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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

When will it stop hurting?

23 replies

Bumperlicious · 08/11/2010 23:55

Dd2 is 7 weeks. Latching has never been great but thought things were getting better.

Now I have a blister on one side & a blocked duct or something on the other. It's still painful.

I go to the bfing group every week, look on all the websites & used to be a peer supporter. Why can't I do this properly? When does it stop hurting?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bumperlicious · 09/11/2010 08:04

Bump!

OP posts:
FortiesCromarty · 09/11/2010 08:25

Hello,
I'm not a professional but just wanted to let you know you're not alone. You probably know all this being a peer supporter Smile but you do need to try keep feeding on the blocked side to help clear any blockage, also try a warm flannel on the breast. I can also remember pumping to try and clear a blockage when the DC was asleep as it hurt so much.

I got a blister when the latch was wrong, so it does sound like her latch is still not right. Has your DD been checked for tongue tie as this may affect the latch?

Do you find it hurts to start with and then eases, or hurts all the way through the feed?

marzipananimal · 09/11/2010 09:30

Sympathies. Ds is 10 weeks, I've had mastitis 3 times and still pain on latching despite being told the latch looks fine. Getting pretty fed up!
Can you find out who the best bf expert in your area is and get them to help you? That's what I'm trying to do at the moment. Good luck (sorry no useful advice)

RJandA · 09/11/2010 09:42

marzipan - have you seen this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1077635-Everyone-needs-to-know-this-about-mastitis-PLEASE-READ

3 times in 10 weeks sounds like a lot! - sympathies.

To the OP - feel sorry for you. I think for a blocked duct, try massaging while DD feeds, or getting DD's chin on the lump while she feeds, even if it means lying her down on the bed and crouching over her.... you'll feel stupid but it is supposed to work!

Hang in there, it does get better.

marzipananimal · 09/11/2010 10:04

yes RJandA, i started it! Grin

crikeybadger · 09/11/2010 11:25

Grin to marzipananimal

Just hang in there bumperlicious- you will get there. Smile

If you are getting blocked ducts- is it worth trying a different hold? Sorry, you probably have tried that one, but the blockage does indicate that something is a little bit out doesn't it

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 09/11/2010 13:59

I don't even know if it is a blocked duct. i just know it gets lumpy and excruciating. it does go eventually.

Been to bfing group again today. it's nothing that they can fix really, i just need to make dd wait longer so she will open her mouth wider a reach up which she doesn't do very well. its harder when i am feeding in public, sitting there with my boobs out...

not sure how much longer i can do this for.

OP posts:
RJandA · 09/11/2010 15:40

Blush marzipananimal

Oh well, at least you know people have been reading it!!

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 09/11/2010 19:27

Ok is the excruciating tear-inducing pain related to the lumpy breast/possible blocked duct? it's worse than the usual latching pain.

OP posts:
marzipananimal · 09/11/2010 19:31

I think so bumper, I've been struggling to know exactly what's causing the pain as I've never had totally pain free fedding on that side but it's definitely much more painful with the blocked duct. Now my blockage has gone it's just painful at the beginning of the feed (though it's excruciating at first :( ) Hopefully when the lumpiness goes the pain will reduce

marzipananimal · 09/11/2010 19:35

i think (no expert though) that feeding is really painful when a blockage is clearing as lumpy bits of milk are getting sucked out. Is the pain in the nipple rather than the breast? That's how it was for me

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 09/11/2010 19:58

i wondered if that was the case. with that on one side & a blister on the other i am crying in pain right now. if she ever stops feeding i'm going to go and have a hot bath.

i so want to keep on a this but i have a headache and feel sick from the pain.

ok, she had come off, blister is now filled with blood. she is 7 weeks old, how can we be taking such a step back?

OP posts:
marzipananimal · 10/11/2010 10:34

:( you poor thing, must be terrible it being so bad on both sides, at least I have one side that is almost painless. Have you tried nipple shields? I know they're not generally recommended but this sounds like a fairly desperate situation. They probably won't help with pain that's caused by the blockage but might help with the latching pain and blister

dublinmom · 10/11/2010 10:58

Try nurofen for the pain (it's safe).
If you have a pump you could express for a few feeds and give it to hre in a bottle (it's a faff but if it helps you heal it's good).

Have you had the latch checked? You don't want to keep putting her on and keep injuring yourself.

Total sympathy and encouragement. Take it one day, one feed at a time.

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 10/11/2010 13:12

Gah I now have a milk blister on the side where I've had the lumpiness! It's a bloody conspiracy!

I've been to the bfing group every week since she has been born. The latch isn't great but I am struggling to correct it.

OP posts:
MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 10/11/2010 14:54

I had intermittent set backs with dd for about 10 weeks. Then, very slowly we started to get better. As she got older and wiser and bigger she 'understood' better and started opening her mouth more, not nodding off as much, feeding faster and less often.

So do what is right for you (I had a day of expressing when I was really sore, that helped) but what I'm saying is, it took a long time for the whole bf thing to become easy for me. Especially when we were out. But we did get there. Good Luck!

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 10/11/2010 14:57

Also, I had several (very sore) blocked ducts. Can you see a red mark on the breast? I found rubbing them really hard whilst feeding and in the shower (not at the same time) eased them. These also stopped eventually I think because the milk supply is better regulated after a few months.

greentig3r · 10/11/2010 15:07

At ante-natal class midwife recommended holding the bottom of an electric toothbrush on blocked duct to encourage it to break up, along with the usual advice to take a warm bath and hold a flannel over it, and try to massage it towards the nipple.

You're clearly very determined to feed, it's a shame you're suffering so much when you seem to be doing all the right things. Good luck.

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 10/11/2010 15:22

I can't seem to feel or see where the blocked duct is. i'm just assuming that is what it is, and the milk blister is a symptom too.

I just ache all the time :(

there is another bfing group tomorrow so i will go to that but haven't had much success so far.

OP posts:
marzipananimal · 10/11/2010 15:33

have you read the stuff on kellymom about milk blisters? I've never had one but sounds like there are ways of getting rid of them. If the people at the bf group aren't able to help would they be able to put you in touch with with someone who might be able to ie. someone more highly trained or experienced?

(by the way, thanks greentig for the toothbrush tip, I'll remember that though hopefully I won't need to use it!)

Original poster
Bumperlicious · 10/11/2010 16:18

There is an NCT trained bfing counsellor at the group. I'm just finding that all the advice in the world isn't making DD physically do what she is supposed to properly. There's no obvious problem, we just aren't getting it quite right.

Have had a look at the duct stuff on kellymom. I have used a hot compress today. It's not lumpy any more and not as painful as it was. Last night was soooo bad, awful pain. It just makes me not want to go out and about. Tried to feed in the park earlier as DD2 wouldn't settle but it hurt so much because of the cold and I couldn't hold her properly as my coat is currently too small . Even the cold in the house is making my nipples ache.

OP posts:
FortiesCromarty · 10/11/2010 17:19

Hi Bumperlicious, sorry you're still having troubles. Have you tried feeding laying down? If you try a totally different feeding position it might help?
There's some info on the La Leche site here.

dublinmom · 11/11/2010 11:47

Bumper, the cold really affects me too, there's no way i would attempt feeding outside! I constantly wear a vest, top, cardigan and often a scarf to keep warm and stave off the vasospasm!

Coming out of the shower is a nightmare! Yeeow!

Hang in there, hope you have a better day today.

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