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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

is it all over?

39 replies

moocowme · 22/11/2007 20:40

well my efforst to move to full time bf seem to not be going well. i seem to have developed a pain in left breast. man it hurst and is particularly sore during and just after a feed. i have continued to feed with the other one.

still no where need getting it established full time but i do want to keep trying but the pain is more than a bit off putting.

i got a hand pump (sorry to scared of electric ones!) and can see that some milk comes out so that is good news.

DH and I shall be on holiday for a month from next week so that will give me more time but I REALLY WANT THE PAIN TO GO AWAY!!!

sorry for shouting its sore.

what to do?

OP posts:
hildegard · 22/11/2007 20:46

You could have thrush - someone more knowledgable will come and advise you. I felt like someone was slamming my nipple repeatedly in the door when I had it.

I would ask your midwife or phone up the NCT
Bumping for you

moondog · 22/11/2007 20:48

How long have you been b/feeding for?

absandme · 22/11/2007 20:53

speak to hv or bf counsellor, you may have thrush, get the pain sorted then the rest should be great!

how old is baby? are you topping up with formula as you mention not full time bf?

Original poster
moocowme · 22/11/2007 21:01

its sore inside breast so not sure its thrush as nipple is fine.

yes he is topped up with formula as he thinks his tummy is the tardis and bigger inside than it looks!

been doing this since he was born so 8 weeks now.

OP posts:
moondog · 22/11/2007 21:11

Moocow,we've not much info. to go on.
Good thing is that you are most probably over the hardest bit but you must realise that the more formula you give the less milk you will make as the baby sucking acts as a message to the breasts to make more milk.

More sucking =more milk
Less sucking=less milk

Pain sounds odd.
Have you phoned one of the helplines?
Try Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers
08444 122 949

monkeybird · 22/11/2007 21:20

MCM, thrush can cause pain inside the breast too - did for me... This can be because the thrush is inside the ducts... It might feel like a deep stabbing pain, can sometimes be worse between feeds and you may notice it more at night. Also have a look inside your baby's mouth (for sort of filmy saliva, white spots or whitish furry tongue) because it's common to both have it at the same time. Or your baby might have a sort of blotchy nappy rash. Might also be fussy when feeding if their mouth is sore... Probably need to see a BF friendly GP or BFC to rule it out

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2007 21:22

With pain after you have finished the feed it is most likely to be thrush in the breast.

Go visit your GP and see if he can diagnose. Of course, this would mean that any treatment you get, would also need to be followed up by treatment for your baby too - ie nystatin drops in his/her mouth.

Original poster
moocowme · 22/11/2007 21:29

ok i shall look to see whats in his mouth.

i posted on a previous thread about how i never got bf established full time due to loads of things. but have kept trying so he at least gets some breast milk as i feel this is important. i am trying to bf established again full time, if not then at least to continue bf before most feeds so he gets something.

i must say i am totally chuffed to have got to 8 weeks - i thought two was an achievment. now psyching myself up to get to christmas and work on getting it to full time or much nearer than am now. still got milk so going to keep going.

must get the pain sorted first tho!!

OP posts:
suzi2 · 22/11/2007 21:44

Does sound like it could be ductal thrush to me. Or a blocked duct? Is it area specific or does it come and go in different places? Do your nipples look normal - no white blisters on them?, no extreme colour change?

If it's thrush, which can be hard to diagnose (and my GP seems to think doesn't go in the ducts! [sigh]), then you'll need fluconazole tablets to clear it. You'll need to treat your baby's mouth with the daktarin oral gel, and your nipples with daktarin cream for good measure too. The BFN have a good leaflet on it - I'll see if I can find it...

Catherinesusanne · 22/11/2007 21:46

You may have a breastfeeding support group locally.... I found it very helpful as we were having issues!!!
Speak to your midwife / health visitor but the general rule for pain is that it will not improve unless you get the milk flowing - so either get baby on which could be hard or use pump or express manually...
pain can be a lot of things including blocked milk ducts which are painful but solved by emptying the breast several times over 24 hours, or mastitis which is an infection in the milk ducts which I think are treated with antibiotics or probably lots of other things.
Engorged breasts are also very painful and if baby has preference for one side it could be that.
well done for getting ot 8 weeks especially if you are finding it difficult!! T is now 8 months - switched to bottle after six and a half months... but if you had told me that at a week old I would have laughed at you!! good luck and speak to gp or hv!!

suzi2 · 22/11/2007 21:52

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/assets/docs/pdfs/BFN_Thrush.pdf

JenT · 22/11/2007 21:52

I got thrush a few times when BF and from what you have said it sound like this is your problem. As Suzi said a canesten once capsule should do it you can buy them over the counter and although they will ask if you are pregnant or breastfeeding it is ok to take them - I was prescribed by my GP. Should clear up within 24-36 hours.

