What am I doing wrong?

[fourquartets]

Ds is nearly 4 weeks, I'm breastfeeding and it's so painful still. He had a tongue tie which was snipped at 7 days, before which it was absolutely agonising and my nipples were shredded. It got much better and his tongue seems to have much more movement, but it is still incredibly painful when he's feeding, I have permanently stinging, burning nipples even between feeds and last night they were so sore I could hardly sleep.

I have had my latch checked by all sorts of midwives, lactation consultants and doctors who all seem to think it's ok. One midwife suggested that I had blocked ducts so now I try and massage and express to make sure nothing's blocked. I also saw a doctor who thought I might have thrush and gave me a cream I've been using since Thursday. But nothing seems to have improved it and I am wondering if I can stand to carry on feeding when it hurts so much. I didn't have any problems with DD and am so frustrated. Any ideas?

poor you . I don't know too much about thrush but one thing I do know is that both you and the baby have to be treated, or else you keep re infecting each other. did the doctor give you anything to put in baby's mouth? nystatin or daktarin?

I have been told that thrush pain feels like baby has glass needles in their mouth - does that sound like you? Also, iirc, nipples often have a red, greasy sort of look with thrush.

the fact that you are feeling such pain between feeds does suggest some kind of infection to me, not just bad latch or TT related pain... (disclaimer I have no medical qualifications at all) do you have any lumps, red patches on your boobs? if your nipples were cracked how have the cracks healed?

also could you be re infecting yourself via unwashed bra (sorry!) or lansinoh tube...?

Thank you. Yes, glass shards sounds about right! Dr gave me daktarin, but nothing for DS as she seemed to think that was enough so suppose I may be getting reinfected. He doesn't seem to have any thrush like white bits in his mouth though. The bra issue is a possibility too! Wonder if I should put them all on a boil wash or something.

Cracks have healed up since tongue tie cut and nipples look fairly healthy I think, just incredibly sore. They sometimes look a bit swollen maybe. They don't seem particularly lumpy. At the moment (haven't fed for hour or so) there's a sort of burning, throbbing pain which comes and goes a bit.

Thank you v much for your suggestions. Was beginning to feel hopeless.

Yes I'd definitely go back and ask for something for DS, can't remember what is supposed to be best sorry but you might be able to search on here and find out. white plaques are not always obvious or present I think.

boil wash can't hurt, or maybe a Milton soak...?

It might also be worth going back to the TT clinic and checking the tie has not regrown - continuing awful pain is a good enough reason to get it rechecked IMO.

one other thought - do your nipples turn white at the tips or look flattened after feeds? if so then the burning might be a sign of vasospasm, which probably means a latch/TT problem.

Sounds like thrush. Even a sheet touching nipples made me jump back in pain.
You do need treatment for both of you. I found expressing was marginally less painful, so could be worth trying that to give you a rest for a day. I think I found daktarin worked a little in 2 days or do, but took a good 2 weeks before I was feeling back to self.
Other tips are to wash bras on 60, change breast pads at least every feed and there is some advice on taking a probiotic. If it doesn't clear up there are other treatments dogo back to your gp.
Try to stick with feeding as it will go and you sound determined to carry on, but it is more than understandable if you decide to quit as it hurts sooooooo much. I almost did, but it did start to relieve after a few days.
Bestofluck. X