No, it isn’t supposed to be painful.
Pain is a sign there is a problem but we can fix that!
You may be wondering if what you are feeling is normal. Actually, there is a wide range of normal but in general, nursing shouldn’t feel painful all the time but can feel sore for just a few seconds when the baby latches on in the very beginning. This will go away.
“I can feel him grasp on to the breast and then a tugging sensation.” • "It hurt for just a few seconds when he latched in the beginning." • "That initial latch on soreness went away just a little while after."
“I can feel him grasp on to the breast and then a tugging sensation.” • "It hurt for just a few seconds when he latched in the beginning." • "That initial latch on soreness went away just a little while after."
" Getting vasospasms in the breast was painful." • "I don't ever feel my letdowns." • "The letdowns are really strong, almost painful." • "I feel a sense of warmth and almost euphoria when I have the letdown." •
" Getting vasospasms in the breast was painful." • "I don't ever feel my letdowns." • "The letdowns are really strong, almost painful." • "I feel a sense of warmth and almost euphoria when I have the letdown." •
"I enjoy nursing." • “I get a sense of sadness or unease come over me when I have a letdown and then it goes away." • "I feel really close to my baby when we nurse." • "Our journey was so difficult that it took some time before I could say I enjoyed it." •
"I enjoy nursing." • “I get a sense of sadness or unease come over me when I have a letdown and then it goes away." • "I feel really close to my baby when we nurse." • "Our journey was so difficult that it took some time before I could say I enjoyed it." •
Does your nipple look misshapen after nursing?
No More Pinchy Latches!
There are many possible causes for painful nursing.
Usually, painful nursing happens when the baby needs help getting the latch right. Most babies don’t latch on perfectly from the start. They need some time to figure it out, as do you.
If you have pain rather than a bit of soreness when the baby first latches on, don’t try to wait it out to see if it will get better. Doing so can cause damage to your nipple and can make it too painful to nurse the baby.