https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:01:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2213944 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 19:02:10 +0000 kgbee 2213944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told that if the pain goes away within 10-15 seconds, the latch is fine -- it's just an adjustment period for you and baby in the first month or two. Mine felt like my nipples had ground up glass inside them! That sensation lasted about 6 weeks for me, worst around week 3. I got through it by being super vigilant about his latch (when I slacked off and let him have a lazy latch, it would get worse), air-drying with breastmilk on my nipples, and absolutely slathering on the lanolin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2213740 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 15:00:48 +0000 blackbird 2213740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm so it's not unusual for it to get better (after I started using APNO in the hospital and treating for thrush), then start getting worse after a few weeks? It seems like once he started getting more alert (and maybe sucking harder?), that's when the pain kicked in. I'll try new positions </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2212094 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:51:29 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2212094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, it hurt like hell every time she latched until about 7 weeks. Both of my girls had shallow latches. I wouldn't put lotramin on unless your doctor or LC says. But, I would go ahead and put breastmilk on it after each session, let it dry and then cover with lanolin. Also, the shells were such a big help!! </p> <p>I hope you get some relief soon. I promise it gets better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211955 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:28:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2211955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I would also suggest changing up positions. Do the cross cradle and then the next feeding do football hold (or side laying). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211948 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:21:40 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 2211948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had super bad latch pain (can a baby tongue actually be made of razor blades and needles?!) For about 6 weeks or so. It was really just my nipples getting used to being sucked on. Positioning and working on the latch helps but it could just be your body getting used to nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211926 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:08:41 +0000 MrsKoala 2211926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pain like this until LO's mouth got a bit bigger. He couldn't open as wide as he needed to get a good latch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211908 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 08:50:19 +0000 jetsa 2211908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is exactly what I had with LO1, I had numerous latch checks along with tongue tie etc and then it was just gone one day. It was between 3-4 months that it was finally gone and completely pain free =\ I also had several LC's tell me it was worse with boys because they're "lazy" idk but I didn't have any of it this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211852 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 07:59:51 +0000 blackbird 2211852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: I guess? I get a let down in the opposite breast and it's something that shoots through the whole breast in a sort of electric type pain. This feels distinctly different. Sharp and searing. @lady grey: I'll try that! If he naturally pops off, I do that, but by then, the initial pain is gone </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211817 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 07:23:45 +0000 lady grey 2211817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Can you tell when your initial let down is coming? Try delatching baby at that point and having your milk spray onto a burp rag. Then put him back on. Hopefully then won't be quite so overwhelmed in milk and clamp down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211810 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 07:07:29 +0000 Mamaof2 2211810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Any chance it could just be your let down? I found it to be kinda painful for awhile there and it only lasts 15 seconds or so like you mentioned </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211797 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:37:12 +0000 blackbird 2211797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: I do that, too. He has a tendency to tuck his lip under, so that's the first thing I check! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211791 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:29:14 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2211791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When he's latched try pulling his lower lip out the midwives did that for me and it helped a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211779 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:13:50 +0000 Adira 2211779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: With Xander, that pain didn't go away until after his 6 week growth spurt. Then I think he was just a little bit and so he could latch correctly. In the meantime, APNO! Hope you're almost past it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211754 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 01:46:52 +0000 blackbird 2211754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: they're pink but he's on nystatin and his ped told me to use anti fungal cream, so it'd being treated just in case. He hasn't had signs in over two weeks. I do have a decent let down, and I've wondered if that could be it. He's gotten sprayed numerous times when popping off early </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211723 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:34:14 +0000 lady grey 2211723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Do you have any redness on your nipples or breasts? I was just going to ask if you think its thrush, but noticed you already mentioned that in your original post...if it is thrush you'll need to treat both your skin and baby's mouth- usually with nystatin. </p> <p>Another idea- do you happen to have a strong let down? Maybe he is clamping down with the initial let down to try to slow the milk flow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211720 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:21:14 +0000 blackbird 2211720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: Well, I make him open wide and it seems he's on pretty deep. I've had them check his latch so many times since we got him clipped a month ago and they always say it's good. If his latch isn't deep, it sort of stings while he's eating so I'll get him off and make him latch again </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211719 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:18:31 +0000 lady grey 2211719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: hmmm it really sounds like he might not be opening his mouth wide enough. Does he have a wide open mouth when he initially latches on? I wonder if he may have a tight jaw and could benefit from seeing an OT or osteopathic treatment- ask the LC tomorrow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211714 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:06:03 +0000 blackbird 2211714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: that's the one I use! And I do find that maintaining a clamp the whole time sometimes helps. Sometimes not, and he'll slip off and I have to pat myself dry and we start over, but the initial pain is just really that initial latch....maybe it's the act of drawing the nipple out? Dunno, but ow </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211699 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:32:11 +0000 lady grey 2211699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: What positions are you nursing in? You might want to try sticking with the cross cradle position, where you hold your breast while baby latching on and while he continues to nurse. Holding/compressing your breast during the whole feeding will promote a deeper latch and thus (hopefully) less pain.<br /> <a href="http://www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html</a></p> <p>[attach=4871/15/nq4cdn.197x281.crosscradle.jpg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211682 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:13:23 +0000 blackbird 2211682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I literally shake my head like I'm shivering or something, it's that visceral and unpleasant. Ugh. </p> <p>Well hopefully it goes away soon. 3-4 more weeks of this isn't acceptable. Come on boobs, get with the program! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211673 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:04:36 +0000 catomd00 2211673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I def had the tie-curling, spew expletives for 10 seconds latch pain. It lasted a few weeks. I have heard its normal the first few weeks and just when I was getting worried, it stopped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211646 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:42:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2211646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: @mfa_lady: I never knew "toe curling pain" was a real thing, thought it was an expression like scared to death or something- until I started breastfeeding. And I was panicked that I was doing something wrong or her latch was bad. Then I just accepted it and relaxed a little, and it went away by about 6 weeks for the most part. But really toe curling, wincing, pain for like 15 seconds every time for a few weeks. </p> <p>Went on to BF for 20 months and loved it, so I assume we were doing it right after all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211634 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:28:31 +0000 blackbird 2211634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ahhh this is making me feel hopeful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211611 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:02:46 +0000 Kbee 2211611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also experienced the toe-curling, punch-something kind of pain with latching. For me, I believe it stopped somewhere around 7 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211606 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:59:18 +0000 mfa_lady 2211606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: For the first month I just randomly said that to just about any woman on the street who would listen. I'm kind of joking, but in my postpartum haze I definitely said it to friends who weren't really comfortable listening to me talk about my painful nips. Oh well. They'll thank me one day, right?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211604 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:56:40 +0000 Boopers 2211604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LC said that initial latch on pain is normal, but pain throughout a feeding is not. At 10 weeks I am still experiencing excruciating pain throughout the whole session on both sides. He will not get a deep latch and he doesn't keep his tongue past his gum line while nursing no matter how many times I unlatch and relatch.</p> <p>I have to alternate nursing and pumping to give my poor nipples a bit of a break. </p> <p>I hope you get some relief!!! Nursing pain is awful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211603 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:56:37 +0000 Banana330 2211603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm almost 9 weeks and it's stopped for me... I want to say 6 weeks. I had the exact same pain at the beginning though. I kept using APNO which I think helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211601 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:56:26 +0000 blackbird 2211601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: yes that's it! It's sharp and my face contorts and I count down and it goes away. He's 5 weeks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211599 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:55:34 +0000 blackbird 2211599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: ha, they covered that as one of the big myths! I'm hoping it just stops one day and it gets better soon</p> <p>. @Mae: no open wounds! I have that APNO cream, too. They're only mildly sore and tender when they aren't being used, and they're fine when I pump. It's just when he's latching on to eat. </p> <p>@macintosh: I hope yours gets better soon, too! In my head, I keep thinking 6 weeks is the magic mark but....that's just in my head </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/latch-pain#post-2211597 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:54:50 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2211597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is he now? This started around 3 weeks I think, and was totally gone around....maybe 7 weeks or so? I honestly winced and nearly yelled every time she latched, but then it was gone after about 5 -10 seconds. </p>