To think breastfeeding has caused this?!

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Okay so maybe IABU for posting here but posting for traffic.
I have been having pains in my chest for months. I've been to see the doctor twice and had two different opinions. I'm breastfeeding and DC is now 14 months so he is heavy. I am sure the pain is muscular as it hurts when I push the area. The pain is behind my breasts and sometimes in my armpit.
Has anyone else ever experienced this whilst breastfeeding or for any other reason? Any advice on how to help the pain apart from painkillers?

At 14 months he’s probably going longer between feeds. Are you sure it’s not engorgement or mastitis?

@louisetrees definately not mastitis or engorgement. Hes only really feeding 3 times a day now but I lift him up alot as he isn't walking yet. It isn't the breasts that hurt more the muscles underneath them.

It sounds like a blocked/inflamed duct, yes. I don't think it's from lifting your child. As you are doing that several times a day you would adapt to it as exercise. You usually only get muscle ache from unusual activity.

I get the blocked duct pain when I've been feeding in bed.

That's not because the baby is big, in my opinion.

Have you felt thoroughly for any lumps?

I had mastitis 18 months AFTER i stopped BF. Could be it x

I have had this when not BF think for me it is hormone related. But check out blocked ducts first.

Prolonged, continual breast pain can be a breast cancer symptom. It's best to speak to your GP to rule it out.

@dontbitetheboobthatfeedsyou I have felt for lumps. I actually had a breast scan last week but was told the 2 lumps were normal glandular tissue. Love your name!
@BertieBotts I feed in bed morning and night. The pain is just constant. It's hard to get a deep breath sometimes. Both doctors said it was due to breastfeeding and the weight but he doesnt feed much anymore really.

I get pains in my breasts i figured it's where breastfeeding over several years the muscle on my chest has stretched and decreased couple with pregnancies.

@Perch I was given antibiotics before the breast scan incase of it being due to mastitis. They made no difference. I thought it could be that too.

So you have pain and two lumps?

Could it just be the two lumps that are the culprit?

That sounds the pain I had when I’d developed thrush. No other signs, no pain whilst feeding my baby, & he didn’t have white spots in his mouth either. Just a bit of a rash on his bum. Kept thinking it was muscular as well, but used the fungal cream for a few days & the pain instantly went away.

Could it be costochondritis? I do find that lifting my children can make if worse and feeding them in certain positions

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou it's possible. However, lumps are on one side pain is all across the chest. Its bothering me that the pain has been there so long with no signs of going away.
@Ladyks oh that's strange. Have developed thrush before but baby had white spots and a rash. 100% worth trying though! Thank you!
@Jilljams that is what one doctor said it was. The pain isnt in the middle it's more the ribs/under the breast. The whole area is tender though. If you dont mind me asking what eased it for you?

Feeling pretty desperate for the pain to go away!

I suffered similar chest / back pain when I breastfed, the health visitor suggested it was due to me clenching my shoulders etc while feeding, and being in one position with tensed muscles during lengthy feeds.( I think I was quite stressed about doing everything properly)
Once I made an effort to consciously relax my shoulders/ arms / back etc, the pains lessened.
Not sure if this will help, it’s only my personal experience but I hope you
manage to get it sorted.

Mine only went away with time, and trying to improve my posture and avoid things that I knew triggered it. For example heavy lifting or wearing a rucksack

Sounds like its intercostal muscle pain, I've had it since a teen, usually it is caused by repetitive strain on the ribs eg. Carrying a child on one specific side all the time

I have pain in the exact same place on my left side after I injured the muscle pushing a dodgy pram with one hand for miles. Sounds muscular to me. I have a very heavy 2 year old that keeps aggravating when I lift him.

My daughter gets costochondritis.

She took ibuprofen three tines a day for 2 weeks & it cleared it up.

She’s only 12, so no BF involved 😉, she suffered when she exerted herself. Running/swimming but strangely not when doing gymnastics.

Her chest hurt, she struggled to take a deep breath as you do.

The doctor said it’s quite common in girls her age, boys don’t seem to get it. She had it for a couple of years before we found out what it was. It hasn’t come back (left her about a year ago), although the doctor did say it might do.

I get this sometimes, also assumed it was due to breastfeeding a heavy toddler. IME block ducts feel different (and you can push them down again). I think its from the position I fed him in.