Breastfeeding suddenly hurts after 10 weeks

[Kitsilano]

I have been bf my dd2 for 10 weeks now and in the last week have developed painful nipple on one side, some deep breast pain and needle like pains in between feeds on the other side (but the nipple pain is the worst - VERY sore)

I assumed it was thrush, got Daktarin cream for me and gel for the baby (DR refused to prescribe fluconazole in the first instance) but it has made no difference though some days are worse than others. I am going back to the Dr tomorrow to beg for the the fluconazole but is it possible that it is anyting else?

I have read that thrush hurts ALL the way through the feed but my nipple pain subsides after a while and that breast doesn't hurt between feeds though the other one has stabby pains toward the armpit.

Any thoughts? I am pretty sure the latch is OK - it's been fine for 10 weeks after all.

Please could someone tell me if this sounds like thrush or if there is anything else that causes nipple pain. I really don't want to give up feeding but can't carry on like this.

Thanks!

[Neney1]

When I had thrush, i put clotrimazole cream on my nipples after each feed, and Daktarin Oral gel in my DS's mouth. With me, it didn't hurt too much through the feed, but the stabbing/burning pains would come along about half an hour to an hour after I'd fed. Nipples were very sore and pink also. It seemed to subside after about a week. My friend on the other hand battled with "thrush" for about 2 weeks until her doc did a swab test and found she actually had a staph infection on her nipple [ouch]! Hers cleared up after a week or so of antibiotics.

You are doing really well to have got to 10 weeks, it would be a shame to give up now!!

BTW, as regards being fine with the latch, I got myself some fresh nipple pain about 5 weeks ago when DS was 15 weeks old. Turned out I'd got a bit lazy with just plonking DS on the nipple and assuming he knew what to do now, was a bit sore for a few days and now have to check every time that he's on properly.

[MarsLady]

Do be sure that your DD has latched properly. She's bigger now so you might need to adjust her position.

Are you sure that it's not thrush? You may need a different cream.

[luciemule]

As his mouth is getting bigger, he may be slightly positioning himself in a different way perhaps.

I had the same needle-like pains when I had cracked nipples - it wasn't thrush. The pain was unbearable at the start of the feed but as the nipples got moist and warm, the pain subsided a little. Otherwise, I grabbed DH's hand and turned my toes up and put up with the pain - God knows how). I used Kamillosan (sp)between feeds.

[duchesse]

What the others have said, plus check you're not pregnant! That was my only clue as to my second pregnancy (being still without periods at that time).

[Kitsilano]

thanks ladies

Have got fluconazole from dr this morning so will see if that helps. Plus am paying attention to the latch. Definitely not pregnant!!

I guess if it doesn't resolve then a swab test might be the next step to see if it is some other sort of infection.

[MarsLady]

Hope it clears up quickly.