Is this thrush or is this sort of pain normal at this stage?

[Catsu]

Dd is 3 and a half weeks old.
Feeding her is still painful. I've almost got the latch sorted and as it's getting better my nipples are feeling less sore but between feeds my breasts get harder and quite hot and tender plus when dd starts to feed it's very painful for the beginning of the feed in a toe curling way. Then it eases through the feed but I feel a burning pain for a little bit after the feed.
Does this sound like thrush? Or is it the pain of let down and will go away in time on it's own?

[Haggisfish]

It does sound a bit like thrush, but I also experienced let down pain as you describe for about six weeks without thrush. The hot tender breasts I experienced as well, as my boobs filled with milk. I think if it is in both breasts, and LO doesn't have any signs of thrush, it is probably just normal. Hang on in there - it does get better after 6 weeks, and then 3 months and then six months. I took it literally one feed at a time.

[RitaMorgan]

Your breasts getting full and tender sounds normal - it takes a little while for your supply to settle down. I also think the toe-curling pain is the letdown, I felt it quite strongly for the first few months. The burning pain after could just be a latch issue?

Have you or your baby had anti-biotics recently? Any white spots/patches in the baby's mouth, or shiny/pink/itchy nipples?

[Catsu]

I think it probably is the latch. The sore stinging pain after feeding is only on the side with the poorer latch.
Good to hear that the full tender feeling is still normal. I hope it settles down soon! Last night my boobs felt like they would explode between feeds so heavy and full! When dd woke to feed the milk was dripping e erywhere furiously before she could even get latched on.

[RitaMorgan]

One day you will suddenly freak out worrying your milk has disappeared because you don't feel full anymore I think it was about 4 months for me - all in one go I stopped feeling full, stopped leaking everywhere and stopped feeling the letdown. If I hadn't known it would settle down like that I'd have been worried!