I'm in agony - please help

[magaddict]

I am bottle feeding my 9 day old daughter, having made a feeble attempt to bf on the first day but regretfully giving up when she wouldn't stop screaming. I am now having serious pain in one breast - it is swollen and hot to touch and it is unbearable. I have taken ibuprofen but it hasn't really helped and I am dreading my dd waking up because it is going to be agony holding her to feed her. Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions for anything I can do to relieve it?

sounds like could be start of mastitis, maybe ring nhs direct or gp. could need antibiotics if you have infection. if you really cant face another attempt at bf - this would be quickest way to sort out - maybe get someone else to feed her for a bit? hth also cabbage leaves inside bra (really helps) or maybe expressing some milk under warm shower. though this will further stimulate milk productio. sorry you are so uncomfy.

sounds like your milk has come in and you are experiencing engormgment, or it could be mastitis at worst, check with hv , go in shower or bath and squeece some milk out by hand to give you some relief. You could try putting her back onto the breast for her to suck some off but its likely to make your breast produce more milk and recreate the problem.
Its not to late to try bf again ?

HTH good luck x

It is either a blocked milk duct, which can lead to mastitis, or is mastitis already. If it's a blocked duct, you need to massage the breast, possibly in a warm bath, and maybe express some milk from the breast. (Not too sure about expressing - mine were BF so just fed them). If it's mastitis, you will get a high temperature and will need antibiotics. This can happen really quickly, so you may be best getting medical advice asap. Good luck.

I thought about putting her on the breast again but the very idea is bringing me to tears as even walking is causing pain - am I not too late to try this now anyway having ff her for the last week? I will try anything to relieve this pain and I would rather be bf than ff anyway, I am just worried that if I try it and it doesn't work I will have stimulated the supply and it will be even worse. Do you think I should phone my community midwife or is NHS direct a better option?

ring comm midwife NOW nad if you really want to bf get them to sit with you for a whole feed showing you how to latch dd on, as soon as she takes any milk the pain will go away if it is engormgment. PLEASE call her, I found bf very very hard and had bleeding cracked nipple for about 2 weeks and was inagony every time dd fed, but it does calm down eventually and gets easier.

I think your midwife would be your best bet. Especially if you would still like to BF. They would support you and you could come on here for support too. The first few days will be hard, but it'll get better quickly and you'll be so glad you did! It does sound like mastitis if it's so painful. I had it with DD2 but had antibiotics and BF through it, and it became a distant memory!

Midwife is probably better -can you get them to come out to you.

If it is mastitits, it is awful but does respond well to antibiotics. My friend had it and said she felt as ill as she ever had done in her life, but once the antibiotics kicked in, she was over it in a day or two. she was bf'ing though, so could empty the breast which helped.

Don't suffer in silence - go and see a doctor or midwife asap

Lillymolly's right. I had bleeding, cracked nipples with DD2 too. I called the midwives out every day for four days, to come and help me (one day they came out twice). I'd had no problems with DD1 so was quite surprised, but needed the support with DD2. Don't be afraid to ask them for help, and keep asking if you need it.

absolutly not too late to try to bf again - you could mix feed for a while at least she would be getting some of your amazing stuff!

And a bf will really, really help relieve the pain - give it a go. Definitely worthwhile once you get the hang of it. I do remember what it's like - I remember walking around bent over at an angle of 45 degrees holding each boob to stop them moving at all!

i also have horrible achey breast but not hot - am bf but still achey - any ideas?

thank you all for your advice - I have just spoken to the midwife (through much sobbing, embarrassingly) and she told me to go up to the maternity ward, so am doing that as soon as dh gets back from work (also had c/s so can't drive yet) thanks again.

magaddict- Hope you get it sorted. Please let us know how you get on. It might be worth trying to get DH to come from work asap, as if it is mastitis, your temperature can shoot up suddenly and you would feel very poorly rapidly? Better to get it seen to before that happens if possible.

movingdoctor- could be a blocked duct? If it's a blocked duct you usually have one tender part of the breast. If so, you could try massaging the sore part of your breast gently while feeding. A warm bath can help, if it is that - put a warm flannel over it and massage it.

will try warm flannel and massage - thanks
v sore nipple and tingling now!
any thoughts on cabbage leaves

Oh I know exactly how you feel - had this with DS. Things that worked for me was hot or cold flannels, cold savoy cabbage leaves (wrap them around your breast and leave them there - does work I promise) and gentle expressing with your hand just to keep it from engorging further - as someone else says, the best way to alleviate the pain is unfortunately to feed through it. You'll sit there feeding in tears the first few times but I promise it does get better after that - I found drinking ice cold water whilst feeding helped the burning sensation (purely psychological!)

It will get better and esp if you want to continue b'feeding - take paracetemol if you feel achey and as someone else said, get it seen to asap cause it colud be the beginnings of mastitis (sounds like it or a blocked duct) and you'll need antibiotics.

loads of luck - and make sure you get some rest when you can.

husband at supermarket and instructed to purchase savoy cabbage!
have midwife visiting tomorrow so will get it checked then
thanks for all the support and advice

also, phone nct helpline, la leche league etc. most areas have breastfeeding supporters who can help you. do try again to bf if you can. it can be really difficult but is so worth it!

movingdoctor -hope you're feeling better soon, and that the cabbage leaves bring some relief! It will get better! One midwife told me, to help me endure the discomfort while breastfeeding, to remember that each feed will bring you nearer to relief. I remember sitting with my toes curled in agony, trying to believe what she'd said. A couple of days later, things were so much better. Come back and tell us what the midwife says. In the meantime, good luck.

Feeling any better?
Thinking of you x

bf through the pain yesterday afternoon and evening
ds sleeps through the night so had some relief and this morning things a little better
horrible cracked nipple though and is very tempting to use only other breast
and i hear you about the toe curling!

Glad things are a little better. If you've got cracked nipples (ouch!) check your latch, and I found Lanisoh cream absolutely brilliant. A friend recommended it to me, and I would swear by it. I've heard a lot of women on here praise it too. Good luck today.

And can't believe your DS is sleeping through the night!! Wow!!

so glad it's getting better - and in awe of night sleeping child!! I agree - Lansinoh is great - Boots and Mothercare have it; pricey but lasts for ages and def the best one I found. well done for feeding through - hope the rest of your feeding time goes without a hitch.

Lanisinoh is available free on prescription. I had real nipple probs and must have got through £100's of pounds of it. It enabled me to keep breastfeeding and as this is what is recommended they were more than happy to prescribe it.