Breastfeeding pain

Anyone finding that they have one side significantly worse than the other in terms of latch/nipple pain? Is this normal?
Little girl is 4 days old and I feel like she is feeding well. I can feel milk coming in which is great but my nipples are so sore and cracked!
Im getting somewhere with the latch on the left side and the pain is more tolerable, but the right side is just agony and I’m starting to get engorged/lumps that baby isn’t draining.
I went to BF support group today and they said this is normal but I can’t help feeling anxious that there is something wrong with right breast as the pain is soo bad and she really can’t latch well - any tips or advice welcome for baby having a preferred side?
I’m desperate to keep going, and I really don’t want to switch to pumping as I’m loving the bonding with baby, but I’m also so early in the journey and it hurts so much 😩

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

Try and hand express before you feed her on right side as it'll make it easier. I found me right side was way more difficult at the start for some reason. Also try her in different holds as that will help too. I found my boy is better latching in the rugby ball hold on the right boob. Also get yourself a good nipple cream to help salvage your nips. I'm using earth mama organic butter and it's been amazing!

Hi ellie! i had the same issue at the start with baby, i found expressing with my electric pump out of the less dominant boob really helped my flow become easier and baby latched better, i have no idea if this would help anyone else, just found it let down my milk a lot easier, now he takes off both breasts with no issues!! also please get lanolin nipple cream!! its the best🥰

Definitely had a bit of issue with my left breast in the first day or two (mostly because I was stuck in an awkward position while in the hospital recovering from a c-section)!

I wouldn't say it's normal. It's typical but avoidable! Experiment with different holds/position and see if any feels more comfortable. You may want to look up the flipple technique as well!

In the meantime, lanolin cream is your best friend between feeds. Silver nipple cups are a great investment as well, as they help healing and prevent chafing.

Thankfully, nipples heal pretty quickly so as long as you can work on positioning to get her to latch better, you should be sorted within a couple of days!

thank you, I’ve not tried hand expressing, that’s a good idea! X

thank you, will also give this a try - did you do this before or after feeding or just in place of feeding on that side? X

We had this and turned out my baby had a posterior tongue tie. Wait list on nhs was really long so we went private in the end and had it divided. I found feeding in the rugby ball hold better on the harder side because it tricked her into thinking she was feeding on the preferred side! Also definitely look up breast shaping as it helps them get a deeper latch! X

I had an issue with my breast, i got sent videos on massaging my breast and helping with engorgement. Basically got told the engorgement made it more difficult for them to feed xx

Had the same issue with my left boob, I’ve been doing a little hand expressing before feeding to help soften it up which has helped my little one’s latch - I’d also recommend trying a few different positions because on my right side, across my body is the only position he will latch and on the left I have to use the rugby hold, couldn’t tell you why but he is fussy about those positions!

Thanks everyone, trying the rugby hold now and it does seem to be slightly more comfortable. Fingers crossed this is the answer! X

in our community

Wdy think of this for a toddler to learn word construction?

I'm open to anything else to start teaching him to read and write. He's 3!

Vanilla extract

Has anyone used alcohol free vanilla in their babies formal to help them drink?
I’m 100% sure my baby refuses her bottles as she doesn’t like the taste of it!

Just anxious to try it, don’t want her to get used to it and then refuse bottles again after two weeks of using (correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve read you use it for 2 weeks max)

TIA 🙂

Do men really enjoy fellatio?

Been together more than 10 years, but it's been a while since he even seemed remotely interested in me getting on my knees, or vice versa so to speak. I think it was once last year. Must be something I am doing wrong 🤔. Generally everything else in that department is great and we have two young kids with no extra support, so it's quite surprising we can't keep our hands off each other but may need to try new things. It's basically 2 positions each time with some foreplay.

Car seat crying

My 6 month old PANICS the second I put him in a car seat and screams, cries, chokes and recently even projectile vomited on a 14 minute drive. It’s gotten to the point I don’t even bring him out unless it’s to a doctors appointment. I’m a stay at home mom with no family in my state and it has been very isolating. We’ve tried 3 different car seats with no improvement. Has anyone had a baby who hated the car seat? Any advice? This started at 3 months. I will add it does seem worse when he’s tired. He does cry on every trip though. He only contact naps and co sleeps so he reaches for me and will not sleep in the car seat.

Naps

How is everyone doing for naps?

Little one is 9 months old and will have 2 half hour naps and one solid 1 hour - 2 hour nap a day

Then settles for night around 9pm. Wakes for a feed around 3:30 then sleeps until 6-7

Sex post C section

Hi ladies I’m 4 weeks 5 days postpartum and I had a C section. I’m not bleeding properly anymore just some brownish discharge stuff that starts on and off. I’d like to do the deed with my partner; is it okay to do so or shall I wait the full 6 weeks. I feel up for it but also worried because the advice is 6-8 weeks.