This is, in our experience, the commonest reason for giving up breast-feeding. There are rather too many theories about the causes of sore nipples, though poor latching-on is well recognised. We have also been struck by the escalating number of mothers with sore nipples since it has been declared fashionable to encourage the baby to suckle for protracted periods in the first few days.

This is the typical scenario:

Day 1 Your baby suckles for well over 15 minutes on each breast, but you don’t mind because it is such a joyful experience.

Day 2 Baby is still suckling for long periods; the joy is wearing off as your nipples are becoming quite tender.

Day 3 Your nipples are agony and, if you are unlucky, also cracked and bleeding. You let your baby suckle for the shortest possible time and give ‘top-up’ bottles.

Day 4 Milk comes in and you get primary engorgement. Help! Now your breasts are so full that it is hard for your baby to latch on, so the situation becomes even worse. Everyone becomes distraught.

First Aid is as follows:

Take two paracetamol in water every four hours
Feed from the less painful nipple first (forget starting on alternating sides for the time being)
If your breasts are too full for the baby to latch on, try expressing enough milk to make it easier for you both. You can do this by hand or by using a pump
Try using a nipple shield (you can buy them from a chemist) for about five minutes at the start of a feed. This will be easier for your baby to latch onto and he can take enough milk from your breast to enable your nipple to stand out. At this point, dispense with the shield and put your baby back directly on to the breast (A nipple shield can be a life-saver, but use it for emergencies only as it tends to reduce your milk supply if used for too long.)
Don’t let your baby suckle for much longer than ten minutes from each breast
Make sure your baby is latching on at the correct angle.

ivillage uk

Breastfeeding problems