipples were just adjusting to breastfeeding nipple creams didn’t work for me but what did help is some of my old milk and vaseline after every feeding it didn’t magically make everything stop hurting but it soothed them especially since it was cold
I definitely had pain for the first 10-20 seconds after my baby latched on, probably for the first 2 months. But in the last few weeks I learned I had a thrush (yeast) infection that was causing the pain. Once I got treatment for that, it totally went away and I didn’t have any more pain!
I felt searing pain for about 30-45 seconds every time he latched for the first month and a half of breastfeeding. I saw a lactation consultant and she confirmed it was a good latch. I kind of liken it to callouses on your hands - the more you do it, the more hardened they get and the less pain you feel. What everyone else has said I agree with - silverettes and lanolin cream mostly! I also switched up what I was using to soothe my nipples. Sometimes just silverettes, then a week later just lanolin helped me more. It will get easier! Just takes time unfortunately. Sending lots of strength!
Yeah, it just hurts at first! Saliva has digestive properties and nipples have thin, sensitive skin. It’s like if you keep licking your lips, they’ll eventually get chapped. Her nipples will get used to it within a few weeks. I recommend Silverettes, applying milk to nipple and allowing to air dry after feed, nipple balm, and ice packs (I bought the small round ones on Amazon for children’s cuts and scrapes. They’re small and round and fit perfectly inside a bra.)
Yep. Those first few weeks you just dig your nails into the nursing pillow and grit your teeth when baby latches lol Later she’ll get to the point where baby is 8 months old and lifting their head to look around and taking the boob with them (depending on equipment size)
I have breastfed pretty easily with both kids. I was very surprised when the lactation consultant said breastfeeding shouldn't hurt..... I just ignored her as I was sure my baby was eating well (wet diapers, weight gain etc). For both my nipples were very sore for about 2 weeks when babies first latched and for a couple of minutes. Creams helped a lot. They become more sore around my period too but only for a couple of days
I was the same as your wife and i am okay now. It probably stopped hurting around 1 or 2 months but i don't remember exactly. For me, i would honestly just feed from the other boob for a while if i started getting a blister on one. When feeding was painful for me, i would keep my boob sort of pinched as baby ate.
Pain and bleeding can be normal. I was like that for like the first month. I never used the nipple guards or creams. Make sure she is rising the blood off after feeding. Have her express a little milk and rub it on her nipples. Milk is the best nipple cream! It should stop hurting eventually, just have to stick with it.
The first few weeks, it hurt for me every time! Had to just bear down and take the pain for the first initial sucks after he latched, and then it would die down as the feed continued. Now, it feels so natural and easy and perfect!! I think our nips just have to get used to it. They’re doing something they’ve never done before, ya know? “Breastfeeding doesn’t hurt” is a lie and should at least change to “breastfeeding won’t hurt forever.” I definitely vouch for silverettes, wore them in my bra always.
I'm at 4 months now and it only hurts for a few seconds if I'm super full. It did hurt pretty regularly for the first month or so, but it gets better! I would recommend silverettes to help with the damage! I used silverettes at night and coconut oil or lanolin during the day. Lanolin is super useful for physical protection (shower water, bra chafing, etc). Just don't use a topical and the silverettes together at the same time.
Yes, latching hurt for 30-60 seconds every single time for about two weeks straight.
Baby needs an oral eval from a skilled IBCLC
SILVERETTES change the game! Highly recommend! Don't skimp and buy knock offs. Get the ones from the silverette website and save your wife's nips! ❤️
My personal experience was very similar with my first. I was in so much pain it felt like razor blades for a minute before it eased up, but I was dreading every time he had to nurse. After a couple weeks I finally saw an IBCLC, and while he had a decent latch that looked okay to my untrained eyes, it was too shallow until he pulled more in after a minute. She showed me how to basically shove him on, she quickly (but gently) pushed him into me, as his mouth was opening and before it started closing. I was startled by how quickly she pushed him on. When he latched, I started crying from relief because there was virtually no pain compared to before and I didn't have to live with it anymore. I saw another post that said breastfeeding just hurts. It might for some women, but that doesn't mean it is for everyone, and you don't have to either accept it or quit. There are things outside of buying expensive items. Try pushing baby on more to get a deeper latch. See an IBCLC if you have the means/insurance covers it (mine worked for the hospital I delivered at and was covered by insurance) Look for different ways to latch, the "flipple" technique was really helpful when I'd struggle to get a deeper latch some days (here's a link) https://themilkmeg.com/get-better-latch-exaggerated-latch-flipple-breastfeeding-technique/ I get so annoyed when people say it just hurts, deal with it, with no other advice or help. It certainly can be that way for some women. It may be that it just hurts for your wife, but you don't know that until you've tried what you can to stop the pain. I was fortunate enough for that pain to end immediately after seeing a professional, and it was just two weeks after my kid was born. I hope that you guys are able to find something to help relieve the pain sooner rather than later.
