Please help nipple and breast pain after 4 weeks

[bunnyrabbit]

Please help. All was going so well till a week ago and I started having problems getting DS2 to latch on properly. Won't open his mouth wide and when I do manage to get him on properly (usually after taking him off 3 or 4 times) he seems to slip down the nipple and it's making my nipples very sore. My right breast is quite swollen and painful. I've been massaging it but the pain is quite nasty and I'm not sure if it's mastitus (sp). If it is, will massaging do the trick or do I need antibs?

Know about pointing nipple to roof of mouth, nose to nipple etc, but it's not much use if he won't open his mouth and slips off anyway.

Getting a bit desperate as I only managed 3 weeks with DS1 and was hoping I could go the whole distance with DS2, but can't go through the whole crying through every feed thing again.

Am very depressed about the whole thing.

BR

BR - hugs, try not to get depressed. Much more expert advice will appear imminently, I'm sure, but in the meantime, well done for getting further with this baby! I would go to the doctor personally if massage isn't helping the pain. From my experience there were several phases, one around a month, I think, where bf was really difficult, but they always ended quite quickly. Not much help but just wanted to post to say cheer up and bump the thread for people who know what they're talking about.

Thanks Scampmum, really appreciate the wisdom of your experience, it's all just a bit too deja vue for my liking. It was the right breast last time too, only I had mastitius for quite a while before it was diagnosed. My breast actually went blue and I had a temperature of 104.5

Also had shivers etc and am very cold at the mo which is unlike me.

Is there any chance it could be thrush? Could explain why both nipples are sore.

Oh I really don't know what to do....

BR

ooh, poor you, sounds horribly painful- i would definately go to the GP to check if its mastitis - though i don't think you always need ABs for it - and then go to a breastfeeding support group/counsellor if there is one near you as they're generally very good at working out where your technique could be tweaked to make sure your baby latches on and stays on. Have you tried squeezing out a drop of milk and then kind of tickling his upper lip with your nipple to try to get him to open his mouth wide?

In terms of your sore breast, i found applying a hot flannel or hot water bottle (or have a bath etc) immediately before I fed really helped reduce any soreness and encouraged the milk to flow.

may I suggest calling midwife and asking for nearest breastfeeding support group/councillor? I had this trouble and went to a group where alovely lady showed me how to get mouth open by moving babies bottom lip with nipple. 8 months on and never had any more pain ever! (despite teeth!)

Best of luck!

Thanks smallwhitecat and SP1976.

Have massaged breast and hand expressed lots after last feed and pain seems to be worse and all over now and I have a temperature of 102 so have called the emergency doctor in the hopes of getting this sorted tonight.

ILWN, Don't have any breast feeding support. Called the midwife who delivered DS but as I've been discharged from the MWs they can't help me.

Suppose I could call the health visitor tomorrow if I can find her number.

It's my birthday tomorrow and we're away for the weekend next weekend with both DSs so can't believe this is happening now.

Keep welling up... hormones all over the place.

BR

ILWN, I thought you were supposed to aim nipple at roof of mouth? How does this work if using nipple on lower lip? Will try this next feed.

Have appointment at emergency doctors later. Any other advice gratefully recieved.

BR

Thanks swc, temperature now 102.4....

your local Surestart will definately run baby cafes/breastfeeding support groups - they will be able to tell you where your nearest group is...

Another thought - did you do NCT antenatal classes? If so, contact your teacher, she should be able to help you or refer you to a BF group.

Hope you start to feel better soon and happy birthday for tomorrow!

Thanks so much for the links etc, and the support. Will look tomorrow once DS1 is at playgroup.

Have euthrymicin now and will keep massaging in the hopes that I'll feel better tomorrow.

So dissapointed that this has happened and not sure how to prevent it happening again.

BR

For the sore boob I would recommend either antibiotics or if you can get them the homeopathic remedy - I have mine packed in my hospital bag for DC3 as I had issues with both DS1 and DS2. For DS1 I just used massage and hot and cold packs, with DS2 I got antibiotics really quickly. Your nipples might be on the smaller/flatter side - I have that problem. Expressing a bit of the foremilk before attempting to latch the baby might help him get a better grip. In between feeds you could use the Medela Breast Shells, which basically allow your nipples to 'heal' inbetween feeds rather than have no air around them and being trapped in your bra etc. Antoher alternative might be nipple shields. They can lessen the pain and give the baby something more to latch onto. I used them for 4 months with DS1 and had no issues with milk supply etc that some midwives/lactations consultants get concerned about. I know how discouraging it can be to have BF issues, but it is possible to push through with the right support. Good Luck, Sim

LOL swc.

DS2 has been irratable and unsettled all day, which I know may be normal for a 4 week old, but not for DS2.

Called my GP and they are not happy with the ABs so have changed them and DS2 seems better already. I've been looking at kellymon (thank you!!) and it's very informative and I'm having some success improving his latch. It's certainly not as painful as it was and my nipples are much better. He is very lazy though and will not gape. Keeps trying to suck the nipple in whever I get close.

Aussiesim, funny you should say that as I have very large breasts and areoli (sp) but I don't really have much of a nipple to speak of so do try to express a bit just to get a nipple at all.

Not as depressed as yesterday. Always good to know there are so many people on mumsnet ready to share their experience and advice .

At least the sun was shining for my birthday!!

BR

have you tried mothermates gel pads. you could get them in boots when i had ds 2 years ago. not sure if you still can?

Hi nappyaddict,
My friend gave me some and I forgot all about them! Thanks for the tip. Will use them if my nipples get bad again.

Problem is at the moment that DS2 is still very unsettled so am not sure wether to take the new antibs or not. Pretty sure there is still some euthrymycin in my milk (took the last one at 1.30pm yesterday) so he's still pretty unsettled and not sure I want to cause him (and me) any more stress. But if I don't take them, will the mastitus get worse again?

BR

Hi SWC,
Mastitus is definitely better. Probably due to the vigorous kneading and pummeling (which made my boob damn sore) Have not commenced with the new antibs for the moment.

I'm the same as you, big and soft so do need to support my boob or it sort of drags.

Latch is still not brilliant and I have to keep unlatching DS2 which makes me a bit guilty and sometimes I don't bother.

He still doesn't gape... lazy monkey!!!

BR