Breastfeeding Shouldn't Hurt: When to Ask for Help

You may have heard some version of this before:

"Breastfeeding hurts at first. You just have to get through it."

And while there can absolutely be an adjustment period in the beginning, there is a difference between your body getting used to breastfeeding and being in pain every time your baby eats.

If you are wincing when your baby latches, watching the clock until the feeding is over, or wondering how you are supposed to keep doing this eight, ten or twelve times a day, we want you to know something.

You do not have to just push through it.

At Parkview Therapy Services, we help moms figure out why breastfeeding is uncomfortable and what we can do to make it better.

Is any discomfort normal in the beginning?

Sometimes, yes.

Your nipples are adjusting to something they have never done before, and you and your baby are both learning a brand new skill.

You may notice some tenderness or sensitivity during the first few days. That initial sensation when baby latches may feel strong, too.

What we do not want is pain that continues throughout the feeding, gets worse over time or leaves you with damaged nipples.

A good rule of thumb is that breastfeeding should become more comfortable as the feed continues, not more painful.

When should I ask for help?

You do not need to wait until something feels unbearable.

We would rather see you early, when we may be able to make a small adjustment, than after you have spent days or weeks trying to work through pain on your own.

It is worth reaching out if you notice:

• Sharp, pinching or burning pain while your baby feeds

• Pain that continues through most or all of the feeding

• Cracked, bleeding, blistered or damaged nipples

• Nipples that look flattened, creased or pinched after a feeding

• Pain that is getting worse instead of better

• Your baby constantly slipping off or struggling to stay latched

• Clicking or milk leaking from your baby's mouth

• Feedings that feel exhausting for you or your baby

• Pain that is making you dread feeding

And honestly, you do not need to have a checklist of symptoms.

If something does not feel right to you, that is enough reason to ask.

Pain can be a clue

When breastfeeding hurts, our goal is not just to make the pain go away.

We want to understand why it is happening.

Sometimes positioning needs a small adjustment. Sometimes baby is not getting a deep enough latch. We may also look at how your baby is using their tongue, lips and jaw, how well they maintain suction and how they coordinate sucking and swallowing.

We also pay attention to what is happening with you, because breastfeeding is a two-person job.

Milk supply, flow, nipple irritation and other factors can all affect how feeding feels.

That is why lactation support is not simply someone showing you how to hold your baby differently. We are looking at the whole feeding experience.

What happens during a lactation visit?

First, we talk.

We want to know what feeding has actually been like for you. When does it hurt? What are you noticing? What have you already tried? What are you worried about?

Then, when possible, we watch your baby feed.

This lets us see things that can be difficult to notice when you are the one holding the baby, trying to latch them and wondering if they are getting enough milk all at the same time.

We can look at positioning, latch, milk transfer, your baby's feeding movements and how the two of you are working together.

Then we help you figure out what makes sense next.

Sometimes it is a simple change you can start using right away. Sometimes we want to keep working together. And sometimes we may recommend involving another provider as part of your baby's care.

The goal is never to make feeding more complicated.

It is to make it feel more manageable.

Asking for help does not mean you are doing anything wrong

We really want moms to hear this part.

Needing lactation support does not mean your body is failing, your baby is doing something wrong or you somehow missed the instructions everyone else got.

Feeding babies is a skill.

Sometimes you need someone who understands that skill to sit beside you, watch what is happening and help you figure it out.

That is exactly what we are here for.

At Parkview Therapy Services, Lindsey Hamilton, BSN, RN, IBCLC, and Brittney Shipley, BSN, RN, IBCLC, help moms and babies find feeding solutions that work for their individual needs.

Because you have enough going on with a new baby.

You should not have to spend every feeding wondering whether it is supposed to hurt this much.

Breastfeeding hurting more than you expected?

Come see us. We can watch a feeding, listen to what you are experiencing and help you figure out what may be making breastfeeding uncomfortable.