Extremely painful to feed on one side

[IdiotSandwich05]

Hi all. I've been BFing DS for 11 weeks now with no issues, but yesterday out of the blue my right breast started hurting, and it's now agony to feed on that side. I literally wince and have to breathe through it! Even when I'm not feeding it's throbbing.

It's a horrid sharp stabbing pain. It's mainly in my nipple/areola but the breast itself also hurts. It's agony to press on a certain area, but I can't feel a lump and it isn't red either. It does feel hot though. I feel fine, no temperature.

What could this be??

It could be the start of mastitis or a clogged duct. Keep an eye out for any signs of a temperature or swelling for the next few days. If you can, continuing to feed off that side might help (and feeding first off that side if it is mastitis). New research suggests that some of the older information on treating mastitis may not help and actually you need to treat the inflammation so keeping the area cool and only using very light touch (not firm massage) helps. See information from La Leche League here: www.lllc.ca/mastitis-matter-inflammation If it is mastitis and it isn't clearing you may need to go see your GP for antibiotics.

In terms of what would be causing the pain/issues, by 11 weeks it could be that baby's latch isn't quite right so going back to basics with it and making sure baby has a good deep latch could help. Also worth thinking about if you're doing anything differently that could be affecting it - a new bra, carrying a handbag tight on that side etc.?

Thrush? Can you get someone..gp or HV to check? Painful feeding is the worst