Is it supposed to hurt this much?! How do I fix it?

DD is 5 days old today and my nipple pain has become unbearable..

I have cracks in the middle of my nipple which make my boobs look like cats eyes.. The pain when DD attaches is making me dread feeds which I feel so guilty about as aside from the pain I am absolutely loving breastfeeding this time around after being unsuccessful with my DS.

Are nipple shields or grinning through the pain my only option? I don't have a pump yet but am planning to get one anyway but I'm worried if I get her onto EBM from the bottle this young she'll forget how to attach at all? My DS's attachment went off after using shields do I'd like to avoid these also but I don't think that leaves me with many options now does it??

The right breast hurts more than the left, the midwives in hospital said her attachment was good and it looks ok to me also except that her nose digs in and I have to push my breast in a little so she can breathe through her nose.. That's not good attachment is it? I've tried to fix it but it never works the way everything I've read and watched says it should? It still hurts. Could it be my boob shape or something causing the problem?

I just want to enjoy feeding my baby girl without my nipples feeling like they're on fire, feeling a bit disheartened right now.

This is part vent but mostly I'd LOVE some advice!!

Going to call the ABA now too...

I went thought the same thing. My DD used to pass my blood from my bleeding nipples. It does get better. I used to use all my strength not to dig my fingers into my DD when she fed.
I slathered my nipples in nipple cream after letting some breast milk
Dry on them. Just as i wanted to give up because it hurt so much it got better. Your nipples just need time to toughen up from all the extra attention. All the best.


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Oh and I used to have to push my breast in as well - I have big boobs.


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I always had to hold my boob away from DS3s nose for he first few weeks (I have big boobs).
If I was you I'd give the shields a go for now, at least until you can get some advice from an expert. I remember the pain your whole body tenses and I would cry just at the thought of the feed. The nurses etc said the same his attachment was good and didn't understand it. After a couple of months I took him to my chiro who did an adjustment and like magic it was fixed and only took a few days to heal and be completely pain free. His neck and one shoulder were a little misaligned, which made my right breast cracked and excruciating until the chiro.
DS2 I had thrush, the cracks I had with him were like you're describing, the same excruciating pain though.
I hope you can stick with it ,maybe someone else will have some better answers for you :hug: Gotta go screaming 2 year old hanging off me...apologies for rushed post hope it makes some sense.

my nipples were horribly cracked at this stage with DD - felt like razor blades in her gums when she attached!! i had both the MCHN and LC check attachment and it was apparently ok but it had me dreading every single feed. i ended up laying down to feed her and tried baby led attachment for a while. i figured me laying down would help me relax, and baby led attachment had to help a bit. we did this at every chance for a few days. i'd lay on my back before she NEEDED a feed, skin to skin, and let her find the boob herself. then we started laying side by side. her attachment just seemed a hundred times better when she did it on her terms...

by the time she was about 10 days or two weeks old, it had all healed and we were able to feed sitting up again (and out and about) and have not had any further dramas in the past 2.5 years (apart from a couple of blockages and mastitis - but that wasn't attachment related that i can work out)

the first 6 weeks or so are always mentioned as the most difficult times for the BF relationship...

Oh yes and LANSINOH!!!! So soothing you will love it. Also a bit of sun if you can manage it will help the healing.
Also you can get things called breast cups. They are for when you are not feeding they keep your bra and clothes off your nipples they were awesome too :goodluck:

Thanks so much girls! I called the Breastfeeding Support Centre at my hospital, she said it sounds like poor attachment most likely because when I feed (which is mostly laying down - Same reason BG, I feel much more relaxed feeding laying down) I have my hand on the back of her head to pull her in, she said try to put her head over my arm instead do her head falls away from the breast therefore having her chin his the breast first which I should have been doing all along but in the haste of dreading the pain I've just been popping her straight on without watching what hits first and both her lips get there at the same time.. Hope that makes sense, a bit sleep deprived atm as well!

