Sore nipples :(

[TashaAndBump]

Recently (since Anna got teeth funnily enough!) I've got really sore nipples... I don't think it is from her biting me, though - it's right in/on the nipple that I am getting this pain. I have no idea why, but when Anna latches on and for a few minutes afterwards, it really really stings - like a sharp, toe-curling pain and sometimes I have to take her off because it just hurts too much...

How can I prevent this from happening? Are we doing something wrong?

I don't get it - Anna is nearly 8 months old now and we've never had any problems breastfeeding before

Any ideas or suggestions very welcome - I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to pain, and would hate to end up weaning Anna just because I wimped out as the pain was too bad... if you know what I mean. I don't want to wean her yet anyway, but when I do I want it to be on our terms, but I think if this latching pain gets worse or extends to carry on throughout the feed then I will have to take a break from feeding her at least, if not stop altogether.

Help?!

 

[marley2580]

It takes a wee while for them to adjust their latch once they get teeth. Before that there can be a bit of scraping or leaning with the teeth. I always get a bit sore when new teeth are coming through. I think there may be changes in the saliva as well. Get some Lansinoh cream and slap it on.

 

[sam's mum]

When mine were really bad at first I was advised to take paracetamol half an hour before a feed and it really helped. Hope it gets better soon - does her latch seem any different? If she's latching herself on it might be worth actually doing it for her for a few days, and not letting her on until her mouth is really wide open...she might be dragging your nipple in through her gums (and teeth - I'm dreading this...Sam's are just coming through now!) x

 

[freckleonear]

I also get sore nipples when Aaron has new teeth, although not with the type of pain you describe. A few weeks ago it was getting to the point where I really wanted to give up feeding him, but fortunately it's now settled down again. Hopefully it will settle down soon for you.

 

[TashaAndBump]

I noticed just now that Anna has a white tongue. It looks a bit fluffy, too ...Could this be thrush on her tongue?? If she does have thrush will it be bothering her? Also could that be causing the pain on my nipples even though I haven't got thrush - if it was on her tongue?

Thanks!

 

[sam's mum]

You can't usually see thrush if you have it on your nipples - that was my first thought when you first said you were in pain again until you said it was as she latched on and for the first few minutes. I got it when Sam was about 4 months old and it suddenly became so painful to feed him again, but the pain would get worse as the feed went on (sore nipples and shooting pains inside my breasts which carried on after he'd finished feeding).

Definitely worth getting checked out as it's harder to treat the longer you have it - took me 3 courses of strong pills to get rid of it after trying to treat it with cream for weeks x

 

[Starflyr]

yes, it could definitely be thrush!

Get thee to a doctor! (and Anna to one, too)

Thrush needs to be treated - it can be hard to get rid of, too. I had it at the beginning and it SUCKED BIGTIME.

kellymom has some good thrush resources.

 

[Samantha675]

Bren and i are having the same issues with his teeth. Suddenly I am getting sore and cracking and I never had this either even right at the beginning. It totally sucks. Now he is biting me when he latches on. I tried sticking my finger in his mouth before my nipple this last feed and he chomped on it, and then I was able to latch him on without him biting me. Fingers crossed this will keep on working, and he will lose the bite. It really hurts even though he only has the bottom 2. I did speak to a LLL leader, and it seems to be a normal thing for some soreness to occur when teeth come in.

 

[sam's mum]

Looks like I have all this to look forward to soon then...Sam's just getting his bottom two now (they feel really sharp if he bites your finger but only the tips are above the gum so can't really see them) x

 

[charlie07]

Silicone nipples, not sure if they are still good to use once they have teeth. Worth looking into maybe, as they could give your nipples a rest.

 

[TashaAndBump]

Our problem has got worse - it is increasingly painful for me to feed Anna, her tongue is more noticeably white and she is becoming irritated and upset at feed times, latching on because she is thirsty/hungry and then pushing the boob away because it seems to hurt her, she is also latching on funny today - Like sticking her tongue right out and looks like she is trying to get the nipple right to the back of her throat as if trying to stop it touching her tongue.

We're both uncomfortable now and doesn't look like it's going to get better, so we're off to the doctors tomorrow - Which is just how I wanted to spend my birthday! lol

Thanks for all the advice and support

 

[sam's mum]

If you want a quick relief for her you can buy daktarin oral gel over the counter. Give me 2 secs and I'll find what I wrote about medication in another thread somewhere, as my doctor and I spent ages looking up the most recent advice for treatment as it keeps changing and it worked perfectly, but lots of doctors advise you to try treating yourself with a topical cream - really doesn't work well as thrush can get deep inside the milk ducts x

 

[sam's mum]

Not saying that your doctor won't know how to treat it but there are loads of recommended treatments for it and I was in pain for weeks because I didn't know what was best - started treating with the Daktarin cream for me and oral gel for Sam (he had no obvious symptoms but I was in agony) and it did nothing for me at all - it was the cream in a white and green tube, not the athlete's foot stuff I wrote this on another thread a while ago...took me a couple of courses to get rid of it but if you don't get any better when you start I'd ask for another prescription - apparently it can be really hard to get rid of... And keep your nipples as dry as possible:

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 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. Sam had Nystan oral suspension (tastes quite nice!) 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.

Sorry for going on - I just know how painful it can be. Hope it gets better for you both soon x

 

[BurtonBaby]

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time. We actually have stopped BF'ing now because Erica is like chomping on me! She has two bottom teeth now, and I think the top two are on the border of breaking the gums. I hated to do it, but luckily she was already used to a bottle as well. I never joined a LLL (never felt confident enough in my BF'ing) and have just stopped.