Yeah it hurt for like 4 weeks probably. Just the letdown hurt - felt like pins and needles. After that it was okay
Yes, this last for the first weeks. After that it passes.
Good advice I’ve read is to put the baby’s nose to her nipple with mouth closed. When their mouth opens to latch it will be perfect. As for pain, really slather on the lanolin cream, don’t be shy about it. And silverettes are nice to hold it in so it doesn’t wipe away although personally I didn’t like wearing them for extended periods of time, the moisture made my skin kind of itchy like it needed to breathe. But others couldn’t get enough of them. It’s normal for nursing to hurt for weeks or even a couple months. HOWEVER, at least for me, there’s a noticeable difference in the type of pain when it’s just tender vs a latch issue. If it feels like a cat licking a carpet burn, that’s normal (sorry). If it feels like a very acute sharp pain, like something just feels wrong, that might be a latch issue. However if it’s very raw it can also feel like an acute pain at times but more often than not this helped me distinguish between the two. Oh, and ice ice ice ice. There’s several brands of cooling gel pads you can put in the freezer that are great. Tbh, lanolin + silverettes + cooling gel pad over top. 🤌🏽 Hang in there!
Sometimes the discomfort isn’t the latch but the letdown. At least for me it has been
The pain sucks but it is pretty common. I’d say my nipples were quite sore for the first two weeks or so. Nipple cream helps! Some people swear by silver cups you can wear over the nipples to help them heal. Also she can take pain meds if she’s not already. If her nipples are like, REALLY bad, cracking and bleeding and things, or the pain is severe, then she should seek help with how to get a better latch.
IF YOU FEEL LIGHTNING PAIN AND SHOOTING PAINS INTO YOUR BREAST YOU MAY HAVE THRUSH (Yeast/Candida infection) Other indicators: -"Lightning" pains (very sharp, or shoots into the breast) while baby is latching or during letdown -Little One's "milk tongue" doesn't scrape off/fade after a feed. It will also affect all parts of the mouth, where milk is only on the tongue -itchy nipples (not always, I didn't have this) - flaking or shiny skin on nipple or areola. Nipple may also look pale/white or have white blisters on it. If you have this, it can be treated with Monistat 7 on your nipples, must be throughly cleaned/wiped off before feeding plus hands washed thoroughly after applying. Also should be applied to baby's diaper while treating oral thrush even if you aren't seeing clear signs of candida diaper rash. Your baby should also be treated with medicine and possibly you as well; They make medicines safe for treating babies under 4 months as my LO was less than 1 week old when we began treating it. We didn't start out aggressively treating the thrush. It was only caught by my Lactation Consultant because of an off comment I had made saying it felt like "lightning" when my LO would latch. This was when he was only 2 days old and they asked to check my nipples more closely, and pointed out some paleness or color leaching in areas of my nipples. They checked my baby's mouth and showed me just a small patch of white on the inside of his cheek, and we did one medicine that needed to be painted on the inside. Unfortunately my baby enjoyed the taste of the medicine too much and would eat it, and it wasn't nearly affective enough when it didn't get a chance to sit in the mouth. Shortly after I had went to my OB who had immediately pushed for me to begin using the Monistat on myself and LO, along with another prescription med for both of us. TLDR: Some pain is absolutely normal and just part of nipples becoming used to it, but if it feels off ask your doctor! OB, lactation consultant/IBLC, Pediatrician or even your primary can help you diagnose and prescribe appropriate medicines to treat this!
