BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

Hi! I have been BF DS for almost 6 weeks and I still have excruciating pain on my right side! I literally want to jump out of my skin when he latches. My left side is fine.

I went to my OB last week and he ruled out thrush, mastisis (sp), etc...

When should this get better?

I have been pumping and supplementing at night to give my nipples a rest, also using the lansinoh (sp) cream and soothie gel pads. Nothing helps.

Re: BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

I didn't have terrible pain at that point, but I was not pain free until about 6 weeks or so.

Re: BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

Buy a nipple shield!!!!! It has been my savior!!! I originally bought it bc DS had trouble latching. I have been able to get him to latch but I see stars when I do. I asked the doctor if it is okay to continue to use a shield and she said absolutely. We call it the sombrero!!! Medela makes the best one (stays put on your nipple). It is like $6 and I swear by it. It has not affected my supply what so ever and my nipples have been saved by it!!! No pain at all!!! If you don't want to use it permanently, I would at least recommend using it until the pain subsides and keep it handy if they get sore again. Also, use the Medela ointment. It glides on so much better than the Lanisoh (which hurt me to put on because it was so thick). Hope this helped!

Re: BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

the same thing happened to me at 6 weeks. it was my left side. turns out the positioning was sort of off on that side when the baby latched on. my right side was just fine. adjust the baby a bit before putting them on, making sure youre lined up with the nipple. sometimes just a minor move makes all the difference.

Re: BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

Are you just in pain for the first minute or so after he latches? If you're in pain the entire time, DS may not have a good latch. BFing was painful for me for the first 6-8 weeks. After the first few weeks, it was really only painful right after DS latched. It got much better after those first 2 months.

Re: BF Moms - 5.5 weeks in and still have nipple pain?

Thanks so much everyone!!!!!

I have a nipple shield (was given one by a LC in the NICU) to help him latch, but I have heard conflicting things about them (affect let down, decreased milk supply, they don't get hindmilk, etc) so I was hesitant to use it... It took him awhile to latch without it, so I also don't want to get him "hooked" on it again.

It may be his positioning on that side. I am trying to line him up better. It hurts for almost the entire time. By the end I think I am just numb to the pain.