painful breastfeeding

[kirstyloo82]

my baby is almost 8 weeks old now. we have been bf since birth (apart from the odd ff in theearly weeks which we have now stopped). i am suffering terrible pain deep in my breast tissue, and a lot in my nipples. we have been treated as she had oral thrush a few weeks ago (dr wasnt 100% sure but gave us the treatment just in case!) and there are no longer any symptoms of it being back. i had help from the community mw in the first few weeks, and also my hv who agree that she is positioned and latching ok. we have been going to a breastfeeding support group and the leader also thinks her latch is fine, but is at a loss as to what else could be causing my pain . baby is weeing/pooing fine and has a good weight gain so is getting enough milk as i am letting her feed through the pain. is this normal? i really want to continue bf, but am getting more disheartened with it all. i read on laleche website that occassionally women wiht large breasts just do feel deep pain and mine are very large. has anyone else experienced this? any other suggestions as to what it could be/how to stop it?

 

[Alexas Mommy]

It sounds like it might be a blocked milk duct. In that case, you have to keep breastfeeding on the breast that is painful, so it does not turn into mastitis.

https://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4298,00.html

 

[marley2580]

Is it only painful while you're feeding or is it painful between feeds as well? If it's the latter, you may well still have thrush and may need a tablet to clear it up properly. If it's the former when are you getting the pain - at the beginning/middle/end of the feed?

 

[Zarababy1]

sounds like it could be mastitis hun, its an infection that alot of breastfeeding mummys got i got it with charlie its ususally assosiated with cold/flu syptoms but i didnt get any of them, just go see ur GP they'll probably give you some antibiotics!

 

[kirstyloo82]

It sounds like it might be a blocked milk duct. In that case, you have to keep breastfeeding on the breast that is painful, so it does not turn into mastitis.

https://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4298,00.html

its both sides

 

[kirstyloo82]

Is it only painful while you're feeding or is it painful between feeds as well? If it's the latter, you may well still have thrush and may need a tablet to clear it up properly. If it's the former when are you getting the pain - at the beginning/middle/end of the feed?

generally i just get a bit of pain in my nipple during a feed, and the deep tissue pain after for about 1-2 hours. it is much less painful (almost no pain) if i have really full boobs (like if shes had a long sleep), but after max 10mins feeding it becomes more painful - like as if when she is having to work a bit for it after the first gushes she has to properly suck it out. do you think this sounds like ive not got enough milk? i do always check when i take her off and there is always a bit more coming out.

re thrush: at first she had nystatin oral and i had cream to rub on my nipps, then after that she had another bottle the same and i had a fluconazole tablet

 

[Alexas Mommy]

It sounds like it might be a blocked milk duct. In that case, you have to keep breastfeeding on the breast that is painful, so it does not turn into mastitis.

https://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4298,00.html

its both sides

Well, I suppose it could be blocked ducts in both breasts I think that I would arrange a visit from a nurse, or head to the doctors, as it might be something that can be easily fixed with some guidance.

 

[marley2580]

I don't think it means that you haven't enough milk. Does it feel like the thrush that you had before or is it a different type of pain? What have the BFing counsellors said about it?

 

[ryder]

Make sure you are drinking tons to keep your supply up.

 

[kirstyloo82]

I don't think it means that you haven't enough milk. Does it feel like the thrush that you had before or is it a different type of pain? What have the BFing counsellors said about it?

yes its similar pain, but bf counsellors dont think its thrush (or that it ever was) the only symptom was the pain, there was no white stuff etc. they are at a loss really, great! she said it may just be the position needs a tiny tweak

 

[kirstyloo82]

Make sure you are drinking tons to keep your supply up.

yes, i know i am struggling to eat/drink properly. sounds like an excuse but with a 2yr old and newbie fitting in time for food and drink is hard

 

[ryder]

I imagine it would be hard! If you think you arnt eating or drinking well this very well could affect your supply... Some people say it doesn't... but... it does.

Look after yourself

 

[marley2580]

If it was a positioning problem then it would only be your nipples that were sore, not your breasts. It is possible for you to have thrush with no other symptom than the pain, just because you have it doesn't mean that your LO will have the white tongue. Tbh, Id try going back to the doctors and being treated for the thrush again as it really sounds as if it could be that. Did the pain ever actually go away after you were treated the last time?

Have a look at this article, it goes into causes of pain other than thrush and is quite in depth https://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVOctNov98p91.html

 

[kirstyloo82]

well, i dont knnow wht has happened, but for the last 3 days we have been pain free, and i am finally truly loving breastfeeding! i havent done anything different in terms of positions, we have had no other treatment for thrush, the only thing i changed was that i took fenugreek to increase my supply a bit (as it was less painful with full boobies).

love it!

 

[Mrs_Nesbit]

I had a blocked duct on one boob for a week. When LO fed it was a really intense deep pulling pain, like he was trying to suck my tonsils out through my nip. Wasnt fluey though in the slightest.

 

[Mervs Mum]

great news!!! Well done you for gettting through

 

[sam#3]

Well done for carrying on, when harry was born he had tongue tie and fed using his gums and he tore my nipples to shreds so i know how horrible it is wanting to feed but it being painful so well done you xx

 

[elm]

well done! I'm having similar things going on - had treatment for thrush but don't think it's worked, seeing bf mw tomorrow to get latching on looked at (AGAIN! had so many problems bfing!!!) etc then seeing dr later in the week. Might give the fenugreek at try as it's less painful in the mornings when I'm full too but a bit worried about leaking more!

x

 

[kirstyloo82]

thanks for all your encouragement. there are so many dark days when learning to bf and it is so easy to give in. i was determined i wanted to carry on as i really enjoy that time with my daughter. its difficult when the 'professionals' arent really able to help you and find a resolution. all i can think is that we have both got to grips with what is supposed to happen and so its not hurting anymore.

i had her weighed the other day, and althouhg she has put on weight, she has dropped off her curve a little, so hv wants to monitor her a little. i was a bit deflated after feelign so exstatic about the whole bf thing. i hope that picks up a bit. ive started waking her from sleep a little earlier rather than leaving her to wake herself so we are getting a bit more feeding in. will get her wieghed in 2 weeks to see how its gone. she was 7lb12oz born, and was 10lb7oz at 8 and half weeks. thats not too bad is it?

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think that sounds lovely! It really depends on the individual HV as to what they say about weight gain. My HV told me that the charts they use in the red books are geared up for FF babies. BF babies often gain at a slower rate as cows milk is more weight and bulk promoting than human milk. Do long as youre getting dirty and more importantly, wet nappies and your baby seems well there is usually no need to become too hung up on the charts.

If you'd like a BF chart let me know and I'll send you one so you can plot your own to compare