Great news that you have carried on BF you sound like you are doing really well. and remember what you can produce with a pump is no where near as efficient as a baby sucking so baby will always get more than you could pump.

Good luck!

Original poster
moocowme · 22/11/2007 22:17

looks like a couple of white blisters tho they are small. pain is inside and feels like a long hard line only sore during and just after feeding.

bf group is on monday should i ask the counselor then or go to see GP?

OP posts:
Original poster
moocowme · 22/11/2007 22:18

i just use the pump for stimulation and to assure myself their is still some milk and they are not just big pacifiers.

OP posts:
laundrylover · 22/11/2007 22:32

Jen T, a single dose of Fluconazole (as in canesten Once) would be worth a try but the recommended dose for ductal thrush is a loading dose and then 10 days follow up which you can only get on prescription from your GP and you may have to battle for.

Moocowme, thrush feels like shooting pains in your boob and is very strong after feeding, sometimes for over an hour. It's horrible. When you say a long hard line, can you actually see this as could be a blocked duct or mastitis....why not go and see your GP? If you're lucky they may be helpful. If not, come back and tell us!!

BTW Stefka is having thrush probs too so do a search on her name for some tips and advice.

Good luck and well done for bfing for 8 weeks. If you can get through this blip you could have months or even years of pain free, convenient bfing to look forward to.

suzi2 · 22/11/2007 22:37

I would bypass the HV and GP and speak to one of the helplines as a first port of call as they'll know a lot more. If the person at the local support group is a BF counsellor then they should be good too. The small white blisters could be milk blisters - bloody painful in my experience - and can also have a blocked duct further up the breast which causes deep breast pain. www.kellymom.com has some info on milk blisters and ways to treat them if you search on there. Also look on there at blocked ducts and see if that fits the bill.

though the type of pain, a shooting line of pain, is what I had when I had thrush.

I guess the only people who could diagnose for sure would be a BFC but it's worth having a nose around the kellymom website to investigate a few possibilities. If it is thrush, you'll probably need a longer course of tablets to eradicate it than just the canesten once one so best to see your GP. And you'll need the gels/creams to prevent corss/reinfection too so cheaper all round to get them on prescription.

suzi2 · 22/11/2007 22:40

Agree with laundrylover that it's worth ruling out blocked ducts/mastitis too.

how long has this been going on?

Original poster
moocowme · 23/11/2007 12:05

thrush feels like shooting pains in your boob and is very strong after feeding, sometimes for over an hour

that about describes it but i cannot see anything in his mouth.

very hard to see the GP with a serial refluxer as i need to be up and down to the surgery at opening time (8am) to get an appointment. bf group on next monday afternoon so might give it a try.

ooh had a read and definately got a couple of milk blisters. will have to try hot compress.

OP posts:
monkeybird · 23/11/2007 16:24

MCM something in a previous post indicates (but get expert advice!) that it might be ablocked duct - you said a long HARD line I think: if that's the case, it almost certainly is a blocked duct - there's a previous thread which has lots of info on about getting rid (Hang on, I'll try and find it and link to it...)

Original poster
moocowme · 23/11/2007 22:23

got a canestan tablet today at Tesco pharmacy (they do own brand which is half the price!) so shall see if that does anything.

i could not bare to feed tonight so shall try again in the morning. determined to keep going tho.

docotrs on monday morning I think and then to bf clinic to see what they say.

and to think just before this i was actually starting to enjoy it!

OP posts:
Original poster
moocowme · 24/11/2007 11:21

ok i have worked it out. its thrush, i had some antibiotics last week for a bladder infection.

have taken a canestan oral last night but no relief yet. got some nystatin cream as well so need to look at what else to do to make it go away as its now in both breasts!

OP posts:
NineUnlikelyTales · 24/11/2007 11:38

You need to get some gel for your DS mouth or you will never clear it from your breasts. Your HV can prescribe it (mine did). Also cream for your nipples.

Get yourself some Acidophilus (good bacteria) tablets from the health food shop, change your bra every day, wash them at 60 degrees. Sterilise everything that comes into contact with your breasts or your DS mouth after every time. Eat as little sugar as possible. That should see to the thrush.

You need to stimulate those breasts as often as possible to maintain/increase your supply. Especially at night, so if you have to give a FF try not to do it at night.

You are obviously very determined, I'm sure you'll get through this. Good luck

NineUnlikelyTales · 24/11/2007 11:40

Oh, also try to go without breast pads or at least change them very regularly. Don't use Lansinoh. Basically you need to keep your nips as cool and dry as possible as thrush loves warm/moist environments.

Original poster
moocowme · 24/11/2007 13:25

ok got another canestan tablet and have put loads of nystatin cream on nips. going to get some yogurt. anything else i can do considering its a weekend?

OP posts:
NineUnlikelyTales · 24/11/2007 13:56

Get yourself some Acidophilus (good bacteria) tablets from the health food shop.