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Does it last the whole timetime he is latched? It's very normal to have latch pain in the early days as your nipples get used to it, but it should fade within 30 seconds of latching.

Are you using nipple cream? If you're developing sores you should be HEAVILY coating your nipples with lansinoh after every time he nurses.

It'll get better! You just have to give your body a chance to adjust.

It was very painful for me in the beginning, too. I know it doesn't help so much now, but it really does get better with time. In those first few weeks I would be crying out in pain and now I don't feel any pain.

as to the formula, i supplemented starting on day 5 for about 2 weeks (and then moved to supplementing with pumped breast milk in a bottle), and it didn't mess up our nursing relationship.

i'm sorry about the pain! i definitely had scabs the first couple of weeks.

Did you have antibiotics in labour? I'd first think bad latch, but if you've seen an LC and the latch is good, my next guess would be thrush.

Has he been checked for a tongue/lip tie? Do your nipples look like tubes of new lipstick when they come out of his mouth or do they look normal?

Do you think his latch is getting more shallow? A lot of people find laid back nursing helpful: http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/

Also, I didn't like lanolin--I found that it was too thick and gloppy to spread without causing me more pain. I loved motherlove nipple cream.

@Pepper: my mom used to make fun of me because every time DD latched I'd jerk my leg cause it hurt. It was like this curious little twitch.

@rahlyrah: things definitely improve when your milk comes in because of the reduction in friction

@hilsy85: tongue and / or lip tie was my first thought too.

@Pepper: hang in there Mama and just take it one feed at a time! Your and your wee babe are BOTH learning how to breastfeed and nursing will definitely get more comfortable as the days go by. Baby's mouth will get bigger, his neck will get stronger and you'll become more confident handling him and latching him on.

You could also try icing your nipples before nursing and taking some form of pain relief to take the edge off the pain.

And don't hesitate to see your IBCLC if things don't improve!!!

@Pepper: I had the same piercing awful pain when I started out nursing -my toes curled every time he latched on. What helped me were breast shells -I had the medela but ameda makes them too. I got the ones for sore nipples, which basically keeps your bra/shirt from rubbing against them. I would coat them in lanolin and put those things on and it was SO MUCH BETTER.

I used them for about six weeks day and night and never had any problems (although I think they might put you at a higher risk for thrush, but I was in so much pain, I just wanted relief).

I also wanted to echo PP that I think part of it is time -he's four months now, EBF, and I don't feel a thing lol.

Good luck!

Everyone has great advice. I just also wanted to say that it gets much better over time. My little guy is 3 weeks old today, and I thought I'd have to nickname him "bear trap". My husband watched me nurse him with tears in my eyes, it hurt so much. And now, a mere 3 weeks out, it's not perfect, but it is a thousand times better than it was in the beginning! Somehow something seems to click, and it all becomes much smoother. And I never would have believed that when I was at day 2!

@pepper: I had the same cringe-inducing pain for almost a week, and then it got better. You will find it will start to change with your milk arriving (less pulling / hard sucking), too. My nipples have healed to the point where I don't have any scabs or bloody spots, and I no longer wince when I put her to my breast (woohoo!)

I'd suggest Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter - I liked it better than lanolin (which I felt the need to wash off before feeding) and motherlove nipple cream (just didn't seem to be as soothing as the EMAB butter). Plus to me it smells like chocolate, or something yummy along those lines. Good luck!