Painful Latch-On With Baby

What can I do about a painful latch?

Nursing should not be painful. A painful latch is almost always due to either a shallow latch or an incorrect placement of your baby’s mouth around your nipple/areola area. Read up on different positions to find one that works best for you and your baby. If you feel pain with latch-on:

• Remove your baby gently and reposition them. Retry this until it feels right.
• A pain score of 4 or higher means something is not right, and generally requires a do-over.
• Keep in mind: some pain at the nipple may also be caused by previous irritation that has not fully healed.

If you have a burning pain with nursing after the 2nd or 3rd week of life, see your lactation consultant or healthcare provider to check for a possible infection. Any pain associated with nursing should be treated as soon as possible.

Do you have more questions or concerns about nursing? Send us a message and get help from a lactation consultant on our team.