Dear Heather, I totally agree with your statement about "pain" lessening by
about day 4.  If it is getting worse instead of tapering off this is not
the normal discomfort found with nipples getting used to being nursed.

I believe Niles Newton did research to this effect eons ago.  The gist of
it was it takes a certain # of hours for nipples to  become accustomed to
being nursed.  If you nurse off and on for first few days then it begins to
back off.  If you nurse 5 min on one side every 4 hours (as I did in 1959)
then of course the discomfort lasts longer!  Does anyone else remember this
research?  My Niles Newton book of research "walked."

And of course human beings perceive pain (and pleasure) differently.  Some
people have more sensitive nerve endings than others.  If a mom says it
hurts - it does.  Degree doesn't matter.  What she considers painful I
wouldn't blink an eye at or vice versa.  Just the fact that it does is what
matters.

Over the years I've found that it reassures moms to  know that the
"discomfort" (curls your toes is readily understood)  will peak in 3 or 4
days and then go away.  Over and over women have told me that is exactly
what happened.  Sincerely, Pat in SNJ

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