Nipple Pain During Breastfeeding

Your sister may want to check herself and the baby for thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection that can develop especially before delivery and it is passed on to the baby. If her breast are sore, red or itchy these are signs that either she and/or the baby has thrush. Also check the inside of the baby's mouth for white patches, like on the tongue. This is a definite sign of thrush. It can be treated with purple dye called nystatin (spelling ?) which can be purchased OTC at your local drug store. But I recommend getting treatment from her pediatrician to ask for non-staining medicine. You will be instructed to sterilize all bottles and nipples and place the medication on your nipples and swab the inside of the baby's mouth several times a day. I know at first it's very tedious, but she will be glad she did. Breastfeeding is so important!!

If the baby doesn't have thrush, it could be she is not fully latched on when breastfeeding and is pulling the nipple in the wrong way. The baby's mouth should almost cover the areola and his/her tummy should be facing mom's.

For relief, I would suggest to continue to use the lanolin and cold packs. This helped me during breastfeeding. But the pain went away after both of us were treated for thrush.

Take care!

It will go away,but it might be what position the baby's mouth is on the nipple. I had this with my oldest he would just grab ahold of the nipple. I had to learn to put my finger in his mouth to release suction then move his mouth in a better place. It caused bruising and not cracking so maybe what going on in this case.
hugs
B.

She mightg very well have a yeast problem. Ask her to check in her baby's mouth to see if there are any white spots, patches, or lines. Even if there are none, she still may have yeast on her breast. It can be very painful when there is yeast. If she suspects a problem, or if she just wants to try a solution in order to subside the pain tell her to start using an antifungal cream (such as one for athletes foot) on her breasts, applying on the nipple and areola area. She must wash it off before breastfeeding. Also if she wants to she can start rinsing herself with a 1Tbsp per cup of water solution after each time she nurses. Yeast/thrush is extremely stubborn and if she does have it, most likely her baby has it in her mouth. Call the pediatrician and your OBGYN and they will work with you to get a perscription.
The other option is that she needs to work on her baby latching on correctly. Most of the time that is the culprit. The baby's mouth needs to be wide open when latching on (I know you probably know this!). If the babe is sucking on the tip of the nipple it can cause damage to the nipple without cracking or anything that can be very painful.
Good lucK! Breastfeeding is so much harder than anyone ever told me :) I'm breastfeeding my third child and have had soreness also. Not to the point of tears, but I understand. Don't give up! Oh, a book that I would recommend (best book ever) is called "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-solving Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America" (Paperback, 2006)
Author: Jack Newman, Teresa Pitman.

It could just be the child is a vigorous feeder. I was pain free nursing my first child but my second one caused me a lot of pain for about 2-3 weeks. He was latching on correctly but it still hurt because he was so aggressive. I just constantly monitored him to make sure he latched on correctly and eventually my nipples got used to it and it was no longer painful. I never used any creams. Hope things improve for her soon! Lactation consultant would be a great idea too if for no other reason than emotional support.

mine were sore for a long long time i ended using nipple protecters for a while and waited until my nipples were totally healed and stopped using the protecters. after that it was smooth sailing for a whole year.

It depends on the type of pain she is experiencing. If it is a burning pain, then it may be an infection. Those are not uncommon. If it is just pain in general, then it sounds like the baby isn't latching on correctly. I had the same problem with my second daughter. It hurt to bathe, to nurse, to breathe, - it even to go without a shirt if the wind blew across the wrong way. Once I realized she wasn't latching on quite right and got her on the correct way, the pain went away within a day or two. I don't necessarily think it has to do with implants since my good friend has breastfed her 2 kids with implants and no problems. Good luck to her, though!

I had an issue with this with my first child and stopped breast feeding, with my second I was lucky enough to have a nurse who showed me what I was doing wrong.

