It hurts!!

[Heaven]

My nipples are so sore and I've only been doing this for 6 days It hurts.
Firstly I had a graze on the left side but then that got better and the right side got bad. I got onto it straight away and went to see a LC and she told me that attachment was perfect etc and it was probably just one bad feed or something that hurt my nipple and it will get better. It hurts a lot when she first latches on and then gets a bit better during the feed but I don't know how to tell if the continued hurting during the feed is because my nipples are already sore or because she's on wrong!! It always looks right, I can barely see any of my nipple when she's on there. I make sure she gets a big mouthful.

I just want to cry Everything hurts me. Firstly a really long painful labour, then a c-section, then the breastfeeding. When do I get to enjoy my baby without being in pain

Can anyone give me some tips on breastfeeding when lying down too? I can't get the hang of it. I need one hand to hold my boob, then the other one is kinda lying straight out iykwim but I can't reach her head/back to help put her on. I don't get it. Can someone explain it to me??

Ok, I think that's all for now, just had to get that all out. This is so hard!! I'm glad I have you guys to vent to and ask questions.

[Janie]

Hun, give the ABA a call 1800 mum2mum. They will be able to give you help with positioning, and also with attachment.

It will get better, and soon you won't hurt anymore, I promise.

[OceanPrincess]

Hey Heaven...

Stick with it, I feel your pain, literally. Also had a long labour, no c-sect but an epi that got infected, and sore nipples.

One of the MWs in hosp said to me that it is expected to hurt a bit. I find when DD first attaches it still hurts a bit, and I know she is on right. I guess its just getting used to the constant pulling and sucking.

Are you onto the lansinoh? Leasha on here suggested that to me to help with the tenderness. Put it on after a feed.

With the feeding in bed, I'll have to write more later... DD needs a change!

[Olive]

i second janie hun and call the ABA, just giving you a big hug too

[Heaven]

Janie- Can I ring the ABA even if I'm not a member? What do they do over the phone? I saw a LC this week and am going to see them again at the breastfeeding clinic on Monday to check again that I'm doing it right.

missymoo- that's what I'm like, right now I know she's going to wake up soon and I can feel myself getting all tense coz I know what's coming. Thanks for the info on lying down. I feel like I have to hold my boob tho otherwise she won't get on right. I will try, I'm just so scared to try and hurt it more or something but I'm going to give it a go. Would be easier in the night.

OP- The epi getting infected does not sound good. Believe it or not I had to have 2 epi's and then a spinal!! Nothing would work on me. Feels like everything that could went wrong!! Thanks, I have a small sample of lansinoh I'm using now!

AJP- Thankyou!!

Does it hurt like this for everyone at the start or am I doing something wrong? I can't figure out what and apparently the LC couldn't either!! But how does my nipple get grazed if nothing's wrong! When she comes off it seems more sore on the top of my nipple and more pulled out. I think it should look more even but the LC said the shape was alright as long as it doesn't look flattened or have a ridge or anything.

Thanks for the support guys. It's good to hear it gets easier coz right now I can't imagine it and I feel like I'm never going to be able to go anywhere or do anything.

[Olive]

sara i had sucking blisters on my nipples which hurt like buggery, but they have healed, i also corrected my attachment, so your nipples are symetric when she comes off, not almond shaped or mis-shaped at all?? has she been checked for tongue-tie???? if she has tongue tie she might not be able to get the nipple far enough back in her mouth

[Heaven]

That's what it looks like on one, like a blister, it looks a bit white on the end when she comes off. No, it's not symetrical, it looks like she's sucking more of the top of my nipple coz it's pulled out more than the bottom. The LC said the shape was ok but I don't think it is. I don't know what needs to change though like what part she needs to get more of to make it more symmetrical. Nope hasn't been checked for tongue tie.
OMG she needs to feed again now off the sore one, wish me luck.

[~Raven~]

it's the peak of nipple sensitiveness for you ATM! Even us "old hands" get sore nipples with newborns cos those tiny little mouths are so strong

Take it one feed at a time and keep practicing the lay down feed. Also try the footy hold one to change the angle of where bub is latching on.

Gotta go BBL...

[Arcadia]

Oh hun HUGE hugs!!! I also had the sorest nipples with 'perfect' attachment. For me the first 10 seconds were AGONY and then it would pass...I would cry every time. This lasted about 2 weeks I think. For me it was my nipple tissue stretching. I had pretty flat nipples IYKWIM and it took a while for the tissue to stretch to form a good "teat" (lol).

With lying down, I would just wait a little while yet. It takes a while to be able to get the hang of it, and it sounds like you need to concentrate on getting the attachment right every time. My baby self attaches now without me doing anything, and it wasn't until then that I could get the lying down thing happening (at around 3 weeks I think).

My LC said to me..its ok to be a learner. Before long you will be able to breastfeed walking around the house doing the washing. And its true. In these early days, try and take every feed as it comes...one day you will be feeding and realise "Hey it doesn't hurt"...

Lansinoh was my saviour...I definitely recommend it also.

[OceanPrincess]

Does it hurt like this for everyone at the start or am I doing something wrong? I can't figure out what and apparently the LC couldn't either!! But how does my nipple get grazed if nothing's wrong! When she comes off it seems more sore on the top of my nipple and more pulled out. I think it should look more even but the LC said the shape was alright as long as it doesn't look flattened or have a ridge or anything.

It hurts at the start for me.

My nipples are exactly like that when DD pulls off! Doesn't sound wrong to me...

Does Grace ever pull back on the nipple, then start sucking again? Or make little kissing noises?

Sometimes Isabel does that - it means she was attached correctly but has pulled off a bit, I have to take her off and re-attach.

[Visitor8]

oh hun. Hugs!! Yes it is painful to start with. I got to the point that I would cry just THINKING about Ashton wanting to feed. BUT it does get better By 3 or 4 weeks the pain had gone and I started to enjoy feeding.
The laying down think I don't hold my boob. I lay down, pop it out, lay Ash on his side in front of me and align him so he is attached but his nose is clear. One hand straight above him, the other holding his back and pushing him to my tummy. Did that make sense?