Why breastfeeding hurts even though everyone says it shouldn't...
- jaimiezaki
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Everyone says breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, right? But here you are, 3am scrolling the internet trying to figure out "why my baby's latch hurts"... You took the classes, you're doing what the nurses said, but something still feels off...
If that's you, you're in the right place.
As a nurse, doula, IBCLC (Lactation Consultant), and mom of 5, I've had my fair share of personal and professional experience with breastfeeding and here's what I know for a fact: Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, but often it does.
When breastfeeding does hurt, there are usually some simple adjustments to resolving the pain. If these simple changes don't help, that's a sign there might be a deeper problem.
Why Breastfeeding Hurts Reason 1 - Engorgement Why Breastfeeding Hurts Reason 2 - Latch & Positioning
Here are the top 3 reasons breastfeeding hurts new moms:
Why Breastfeeding Hurts Reason #1 - Engorgement
During the first week of breastfeeding, many moms tell me that their baby latched great in the hospital but not when they got home. Around day 3, suddenly their baby stopped latching easily, pain increased and frustration set in. One of the most common (and fixable!) reasons for this is engorgement in the first days! If you think engorgement is the issue, be sure to latch baby frequently, use COLD COMPRESSES after milk removal, and learn reverse pressure softening technique for getting a better latch. Moms inside of the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy learn exactly how to resolve these early common feeding issues here.
Why Breastfeeding Hurts Reason #2 - Latch Technique & Positions
The truth is, it takes time to learn how to physically breastfeed. Getting a supportive position and latching your baby can feel like it requires 97 hands and you only have 2. The problem is, most moms experiencing latching pain are told by nurses, pediatricians, and lactation consutlants that their baby's latch "Looks good". The problem is, what we see from the outside doesn't tell the whole picture. Most moms I work with were told the baby's latch looked good by other professionals at the hospital or their pediatrician office, but I could immediately spot multiple issues with positioning and latch technique. With simple corrections, we resolved the pain within an hour. Inside of the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy, I teach pregnant and new moms my signature Cardinal Rules of Latching and my signature LATCH Technique to avoid unnecessary pain and get a deeper, more comfortable latch. In fact, one of my clients was a first time mom who learned these rules during pregnancy. When she gave birth, she actually taught her NURSES the cardinal rules, and some of them were surprised because they never knew to put all of these steps together for a better latch! You can learn them here! Why Breastfeeding Hurts Reason #3 - Tongue & Lip Ties
One of the most controversial reasons breastfeeing might hurt is something called a tongue and or lip tie. Some babies have extra tension in their bodies and mouths that can make it impossible for them to get a deep and comfortable latch. That's often why all of the positioning changes in the world won't fix the latch.
However, there is a lot of debate over what is considered a tongue tie, how much it actually impacts feeding, when it makes sense to treat it, and how it makes sense to treat it.
I've broken down all of the top tongue tie questions for breastfeeding moms inside of the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy. The truth is, many people jump to tongue tie release too quickly and do more damage. Others ignore the posssiblilty all together then wonder why they "can't" breastfeed.
If you join the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy, I teach you exactly how to navigate breastfeeding pain. From resolving simple issues like engorgement to implementing the Cardinal Rules of Latching, and determining if the problem could be deeper like a tongue tie once all of the other more common issues are addressed.
How to fix painful breastfeeding & latching issues:
The Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy teaches pregnant and new moms:
How to know your baby is getting enough milk
Avoiding early breastfeeding challenges
Fixing latch pain
Understanding Signs of Tongue/Lip Tie and Treatment Options
Navigating Low Milk Supply
Dealing with Infant Reflux
And So Much More
The Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy is valued at $197, but I know how important these solutions are to you right now. That's why I'm offering access to The Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy for just $97 for a limited time. I hope to see you inside, MamaBear. You deserve to enjoy breastfeeding your baby without googling a million questions at 3 am getting a bunch of confusing, mixed answers.
Jaimie Zaki is a nurse, doula, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Mom of 5. Jaimie hosts the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast and is the founder of the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy, designed to help pregnant moms prepare for feeding, and new moms to solve early feeding challenges without overwhelm and anxiety.
