Excruciating pain when breast-feeding. Help?

Question

Hello fellow mothers and mothers-to-be. I just had a baby boy 3 weeks ago! He is adorable. He is loved and welcomed by my whole family. My 2 daughters just adore him. I have a problem, however. Whenever I breast feed him, it is VERY painful. It feels like a burning hot razor is cutting my mammary glands. The pain is felt deep inside as well as the tip. Ever time he nibbles and bites on my nipple, the excruciating pain gets more intense. Could it be an infection? The pain gets so bad sometimes that I have to put my baby aside and take some Tylenols. I've seen a doctor and he could not find anything wrong with my breasts. Please help me? Anyone else had this problem?

I really feel guilty of depriving my son of mommy's milk. I mean, as a baby boy, that is all he wants, right? He is a miracle to me. He came after my 5 year old daughter died a year ago, 3 years after my husband left me for good. I suddenly... got pregnant! I was overjoyed. He is my miracle baby. I think he'll get along fine with my two daughters. My older daughter (15 years old, turning 16 this November!) was paralyzed in a car accident and lives in the local Hospital. She walks over to my house and visits me every other day. She is such a good daughter. It has been over a year since Tessa (my younger daughter) drowned but she is still full of life. Doctors say she will never come back, but she did. She loves swimming. I think we'll be a good family. So... nice.

Answer 1

I am wondering how you got pregnant after your husband left. Miracle was it? Or could it have been the DEVIL? No, that's impossible. I have have a feeling your husband wasn't walking, but RUNNING for the hills.

Answer 2

Do you have a blister on that nipple? I had this with my first and as they can be really small its not easy to see sometimes. When I fed her I would get the worst pain and felt like I was going to shoot through the roof!! "Lansinoh" cream is the best cure. (100% lanolin cream that can be on when baby feeds) Also is she attaching correctly and not sucking funny on that breast? Try calling your nearest breastfeeding association or call a lactation consultant to come and have a look. A child health nurse should also be able to tell you what is going on. I recommend seeking out a lactation consultant as they are specifically trained in this and it is you best bet at resolving the problem. Don't give up feeding even though it hurts. It took me weeks to get it right the first time but I manage to keep feeding till 7mths until I went to work. I know thats easier said than done but it will get better. And don't avoid feeding on that side or you could get mastitis and engorgement which is going to make the problem worse. Actually if you have been avoiding that breast, that could be the problem?? Good luck and I hope it works out for you

Answer 3

Do you hold him the same way each time you feed him? I did that - it is so easy to settle into a favorite hold but it can stress out the milk ducts. Change your hold - from cradle to football (or however you are doing it now) and you will find that the pain is very much relieved. You can go back to your previous position after about a day but remember to switch around to give those milk ducts a break. You can also warm your breast before nursing to help the milk flow better - I think it's Gerber that makes these for breasts but there may be others. Lanolin creme and breastmilk also helps keep the skin from chapping. If this fails, ask your doctor about yeast infection.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Excruciating burning sharp pain is almost always thrush. If your breasts hurt at the same time, it is just about 100%. And if it hurts between feedings, then you can be certain. Sometimes, pain is the *only* symptom of thrush, although doctors may insist on "looking" for it. You need to either see a doctor who is more knowledgeable about breastfeeding (studying anything about breastfeeding is *optional* in medical school--and the lesson that is often learned is that this knowledge isn't important), beg your current doctor for a prescription, or try an over-the-counter medication (such as Gentian violet).

Answer 5

I think you are having problems with your nipples it could be cracked.
I had the same problem this is what I did.
First count to 10 when the baby begins to feed and from there it should ease the pain after the baby is done feeding but some cabbage leaves in your bra and that also help ease the pain

good luck and do not give up you have three more weeks before your breasts get use to the breast feeding

Answer 6

I had excruciating pain for the first few weeks too. Everyone said that it shouldn't hurt, but it still did. I decided to use a nipple shield, which helped improve her latch and eased the pain a little, but it still made my toes curl every time. Then after a few weeks, the pain eased up, and it became completely painless soon after. But like a couple of other people mentioned, you'd do yourself a huge favor by getting involved with your local La Leche League. They're awesome and will have lots more ideas than we have here. They could even check out your baby's latch thouroughly and see if there's anything that needs to be corrected.

Answer 7

This happened to me as well. It hurt so bad it would bring tears to my eyes. Two things I want to tell you. 1. It does get better (it did for me anyway) 2. I think I will get allot of negative feedback on this one but, if you decide not to nurse it is not the end of the world, it doesn't make you a bad mother, and your child will survive. There is no question as to wether breast feeding is best but if it is to much for you than there are other options. I don't think mothers are told this enough and are made to feel guilty. I was able to continue breast feeding but it was not easy. It sounds like you have been through allot and you must remember to take care of yourself first and formost so that you can take care of baby. All the best of luck to you and your new baby.

Answer 8

You are letting him feed WAY too long!!! Let him nurse for 10 minutes on each breast. No more! The breast milk is GONE at that point and he isn't getting any. When you are finished, squeeze the nipple gently to get a drop of milk and rub it around the nipple. Let it dry. It works better than any nipple cream ever will.

Answer 9

You should write a book...not about the whole painfull breast feeding thing...but about your 4/5 year old daughter coming back to life. I've read a few of your other questions and your story about her seems kinda strange...(no offence to you or any of your children intended)

Answer 10

Don't see a doctor, see a lactation consultant. Call the hospital where you gave birth and ask to speak to one. It could be an infection but it's treatable. Does the pain go away when he's latched on? I had that happen to me in the beginning while i was getting used to breastfeeding. Don't give up mama