Mastitis like pain but not mastitis?

[babyblabber]

DD is 5 weeks and feeding well. Last few nights she's been very snotty (despite my best efforts with saline drops & aspirator) so not taking much at night as she just falls asleep. So in the morni g my boobs are really full, not quite engorged but headed that way!

Today my right boob is really painful. It's the same type of pain as when I got mastitis with DS but boob isn't hard or red and it doesn't hurt to feed her. It's just really sore if I brush my arm against it or when boobs contract a bit when she starts mooching or something.

Anyone know what this is? Anything to worry about?

Could be a blocked duct? That's caused by engorgement and is the precursor to mastitis - you can stop it turning into full blown mastitis by tackling the engorgement and breast massage.

I was going to say it sounds like a blocked duct. Ouch!

coudl you massage the bit that hurts towards the nipple while she is feeding? if it was a blocked duct this may help. If she hasnt fed as much it could well be caused by engorgement. Do you hand express? if so expressing while concetraing on the bit that hurts in a warm shower or bath could work.

If it is a blocked duct it can turn into mastitus but you can sort it before it commes to that. also sympathy for the pain.

My breasts burned and when I say burned, I mean fiery tingling ache whenever they were/are full. It's not engorgement per se as they're not tight 'boulders' just more full then i'd prefer them. I also can feel let down at this time like little rivers of fire coming down/thru my breasts...
might it be this?

Thanks girls. It's the whole big boob that hurts so not sure if it's a blocked duct but will have a feel around next feed. Would it feel like a lump? Also it's not a burning pain, more like an ache but a really bad one!

I am not saying that it is this, I have no idea, but thrush can cause a really deep ache, other signs would be baby having white spots in mouth, sore bum and it would spread to the other breast fairly quickly. You could try expressing and massaging, if you think could be thrush you need to see gp or health visitor.

Yes, with a blocked duct I felt a distinct lump.

Could be thrush indeed.

Ok have just fed her and narrowed it down to the top of my boob. I think I can feel a tiny lump but might be imagining it. Really hope it's not thrush!!!! Will have a shower when DH gets home and massage it.

massage in light finger tip movements towards the nipple, you can also knead with the knuckles, just make sure you are always aiming toward the nipple, you can do it while you feed as weel, that works really well as baby is alread drawing the milk out so can clear a blocked duct quicker. if it is in a particular area it probably isnt thrush. wish you were here so I could use my brand new knitted boob to show you (not used it yet and very excitied).

If it's in just one breast, it's unlikely to be thrush.

Also, with thrush, pain continues after a feed.

Hope the shower and massage help things.

Does the tip ever go white? I had that pain and it was vasospasm. The whitening doesn't always happen at the same time as the pain though, and can be once your boob is back in the bra. In that case it may be a shallow latch. This happened to me when dd turned 4m, and changed how she was latching n (not sure why).