should BF still hurt at almost 6 weeks ?

[mibbes]

we had a rocky start to BF but I expressed and DS finally took to the breast at 10 days old. However, the latch is still seriously toe-curling and he is nearly 6 weeks old - it causes me to yelp or swear out loud. I am now experiencing pain throughout the feed on my bad side (seems to be far less milk on the right side). I have had a few 'white nipple' episodes where it feels like razorblades are being dragged across nipples - agony . This comes and goes. DS doesn't seem to move his head from side to side when he latches any more and his mouth doesn't seem to open as wide - could this be why it hurts so much ? any advice for fixing this as not sure I can continue, am dreading each feed

Mama I think I will order some silverettes. Definitely worth a try if they have had such a good effect for you. LizaJ will be interested to see what research you find.

Liza the attitude of some GPs (hopefully a small minority- I am sure many are great) is a bit of an obsession bugbear of mine at the moment. If I am right in thinking that encouraging breastfeeding is NHS policy then I think that any "threat" to sucessful bfing, however trivial it seems to them, should be taken seriously. I appreciate that GPs are by definition generalists but think in a large practice at least one should be fully informed and up to date about medications, best practice with relation to bfing etc. Although complaints such as cracked nipples etc might seem minor in the big scheme of things, they do have a great impact on your life if you are trying to bfeed. As I said in an earlier thread, to a certain extent you can choose whether you seek help from HVs, BFCs etc but if you think you need medication you have little choice but to see a GP. Oh dear, have started ranting again...

I had a terrible time breastfeeding. Absolute agony, I was in tears each time I fed him and yelped in agony. Lumps, swelling, cracks, blisters, bleeding. I am not a wimp, it bloody hurts. It took over 6 weeks to sort out and DS in that time hadn't put on his birth weight. I think it was a latch problem. MW said it was thrush, GP said it was mastitis. I had ABs for mastitis and I think it coincided with DS's learning to latch, who knows but thank goodness it just cleared up. I also had started giving one bottle of formula a day to DS - against medical advise. It really helped because both DS and I relaxed a bit.

FYI I have only just given up bf this week and DS is 14 months now - so it is worth persisting if you want to.

Helms how's it going? Totally agree with your comments on GPs- how great would it be if every GP practice had one GP with specialist training in and understanding of bf? Esp as you say it is such a massive health promotion thing, and bf rates are so abismal (esp where I live).

Have you thought at all about alternative stuff? I have read on MN about grapeseed (possible grapefruit seed, cannae mind) extract for thrush. Ooh I see Monsterma has suggested this here sorry! Might it be worth seeing a herbalist at a clinic, or a nutritionist and tackling it holistically? Apologies if you are already imbibing grapefruitseed extract by the gallon, have cut out all sugars/yeasts etc and are already living the life of a monk! I am not normally an alternative medicine promoter but with thrush it can be so systemic- so diet changes coupled with treatment of symptoms might help?

My crack is shrinking with the silverettes and at night I just go bra-less on that side (drenching myself, the bed linen and DH with milk but oh well) to encourage it to dry. It says you are meant to wear them 24/7 but DS is feeding less at night so I'm getting engorged and I'm worried about blocking ducts etc if it digs in at all.

Mibbles and Kiwi you still about? How's it going?

Hello Mamacita! Going well thank you - almost pain-free!! Though I finish my (second) course of fluoconazole tonight so I'm slightly paranoid that it'll come back...

I second the grapefruitseed extract suggestion - I've been taking it - have no idea whether that, the drugs or the diet (or all three) are what worked but I'm sticking with it anyway. But god the liquid version is VILE. Tablets so much better..

Brilliant that the crack is shrinking too. Now all we need is "I survived thrush" badges...

Kiwi I know what you mean- I'm not sure if the thrush going made my crack finally go, DS just growing a bit, my supply settling (easier for him to feed as now getting jet-streamed in the mouth) or the silverettes. I think it was the silverettes that turned the corner but it was probably a combo of all of the above, like your thrush treatments... well done on the diet front btw!

We defo deserve badges! I never thought I'd get here...
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