Milk is an important source of nutrients that you and your family shouldn’t miss out on. If someone in your family has lactose intolerance and the rest of the family still want to enjoy the taste of real milk, try Lactofree - the UK’s first virtually lactose-free dairy drink.
Arghhhh, they bloody kill, nearly three weeks into feeding DS2 they are agony, I've been using Lansinoh but although it makes them feel better when I use it as soon as DS feeds again they're sore again, well not sore during the feed but after Never had this with DS1 so why is it happening this time? Any tips on fixing it??
I had his latch checked at both the hospital and by my m/w's and Hv (he always seemed to be feeding when they were round!) I don't think it is the latch as it's only just started, up until now it was fine, but he has been feeding constantly for the last two/three days, maximum of an hour between feeds <tired!> so I assume he's having a growth spurt and putting them through it, if that makes sense?
Three weeks is about growth spurt time. You can ask your mw to check. It's where his tongue doesn't quite come off the floor of his mouth because of the frenulum. It might be tight. His tongue needs to be able to pop out and massage the breast rather than rub the nipple against the palate. It may be that the tip of his tongue looks heart shaped.
I've had a look at some pics of tongue-tie it doesnt seem to be that, have thought about him not opening his mouth wide enough though, he does open it wide at the beginning of a feed, but keeps falling to sleep on the breast, partly losing the nipple and waking up again, so I think that might be the issue.
Is your nipple shape distorting after a feed? This is another sign that the latch isn't quite right.
Also, don't let your nips dry out. Smother then in Lansinoh very frequently. It seems to go against whst we do for other cuts/scrapes, but moist healing for the nips is the best thing to do. If you let them dry out they will keep cracking everytime you feed.
I honestly think the latch is fine at the beginning of a feed, but it's when he falls to sleep and loses it, then just kidn of sucks it back in and doesn't latch properly, but as soon as I try to relatch him he clamps down on my nipples and I feel to scream! Also, I keep getting sharp pains in one breast which is weird.
VS it sounds alot like the problem I had (several years ago now - so forgive me if I'm wrong!) and the shooting pains in the breast turned out to be thrush. It was extremely painful so perhaps some paracetamol would be in order untill you can speak to somebody tomorrow.
You poor thing, it is a nasty feeling dreading the next feed. Hope you get it sorted soon.
I meant to say hello in my last post, so hello! I hope you are all doing well - apart fro the sore nips of course!
Sharp pains can indicate nipple thrush. Also, as you had a cs you are more likely to suffer from it because of the anti-biots you were given.
You can put caneston cream on your nips (but it needs to be washed off before each feed). Also your ds may have it all will also need to be treated.
Am not sure if you can take the tablet for thrush when you bf. Also there are loads of symptoms for nipple thrush and you may only have one of them (and your nips may not look any different), so if you see your GP don't be fobbed off like I was.
Good luck, I hope you sort out whatever is going on xx
You might even get a friendly out of hours doc to prescribe you the kit over the phone and fax it to an open chemist. I remember one doing it for me after my second bout of it with ds. You need capsules and cream for you and gel for ds's mouth too. Hope it clears up quick. Its so worth persevering - hang on in there you're doing a great job.
you can buy what you need over the counter - daktarin cream for you, gel for the babs. i think the bfn leaflet says to apply the gel 4 times a day - i was told to do it after every feed and the thrush in dd's mouth cleared up really quickly. maybe worth gettinf dp to run to out of hours chemist?
It sounds very much like thrush to me - I've had it on and off for 4 months now with dd2.
I second getting daktarin cream for you and daktarin mouth gel for the baby. ASAP - over the counter from the chemist. Don't wait as thrush can get really painful qute quickly. Plus make a dr's appointment anyway and ask for fluconazole tablets.
good luck. daktarin works fast,, you should see an improvement quite quickly. one other thing i was told - keep using it for 5 days after symptoms have disappeared. otgerwise it can come back.
hmmm the drops are nystatin i think which is not as good as daktarin (and you need the cream for your nips too). stupid gps know nothing about thrush ... maybe buy one lot over the counter, get a script for next time.
Well, I've got to go and get it from the chemist anyway so I'l grab some stuff whilst I'm there, I have canesten in the cupboard is that good enough for my nipples?
i'm not sure tbh. i'd grab the daktarin, it's what the bfn recommends and with me it prevented the thrush dd had in her mouth spreading to my nips - i got in there in time and blitzed them after every feed, never got symptoms at all.
Iliketomoveit when you say distorted nipple, what do you mean? When my DS comes off the nip is all elongated for a minute or so, does this mean he's not got a good latch. I don't have sore nips, unless he's been on a lot in a day.
