Latch Pain: Is It Normal or Something More?
Latch pain is something so many parents experience when feeding their baby. It’s easy to assume it’s just part of the process. But here’s the question: is it actually normal? And if you’re dealing with latch pain, what can you do to make feeding feel better for both you and your baby?
Let’s dive in and break this down.
Common vs. Normal: What’s the Difference?
Over 80% of parents report latch pain when they leave the hospital, making it incredibly common. It’s also one of the main reasons people stop feeding earlier than they planned. But common doesn’t mean normal.
Here’s the difference:
- Common: Happens often, but isn’t necessarily biologically designed to occur.
- Normal: How your body is meant to function biologically.
If you think about it, why would nature design something as essential as feeding to hurt? Pain and damage—like cracked or bleeding nipples—not only increase your risk of infection but also don’t make sense biologically. They could signal vulnerability, something no species would evolve to encourage.
So, while latch pain happens a lot, it’s not something your body is designed to endure.
Why Latch Pain Happens
Here’s the truth: if you’re in pain, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a parent.
Latching isn’t an innate skill for you or your baby—it’s learned. The innate part is your drive to protect your baby, even when it means pushing through extraordinary pain. But here’s the thing: pain is your body’s way of waving a red flag, saying, “Look closer!”
Here are a few reasons latch pain might happen:
- Your baby’s latch might not be deep enough.
- There could be issues with your baby’s tongue or mouth movement.
- There may be an underlying medical concern, like tongue-tie or lip-tie.
These are all possibilities worth exploring. And the sooner you figure out what’s going on, the easier it will be to resolve.
What Should Latching Feel Like?
If you’ve never latched a baby before, it can be hard to know what’s normal. Here’s a helpful analogy: latching your baby should feel like a firm, comfortable handshake.
- Not so light that you feel nothing at all.
- Not so strong that it causes pain.
In the first few days, some sensitivity is normal as your body adjusts to feeding and milk production. But here’s what’s not normal:
- Persistent pain beyond the first few days.
- Cracked or bleeding nipples.
- Pain during or after feeding your baby.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s a sign that something isn’t working as it should. And here’s why addressing latch pain early is so important: pain can lead to damage, which can snowball into even bigger challenges for you and your baby.
How to Prevent and Resolve Latch Pain
The best way to prevent latch pain is by helping your baby get a deep latch. A deep latch starts with a wide-open mouth. You can encourage this by gently touching your baby’s chin to your body, which signals their brain to open wide.
If you’re already dealing with nipple pain or damage, there are things you can do to ease your discomfort while your nipples heal. But the most important step is addressing the root cause. Healing without solving the underlying issue isn’t a long-term solution.
Recap: What You Need to Know
- Sensitivity in the first few days of feeding is normal, but persistent pain and damage are not.
- Latch pain is common because outdated latching advice is widespread—but it’s not biologically normal.
- Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something needs attention, and with the right support, you can resolve latch pain.
Need More Support?
You deserve to feed your baby without pain. With the right tools and guidance, it’s absolutely possible to make feeding feel better.