Breastfeeding - Lodi,CA

I had the same problem, and it turned out that my son was latching just fine (that's why it didn't hurt on the other side), but my left nipple has much less elasticity than my right, and so the pulling and tugging of breastfeeding was much more painful on that side. I would speak to a lactation consultant about this problem and see if you have the same problem. Good luck!

The best thing to do is to call a lactation consultant. It's hard to help someone fix an improper latch with out actually seeing what's going on. You can also contact your local La Leche League, if a lactation consultant isn't available, or if you need help finding one.
In the meantime, try different holds. My oldest would only nurse in the football hold on my left side and the cross over hold on the right.

A lactation consultant would definitely be helpful. In the meantime, get a nipple sheild. They look like a cross between a condom and a sombrero for your nipple. It pulls your nipple into a better shape for latching on and is marketed to help with cracked nipples. I have seen them at Target and Babies R. Us. It will help ease the pain and train your nipple to stick out. (We spend most of our lives trying to keep our nipples from sticking out only to have it bite us in the butt when we try to breastfeed. Un-bloody-fair!)

Good luck to you.

You should definitely make an appointment with your doctor also...you need to rule out an infection in your breast. I got yeast infections in my nipples while nursing both of my babies. (Yes, you can get a yeast infection there! Anywhere moist and dark!) It can be excruciating if left untreated, like needles shooting through your breast when you feed. The best way to treat is "airing out" your nipples after each feeding to make sure they thoroughly dry out and you can also get a prescription cream to put on them.

I hope you get to the root cause and feel better very soon!

make an appointment with your local lactation consultant for some help. they are great resources and you can bring your son in and have her watch the latching. Call your local hospital or your insurance to find one in your area. Nursing should definitely not hurt like that
good luck

Like PP's said, call a lactation consultant or your local La Leche League. Here's a link to the page for the Lodi group:

http://lllnorcal.org/groups/LodiCA.html

Call one of the leaders and get her advice.

They are having their monthly meeting next Tuesday, the 21st, so I'd highly recommend going! It's a great opportunity to get feedback and help from moms who have been there, done that. You don't need to be a member to come to meetings and there's no pressure to join - their goal is just to support you in your breastfeeding journey.

In the meantime, you might want to try going one-sided for a couple of days (or if not going completely one sided you could decrease the time he spends on the painful breast) so that your nipple has a chance to heal up. If you can continue to pump that side it would be best b/c that way you'll continue to make plenty of milk and won't be risking plugged ducts or mastitis. Your one breast will quickly adjust and make plenty of milk for your LO to drink if you just let him nurse whenever he wants to.

But I'd see a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader before I'd follow the advice of someone online. :)

Good luck!

As others have said, a lactation consultant can really help! I went to a breastfeeding support group that was run by a lactation consultant at my local hospital weekly for the first nine months I breastfed. (Big upside is that it was free.) As I had some major issues the first three months I was breastfeeding, this support group and the knowledge of the lactation consultant really helped get us on track so that we nursed for as long as I had hoped (1 1/2 years). Worth checking out the hospitals in your area to see if they offer something like this.

Talk to a lactation consultant or local Le Leche League before you buy anything related to breastfeeding (ie: nipple shield, breast shells, etc).

I had the same thing happen, and it got so bad that it ACHED between feeds! It may or may not be latch related, but latch is easiest to identify in person. See if you can find a breastfeeding "expert" (LC, doc who knows a lot about breastfeeding, Le Leche League member) who can observe the latch on your left breast and give you feedback. Nursing Mothers Counsel does free home visits, but we're here in the Bay Area, and Lodi is quite a drive for us!

You can also talk to your doctor about a possible breast infection because it can come on suddenly, on only one breast or both, and can have no outward symptoms. Just a couple suggestions....

when latching on, the baby's mouth should be encircling the entire areola... not just the tip of the nipple.
That is proper latching on... and it will not hurt.

If it hurts, then yes, it means baby is not latched on properly.
Just adjust him/his mouth... when nursing.
Insert the nipple area, from the bottom of his mouth... and then put the nipple area in his mouth... that is what I was told.

You should also make sure... you do not have an infection or Mastitis or something. Or blocked duct....

good luck,
Susan

I have Kaiser insurance and they have a lactation consultant that you can contact. Does your insurance offer this service?

I also did an internet search for breastfeeding and got alot of helpful information on latching. I spent the first 2 weeks in severe pain from breastfeeding too. My son is now 5 weeks old and things are going well.

Have you tried pumping to see if maybe you have clogged ducts and that is part of the pain?