breastfeeding 3rd baby. suddenly engorged at 3 months

[pookey]

I have had loads of problems bf my older children so it is likely I have poor latch, however things seemed to be going fairly ok this time but now at 3 months breastfeeding is hurting again and both boobs are lumpy and hard.

Can thrush cause engorement? I have been eating lots of rubbish so think it is a possible cause of the pain. I havent got shooting pains but have noticed some vague tingles after bf. I have been massaging and expressing but both breasts quickly bewcome swollen again.

I feel a bit grumpy but not really ill so dont think its mastitus?

Thanks so much for any advice :)

Have been looking at old threads and a bit on kellymom doesn't seem like thrush and engorgement go together?

I've had 'proper' thrush and mastitis, but also something else that feels like a mixture of both: a bit achy, one boob very full, hot nipple, shards of glass on feeding. Clears in 24 hours or so with hot bath, kneading, repeated feeding, and painkillers. I assumed, on reading up, it was a blocked duct. Or something. I was always terrifed it would become mastitis but that came on more quickly and felt more like flu.

Have you been feeding more recently? Is it your supply settling down?

It's interesting Pookey, my DD is 11 weeks and I've had that the past couple of days- both breasts have been seriously engorged at different times. Maybe because she's going a bit longer between feeds (every 2 1/2 hours rather than 1 1/2). Or maybe she's just taking more milk, so body's upped production.

I expressed the first time, hoping she might take it from a bottle later (she didn't). After that I left it. I think there's a risk if you express it, your body will try and keep up at the same rate so you can become engorged again. I would just express enough for comfort or to get breast soft enough for baby to latch on.

I've had tingling too, but no pain. I'm sure someone on MN will have the answer.

Thanks Porchopster and greentig. dd feeds quite eratically sometimes sleeping through think thats caused some of the problem. I am worried that expressing is making things worse because I can express milk out but dd doesnt seem able to latch on and boobs not going down after she feeds. Getting worried because I would have expected massage etc to have got rid of it by now.

DD is 13 weeks so a very similar age to yours Greentig3r

Thrush is however linked to blocked ducts. It's possible you're mistaking blocked ducts for engorgement (would be strange to get engorged at 3 months unless you're stopping bfing afaik).

It could be that japhrimel its just that it seems to be the whole breast and also to alesser etxetnt the other breast thats swollen. Am going to try more soaking in warm water before bf and then maybe cabbage leaves after bf. Think I will get an appointment at GP tomorrow.

Hi thought greentig you may be interested; Doctor checked over dd she has a sore throat and noisey chest but no temp or cough etc seems likely this has caused her to fuss at the breast (she has been bopping on and off ) and probably caused blocked ducts. I am wondering about the vacines she had a couple of weeks ago because dp has been wondering for a while if she had a sore throat because she was crying during feeds occasionaly.

Planning to keep antibiotic prescription just incase but to take soya lecithin granules because they have been useful in the past for clearing blockages!

Thanks for help everyone