Breastfeeding Hurts Even With A Good Latch -7 Effective Solutions

It is not normal to feel discomfort while breastfeeding, and you don’t have to put up with it for breastfeeding to succeed.

When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, it is an obvious indication that something isn’t quite right as breastfeeding should be comfortable and enjoyable.

90% of new mothers report breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch in the first few days following delivery. This is very normal while you and the baby try to learn how to nurse. It’s more like nipple sensitivity than true pain, and it typically doesn’t mean anything is wrong. 

As you and your baby get more adept at latching and positioning over the first few weeks, this postpartum nipple soreness often peaks around day 4 and then decreases. 

The sensitivity should not be extreme, should not persist during the entire breastfeeding, and should disappear after a few weeks.
This guide provides you with reasons why breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch and what to do to solve the problem.

Why A Good Latch is Crucial When Breastfeeding

Your baby’s sucking encourages your body to make more milk because he has created a strong seal around your areola (the black skin that surrounds your nipple).

Though breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, you shouldn’t experience severe pain. Your baby will receive the most milk and breastfeeding will be successful with a healthy latch.

When your infant doesn’t get enough breast in his mouth, the latch is poor. Instead, he only sucks on the nipple or a small portion of it. Your nipples will ache and your baby won’t get enough milk from a bad latch.

The main reason for cracked or bleeding nipples while nursing is a poor latch. Additionally, it may result in issues including obstructed milk ducts, mastitis, and a lack of milk production.

Reasons Why Breastfeeding Hurts Even With A Good Latch

Your Baby’s Latch Is Poor

A bad latch is the most typical cause of nipple pain. With a deep, asymmetrical latch, nursing is simple, comfortable, and easy. 

Analyzing the baby’s latch is the first step in treating sore nipples since, if a poor latch persists, absolutely nothing will relieve the pain.

Additionally, the way the latch feels is more important than how it looks. Your latch is good as long as you’re comfortable nursing and your baby is getting milk well!

Bad Positions 

Both latching and positioning are crucial when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch. Try to avoid swaddling your infant too much when you are breastfeeding since he uses his entire body while breastfeeding.

No matter which positions you select, always keep your baby close to your belly. Additionally, constantly pull your baby close so that your infant can latch on your breast firmly. 

Let your baby, bend his head back slightly while latching on, and place your baby just below your breast so that his chin rests on the bottom of your breast.

Lip Tie And Tongue Tie 

Oral tissues that are too thick or deformed might create tongue and lip ties. When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, many babies with tongue- or lip-ties find it difficult to stick their tongues out and have trouble holding a nipple in their mouths. 

To make up for this, your baby can try sucking more forcefully or struggle to latch at all. 

Flat or Inverted Nipples 

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch when nipples are either flat or inverted. It can make it difficult for the baby to latch deeply while breastfeeding, which can cause nipple pain.

To tell if your nipples are flat or inverted: Apply the pinch test. You might have a flat nipple if you pinch the areola (the black area around your nipple), an inch behind your nipple, and the nipple doesn’t stiffen and become erect. 

Your nipple is considered to be inverted if you conduct the “pinch” test and it retracts. 

Teething

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch if your infant is older, and having teething problems.

Provide your infant with a teething toy or a chilled, damp washcloth before nursing. If your child does chew on your breast, stop the suction right away, yell “NO!” and put the child down. He will learn about action and consequences as a result.

Breastfeeding While Pregnant 

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch if you get pregnant while nursing because of pregnancy hormones. Increasing hydration intake may help reduce nipple pain brought on by pregnancy.

Thrush Infection

Your nipples may become infected with thrush, an infectious yeast infection.  It can affect both your nipples and your baby’s mouth and thrives on the lactose in milk.

During or after feeding sessions, you may experience shooting or searing pain in your nipples and deep inside your breast tissue, as well as sore nipples following a time of pain-free nursing. 

Your nipples and areolas may also appear shiny with flaky skin, and you may experience nipples that are pink, itchy, crusty, or burned.

Symptoms in babies include diaper rash and a gloss on their tongue or lips that may be white or pearly. Look inside your infant’s cheeks or tongue for any white spots that won’t come off easily or a creamy, curd-like coating. 

Wrong Setting For Breast Pump

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch when you are using the improper-sized pumping flanges, which produce too much friction and leave your breasts uncomfortable, pinched, or inflamed during or after pumping. 
 Your nipple needs to be at the center of the pump, setting up to the highest possible point where it’s still comfortable for you, and then dial it back a bit.

Preterm Birth

In comparison to a baby born at term, a preterm newborn may be less awake and have more difficulty latching on, sucking, and swallowing. 

A preemie may also be taken away from you more frequently for evaluation and treatment, which reduces your chances of providing your baby with skin-to-skin contact that promotes latching and breastfeeding.

Plan your nursing sessions for when your baby is awake but not fussy. Try the cross-cradle position while expressing some milk onto your nipple when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch.
 
Be ready for numerous quick feedings because your kid can get tired easily. To maintain your milk production, you might also need to pump breast milk between feedings.

Special Needs

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch if you have a baby with special needs. For instance, babies with Down syndrome, cleft lip or palate, or those with particular needs or medical issues may have difficulty latching. 

But nursing may also be extremely beneficial for newborns with specific needs, so it’s worth the time and encouragement it requires. To maintain your milk supply, seek assistance from a lactation consultant and pump if necessary. 

Use your milk, if you have any, if your infant isn’t sucking well and needs milk through another route (such as a bottle or syringe). The formula is acceptable if not.

Mastitis

Mastitis is a breast infection that develops when a blocked milk duct interferes with the milk’s normal exit from the breasts. It can also happen when bacteria get into the breast through a nipple break.  The first six weeks of breastfeeding are when this will most likely occur.

