Julius,
Even moms with sensitive nipples should be able to breastfeed
comfortably if the nipple is properly placed at the junction of the hard
and soft palate, and the infant is using the tongue properly.  With a
deep latch and proper tongue peristalsis, the anterior and mid tongue
elevate to press milk out of the breast while the posterior tongue
depresses to catch the bolus of milk.  The nipple should not be affected
except to be tugged slightly at the peak of the peristaltic wave.
        The most common causes of nipple pain are shallow latch that allows the
nipple to be compressed by the tongue or damaged by abberant tongue
movements; tongue retraction which allows the bite reflex to be
triggered when the lower gum contacts the breast; and tongue-tie which
causes both friction against the nipple and sometimes compensatory
increases in compression (because peristalsis is restricted).  I have
found it helpful to help mom latch the baby very deeply, to stabilize
the baby's tongue and allow him the best chance of sucking properly.  If
this does not work and you can't see evidence of ankyloglossia, I would
refer her to an LC, OT or PT who is knowlegable about infant suck.  If
you have additional observations to share about where the pain is, what
this baby's mouth looks like while he is sucking, etc, I would be happy
to be more specific.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  mailto:[log in to unmask]