Hello all. My name is Darcy, mother to Lily Beth, age 2 and Charlotte Jo, 4 months. I am strictly breastfeeding Charlotte right now and it's very very important to me. I dried up at 2 months with Lily and it was such a hard thing for me. I so wanted to have a good experience. Breastfeeding with Charlotte has been pretty wonderful. She latched on right after she was born and nursed like a pro right away. After a bout of mastitis one week after Charlotte was born, we've been doing very well. However, and not to overshare, but lately, OH MY GOD!! My nipples are sooo painful. Charlotte's latch has just been awful lately. I'm trying my hardest to correct it, but she insists on latching on, sucking super hard, and then pulling her head back when she eats. I feel like she is just going to pull my nipple off. It's so painful that I dread nursing and I hate that! Does anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions? I am using Lasinoh in between nursing, but it's not helping. I just need some kind of relief! Thanks ladies, and I can't wait to get to know everyone better.

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Can you feed her in a position that she cant pull off so easily? I feed my DD in the cradle hold and i know she cant really throw her head back (not like she can at this age) because her head is firmly laid on my arm. I know when she is done when she opens her mouth or stops/slows her sucking.

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Co-Host of Born in June 2007

welcome to the board darcy


is the pain strictly on the nipples, or does it go into the breasts as well? is it a "shooting" kind of pain? any itchiness? are your nipples normal colored, or are they reddened? have you or baby been on anitbiotics anytime in the past couple of months?

thrush is one possible problem. sometimes there are symptoms in mom but not baby, sometimes symptoms in baby but not mom, etc. does baby have white patches in her mouth?

another possibility is that she is wanting pressure on her gums because she is starting to teeth alrready.

is she very very hungry when she is doing this? how often does she nurse?

maybe you could try nursing her before she gets real hungry and see if that helps her ease up on her latch a little.

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My ds started the same thing about the same age. I don't know why they do it. I just started holding his head firmly so he can't pull back. Sometimes he gets really mad. He is still doing it a little bit. I also take the breast away from him for a couple minutes and tell him no. I think you almost have to treat it like teething. They need to know it hurts mommy. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water. Sometimes little ones do this because they are wanting to force more milk out. I find that the problem gets worse when he is going through a growth spurt, so nurse, nurse, nurse. I know how painful it can be. I had cracked nipples when ds was 4 months and 6 months. I was so frustrated because I thought once they healed after birth you were good to go. UM, no! Anyway, hope this helps. Most of all, don't give up!! You are doing a wonderful thing for your little girl! Keep up the good work momma!!

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