Yes, does sound like thrush. I've just got rid of that again. You don't need to wash off the cream before feeds though. Oh, and use a 50/50 water and vinegar solution to wash nips after each feed, let them dry, then put on the thrush cream. The shooting pains, I think indicate inner breast thrush which is what I had too and the same treatment applies, though it might be as well to talk to GP. Some of them give you oral treatment, though mine didn't. I put soaked pads of the vinegar water solution in a zip seal bag to take out with me. Throw them away after each use.
Bloody pharamcy, they didn't have the fluc. that GP prescirbed so gave me a substitute, which was the same drug just different packaging, fine said I. But they haven't put how to take it on the packet and they ahve given me two, single dose packets, reading th leaflet it says you only need one tablet to complete the course Also haven't told me how much to give DS of his bloody drops.<sigh>
guess you should ring them. cant remember exactly about the capsules - but I think I had a daily dose for about 5 days. the Nistatin drops are for after each feed I think - daktarin oral gel is supposed to be a little more effective if you can get hold of any. You don't need to wipe the canesten/daktarin cream off your nipples before feeds - I think most sinks in fairly quick anyway. If you can spend time with your nipples exposed to the air to dry a bit after feeds thats all to the good too. Good luck, hope it clears quick.
i've taken one tablet, cant get hold of ther chemist, theyre closed now, nor the doc as it was an emergency so I'll call mine tomorrow. Have been using the canesten and will get some daktarin tomorrow.
What actually helps is putting ice cubes on your nips. I do it regularly! It seems to 'toughen then up' in the same way if you put a burnt finger under cold running water for 5 minutes.
I managed to avoid the worst of mastitis by jumping in the shower about four times a day, and massaging the breast under hot running water from under arm to nipple. Also expressed milk like crazy - either with pump or baby. It should clear up in one day if you do this, though its pretty hard work.
oooh poor you! hot water bottles (in cosy covers of course) alternating every 10 mins with cool packs helped me through some engorged sore evenings, plus lots of baby feeding of course, ibuprofen can help too - you can even take it at the same time as paracetemol if it gets really tough. Hang on in there girl.
This sounds like me. Dd is 8 days old and I had mastitis diagnosed in right breast yesterday. Hopefully I have managed to get antibiotics into me before it gets too painful.
However, I now also have the symptoms you descrice in my left breast. It's not agony yet but worry that it may get worse. I feel like such a fool going back to the doctors again today. Can they give me stuff for thrush and mastitis at the same time.
I soooooo sympathise - what a palava. No wonder people switch to formula.
Catwoman - I'm sure they can treat thrush and mastitis at the same time.
It might not seem like it now, but formula isn't always the easier option. Sterilising and making up bottles is very tiresome. Hang on in there - it will get easier
Th e thrush seems to be going down, but only in one breast So I have one painful nipple thrsushy boob and one feeling huge and full mastitis boob! Ha! I have been massaging the mastitis boob and had hot baths etc, fingers crossed the redness has gone down and it doesn't feel as 'full'so I'm hoping I won't need AB's. When I had mastitis with DS1 I was sooooo poorly, like the worst flu ever even my eyes were burning, so this doesn't feel so bad!
catwoman, i secondf what iliketomoveit says about bottlefeeding, I FF DD and BF DS2, even with these pains I find bfing much easier!
You can treat the thrush at the same time if you use the gels/creams afaik, not sure about the fluconazole.
This information is not much use for mothers who are already breastfeeing and already have sore nipples, but it may help those who are pregnant.
Here in Japan, as general practice, pregnant women are encouraged to do 'nipple massage'. This involves twisting and rubbing the nipples in various prescribed ways for about 2 minutes each day. (Stopping if it causes contractions which could lead to a premature birth) It isn't very pleasant in the beginning but you soon get used to it and it really toughens up your nipples in preparation for the vigours of breast feeding.
I have never been able to find any evidence that medical staff in any other countries teach these techniques, but personally I found it useful with my 1st. I never had any pain or discomfort at all. I will do the same with my 2nd.
I had thrush when DD was about 3months old. She actually had it in her mouth from anti b's. I have to say, it was agony. I'll never forget how painful it was! I can remember to this day how saw it was. I would feed for the shortest time possible and when she came off, it was even worse! It was a burning sensation with stabbing pains in my boob.
We were given a miconazole cream for my nipples, and DD had nystatin drops to take. I took far too long to go away, but i tell you what, i've never been more religious about applying a cream, or giving her medication ever! Thank god, touch wood, neither of us have had it since. I very nearly stopped br feeding because of it, but I was determined that nothing would stop me, other than her deciding to stop. I'm still doing it and she's 15months now!
