I feel like the word pain goes well with the word, Breastfeeding. Although if you look it up and you ask other people will say Breastfeeding is not supposed to be painful. However, I think we need to normalize it. That is not true for everyone.
Yes, Breastfeeding is extremely painful when you begin it took me almost 6 months to get used to the pain.
Not all creams and cooling pads were the same for me. They would give me instant relief, but not continued relief.
The amount of times your baby latch, and how long your baby latches or the amount of time you are pumping can impact how much pain you have because if you’re never giving your nipples a break, they are going through more trauma than somebody else might be putting theirs through
You can go to a pediatrician or your OB/GYN or even a lactation consultant and get guidance and then you can go to another one and get opposite guidance. For example, multiple people told me my baby had an absolutely great latch because she had a fast latch. She latched on, and they could see the gulping motion, and they could also feel that it was a hard latch. One Doctor even said that it was the hardest latch they’ve ever felt. They said that her latch was wide enough. However, it took months to discover that she really wasn’t as wide have a latches we all had thought it was upsetting because I took her and myself to multiple doctors to watch us breast-feed and multiple doctors said that everything was going well and nothing needed to be changed. It wasn’t until I’ve met the last lactation consultant I had worked with which I think I worked with maybe four, but she filing identified that my baby’s latch was not wide enough. She taught me the hamburger move where I hold onto my breast like a big hamburger sandwich and I try to put my baby on getting the entire hamburger buns, burger and top bun. I’m not sure if I’m explaining that well enough for it to understand, but it actually changed everything for me. Was Breastfeeding completely painless after that he heck no but it wasn’t agony every single time that I latched anymore.
Teeth are painful just say how it is when they accidentally bite it hurt hurts when they purposely bite because they’re learning to test your boundaries it hurts. I personally find the most pain is whenever they’re cutting a tooth and coming in crooked an extra sharp that’s my current situation.
One thing I found that helps most with anything is a good air dry no soap on the nipples no drying the nipples off. Let them air dry and if needed add a little bit of coconut oil.
Air drying is indeed a great trick, I was told by one LC to just let a few drops of milk air dry on my nipples after feeding and it worked so well for me. It’s incredible how unique the interaction of our bodies with our babies is and how what is seemingly alright can actually be the opposite of it when someone goes that extra mile for us. I’m happy that things are better for you now
It’s definitely surprising the first time your baby latches on how painful it is. I think it took about a month before that calmed down. Now, it has definitely been a little more uncomfortable with teeth. Certain nursing positions just don’t work anymore. Every time my daughter finishes nursing, I see little indentations on my areola where she was resting her teeth lol
I learned how to breastfeed using the hamburger method. It definitely helps reduce a painful latch. I agree breastfeeding is painful. Sometimes no but it does go through stages. Especially with teething.
Oh my goodness, that is so funny about the indents. Now that you said that about positions, it has me thinking…I wonder if there are more perfect positions to nurse when they have Teeth.
I can’t believe I missed this post omg!!! Yes for me it’s the teeth that pain hits different hahahah then the pain from engorgement I never expected that to happen or was uneducated when it did it was quite surprising
I try to get her to latch on with her head facing me as much as possible, but she likes to have both of her arms free. So she turns sideways away from me a bit so she can easily play with a toy with both hands while she nurses. I think the only position where she doesn’t leave an indentation is when I’m sitting in a chair and she is standing directly in front of me while she nurses. It’s one of those random nursing positions that just happened one day….she walked up to me while I was sitting outside watching her play, pulled my top down, and just helped herself while she was standing. She even covered me back up when she was done!
But yesss the breastfeeding pain in the beginning is absolutely horrible!