Symptoms include flu-like a wedge-shaped area of redness, warmth, and discomfort, a fever, body aches, red streaks on the breasts, pain and swelling in the breasts and nipples, a firm lump in the breast, and warm to the touch breasts are among the symptoms.

Milk Blister 

When milk flow is obstructed close to your nipple opening, a painful blister known as a milk blister develops. Typically, it occurs when a blocked milk duct causes breast milk to back up in the breast. Symptoms consist of a painful little white patch (resembling a whitehead pimple) on or around the nipple.

Signs of a Good Latch

-The lips of your infant seal over your breast.

-Your breasts are completely in your baby’s mouth.

-The fish-like lips of your infant press against your breast.

-Your breast is being touched by your infant’s chin.

-Although it is close to your breast, your baby’s nose is elevated so he can breathe. 

-Your nipple is pointed toward the roof of your baby’s mouth, so more of your areola is visible on top than the rest of it.

-While your baby is nursing, you may see and hear him swallowing — initially quickly, then more slowly. 
You feel comfortable using the latch. After your infant has nursed for a little while, it doesn’t hurt.

Signs Of A Bad Latch

-The lips of your infant are drawn inward.

-When your child starts sucking, you hear clicking sounds.

-While attempting to latch or nurse, your infant tilts his head to one side or the other.

-Your infant cannot be seen or heard swallowing.

-When your child quits nursing, your nipple will appear flat or constricted. 

-When your infant latches on, you could experience some discomfort or soreness during the first few seconds, but this shouldn’t last.

How To Get Your Baby to Latch Properly When Breastfeeding Hurts Even With A Good Latch

Get Comfortable and Position Your Baby

When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, a fussy baby may make it more difficult to settle in, so try to nurse your baby before he becomes fussy. To find a position that works well for you both, you can test out several nursing positions. For instance:

Cradle Position

You’ll likely begin feeding your infant in the cradle position, which involves holding him in your lap so he is facing you and resting on your forearm below the breast.

Crossover or Cross-cradle Grip

This is identical to the cradle hold. Your right hand will support your baby’s head if you’re nursing with your left. Best for newborns. You can see your baby’s latch and it may also aid if your baby is having problems latching.

Clutch or Football Hold

You hold your infant in a clutch or football hold by tucking your baby’s body, on the side he is nursing, under your arm. It may also be easy to direct the baby’s head toward your breast from this stance.

Side-lying Posture

Breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch for women who have had a C-section or difficult deliveries (which make sitting up uncomfortable) and those who want to nurse in bed may benefit from the side-lying posture. Pull your infant near to you while lying on your side and allow him to bend his head back slightly so he can open his mouth widely. If your infant needs to be higher to access your breasts, slide your arm under him.

Twin Hold or Tandem Nursing

When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, put a big pillow or nursing pillow across your lap to cradle your babies while using the twin hold or tandem nursing. Face your baby to your breasts and place one under each arm. With your hands and arms, support his head and back.

Ensure Baby Gets A Deep Latch  

When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch you might need to ensure your baby’s latch is deep.

Ensure your infant’s mouth expands widely enough for a firm latch. If he doesn’t, he can end up only sucking on your nipple, which could leave you with sore nipples and get him less milk.
If the latch isn’t deep enough, your breast may hurt since it will be rubbed up against your baby’s mouth’s hard roof. 

You want to place enough breast in your baby’s mouth to bring the nipple to the back of his mouth and squeeze the areola with his gums and tongue. The breast milk will pass through the nipple during his sucking motions.

Rule Out Bacteria

When breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, most pain associated with nursing goes away on its own, others, like thrush, are caused by bacterial growth.

A yeast infection known as thrush can affect your breasts, the baby’s mouth, or both. A visit to the doctor is advised since it is likely that you will need antibiotics to treat when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch because it is caused by bacteria.

Your doctor can advise you on the best next actions for you and your baby when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch even if it isn’t thrush. Your doctor can suggest a lactation consultant or give you advice on what to expect. 

You may quickly stop bacterial growth by often changing your nursing pads. Once soggy, replace them with a fresh, dry pair to reduce the likelihood of bacteria growth.

Allow Your Breasts To Heal

No matter how effectively your infant latches, breastfeeding won’t be successful if your nipples are cracked, cut, bleeding, or bruised. That’s why it’s important to give them as many opportunities to heal when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch. For instance:

-After feedings, go without a nursing bra for 15 minutes. Perhaps you can air out your breasts when you burp to stop them from rubbing against your shirt.

-Before and after feedings, apply lanolin cream or breast milk on your nipples. This can stop new wounds and blisters from developing and aid in the healing of current ones. 

-Put on a breast pad. Breast shells give your breasts more room to breathe by separating them from your clothing.

-Warm compresses should be used to treat engorgement. It may be easier to nurse if you wait ten minutes.

Pump While Your Breasts Heal

If breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch, pumping may save your life. Use it to unclog a milk duct or while you recover from mastitis.

A breast pump is less effective than a baby, so you run the risk of having less milk available. Try pumping after each feeding, or do it more frequently than just when your baby regularly nurses, to prevent a drop. You could pump every two hours if he nurses every three hours.

Conclusion

It’s crucial to start over when breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch. Gently insert a clean finger between your baby’s gums and into the side of his mouth to break the suction.

If your baby does fall asleep on your breast, you might also need to remove the latch. However, if your child appears to be nursing happily and you feel at ease, let him continue to feed until he stops sucking and independently releases your breast.

Rule out and stop bacterial development if breastfeeding hurts even with a good latch. As much as possible, let your breasts heal. Pump to give them a break. And just to be sure, check your latch again to see if there’s any way to make it better.