The baby is not latching on right. The nipple has to go in centered. The easiest way to start breast feeding and get the right latch on is the football hold. There are a lot of pictures online you can find, but basically using your boppy or pillow lay the baby next to you, under your arm, with their feet going toward your back. Holding the back of the baby's head lift her up to your nipple. If it hurts, use your finger at the corner to gently break the suction and try again. Get your nipple in so that an equal amount of the aereola goes in. If it is off center when the baby comes off it will be more the shape of an orthadontic pacifier and that is when it hurts. Also the baby is not getting milk as easily this way.

If she tries this and it still hurts have her go back to the hospital where she delivered and ask one of the nurses to help her. There is usually at least one that is very good at this.

Once she and the baby become familiar with how to latch on, then she can change to other feeding positions and it will be easy, she just needs that learning time.

Good Luck.

Having implants isn't the problem. it might be the baby isn't latching on to the nipple correctly. try moving the baby a to a different position and that might help.

It will pass. Make sure the baby is latching on to the breast not just the nipple. I remember with my first child, I was ready to give up breast feeding the first week or so b/c it was painful. It gets easier and less painful.
Good luck and congrats on the baby

I had the same issue and the doctor told me I had gotten a yeast infection on my nipples. I was prescribed a cream that I would have to put on my nipples and also put on my sons tongue. It was a hassle but it did go away. Don't know if this is your sisters situation but she might want to ask her doctor about it.

Nipple pain during breastfeeding is very common. She should see if there is a lactation consultant from the hospital where she delivered that can help. She can also go to the La Leche League's website and they could probably recommend one. She could also call her Dr. office. The baby may not be latching on correctly, so be sure she gets some help! Tell her not to give up. One week isn't long enough for the nipples to be used to the breastfeeding, so if she can get some help and make sure the baby is latching correctly, it will get better.

I was very sore nursing my son especially the first week,a gust of wind was painful but it does get better, and it was so worth it, I truely enjoy it now. Make sure she takes the time to latch the baby on correctly and some positions are easier than others, I only nurse my son in the cradle hold since it works best for us. I am sure she has a boppy but if not they are the best. The first three weeks are the hardest so good luck! Also on a side note, at first I wasn't making enough milk to satisfy baby, the first few weeks, then I read somewhere that almonds are good for making milk, started eating a handful throughout the day, and I started making so much milk I had to pump for relief, made baby happy though!

Hello M.--you sound like a very good sister! I'm thinking she may have a yeast infection in the breast, and the baby will soon, if not already, have it as well in the mouth. The pain from this problem sounds like what you describe.
There is medication for both mom and baby to fix the problem. Have her see her provider, or call me at my Birth Center @ ###-###-#### for evaluation and treatment. Also, the baby may not be latching correctly, and this can be a problem. She may need to see a lactation consultant as well. There is help for moms who want to breastfeed, and 6 months without formula is an excellent goal!
thanks, Kathy

It took me 2 weeks of nursing before the pain went away. I did the Lashinoh every time as well. Gerber makes these gel pads that you can put on the nipples that make them feel much better. You get them cold in the fridge then after you nurse it soothes them. Wonderful. But.. it will take 2-3 weeks before the pain goes away.

Pain is normal at first, though I would ask if baby is tongue-tied? That would certainly do it - mine was, and it was hard for him to get a good hold. I wonder if baby is latching on properly. I would recommend talking to a lactation nurse to see if everything's going like it's supposed to.

She needs to call her Dr. - She probably has an infection...maybe Thrush. If she has Thrush, both her and her baby would need to be treated. You can also visit www.breastfeeding.com and type in "Thrush" in the search box. I had Thrush when I nursed my first baby and it hurt like hell! She needs to see her Dr. for sure. Good luck!

I had the same problem. It was excruciating to breastfeed. I was told my little one wasn't latching on correctly if I was going through that kind of pain, but I could swear she was. A friend introduced me to the nipple shield. I can't remember the brand name, but it is a soft plastic shield that goes over your nipple with little holes for the milk to pass through. It was my saviour!!!! You can get them at Target.

I hope this helps your sister!