Painful Breasts..(TMI?)

[Whisper]

I'm not sure if this is the right sectiont to post in....

But over the last couple of weeks i have been getting some odd shooting pains in my breasts sometimes during b/f but mostly afterwards.

I have been b/f since Amelia was born and had some latching problems during the first couple of weeks, things are a lot better now although occasionally she doesn't latch correctly and it hurts!

However my nipples seem to always be sore, they are not cracked or bleeding but they are really shiny and bright pink on the end (lol the knobbly bit).

I just wanted to know if all these things are normal with b/f, do you other b/f mamas get shooting pains after feeds?

I have been using Lasinoh cream after every feed it does seem to be helping but i have to admit the nipple pain seems to be getting worse.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated....

(I am getting my 6wk check up soon and will mention all of this then, but i find this forum so much more helpful than going to the doctors tbh )

 

[princess31]

I can't help much because I don't know what it is but I get these too so would be interested if anyone else knows.
I am totally paranoid about getting mastitis but I don't think it's that cos apparently that's worse than childbirth, lol! I thought it was cracked nipples but I can't tell if they are or not. I've been using Lasinoh cream too.

 

[Whisper]

I have thought perhaps it is thrush, but i really don't know and don't want to be a nuisance at the doctors all the time for something that might be perfectly normal.

 

[princess31]

With thrush you get itching and white spots, what about blocked milk ducts do you get lumpy breasts when they are really full?

 

[Whisper]

When they are full they get pretty hard but they are not lumpy, i did think that too...its so weird i don't know what it is.

 

[B4byAnge1]

Occasionally I also get shooting pains, not very often but sometimes, but I always have really pinky red nipples, also tender to touch, I posted a thread about it a while ago and think someone said it was normal. Im pretty confident she is latching on fine, and its definetly not thrush...I wouldnt worry too much but if its getting worse maybe get a lactation person to check your latch again?

 

[Margerle]

All sounds perfectly normal.

Sensitive nipples are normal.

Thrush is mostly shown in baby's mouth... white areas that you cannot rub away. If baby has that, you probably do too and you both need to be on treatment so you don't continue to give it to one another.

Mastitis is very painful and is accompanied with a fever.

 

[marley2580]

Hun it does sound a lot like thrush. I had it and my breasts were more painful after feeding than during, plus my nipples were pink and shiny. Thrush doesn't always appear in the baby, but you should both be treated. Go and see your doc hun as it can get worse.

 

[sam's mum]

Hun it does sound a lot like thrush. I had it and my breasts were more painful after feeding than during, plus my nipples were pink and shiny. Thrush doesn't always appear in the baby, but you should both be treated. Go and see your doc hun as it can get worse.

Completely agree! I had it too - Sam had no symptoms at all, and other than my nipples being pinker than usual nothing looked wrong with them. It was unbelievably painful (after months of no pain) - like someone sticking needles in me - and the pain was worse after a feed. Make sure if it is thrush that you aren't prescribed or told to buy the oral gel for your baby (it's also available over the counter without a prescription) , as they've just changed the advice in the last couple of months and I think it's now for 4+ months (you can get an oral suspension instead) x

 

[Whisper]

Thanks everyone i will see if it improves over the next week and then speak to the doctor at my 6wk check up.



xx

 

[sam's mum]

Might be worth going to your doctor now just in case it is thrush, as it's better to start treatment as soon as possible or it can take longer to get rid of it x

 

[Baby-Love]

Sounds like thrush to me. It's how it all started for me. I wouldn't care about worrying the doctor, sweetie. That's what they're paid for.

 

[Lizziepots]

Def thrush and def go get it sorted now! Rebeca and I have had thrush for a few weeks now. She's had the oral suspension and I had Canesten cream for my nipples. Hers cleared up...mine didn't. HV has now given me Daktarin oral gel to put on my nipples. Se said that it was used in young babies for so long and that as my thrush needs sorting we should try it. Is still driving me mad tbh but have only had the gel 2 days. Is such a shame as my brokn right nipple had only just healed! Mind you, I think that it was taking weeks to heal probs due to the thrush.
Last note; thrush can move to baby's intestines too so get treated. Would appear as spotty irritated bum tho. xx

 

[sam's mum]

