I'm not at my wits end, but I need this to get easier

[Sunflower1985]

My DS is a month old now. After initial problems (jaundice and 10% weight loss) we started mix feeding. I was hoping to have phased this out by now, I feel I have the milk to give, but then since 2 weeks I've had sore, itchy nipples and deep breast pain. His latch was deemed fine by expert midwife (no tongue tie). We were treated for thrush for 2 weeks but it hasn't touched the pain - so doubting it is thrush after all.

The best guess for the pain is chaffing, but is there anything else it could be?

Did anyone have similar pain, and did it ever go?

I'm not ready to give up and will keep mix feeding until I can have him on the boob long enough to get what he needs (atm I have to take him off when the pain gets too bad).

By the way - female doctor advice - sometimes breastfeeding just hurts. Argh.

sorry to hear this, it can be so hard when you have a problem you can't seem to solve.

Yes, I had similar symptoms. Very sore, cracked nipple and deep shooting pains in the breast that felt like I had seen thrush described. It did turn out to be the latch, although everyone that checked too said it was fine. I think it would have improved a bit as DD got older by itself, but being very meticulous about latching her on definitely helped. I also took painkillers.

Has your LO been checked for to tongue tie?

It does sound like thrush, and thrush can be a bugger to get rid of, especially if you have it deep into the breast tissue. Does it feel like hot needles going deep into your breast tissue?

It might be worth taking paracetomol 30 minutes before you are due to feed - that can help take the edge off the pain too.