Tha

Clover - I think you may be right about the shooting pains being the let-down. I've tried the heat for when I've been engorged - has helped. Haven't been able to do it before a bfeed as he's been crying for his milk!

Thanks for your encouragement Teagz.

So here is where I'm at now (with thanks to everyone's advice and ABA):
- pretty sure it's not thrush (don't have the same symptoms when I switch to expressing)
- pretty sure its an attachment issue
- have been using football hold
- have stopped all creams, lotions etc (ABA advice) and just using breastmilk and sunlight
- have had a couple of relatively ok feeds
- have still had some excruciating feeds - ends in tears
- still very red and aggrevated but no cracks or grazes
- am having vasospasm - have seen tips turn white to pink and it burns
- think vasospasm is related to painful feeds - perhaps damage is causing it? Is worse after a bad feed

The attachment
- baby's lips aren't fanned out like they should be. Pain reduces a bit when I do it manually, but is there a way to get it right from the outset?
- tongue is in the correct place
- I am getting pinched nipples during feeds - think that also might be a source of pain - how can I prevent this?

(sorry am typing 1-handed!)

Thanks again for all your help, and please let me know if you have any ideas on improving attachment!