https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:13:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356873 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:55:17 +0000 Kemma 356873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Looks as though lots of us are in the same boat when it comes to the breastfeeding, hopefully we'll all get through it and our wee one's will continue to flourish and grow!</p> <p>This week I'm getting through with the attitude "one day at a time". We hit the one week mark yesterday, today we're eight days and before we know it we'll be at two weeks wondering where the time went! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356836 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:26:47 +0000 Ree723 356836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second what @pastemoo said; it really does get better and I absolutely love bf'ing now. I can't really remember the pain now (LO is 4 months old) and Dread the thought of having to wean someday.</p> <p>Just remember, it gets a little bit better each day, so as painful as it is today, it will be less painful tomorrow, and less painful the day after that. Keep up the great work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356816 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:05:26 +0000 erwoo 356816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If no one has suggested it yet, have you tried using nipple cream right before and after you nurse? It'll help prevent dryness and cracking. It shouldn't hurt if your LO is latching on properly. Both of my boys nursed awesome but my second makes me hurt a little more in that he likes to bite on my nipple and pull on it while looking up at me when he's done nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356805 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:57:30 +0000 erinpye 356805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, I did crack, bleed and cry every time I nursed for the first few weeks, and what finally helped me, as weird as it sounds: I would put lanolin on after nursing, and then cover my nipples with a tiny piece of saran wrap. It kept the lanolin on, kept my nipples from rubbing directly on my nursing bra/ clothes, and it made an immediate difference. I did that for a few days, completely healed, and didn't have to use it (or even the lanolin) at all anymore after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356448 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:57:38 +0000 hilsy85 356448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I've heard that you shouldn't use a nipple shield unless directed to do so by an LC? I don't want to cause difficulty in latching w/o the shield...@Baby Boy Mom: hmm interesting. LO is 7lbs9oz now so not teeny but not huge yet. Maybe as his mouth gets bigger his latch will get deeper as well? I really hope things get better before 6-7 weeks tho--the thought of pain for that long makes me cry!@Rainbow Sprinkles: thanks! That gives me some hope...I am also using lanisoh, but it has lanolin in it. I think I'm going to order motherlove nipple cream, which I've heard is good as well. @pastemoo: that is really what I am hoping for--that it gets better and I love bf'ing. Right now I want to love it so much! But it is painful :(@Thehistoryofus: good point! I think my pedi's office has a bf'ing group. @TurtleDoves: I also get that feeling of dreading the upcoming feeding, which sucks because I love being so close to him and sharing that with him. But when it's been like an hour and he wants to eat again, I get nervous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-356246 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:51:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 356246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would also highly recommend a breastfeeding support group if you can find one. One or two visits with a LC are great, but the breastfeeding journey continues to change and evolve and the continued support was KEY for me making it to my 1 year goal.! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355943 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:39:30 +0000 mynoahbear 355943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO had a great latch but I still felt pain the first 15-30 seconds of feeding. The pain either went away or my nipples just toughened up after the first month and a half. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355834 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:14:11 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 355834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread is making me call a LC right now! My baby is 8 days old and I get shakey and scared as feeding time approaches because it hurts!<br /> Hilsy: good luck to you:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355817 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:10:31 +0000 Pink Champagne 355817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was little as well (only 6.3 at birth) so for me, it hurt like hell and we had terrible latching problems until he was about 6 weeks old and was able to get the hang of it. He still sometimes "lazy latches" at night, so I've switched to bottle feeding him expressed milk, but during the day he's fine.<br /> I also had that initial pain during feedings for the first 6 weeks or so, even when using the nipple shield. I think it's probably normal.<br /> I used Bag Balm to help heal my cracked/bleeding nipples- just wipe it off before the next feeding if you try it. It would heal a cracked nipple in like, three hours. Lanolin never worked for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355799 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:04:55 +0000 pastemoo 355799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: For me... yes. It got a tiny bit better around 2 weeks when I saw the LC again. Then my right side got better (like for permanent better) at 6-7 weeks and the left one after 8-9 weeks. Now I LOVE it and it rarely hurts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355766 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:55:44 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 355766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: 4 weeks is when I stopped feeling pain. I always thought pain was normal... my mom nursed 5 babies and said it is always painful at first! I even used a nipple shield and I still had some scabbing. I thought it was from blisters opening from constant suction on your sensitive nipples (which can't really be changed by latch). But hey, maybe I am wrong!