Hi Ladies (or LC's),

I'm in desperate need of help. Quick run down - my DS2 is 3 weeks old today. He's been breastfed from the moment he was born. At 4 days old I had severe mastitis (caused by severe engorgement) and was admitted to hospital for two nights on a drip and subsequently had ten days additional antibiotics which finished last Sunday. My boobs are still so sore that it makes me cry at feed times. My right nipple is cracked and no matter what I try, it won't heal. (Let air dry, expressing milk on it, Lahnisoh). My left nipple has finally healed. The biggest problem is the intense pain in both breasts shortly after a feed. It feels like someone has taken to them with a cricket bat, they throb and feel painful for half hour or so and wearing bra's, or having anything rub on my nipples makes my skin crawl.

I fed DS1 for twelve months after a rocky start (he was a small baby and couldn't latch so was on nipple shields for 4 months). Is this pain normal at the commencement? I've been to two breast feeding clinics but they tell me the latch is correct and that my boobs will stop hurting soon but when? I can't cope with the pain and am sick of being a panadol junkie, taking it day and night so that I can manage to feed my son.

It's getting me down in a big way and I'm not sure where to turn or what to do.

Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. He's my last baby and I don't want to give up by any means, but I also can't cope with being in this much pain (and this coming from someone who had two natural drug free births).

Thanks!