Breastfeeding and Pain?

I have been breastfeeding my 10 day old son since he was born, I have to use a nipple shield because my nipples are flat...however it is becoming very painful. I was wondering if maybe he is not latching on right? Though it would be hard as the nipple shield makes it easy for him...is the pain normal since I have never breastfed before? I have heard of mothers having pain at first but then it goes away...any advice??

*also I am just now able to start taking the shield off half way into feeding and he is starting to learn to nurse...however I dont think this is causing the pain as I just started this...and it also seems one nipple hurts more than the other...

Its obvious that you are not getting help from a qualified lactation consultant -using a nipple shield before mom's milk is fully in is not giving things a chance to work -flat nipples or not.

Nipple shields will not prevent or reduce the pain from a bad latch for most women. They will not teach a baby to nurse properly so nearly all women will have pain when they are weaning the baby from the shield.

Also please be aware that even the "new" shields that say they do not reduce mom's supply can and do. So you should be pumping during the day to keep your supply up.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/13still_m...
. Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.

Not true! Babies do not breastfeed on nipples, they breastfeed on the breast. Though it may be easier for a baby to latch on to a breast with a prominent nipple, it is not necessary for nipples to stick out. A proper start will usually prevent problems and mothers with any shaped nipples can breastfeed perfectly adequately. In the past, a nipple shield was frequently suggested to get the baby to take the breast. This gadget should not be used, especially in the first few days! Though it may seem a solution, its use can result in poor feeding and severe weight loss, and makes it even more difficult to get the baby to take the breast. (See handout #8 Finger Feeding). If the baby does not take the breast at first, with proper help, he will often take the breast later. Breasts also change in the first few weeks, and as long as the mother maintains a good milk supply, the baby will usually latch on by 8 weeks of age no matter what, but get help and the baby may latch on before. See handout #26 When a Baby Refuses to Latch On.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/26baby_re...
A nipple shield started before the mother鈥檚 milk becomes abundant (day 4 to 5) is bad practice. Starting a nipple shield before the mother鈥檚 milk 鈥渃omes in鈥?is not giving time a chance to work. Furthermore, used improperly (as I see it often being used), a nipple shield may result in severe depletion of the milk supply.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/03a-sore_...
Nipples shields are not recommended for sore nipples, because, although they may help temporarily, they usually do not, or they seem to help only. They may also cut down the milk supply dramatically, and the baby may become fussy and not gain weight well. Once the baby is used to them, it may be impossible to get the baby back onto the breast. In fact, many women who have tried nipple shields find that they do not help with soreness. Use as a last resort only, but get help first.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/03a-sore_...
Sore nipples are usually due to one or both of two causes. Either the baby is not positioned and latched properly, or the baby is not suckling properly, or both. However, babies learn to suck properly by getting milk from the breast when they are latched on well. (They learn by doing). Thus, 鈥渟uck鈥?problems are often caused by poor latching on. Fungal infection (due to Candida albicans) may also cause sore nipples. The soreness caused by poor latching and ineffective suckling hurts most as you latch the baby on and usually improves as the baby nurses. The pain from the fungal infection goes on throughout the feed and may continue even after the feed is over. Women describe knifelike pain from the first two causes. The pain of the fungal infection is often described as burning, but may not have this character. A new onset of nipple pain when feedings had previously been painless is a tip off that the pain may be due to a yeast infection, but the pain may be superimposed on pain due to other causes. Cracks may be due to a yeast infection. Dermatologic conditions may also cause late onset nipple pain. There are several other causes of sore nipples.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/...
Latching and Positioning Resources

No matter what latch and positioning look like, the true measure is in the answers to these two questions:

1. Is it effective?
2. Is it comfortable?

Even if latch and positioning look perfect (and, yes, even if a lactation consultant told you they were fine), pain and/or ineffective milk transfer indicate that there is a problem somewhere, and the first suspect is ineffective latch/positioning.

Personally, yes, it DID hurt at first, the best way to get the baby to latch that I have found if by holding your nipple yourself, almost squeezing it between your fingers and making sure that almost the entire bottom part is in the baby's mouth, your actual nipple shouldbe at the very top, I wouldn't worry so much about centering it, as long as the baby is sucking and swallowing and passing urine and stool, you dont have to worry too much, so move around, change positions see what works best for you. Best of luck!

It's likely that he's not latched correctly. He should have almost all your areola in his mouth, not just the nipple part. It's not like bottle feeding, because it's a massage action more than a suck to get the milk out. The jaw and the tongue work together to coax the milk out, rather than suck the milk out.

I suggest you contact a la leche league leader or a lactation consultant to help you ASAP. The pain will only get worse.

you can tell if he's latched correctly by looking at his lower lip. it should be sticking out, covering the bottom of your nipple. you'll also hear him swallowing often, which is a sign he's getting a lot of milk - improperly latched babies have a hard time sucking and getting enough milk.

I was in pain though for about 2 or 3 weeks when it started getting better and the lactation consultant at my hospital said that my baby's latch was good. it just hurt to have him latched and sucking that hard...I don't know how else to describe it! wait it out, it does get better. you can try putting lanolin cream on them; lansinoh cream helped me a lot in the first few weeks. one might hurt more than the other because of your letdown too - my letdown is slightly painful (in both boobs), but if you've got a strong letdown in one, it might be causing a little more pain. if that's the case, you'll get used to it. he might also be having a slightly different latch laying on one side than the other. just check his mouth to make sure and keep putting him on. it gets much easier!

keep doing what you're doing and taking the shield off sooner and sooner - he'll get the latch down without it in a few days and you'll start feeling better soon. keep going, you're doing great and congrats on breast feeding!