Nipples/Areola burning

I have been breastfeeding my third child for three weeks now and every single time she latches on it just burns, mostly on the areola, not really the nipple!!! It's only for a minute or two then it goes away, but it's almost like she just latches on so tight that it hurts then she eases up a bit and I am ok. But it drives me insane b/c I know it's coming and I tend to tense up, which causes me back and neck pain!!! I have tried the cream and it's not really doing anything for me. I never had this problem with my other two daughters. Anyone have any suggestions? I bought the nipple shield today but I bought the wrong size so it didn't really work. I have to go back to the store tomorrow and try to get a smaller one. Pumping doesn't help much either, as I tried that the first week at home to see if I could just bottle feed until they got better, but it hurt just as much!

[cocacolapanda]

When you pump, rub a little olive oil on the sore areas, that might help with some of the pain.  Have you tried soaking some pads in a salt/water solution for a while then rinse, and use the cream or breast milk afterwards?  Or tried using some cabbage on the boobs after feeding?

[bjbbeauchamp]

I  have never done the salt/water solution or used the milk or the cabbage! I will try them and see if any help! Thank you;)

[nola0805]

I had the exact same thing, and pumping also hurt just as much.  My son is now 8 weeks and it is finally getting better.  My LC thinks it was due to the anatomy of my son's jaw and now that he is older, there is less trauma to my areola and nipple.  So hopefully things will improve with time.  I did do salt water rinses.  My LC told me to put salt water in a bottle cap and then lean over to dip my nipple in the cap.  I also took soaks in an Epsom salt bath.  Being religious about using lanloin after each feed also seemed to help, as did putting breast milk on after a feed.

Be careful about nipple shields.  My LC says that they can really interfere with breastfeeding (the baby cannot get as much milk and then has a harder time latching without the shield).  Try nipple shells (the you wear when you are not breastfeeding to protect your nipples from rubbing against your bra).  Until I got them I was essentially walking around topless!!

Good luck - I know how frustrating this can be - it can take the joy out of breastfeeding.  I hope you see improvement with time.   Hang in there.

[Brittny27]

I had this problem a few weeks ago. My nipples burned even after she would eat. I was trying to get her to nurse with a nipple shield. It's been a long 9 weeks of hard work with my little one.

You might have a yeast infection in your breasts. Check your baby's mouth if there is white it could be thrush and you both will have to be treated.

After 24 hours of treatment my nipples stopped burning. Before I used gel soothers I put in the fridge. The cool gel helped tremendously.  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I have 6 children and had a horrible burning sensation when she was about 5 weeks old.  Everyone kept suggesting it was a latching problem.  Well, I knew this was not the case because this was my 6th baby to breastfeed and I knew she was latching on just fine.  Went for my 6 week check up w/ my doc and it turned out that I had thrush.  It never occured to me, as I would think that the baby would have to have thrush in order for me to get it.  Not true.  I did have it.  My doc prescribed a medication that I was able to rub topically on the nipple/areola area.  It was normally prescribed for oral use, but I was told to apply it to myself.  I felt better within a day or 2.  My pain was excruciating too.  It was horrible.  So, it could very well be an infection.

[30something13]

yeah I would say thrush as well, I have never had or heard of a buring thing with a latch problem. I would use vinager on the boobs and rinse well and see if that helps, also yogurt will help, sounds funny but there are lots of thrush things without needing meds for it. If they get red at all then it is mastitis not thrush and you usually get a fever. Go to precious arrows midwifery and under the natural section or breastfeeding section it has natural things for breastfeeding pain adn thrush. they work and are worth it when you need it

[Clysta]

I had this, and mine was a positioning/latch issue. I was holding her wrong and she had a less than perfect initial latch. As she started to nurse it would correct and the pain would disappear. I sometimes still get it if I don't hold her properly or lay wrong when I feed her since it cause the nipple to stretch.

[nola0805]

Thrush is a certainly a possibility but from what my LC and OB say about thrush (I thought I might have had it at one point), it is more common to have burning constantly and in between feeds and not just the first few minutes of feeding.  What others said is true, a mom can have thrush but not the baby (although that is rare as we usually get the thrush from the baby).  But treating for thrush to see if it helps would not hurt even if it is not thrush.  I really recommend talking to your OB and consulting a LC or someone from the La Leche League.

[mature_enough]

I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering so much while you are trying to do such a good thing for your baby. Nursing is not supposed to be painful, but I will never forget the pain I endured in the beginning of my daughter’s first few weeks. Sometimes people use the creams and they help (like lanolin) but I just rubbed expressed milk into my nipples and let it dry naturally. I got the advice from my breastfeeding counselor (who breastfed all of her children into toddlerhood, as I am doing now) but that did seem to help. If they are not cracking and bleeding, give them a chance to dry. Clean your breasts with warm water, express a little milk on the nipple and areola and lay down and just give them a break from all of the moisture. (your baby’s slobbery tongue, your nursing pads/bra, your bathing) See if that helps. Again, I am sorry to hear that you are suffering and kudos to you for keeping up the good work.