How We Went From Cracked Nipples to Comfortable Feeds in Less Than a Week
CLIENT PROFILE
A first-time mum in her early 30s | Baby 12 weeks old | Mostly breast milk fed
SERVICE RENDERED
Postnatal Breastfeeding Consult (This service entailed a 90-minute home visit for a one-to-one consult and one week of text support — all delivered in Singapore.)
MUM HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PAINFUL BREASTFEEDING FOR 12 WEEKS.
By the time she reached out, her nipples were cracked and fissured on both sides. Every feed hurt — sometimes an 8 out of 10. And now, with a trip coming up, she wanted to know: could she actually breastfeed comfortably while travelling? Or would she have to keep pushing through?
Her baby had also started thrashing and fussing during feeds. Some feeds were very short; baby would fall asleep at the breast, then wake soon after, appearing hungry and unsettled again.
She didn't want to stop breastfeeding. She just wanted it to stop hurting.
WHAT DID OUR WORK LOOK LIKE
Before I visited, mum filled out a feeding intake form so I could understand when the pain started, what had been tried, and what might be done differently.
During our 90-minute session at her home, we focused on:
Helping mum understand what her baby's feeding behaviours were communicating
Experimenting with small adjustments until we found a stable, comfortable feeding position that suited both her and baby
Providing tailored advice on nipple wound healing
We stayed in close contact via WhatsApp throughout the week. She'd send updates and questions as things shifted, and I was there to help her figure out what worked as she tried different approaches.
THE OUTCOME: FROM 8/10 PAIN TO FEEDING COMFORTABLY ON A PLANE
Within days, mum's pain dropped from an 8 to a 2. She was able to travel, breastfeed her baby on the plane, and do it all without wincing.
As she put it:
"Generally less pain at about level 2. Sometimes feeling a bit of pinch but making adjustments to feel what works best. Also tried latching outside on the plane. So far minimal pain!"
A few days later:
"And now actually most no pain 0–1!"
She didn't have to stop breastfeeding. She just needed someone to help her find a way that didn't hurt.
WHY NIPPLE PAIN ISN’T SOMETHING YOU JUST ‘GET USED TO’
This mum had been courageously enduring pain for 12 weeks — for the sake of her child. That kind of grit, that capacity to keep going even when your body is telling you to stop, is a form of quiet heroism I see all the time in the mums I work with.
But breastfeeding through nipple pain is complex. When there are visible injuries — or even trauma beneath the skin that you can't see — every positioning adjustment has to be made with extra care. You don't want to add more pain to someone who's already endured so much.
What brought me so much relief was seeing her go from 12 weeks of struggle to feeding comfortably in just one session. She didn't have to keep pushing through. She just needed someone to see what was happening and help her find a way forward that worked for her body and her baby.
As an IBCLC lactation consultant in Singapore, I've supported many mums through this exact situation — and it never stops being moving to witness that shift from pain to comfort.
This case study was built on a conversation with this specific client, going through our work together. Anything in quotes is a word-for-word statement said by the client in feedback.
WORRIED IT'S TOO LATE TO FIX THE PAIN?
This mum had been feeding through pain for 12 weeks. Within days, she was feeding comfortably on a plane. If you're looking for breastfeeding support in Singapore and wondering whether things can still shift for you, let's find out.
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