why does breastfeeding hurt & will it get better?

Question

when I breasfed my daughter it hurt me so much that about after maybe 2 or 3 months I gave up an switched her to the bottle & formula.
I had some really helpful friends that were nurses at the hospital and they said that I was doing everything right.
would it only have hurt for a little while or would it have always been like that until I weaned her from it?

Answer 1

I remember the first few weeks of nursing, oh how it hurt. I thought it would never stop. But I was determined to stick with it. Sometimes it would start to feel better, but when it came time to pump, thats when it would hurt and sometimes my nipples would crack. But I'm here to tell you that the pain does go away. You just have to give it time, use some Lansinoh for Breastfeeding mothers; it really helps. And hey if the pain doesn't go away if you atleast nursed for the first six weeks then that was what really counted. Good for you for sticking with it as long as you did. And maybe the next time you will have a better experience.

Answer 2

It's normal for your breasts to hurt for the first two weeks. If you take care of them during that time - using Lanisoh, etc - then they should heal properly and should not hurt at all. If they do continue to hurt, I would see the doctor and/ or lactation consultant. There are a couple of reasons why your breasts will still hurt:

1. A bad latch-on - I would talk to a lactation consultant just to make sure
2. An infection - this is usually accompanied by a fever too but it can be very painful

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

It took a good solid 2 weeks for my nipples to "toughen up" as they say, in part because I'm fair skinned (apparently the amount of pigmentation in your nipples affects how sensitive they are) and in part because I had no clue about how to breastfeed when I started, which meant I got horribly cracked and sore nipples by the time I left the hospital. By the time I got home, I was literally screaming in pain every time my baby latched on. The bout of mastitis I got after about 5 days didn't help either. I definitely would have quit if I hadn't been told by a few friends to stick it out for 2 weeks at least, to see if things changed. And they did, in part because I slathered myself in lanolin and in part because I absolutely refused to let my babe latch on incorrectly, even if he was really hungry -- a quick finger in his mouth to release the suction and try again. They learn, even at only a few days old.

Even if you know everything already, brush up on the mechanics of nursing before giving birth; ask to see a lactation consultant in the hospital; if all else fails, see your pediatrician (or a nursing specialist) to make sure you don't have mastitis or thursh OR that your baby isn't tongue tied, which can prevent him from getting a good latch even when you're "doing everything right".

Answer 4

It shouldn't hurt at all ever. Not every lactation nurse is qualified and not every qualified lactation consultant is right for every woman. Just because a latch is "textbook perfect" doesn't make it right for all women, if you are in pain something is wrong.

The only times it hurt for me was when we were having problems, and we had a lot in the beginning, but the first days were not painful.

Next time, if there is a next time get help from La Leche Leaghe and a private lactation consultant. Get all the help you can until you find who/what works for you.

Answer 5

Nurses aren't your best source of information for breastfeeding. Most nurses I know think breastfeeding is disgusting and the nurses in the NICU 6 & 10 years ago were not at all supportive for either of my friends. They have little to no training in it either. If you were having problems, you should have checked with a certified lactation consultant. I'd give it a shot again and see if you can't work things out.

Answer 6

In my experience with my 2 kids, if you have really sensitive nipples it could hurt for awhile until you got used to it.
If the nurses say the latch was right, and you were doing everything right, its probably just that.

I also ended up switching to formula for different reasons, so don't feel bad. You gave it a try, and they did get the "premilk" colostrum which is excellent for them.

Answer 7

It only hurts for a week or two...I don't understand why it still hurt after a couple of months, there had to be a problem with latch on....I don't know, I wasn't there, but done right, it stops hurting and is a wonderful experience.

Answer 8

It technically should never "hurt" unless the baby is not latched on properly. It can be uncomfortable while you are getting used to it and while the baby is learning to properly breastfeed but if it hurt than something else was going on. Probably your baby wasn't latched on right. And if she was latched on right than maybe there are other underlying problems.

Answer 9

it hurts for the first few weeks. at least on the nipples, but it also increases the amount of uterine cramping you have after delivering a baby. and after the first kid...oh my god, it is like experiencing labor all over again. i had my second baby last june and i could not believe the pain, but it was worth it. she has thrived and is wonderfully healthy. the only time i have had pain after the first few weeks is when my husband and i went away without the kids and then when she cut teeth.

Answer 10

Maybe your daughter was latched on wrong but if your nurse friends said everything was ok then maybe you just have sensitive nipples.