Any help with really sore feeding/toddler ?

[TheIggorcist]

Hello,
After another night of bad pain from feeding my 18 month old ds, I really need some advice.
I've fed him successfully with the usual issues along the way - cracked nipples/thrush/teething, but thought by now I had it cracked and would be plain sailing. In the last few weeks I am esperiencing a lot of pain, especially when feeding at night (he starts off in his cot but then comes through and sleeps with me as won't settle later on) it feels like I am being punctured when he feeds. It is not an actual bite though. I am tired of gritting my teeth and pulling faces while he feeds. Sometimes it is just one side, sometimes both. This morning I saw my nipples were white at the end post-feed, though i haven't always seen that.
Is it just his teeth? Is it thrush, though I don't think the pain is quite "right" for that? Is it just time to stop?

[EllaMenOhPea]

OP, I really feel for you. It sounds similar to the pain I had. I thought it was Thruush, but actually think it was eczema with a bit of poor latch thrown in for good measure. Very experienced b/f counsellor was able to help me.

I wonder-could you be pregnant? A friend suddenly started getting lots of pain & then found out she was pregnant.

[TheIggorcist]

Good lord no, with his sleeping habits we are barely in the same bed these days!
Thank you for your response, and the ideas. I have decided to try for 48 hours or so really looking at the latch - something I never do any more, he just jumps on - and see if any improvement. Have been to a bf clinic before but everyone there had newborn babies, not sure if they'd see me. But I could ask.
I normally love feeding, now I can feel myself tensing up at the thought of the night ahead. Argh!

[TheIggorcist]

That should read, with ds2's sleeping habits, dh and I are rarely in the same bed

[EllaMenOhPea]

Sorry, I had to go out after I posted yesterday, and didn't pick up again until just now.

It's worth giving the clinic a go, you shouldn't be any less important just because yours isn't a newborn. Also it might be worth visiting the GP & getting a swab done to check for thrush? My counsellor was the b/f counsellor at the hospital, and my DS was younger than yours is, but I don't think it should make a difference. I hope you get it sorted.

[Babieseverywhere]

With your description it could be thrush, check with your doctor asap and don't forget to tell him/her you are nursing and you need treatment for both you and your toddler. If the doctor gives you treatment cream, carry on for a few days AFTER the last symptom had disappears, as Thrush commonly returns if not adequately treated.

Also get your latch checked, toddlers latch can change especially if they are teething or have a cold. Any of the helpline will be helpful and non-judgemental about your toddler nurseling.

I also found LLL meeting very useful, several branches have toddler meetings in addition to standard everyone welcome meetings. As toddlers have their own brand of interesting issues, like nursing upside down, lol

[TheIggorcist]

Thank you both. Have found a clinic I could go to tomorrow, quite far but I think I need some action! The reason I thought might be more latch than thrush is that daytime feeds (when I have more control over the angle etc) are less painful than night. One went on for ages last night, and the old trick of using your finger to unlatch doesn't seem to work any more, he just fights me . I suspect he is just grabbing my nipple (with his teeth!) rather than a fuller mouthful. But will get checked for thrush too.
He still loves feeding and I'd like to keep going for 6 more months, so don't want to stop over this.

[Babieseverywhere]

If he is messing around and not letting you break his latch, you can gently hold his nose, he will open his mouth to breath ! Of course I would never do that to a baby but a cheeky playful toddler is a different kettle of fish.

Good luck at the clinic tomorrow :)

[TheIggorcist]

Looking forward to trying that one out tonight!

[TheIggorcist]

Had the worst night yet, he clamped on when I tried to remove him as one breast was so sore, seems to have cut me a tiny bit. Refused to feed him after that till late morning - he was not happy with me at all.
Found an NHS bf clinic to go to this morning, they were lovely to me but really (they admitted) didn't know anything about bf at his age.
They did say no signs of thrush on either of us. Also, watching him feed it was clear he the most painful times are when he is using his hand to push back at the breast he is feeding from - can't work out why he'd be doing that, he is not trying to come off just to hurt me

[Babieseverywhere]

Sorry to hear things are not going well.

Could he be teething ? If you think he is, giving him a dose of calpol five minutes before you let him nurse might help.

If he is pushing your breast away, whilst still wanting to nurse....maybe offer him a couple of toys to hold.

Maybe trying a different hold might help, worth a try.

[CrackersandCheese]

I am in exactly the same situation with my 18 month old. I think it's down to teething. Bonjela on the gums before the feed seems to help.

[TheIggorcist]

Right, off to bed armed with calpol and bonjela. If he didn't use me as a human dummy it might be easier. (Though I suppose really the dummy is a plastic me!).
I do appreciate the support I have had here, it does help

[Babieseverywhere]

Good luck. Let us know how things went.

Nothing wrong with meeting your toddlers needs. Keep plugging away, this new behaviour is likely to change and nursing should return to normal.

[eggsnbeans]

I've had exactly the same lately OP! Suddenly DD started pulling back and leaving huge teeth marks around my nipple Has been sooooo painful. I saw a local LC and she reckoned it was a combo of teething making her want to grip harder and latch funny, my supply dropping due to pregnancy so she was pulling back to make the milk come out faster, and having a lip tie!

I know you reckon you couldn't be pregnant, but is your period due? i found my supply totally bombed for a couple of days before and about a week after AF was due.

For the teething, my LC recommended trying giving something cold to numb her gums before feeding, although calpol should help too
She also suggested switching sides more frequently, as soon as swallowing was stopping, to stop the pulling back and keep the milk flowing better! Oh and watching really closely for when she tenses up her jaw just as she's about to clamp down.

For me the lip tie seemed to be a big issue as DD fell and split about half of her tie the day after I saw the LC and feeding has been so much better since then!

Sorry for the essay but hope something might help you too!

[TheIggorcist]

Well, just to report that things seem to be improving, though not entirely sure why! I'm being a lot more conscious of his latch, and although I've given up trying to sit up at night to feed him (much too tired) I'm taking him off sooner and it all seems to be leading to less pain. So, much happier all round!
Thanks again for the advice

[Babieseverywhere]

Brilliant, glad things are getting better :)

[ABirdInTheBush]

I was just reading about nipple vasospasm - give it a google, don't know if this could be related?