nursing help!

a little background. i have kind of flat nipples so with DS i ended up using a nipple shield the entire13 mos i bfed him. this time around i want to try and avoid the nippple shield. and so far we are doing ok.

but here is the deal. when DD nurses (1) it hurts like a SOB!!!! this is only for about the firs 30sec-1min.... i think this is probably pretty normal. but i just wanted to check. i mean it doesnt just hurt.... it HURTS (i make faces and curse and close my eyes really tightly until it is over) (2) i cant seem to get DD to open her mouth wide enough to take in more than just the nipple and a little areola... so often times she is making that clicking sound where her tongue is hitting the roof of her mouth.

i am thinking that with the clicking thing that it just may take some time for her to grow and her mouth to get bigger so that she can open it wider (when she latches... i use lower finger (the one holding my boob) to try and drop her chin more and get her mouth as wide as possible). but now that my milk has come in my nipples are sticking out less too and it makes it harder for her to latch.

i guess i am just wondering if it is ok for her to feed this way. eventhough it may not be 'the best" latch around she is still getting what she needs right? and hopefully as time progresses we will both get better at it?

yes, that is normal to hurt like hell but I found that by the time #3 came around they didn't hurt as bad.  That first week is bad.  I can remember the pain shooting all the way through the whole breast.  OUCH!!!!!  She'll let you know if she isn't getting enough. 

yes, it does hurt for a minute in the beginning.  however, if it continues i would call la leche leage or your lactation consultant to check her latch.  it should go away quickly.  hang in there. 

I agree with pbab.  The first week or two I remember it hurting!!!  I was even bleeding after the 1st day.  It will get better.  She is new at nursing so it may take her a little while to get used to it.  I hope you feel better soon.  I remember those awful pains!

Some babies have poor latches.  I always say you have to go through a week to two weeks of intense pain with some babies before their mouths get totally used to the boobie.  My first son was a master bfeeder.  Got the perfect latch everytime.  Didn't know anything about that toe curling pain until #2 came along.  Oh boy...that was some major pain!!  Didn't matter how much La Leche helped...that baby just didn't have a big mouth so he would have to be well into nursing to feel better and I had to chew on a pillow to get through it..haha!  I think by the time baby is at LEAST two weeks this will be a distant memory!  BTW, dd was a poor latch too!

 Actually........I kind of have to disagree with it hurting. I had trouble nursing both my boys because of flatter nipples. Both times, I had bleeding and cracked nipples. The first time eventually they healed and I got over it, but it took about a month. The second time was far worse and one of my nipples got infected it was that cracked. I had some great help from a lactation consultant the second time around. I was told......and have to agree that breastfeeding, if latching on correctly should never hurt. Looking at the picture of your beautiful daughter, she does have a tiny mouth and this can make things more difficult. The clicking sound..........means she isn't getting a proper latch. You should normally hear a swallowing sound, but no clicking. If she isn't getting a proper latch then she will still be getting milk, but as in my case they may only be getting the foremilk and not the rich hindmilk. My son lost a lot of weight the first 3 weeks, because he wasn't latching properly. I was taught a fantastic way to get him to latch on properly that isn't in any of the books or literature that I read. I will try to describe it as best I can.Be aware that a lot of breastfeeding instructions tell you to form your fingers in a C shape or squeeze the breast between a finger underneath and one on top. These techniques are useless if you have flat nipples! They just flatten the nipple even more and the baby can't get a proper latch. Here is what I was taught and I wish I knew it, when I had had ds#1. Have the pointer finger of your hand that isn't cradling the baby, directly above the top of your nipple. The rest of your fingers will be under your boob just below the nipple. This will form a C shape around your boob. Push down in the spot above the nipple so that it slightly points the nipple upwards. Put the baby's mouth just under your nipple. Stroke her bottom lip with the nipple to get her to open her mouth and use her rooting reflex. As soon as she opens her mouth position the top of your nipple toward the top of her mouth, let the pressure off your pointer finger and push down with your remaining fingers on the underneath part of your boob. This make an almost flicking action of your nipple into their mouth. You have to make sure that both her lips are flanged outward like a fish then you will know she has the right grasp. I hope that makes sense. I wish I could show you, sorry. It takes a few tries to get used to it, but with 5 minutes you should have it down and it will be easy to get even flat nipples into her mouth. Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, just let me know. Good luck!!

 i don't know anything about flat nipples but my dd will not open her mouth really wide either and i was told that it was okay but just to keep trying to get her to open her mouth. A trick i was told that would help is when you are looking at each other that you should open you mouth really wide. Eventually she will start copying you.

I hurt alot for the first week or two then it was better but it sounds like you may be in worse pain than me so i would definately call a lactation consultant because breastfeeding should not hurt as much as you described. Also i did end up getting cracked nipples that first week which was probably the cause of the pain, so be careful.

well, whatever i am doing wrong... it isnt hurting DD one bit! she had her first dr appt today, and my little bruser gained 7 oz from her leaving the hospital weight!! i cant believe it!! a half a pound! crazy!

PBD~ i have been trying your new latch too. thanks for the tip

 OAB- So glad I could give some advice!! I know all about flat nipples!!! Hope you could understand my instructions for the latch. It was a lifesaver for me, and knowing that now, I am hoping that our little limey girl will cause me no pain breastfeeding. Sounds like your little limey is gaining weight like a trooper, so that's great! Seriously though if they have the right latch, it shouldn't hurt at all. Hope you get my instructions down pat, I think it will help a lot. Good luck and I am sure you are loving every minute with your beautiful little girl!

I recommend that everyone sees a lactation consultant.  I found that I was doing it completely wrong and she saved us so much pain and frustration.  Good luck!

 Uh oh...DS#3 did the same thing (even the tongue clicks) and I kept thinking that I would try to get him to open wider "next time he nurses"...now it is 4 months later and we are STILL having painful problems, lots of thrush, etc!!  Try to get her to latch on correctly now!  I had a much easier time for some reason with my first two.  :(  Good luck!

Breastfeeding in my experience does hurt for about the first week as both you and bub get used to it again or for the first time. It is truly hard work. Her jaw is clicking because she has not got the full amount of your boob in. I would suggest contacting your local hospital or breastfeeding association for some assistance. Do you have breastfeeding classes in the hospital near you or a child health nurse?

You need someone to show you how to latch her on properly. It is much harder trying to describe a correct latch than it is having someone show you when you are feeding her.

Good luck - and don't give up yet. It takes time to learn for both of you.

Kritti