Def thrush and def go get it sorted now! Rebeca and I have had thrush for a few weeks now. She's had the oral suspension and I had Canesten cream for my nipples. Hers cleared up...mine didn't. HV has now given me Daktarin oral gel to put on my nipples. Se said that it was used in young babies for so long and that as my thrush needs sorting we should try it. Is still driving me mad tbh but have only had the gel 2 days. Is such a shame as my brokn right nipple had only just healed! Mind you, I think that it was taking weeks to heal probs due to the thrush.
Last note; thrush can move to baby's intestines too so get treated. Would appear as spotty irritated bum tho. xx

Gels and creams did nothing for me as it can get deep inside the milk ducts, especially if you've had it for a while. I tried the Daktarin cream (not the athlete's foot stuff) and the oral gel. The doctor prescribed me two courses of fluconazole (because you're meant to carry on taking them after you've been pain-free for a week and it still hadn't cleared up). 400mg 'loading dose' that you take on the first day, then 50mg twice a day for 2 weeks. I'm not trying to give you medical advice, just saying that was the only thing that worked for me after weeks of having it and might be worth asking about if you don't get any better with topical treatment. Hope it clears up for you soon x

 

[Whisper]

Thanks everyone, my HV is coming tomorrow so i will speak to her and prob go to the docs in the afternoon. The shooting pains seem less frequent lately but the other stuff is the same.

x

 

[sam's mum]

Hope you get it sorted soon x

 

[Lizziepots]

Gels and creams did nothing for me as it can get deep inside the milk ducts, especially if you've had it for a while. I tried the Daktarin cream (not the athlete's foot stuff) and the oral gel. The doctor prescribed me two courses of fluconazole (because you're meant to carry on taking them after you've been pain-free for a week and it still hadn't cleared up). 400mg 'loading dose' that you take on the first day, then 50mg twice a day for 2 weeks. I'm not trying to give you medical advice, just saying that was the only thing that worked for me after weeks of having it and might be worth asking about if you don't get any better with topical treatment. Hope it clears up for you soon x

Wow! Thanks! I think I'll be heading down that route then. I'm wondering if my nursing bras aren't helping..they're like nylon or polyester or such. If I wear on-cotton knickers I get thrush straight away so am obviously prone to it. Haven't got a single cotton bra though. Will go bra-less at home but nipples hurt rubbing on t-shirt! lol

Thanks tho for advice..... good to know I'm not the only uncurable!

 

[sam's mum]

Wow! Thanks! I think I'll be heading down that route then. I'm wondering if my nursing bras aren't helping..they're like nylon or polyester or such. If I wear on-cotton knickers I get thrush straight away so am obviously prone to it. Haven't got a single cotton bra though. Will go bra-less at home but nipples hurt rubbing on t-shirt! lol

Thanks tho for advice..... good to know I'm not the only uncurable!

Hope you find something that helps soon...leaving them out in the air is good - and apparently sunlight is great for getting rid of it too...I didn't really fancy wandering around outside airing mine in it though x

 

[Whisper]

Update -

I have been to the doctors and she prescribed me with Fluconazole, but nothing for my LO.

Has anyone taken this? If so, has it helped clear up the problem?

On a seperate issue, i think i might have blocked duct. Last night whilst she was feeding i felt a hard lump, so i tried to keep putting her on that side to clear it. Well later that night and still now its OMG sooo painful, the whole breast hurts like buggery and when she feeds (i know the latch is correct) it feels like someone slicing my nipples off (sorry for the detail). The lump seems to have gone now, but the pain is similar but a bit more intense than when they get engorged when the milk first comes in.

Someone please give me some advice, i hate keep going to the doctors.
(which is hard anyways as i still can't drive yet).

xx

Has anyone had this issue? Is it a blocked duct or something else?

 

[princess31]

Hi,

You and I seem to be having the exact same problems! I went to the docs a couple of days ago and was given just a single dose on Fluconazole as the doc wasn't convinced it was thrush (baby is ok too). I am still in pain so am going back tomorrow again.

I also keep getting these lumps and was in tears on saturday night with a huge painful lump, i almost wanted someone to cut my breast off! Just like you i keep feeding on that side and it was gone by the morning. I'm pretty sure these are blocked ducts. I've been to the HV today and she said to use warm flannels just before and during feeding and to try cabbage leaves. It doesn't help that LO is having a growth spurt (has put on 9oz this week!) and I don't feel like I'm satisfying him, I'm having to move from one breast to the other and back again and he keeps tugging at my nipple. It's enough to make you want to BF.

Anyway I'll let you know how I get on at the docs tomorrow if you like, I'm seeing a different doctor so might be a bit more helpful.