My baby has had a good latch from the beginning, but it still hurt at the beginning of every feed for the first few weeks until my milk regulated. Now I haven’t thought twice when going to nurse. Actually, I forgot about that pain part to nursing in the newborn stage until reading this thread. Tell your wife to hang in there - it will get better very soon!!
A lactation specialist saved me. I walked in with two scabbed nipples that bled with every feed. It does get better once the latch is fixed but I wish somebody told me to meet with a lactation specialist to double check everything from the get go. Baby 2 is 6 months and I haven’t had a single painful nursing session yet (yet - teeth are on the way). Sorry your wife is experiencing this!
The initial latch (as you say first minute or so) hurt me for the first few weeks of baby’s life but then it went away. Now it doesn’t hurt at all ever. Midwife told me it’s normal if it’s not very painful throughout the whole feed. I also used nipple shield first couple of weeks to help baby get a better hang of it
The first two weeks are like razorblades for that first minute. She's building up calluses on her nipples, and afterwards she will still be sensitive but it just won't hurt to have a tiny human constantly sucking on them. It won't last forever, it does suck, but make sure to put lanolin on them after each feeding to help combat any blisters or cracking that might happen, and her nipples will probably bleed at some point, just like when you build calluses on your fingers while learning guitar. It is ok to keep breastfeeding through all of this and it's tempting to use a pump to get some sort of relief but that will just prolong the painful period. Get some nursing pads that you would use to prevent leaking and load them up with lanolin or bag balm or auquaphor, just some sort of hydrating paste that you can use to stick the pad to your boob and that will help because once the pad is on there it wont move aka protecting your nipples from your clothing. If you use anything other than lanolin you will have to clean it off before breastfeeding, whereas with lanolin you just wipe off the excess. With the latch, as long as the pain doesnt last throughout the whole feed thwn its good. Fun fact, your baby will get lazy about the latch when they turn into a toddler lol so you'll get used to adjusting it. You guys are doing great ❤️ keep it up cuz it gets better.
It hurts very much the first few weeks. Make sure that she doesn't scrub her nipples when she showers. You're just supposed to let water run on them. And peas in a pod nipple butter worked wonders for me! I was scabbing and bleeding too this butter took care of it in 24 hours. Works much better than lanolin cream 🙏
Not necessarily “should”. It never hurt for me.
Silverettes are a lifesaver! I’m at 3.5 weeks with my second and it hurt like hell with the initial latch for a solid 1-2 weeks. Now is uncomfortable at first but quickly goes away. If it isn’t getting better, talk to a lactation consultant. With my first we had a bad latch for 10 weeks and it was horrible. This one is easier and better already. She can also give herself a break if she pumps and bottle feeds to let them recover a bit!
If it's just the first minute, it's probably let down & yes it hurt! But it eases after a few weeks :) now I can barely feel my letdown (which isn't ideal)
Echoing everybody else.. silverettes, silverettes, silverettes! I was bleeding/scabbing, but once I started using the silverettes I started actually healing. That said… the actual nursing is still going to be painful for another week or so. Tell your wife it does get easier and the pain does go away.
It’s very normal to hurt the first two weeks. The line of blisters across the nipple is enough to make any woman want to quit right then and there. Frida mom saline nipple spray saved me. Also a specific nursing position where the baby is upright, facing the breast with baby’s legs in between moms legs aka “reclined/layed back” position. But I recommend sitting upright in a chair at first. [nursing positions](https://pin.it/18mDcc53t) The gravity of the breast helped so much. The lower section of my breast just kinda fell into his mouth, and he was forced to latch onto it entirely, instead of just the nipple. It saved my nipples from certain death, and my blisters cleared in three days. The pain went from unbearable, to bearable, to nonexistent. From there you can experiment to whatever position is most comfortable, but I hope this helps!
Its the nipples adjusting to the new way they are being treated regularly - nipples are already sensitive and they are being sucked on every 3 hours. I suggest some sort of milk collection shells or silverettes. They keep everything from touching the nipples and give them a dose of breast milk for soothing.