Hope it clears up fast for you, I really empathise with you at the moment.
If your baby is falling asleep after a feed and his mouth is sliding off your nipple, put your little finger into his mouth to release your nipple, otherwise, an incorrect latch on could cause soreness or thrush. My baby's oral thrush cleared up quickly without treatment, although I was lucky enough not to have any symptoms. Keep sugar intake to a minimum. Also, fresh lemon juice (perhaps in juice for you)is anti-fungal and even a source of calcium!! Also coconut oil has lots of health benefits.
it's def thrush. I suffered for 4 mths before I got the right help. 10 days straight taking one fluconazole a day finally got rid of it. feeding a dream afterwards, kept going til ds was 13mths old. keep it up, it's worth it once it starts working properly. how i sympathise though you poor thing. Pain worse than giving birth I reckon
Poor you - thrush is a nightmare. I second the fluconazole. Until I brought the breastfeeding network leaflet to my doctor I was getting nowhere. I needed the biggest dose they could give, for about 2 weeks before it cleared up. Persist with your GP for more if thrush doesn't clear soon. Still feeding at 7 mths and all good, but it was really tough to keep going. I found a brilliant bf counsellor at my maternity hospital who I visited from week 6 to 8 and she gave me the confidence to be demanding with my GP for appropriate treatment.
He was sucking so hard, it was incredibly painful. What worked for me was to jam one of my fingers between my breast and his mouth to break the clamp, and then to get him to latch on again in a better position.
I found the only way to endure it and continue with breast feeding was to use avent nipple shields and to express - giving my nipples time to heal. We cup fed our girl at first so she wouldn't be confused from a tiny beaker that the hospital gave us.
after reading this thread, I'm wondering whether me and ds2 have thrush too. He has a constant white coating on his tongue - would he have this if he didn't have thrush? (he is 4 weeks old).
(I also have pain in my breast after feeding and a sore nipple, which doesn't appear to be caused by positioning).
Also my girl was so eager she was not getting a good enough latch so it made things way worse with being overly full and making my nipple that much harder to get into her mouth. I meant nipple protectors like this: http://www.nurseryessentials.co.uk/avent-nipple-protectors-x2-489-p.asp
definitely sounds like thrush which I had for six weeks (took four to get diagnosed!) If your GP will not prescribe fluconnazole then try getting some grapefruit seed extract which works a treat! you can buy in any health food shop for about five quid. you take it diluted in water and it tastes rank so have a glass of something else handy! this worked for me when daktarin didn't so it is powerful stuff... don't be tempted to put it on your nips or they'll blister! this is a good website to read more http://www.breastfeedingmums.com/drjack_newman_candidaprotocol.htm or kellymom.com they both talk about gentian violet which is not available in the UK but are really good abiut other things you can do help like wash your towel every day and use disposable breastpads. Goood luck - i agree the pain is worse than childbirth !
Sorry if anyone else has said this, but I am (sadly) an expert in breast thrush having battled it with both of mine. I find the main battle to be with the GP, as they don't like prescribing the best treatment, which is a course of fluconazole combined with treatment for the baby too. Sometimes topical (nystatin, daktarin gel etc) is good enough for the baby, sometimes it's not, and they need flocunazole too. The course for mum is 50mg twice a day for at least 10-14 days, not a couple of ""canasten once" tablets. The BfN drug info has all this written down, and you may need to print it off and take it too your GP in order to convince him/her.
Good luck, it's horrible but it will go away once you get the right treatment.
I had the same problem - smothered in lansinoh, been to a breastfeeding councillor (does your nipple look like the cherry on the top of a cake after feeding???)Sometimes attachment can be fine and then the baby changes, grows etc.. and the attachment needs tweaking.
In the end I resorted to using parafin gauze on my nipples between feeds (you can get it from the chemists), to help with the healing and used nipple shields. I know they are unpopular - but they really were the only thing that kept me going, we have now reached the seventh month of breastfeeding. Success!!!
The only other thing to check for, and I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this is thrush - you might need to get the HV to check their mouth
Used Daktarin cream for me, gel for my son, after every feed, and industrial quantities of lansinoh, finally got onto fluconazole which did the trick, though I needed it for about 3 weeks. Also new breastpad every time as they can hang onto the infection too. HV was fab and forced me to get the latch right, and if it hurt, to keep taking him off and putting him on again till we got it right. Absolutely feel your excruciating pain - very very nasty. I came so close to giving up several times, but so glad I got through it. Boy now 11 months and still bf morning and evening! Hang on in there.....
It's got more painful again, I'm going to call my GP and see if I can get him to prescribe more tablets, he's normally pretty good about doing prescriptions to be collected if I know what the problem is.
