breastfed baby for 20months,why are my breasts now hurting?

[jkb]

Hi

Can anyone give me any advice please?
I have brestfed my Ds now for 20mths with no problems atal, not even as much as a sore nipple.
He has been unwell lately & so has been feeding alot in the night (not unusual for him anyway!) & for about the past week my nipples have been sore? Not sore as in skin sore, but as in they feel bruised?? if i brush against them or prod them they hurt too
I cannot think why this is? The only thing I can think is maybe he is sucking harder than usual?... also, i know this sounds strange, but this all seemed to start after a smear test i had.. i thought maybe it stired up some hormones or somthing? as the bruised like feeling is like a pregnant type of sore nipple feel (im NOT pregnant)?

any advice would be appreciated
xx

I am no medical expert but I do remember that sometimes if one of my dc had been porrly and feeding far more than usual it could be a tad sore but not as much as yoiu describe. Maybe he is part chewing whilst feeding if he's feeling porrly?

when i say he's poorley, hes been poorley for a while... a long term problem .. he dosent feel like he's latching any different.. definetly no chewing

I dont know the symptoms of mastitis, could it be that?

I think these things can come and go with no obvious reason. I've had 2 years of bf experience and am currently pg and bf, but even that soreness (which one would think might be consistent) has no rhynme or reason. otherwise your ds might simply be sucking more strongly, or maybe your supply dropped and he 'had' to do so to get it back up again.

thanks for your advice... defo not mastitis.. my actual breast is ok.. its just the nipple... & the skin doent seem sore looking .... i think it just maybe he's sucking really hard? & i have never seen him wanting to actually feed as much as he is at the moment? hope its just a phase that will pass.. i was hoping to have him off by 2

berolina

can i ask you ... how are u finding it being pregnant & BF ?? Iwould like to try for another child after the summer but am worried he will still want the breast?? n i would rather he self wean than me actually taking it away from him? is it dangerous?

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