too painful to bf 3.5 month old all of a sudden - don't want to give up but...

[mookickkick]

Hello, for the past few days it's been very painful feeding dd2 on the left boob. I think it's a friction problem, as the underside of the nipple is really tender. I tried expressing yesterday but only got 60ml from that side and dd was still hungry after bf from other side and the bottle and more bf, so I had to let her back on the painful side. It's so bad I am wincing the whole time, and it still hurts two after the last feed! Expressing is annoying as I can't empty that breast and it's all lumpy and I fear I'll wind up with mastitis. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried different positions without much relief. Not sure what else to do. If it goes on I'll have to give up (bf'd dd1 for 13 months).

Does the nipple look any different?

Hmm, not really. I mean, left right nipples are different but the 'injured' one appears unchanged.

Could you have a blocked duct right under the nipple? When I get one it always makes my nipple really tender before I discover the lump. (get this quite a lot when I feed lying down)

Oh and I'm also suffering atm - have to hold my breath when she first latches on it's soooo painful, but I know it will clear in a day or two

I'll check after the next feed. Thanks for responding. I do recall some feeding in bed last week. Hope yours clears soon!

Massage the sore area with your knuckles if its a blocked duct. It will hurt but should clear it.

Can you see a white spot on the nipple? This might indicate a milk blister, and a blocked duct which matches your lumpyness. www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplebleb.html and kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html might help?

Are you ready to stop? If not then there will be a way to work through this. :)

Or maybe thrush? Symptoms v different to thrush elsewhere

Or maybe thrush? Symptoms v different to thrush elsewhere

Yeah, I thought that too merci but it's the lumpyness that's got me thinking it's more likely to be blocked ducts (which you can get without the white milk blister BTW - my post wasn't clear about that).

If you don't think it's a blocked duct then a trip to the GP for thrush evaluation and potentially for meds may be worthwhile. If it's thrush it will feel much better very quickly.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf