How long breastfeeding painful

But I also wanted to see when other moms typically felt that breastfeeding became less painful. I surveyed several moms and researched mom forums, and came up with this unofficial timeline of when to expect the pain to go away.

A caveat: I, of course, found the outliers, or moms who never had any pain at all like I did with my twins , and those whose pain never went away. Take a look at this graph to see, week-by-week, how many moms finally found breastfeeding less painful:. As you can see, the two-week mark saw the biggest jump in how many moms felt less pain during breastfeeding. Free download: Do you struggle with getting your newborn to sleep? His awake time just might be affecting how well he sleeps or not. Join my newsletter and get my handout —at no cost to you—and discover one mistake you may be making with his awake time.

Download it below:. For many, the pain truly does come from a wrong latch. Or maybe we simply needed that extra time for the initial cracks and sores to heal. Only by allowing and helping your breasts to heal can breastfeeding finally become less painful. And still others pointed to complications that needed to be fixed , like tongue-tie or thrush.

Learn when to stop burping a baby. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. No matter where you are on your breastfeeding journey, you can still do something to help make the pain go away. Take a look at these tips to find a solution for you:. Learn more breastfeeding secrets all moms should know. Some never experience any pain at all, while others had so much pain they either exclusively pumped or chose formula instead.

There really is such a wide range of when breastfeeding finally became comfortable. But as you saw, most moms found a noticeable difference around the two-week mark.

You also learned some factors that helped, from practicing the right latch to the initial wounds finally healing. And lastly, you discovered several tips you can apply today to speed the process along and make breastfeeding less painful. Some mothers never experience any nipple pain at all, but studies show that the majority of women in the US and other western countries do have some nipple pain in the beginning.

Cracking, bleeding or any other nipple damage is not typical- something is causing the damage and pain, and a good IBCLC can help you to find the cause. Seeing a knowledgeable breastfeeding professional could make all the difference. Engorgement typically begins on the 3rd to 5th day after birth, and subsides within hours if properly treated days without proper treatment.

Read more about minimizing and treating engorgement here: Engorgement. See also Engorgement when tandem breastfeeding. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, 7th ed. The fix: See your doctor or midwife to confirm the diagnosis and to get a prescription for medication there are several different ones or a recommendation for an over-the-counter product.

Some women find acidophilus supplements and dietary changes helpful. Early treatment is better than waiting. Both mother and baby should be treated even if only one has symptoms.

The symptoms: Nipples hurt. Often the tip of the nipple is damaged. It can feel as though the nipple is being pinched. The fix: A doctor can quickly snip the thin flap of skin and free the tongue.

It is a simple procedure. Sometimes the frenulum will stretch out over time, but you may endure many months of breastfeeding pain waiting for that to happen. After the frenulum is cut, it may take the baby a little while to learn how to stretch his tongue out and nurse more effectively. The symptoms: A sore, tender area in the breast. May feel like a lump under the skin; skin may look red.

The causes: A milk duct has become blocked, sometimes because something is putting pressure there like a too snug bra. The milk backs up and creates pressure behind the plug. Usually this is in the breast, but sometimes one of the openings at the nipple becomes plugged — this looks like a little white dot on the end of the nipple. The fix: How can it be resolved? Moist heat can mean a hot shower or bath or a hot, wet washcloth applied to the breast. Then massage the tender area from behind the plug towards the nipple — like trying to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.

Then put the baby to the breast. If the plug is on the nipple, you may be able to manipulate or squeeze it out. Get as much rest as possible. The symptoms: The breast has a hot, red, very tender area. Usually you also have a fever and feel unwell. This may develop suddenly or may follow an unresolved plugged duct.

The causes: Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast due to poor drainage or an infection in the breast.