Oh and yep Lansinoh is my best friend right now!!

Is it normal for them to burn between feeds? I keep getting this tingly burning feeling in my nipples every now and then when not feeding as well..

Thanks so much girls, will definitely reread all of your replies and take every tip I can! I reeeeeally want to do this and would love to succeed without shields etc but if it doesn't seem to get better with a bit better positioning will be going out for a few supplies tomorrow as its getting pretty unbearable!

Thanks so much x

I was going to say make sure her chin is hitting the breast first. That should solve the nose problem :)

If your nipple is coming out the same shape as what it usually is (not pinched or longer looking) your attachment should be fine. I think it's fair to expect a little pain or discomfit. After all, we're ol boobies aren't exactly used to being sucked on 24/7 by the sweet little vacuums :) and get some marcallen or linsoh for sure!

I'm not sure about the burning? Mine have tingled or feel "scratchy" but not burning? Is it deep in the breast? It could be thrush maybe?

Sorry haven't read the other replies, just wanted to quickly say I could've written this post with dd2 at the sane age. I absolutely dreaded her feeds, and the toe curling pain of the first 30 seconds or so. I know people say if you're doing it right it won't hurt but I disagree!! Saw a LC, dd had perfect latch and was getting plenty. It settled down once she was a couple of weeks old. But Omg remembering that pain still makes me shudder. Lansinosh or whatever its called in the purple tube. And lots of air time helped.....or putting some BM on there and letting it dry. GL!!! Oh and dd is still feeding like a champ almost 9 months on, so we got through it lol.

Mine were pretty sore all the time, specially if anything touched them, even just a shirt brushing against them, and the shower OUCHY! The burning/tingling could be thrush, or could be just because they're a bit damaged. Sounds like the repositioning with the latch is helping, if that was the problem it shouldn't be long until you're pain free :D

Congratulations on your baby!
It is not normal for it to hurt or to have cracks like that, no. Definitely an attachment issue. The good news is that it is often easy to fix.
You need to see a good lactation consultant and have them observe you feeding. They should also examine your baby for tongue tie or any palate issues, just in case there's something else going on as well. It's not something you want to leave to chance as until you get the attachment right, your nipples will continue to be damaged and you'll quickly get to the point where you cannot feed - which is clearly not what you want!
You can call the ABA - 1800-686-2-686 - or PM Barb Glare to find an LC in your area (or can you see someone from the hospital?). They cost money, but they'll come to you and and help you fix this (and it's worth it - much cheaper than formula). Your local ABA group counsellors may also be able to see you (or perhaps you can get along to a meeting?) - they will be able to help with positioning and attachment.
It's really important to get real life help with this, and, as I said, it often is a very simple fix IF you get the right advice from the right person.

Good Luck!

Thankyou so much ladies!

After posting yesterday and calling my hospital's breastfeeding centre, I gave myself a crash course in attachment and just googled as much information and as many videos as I could before her next feed.. I changed our position to sitting up so I could really focus on her attachment and with a bit of patience I got her attaching properly with her chin in first, bottom lip low on the areola and my nipple touching her top lip, pretty much nothing like she had been attaching and voila! Minimal pain! It's amazing really, my left nipple has healed about 50% already, the right still has a fair way to go but I can feed from it with much less discomfort as I was feeling yesterday and can definitely feel a huge difference now during and after feeds. No more conehead nipples when she pulls off either.. So fingers crossed we've jumped this hurdle but I am so so grateful for all of your help and I know that I'll be back for more as I really want this to be a long breastfeeding journey and I have so much to learn! x

That's great work!
Definitely come back in if you need more support. And don't hesitate to contact real-life support like the ABA if you need more help. Sometimes we can fix things ourselves, sometimes we need help :)

That's excellent! They really do heal quickly once everything is sorted. Enjoy the rest of your BF relationship :) I had 2 failed attempts before DS3 and absolutely loved being able to feed for ages with DS3 :D