</p> <p>I used Lasinoh nipple cream (it was actually Lanolin free) and i thought it worked wonders. </p> <p>Good luck! Let us know what the LC says! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355727 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:41:20 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 355727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: For me it was honestly 6 or 7 weeks. I have no evidence but anecdotally from friends and my own experience, one thing that makes a big difference is how big LO is. It seems to be that a bigger mouth does help them get a better latch. In my case LO was tiny (5.5 lbs) and once he had a couple of growth spurts BF got a lot easier. (In our case that seemed to make a bigger difference than any of the small adjustments the LC suggested). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355711 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:35:09 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 355711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I second using the nipple shield like @MamaBehr said. That really did help to ease some of the pain in the early nursing days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355433 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:37:41 +0000 irene 355433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes it hurts even if he has a good latch, in the beginning. However it should slowly subside and go away in a few days to a week as your nipples toughens for it...</p> <p>I'd say make an in-home appointment with a certified lactation consultant - the ones in the hospitals are not nearly as good! Ours teach me ways to get a good latch every time. They teach you tips and tricks. I think we saw ours within a week of my baby's birthdate, and my pain was gone shortly after that.</p> <p>Also check out the videos on Dr. Jack Newman's website to see and compare if you are getting a good latch:<br /> <a href="http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos" rel="nofollow">http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos</a></p> <p>Your LO's mouth should open very wide and the latch should be assymmetrical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355379 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:12:22 +0000 MamaBehr 355379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85 I didn't have any issues with my daughter's latch, but she was a big baby (9 lbs 6oz at birth!) However, my son's latch was HORRIBLE and it HURT! I bled and blistered and scabbed and everything! This helped a lot with my daughter and a little with my son, so when you go to a LC today (I'm assuming you are going to try and get in today:) ) ask about <a href="http://www.diapers.com/p/medela-contact-nipple-shield-309954" rel="nofollow">http://www.diapers.com/p/medela-contact-nipple-shield-309954</a> The nipple shield worked really well with DD. It also allows for your nipples to heal a little bit. And, not to scare you, make sure you clean your nipples really well because you could get mastitis, that is what happened with me with DS. </p> <p>Good Luck! It does get easier :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355353 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:47:31 +0000 T.H.O.U. 355353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Sounds like you got some great advice here. </p> <p>At first, I don't think breastfeeding is relaxing and bonding like they make it seem on TV and in books. Even if you aren't in pain, it still is a bit uncomfortable until you get used to it. </p> <p>However, extreme pain and bleeding is too much and I would see an LC. </p> <p>Make sure you are cupping your breast and really putting as much as possible in your baby's mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355352 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:46:15 +0000 Mrsbells 355352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: For me it was painful in the beginning, especially for the first few minutes. Its because the baby latches on and sucks really hard at first and because right after birth your nipples are sore anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355351 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:42:38 +0000 hilsy85 355351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much, ladies...you can kind of see where my confusion comes in though--even in this post, some people say pain is normal while others say it isn't! It seems like bleeding is definitely not normal though, so I"m going to try to call an LC today. I do only nurse on one side each feeding and have been putting BM and lanolin on my nipples after each feeding. I also air dry as much as I can. @regberadaisy: We alternate between football hold and x-cradle.@CarrieLouWho: @Rainbow Sprinkles: @Baby Boy Mom: when did it get better for you guys? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355253 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:32:29 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 355253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It will hurt in the beginning, but it shouldn't hurt for more than a few seconds, and it certainly shouldn't bleed. Bleeding is a sign that he isn't latching correctly. Runing Ellie had it right by saying you probably need more of your areola in his mouth. Once you get the latch corrected, it will still hurt at each feeding until your nipples heal. Definitely put some breastmilk on them after each feeding and let it air dry to help it heal faster. To give you even more relief, try nursing on only one side at each feeding to give the other nippl more time to heal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355252 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:12:02 +0000 Penny Lane 355252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely talk to another lactation consultant. I listened to the one a the hospital who told me our latch was fine... It just got worse and worse until I had cracks within cracks and an entire chunk missing from one nipple (which then got infected, then we got thrush because of the antibiotics...) and couldn't latch him on anymore. They took over 3 weeks to heal enough for me to feed off them. </p> <p>When they were healed I went to a different LC and she was amazing! She told me we totally had the latch wrong, and showed me how to get it better even with my sons epic latching issues (he liked to nose dive and shove his chin into his chest while trying to latch. So hard. Anyways...</p> <p>TL; DR... See another LC until you find one who helps. I think you can tell the difference between uncomfortable, unfamiliar, tugging pain, rather than ripping, pinching (bad latch) pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355249 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:44:05 +0000 tequiero21 355249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my kids had good latches and i had pain for over a month or so. but i never had any bleeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355244 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:43:14 +0000 erinpye 355244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't see just any LC, see an IBCLC and have her check for tongue tie, posterior tongue tie, and lip tie. Those issues are quite common and cause a painful latch as well as hinder the baby's ability to feed correctly and completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355235 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:57:13 +0000 regberadaisy 355235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would consider seeking another LC. I don't think it should hurt and def not to the point of bleeding if her latch is perfect. Have you tried a different position to see if it helps? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355228 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:45:41 +0000 Chastenet 355228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your LO is still very, very young so it could just be a matter of your nipples toughening up a little as they get used to bfing. I would say it hurt for about the first week. I used lots of lanolin and then the pain went away. I haven't had to use the lanolin cream again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355191 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:35:36 +0000 sandy 355191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that it hurts like crazy for the first few weeks even if the baby has a good latch. Every LC said LO had a perfect latch and the pain was terrible whenever she first latched on (and then would feel better after a few minutes). I definitely had moments where I just wanted to quit breastfeeding (I also had the blisters and scabs)...and then magically the pain isn't as bad after a few weeks (although my right side hurt for several more weeks). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355187 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:29:27 +0000 banana 355187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my kids are really good latches and when I first BF'd them (the first month) it hurt like crazy! After a month, it started hurting less and then it completely stopped hurting. I think it's totally normal to feel pain even with a good latch. I would tell you to just keep at it even if it hurts like a MOFO. It'll get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355181 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:02:12 +0000 Kemma 355181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LO was is a week old today and my latch is still a bit hit and miss but we seem to be over the toe-curling pain for now (fingers crossed!). </p> <p>I've seen a Lactation Consultant and my Midwife checks my latch at each visit but I still struggle to get LO to open her mouth wide enough at each latch, </p> <p>FWIW my Midwife reckons it takes the best part of two weeks to really get the hang of latching so hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355170 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:13:03 +0000 pinkcupcake 355170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pain for the first 2 months, but it's b/c L had a bad latch in the beginning and my nipples were totally beat up. I heard that even if a baby has a good latch, you can still experience pain in your nipples just from the constant sucking. A friend of mine who didn't have any latch problems said her nipples hurt for about 6 weeks. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355167 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:06:18 +0000 sarac 355167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It shouldn't hurt! You might consider another LC to get a different set of eyes on your latch. Also, if you can't figure it out, and it doesn't get better in a week or two, look into tongue tie. My sister breastfed through pain for months because she refused to address a posterior tongue tie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-normal-for-breastfeeding#post-355106 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:04:49 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 355106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely had pain with the initial latch for a while until LO got a little bigger and I got used to it. I don't really believe the "it's not supposed to hurt" stuff- you're putting a sensitive part of your body to use multiple times a day in a way it's never been used before, it takes some time to adjust! Then again, if the pain is really bad then there's probably a latch issue. </p>