Just reading this and noticed VS mentioned baby feeding a lot - don't know if it's a common thing, but both my kids went from having a feed every 3-4 hours (from birth), to wanting to feed constantly at a couple of weeks old - basically they weren't hungry, they were just using me as a human pacifier, I guess it was nice being cuddled up with Mum all the time. Having eventually worked out that this was what they were up to, to solve the problem I went through the pain of only letting them feed at more sensible intervals and after a few days they got the message and settled into a more appropriate interval between feeds.
To all you new Mums, do try to keep up the bfing as long as you can (and want to) - it really is easier when you're past the early days, no bottles to make/sterilise, and if you're out and about you don't have to lug bottles with you (as well as everything else!) or worry about getting home or buying some if you're out longer than expected. If you're off on holiday this Summer it's a godsend, no worries in travel hold-ups etc. I fed ds for 13 months and dd for nearly 2 years - neither of them ever had formula. Mostly I found it easy but had a few bouts of blocked ducts and mastitis in the first few months, so know what the pain's like and how tempting it is to give up! Do seek pofessional help and support if you need it, if necessary getting second and third opinions 'cos you'll get different advice from different people, some of it will work for you and some of it won't. Good luck, hope everyone's sore boobs are healed very soon!
Oooh remember the pain, second time around I put tea strainers in my bra(with the handles cut off)which meant that nipples stayed dry & didnt rub on my bra between feeds. Sounds odd but it works!
Lucy used a purified form of lanolin produced by Lansinoh when she had sore nipples. A friend recommended it and it worked miracles while Lucy was breastfeeding our first child. A tiny amount goes a long way and the one tube lasted Lucy through 18 months of breastfeeding our daughter, who was born three years after our son. We also used it for various minor skin complaints. Highly recommended!
Ok, I see some people have already mentioned Lansinoh – remember, I'm just the bloke half of PeterandLucy so by definition several light years behind the average mum I'd still recommend it – it worked for us, at any rate.
Lansinoh is good, and rubbing a wee bit of breastmilk in and letting it dry helped me too. And make sure you get antibiotics for your mastitis; stupid me, I thought I was getting repeated bouts of flu plus (coincidentally) a sore breast, till finally it dawned on me that's what mastitis feels like! But one thing that might be worth thinking about; if the baby's on and off the breast a lot, be careful that he's not 'grazing' your nipple as he comes off or sucks it back into his mouth; this can make you very sore very quickly. my first girl did this in the first week, I was given gauze etc by a lovely midwife, which helped, but was in agony. But stick with it, keeping seeking help until something works; it's worth it. I fed no.1 for 14 months in the end, now on eighth month with no.2, and think it has helped her survive and come out blossoming from a couple of serious health crises. Good for you for keeping going.
Can I be controversial here and suggest that it might not be thrush?
I developed Raynaud's disease of the nipple at 2-3 weeks and it was absolutely excruciatingly painful. I dreaded each feed, my nipples were so painful I couldn't even stand the water in the shower touching them. The pain was like someone driving a skewer through my nipple and out through my back.
I found it got better spontaneously without treatment at 5 weeks, although some people use Nifedipine tablets to improve it.
VS have you seen a bf counsellor? It's just I had thrush when dd was 2 months, and I also had agonizing nipples - the thrush pain was shooting pain in the breasts but not nipples, between feeds, whereas the nipple agony was just in the first few weeks after birth and was caused by dd not opening her mouth wide enough and by doing very long feeds where she ended up dozing and just sucking. You might have combination of both, but probably important to cover all angles...
Victoiansqualor, haven't read all thread so don't know if this has been suggested; ask your doc if he/she can prescribe a cream with the active ingredient jaluronic acid. It will sort it in one day and it's safe for baby
VS, I suffered from thrush deep in the breast with DD1 and DD2 in the early days. Second time round the GP I saw was great and very knowledgeable. She prescribed an intitial 10 day course of fluconazole which was then increased to 20 days as it hadn't quite cleared up, along with Daktarin for both myself and DD2. That seemed to clear it up and I haven't had any problems since.
I remember it well, like having your nipples sawn off with a blunt breadknife. I used Camillosan. Best of luck, stick with it, it does get better, and then those lovely moments are passed.
Milk is an important source of nutrients that you and your family shouldn’t miss out on. If someone in your family has lactose intolerance and the rest of the family still want to enjoy the taste of real milk, try Lactofree - the UK’s first virtually lactose-free dairy drink.
I do it regularly! It seems to 'toughen then up' in the same way if you put a burnt finger under cold running water for 5 minutes. 
I'd still recommend it – it worked for us, at any rate. 
