Painful brestfeeding

[cynthab]

I have a 6 week old infant who I have been breastfeeding. He is tongue tide and I have short, flat nipples. Due to that combination I have only been able to get my son to latch on with a shield. In the beginning I also pumped in order to estabish my milk supply (I had problems with that with my last baby). Brestfeeding is still painful for me every time I feed my son. I have talked with a nurse at that hospital and made sure that my baby was latching on correctly, and she told me he was latching correctly. In the beginning I was told that a little pain is normal, but that it would eventually go away, but it hasn't. My nipples are tender, but not cracking. My let down reflex (I think that's what it is) is extremely painful for about 2 minutes every time I feed my baby and I feel it about 2 times in between each feeding. Is that normal? I also feel a burning feeling for about a 30-40 minutes immediately following each feeding. Is that normal? I have talked to a nurse about the pain and she advised me to ice pack and use cabbage leaves to alieviate the pain, but nothing has made a significant enough difference that breastfeeding can be comfortable and enjoyable for me. Is there anything I can do to make this a more enjoyable, or endurable experiece, or am I just not able to breatfeed pleasantly? Are my symptoms normal? Should I got back to my doctor again? I haven't had any infections, but I do get reoccuring plugged ducts, could that be my problem?

[crystal555rose]

Reading your post sounded very familiar to me. My son was 10 weeks old the first time I realized that my breasts were no longer in pain. He was a "helper" meaning he sucked his fists all the time, so every feeding was a battle to get my breast into his mouth before his fist. I also have flat nipples, which I did not even realize until I was told that was one reason I was having such a hard time. Breast feeding is both the most challenging and the most rewarding thing I have ever done (including giving birth with no pain meds). Everything hurt- latching on, let-down, producing milk, taking a shower, etc. I never bled or cracked, but my nipples hurt so bad all the time. Many tears were shed (Why can't I do this!?!!?) I checked with my doctor and I had no infection or clinical problems. Pumping helped me realize what pain was acceptable (ie, no baby mouth mis-latching and pinching). Giving up or supplementing was not an option. As long as a lactation consultant is sure your latch is correct you just suffer until it gets better. Looking back, although painful, I am lucky in many ways. My milk supply is incredible, my son currently weighs 25 lbs. at 9 months. He has had no infections even though I have been sick three times since he was born. The few feedings of pumped milk he received while I worked part time was enough to deter me from ever wanting to sterlize enough bottles for all of his feedings. While you are going through this, you wonder if it will ever end or improve. Now, my son is starting to have better things to do than nurse and I am surprised at my attachment to nursing considering my start was so, so bad. Good luck!!

[crisna120]

Wow cynthab, your story sounds pretty much exactly like mine! My little boy is 3 1/2 weeks old, and I am having all of the same problems. Although it isn't my let down that is painful, it is the whole nursing session, along with extremely sore nipples when I am not nursing. The LCs I have seen have also said my latch on is correct, which makes it even more frustrating! I have resorted to using shields, which has made it bearable (it only hurts initially with them, then it eases up a bit). We have been using them for a couple weeks, because every time I try to do it without, it is too painful. I think we are both hooked on them. I am starting to think yeast might be my problem (I don't know what else it could be), so I had my doc call me in some meds, and I bought gentian violet. I will let you know if that eases the pain at all. I really want to enjoy the whole experience, but, like you, I can't because of the terrible pain. Please let me know if anything helps you, and I will do the same. Good Luck!

[duungirl5]

you should try and see a Lactation Consultant. I think that will help you a lot there is no reason that this should have to be ass painful. this is a time you should bond with you baby, which out this pain.

God bless and good luck keep us posted on progress

[crisna120]

So my doctor called in some Diflucan for me (which apparently some people believe shouldn't be the 1st treatment choice for thrush) and it seems to be helping. We just had a semi pain free nursing session without using the shield (yay!), so I'm hoping that thrush me be the culprit of my pain. DS doesn't have any symptoms of it, and I only have some of the symptoms, but I was told to try the Diflucan, and if it helps, to throw away all bottles and pacifers. I am debating whether or not to use the gentian violet. Another thing that seems to help is using a solution of 1 tbsp. vinegar to 1 cup water on my nipples after nursing. It seems to help soothe the pain some. Do you have any symptoms of thrush?

[cynthab]

I haven't had any symptoms of Thrush, that's what's so hard, is that I have talked to my Doctor, as well as a consultant and a nurse about this problem and none of them has been able to figure it out. My Doctor finally told me to just keep trying as long as I can take the pain. I have started giving my son a little bit of formula before I breastfeed him during 2 feedings a day. The little bit before he starts seems to have calmed him down, and then he doesn't suck quite so hard and it's not as bad. I still can't seem to stop the burning feeling after I feed him...I just don't know...It's hard not to get discouraged.

[crisna120]

I am sorry to say I am still having the same problems as well. DS is 5 1/2 weeks old. I did the gentian violet for 7 days, and the pain went away a little (so I thought) but now is back full force. Now it is like you said, a painful letdown. Even on the breast I am not nursing I feel a burning sensation when I have a letdown. I think I may make an appt. w/ my doc, although I have a feeling it will be the same thing that happened to you. I saw the LC again and she said, again, that my latch is fine. This is so frustrating!

[nycmama]

I am sorry to say I am still having the same problems as well. DS is 5 1/2 weeks old. I did the gentian violet for 7 days, and the pain went away a little (so I thought) but now is back full force. Now it is like you said, a painful letdown. Even on the breast I am not nursing I feel a burning sensation when I have a letdown. I think I may make an appt. w/ my doc, although I have a feeling it will be the same thing that happened to you. I saw the LC again and she said, again, that my latch is fine. This is so frustrating!

I also have a painful let-down but that can be attributed to OALD like mines...

maybe.. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

[madelsmama]

I would see a pediatrician or other specialist about getting his frenulum clipped. It's a simple, in-office procedure that will help him transfer milk better and give your poor nipples some much needed relief.

It sounds from your description that you have a lot of milk (the painful let-downs and plugged ducts). I suspect that you may also have oversupply/overactive let-down as well. Sometimes when moms have that, the baby will clamp down on your nipple a bit to help slow the flow for them, resulting in blanching of the nipple (which is the pain you're experiencing after nursing him). The correction for this problem is to correct the oversupply/overactive let-down problem with block nursing. You can take lecithin (oral supplemen) to help prevent the plugged ducts, but if you're dealing with oversupply, correcting that issue will correct the plugged ducts, too.

A few links for you to read through to see if this sounds familiar...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

If you think you fit this description, follow the suggestions for block nursing; consulting a IBCLC would be good idea as well. If you think you're dealing with OALD/oversupply, stop pumping.

Come post in the General Forum next time; you'll get lots of traffic there!