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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

OW! Can anyone advise?

29 replies

Aranea · 08/03/2009 18:41

I have been bf my 21 week old with no real problems till the last couple of days. Today feeding on the left side has been increasingly painful, and tonight it was excruciating and still is very painful 10 mins after feeding.

About a week ago I noticed the left nipple was a bit sore, and that one of the knobbly bits (technical term?!) was white. The colour returned by the next day, but it was still a little tender. The pain is a sort of combination of sharp pain and bruised pain, and it feels as though it is inside the breast as well as on the nipple.

Can anyone help? I don't know what has gone wrong but I don't feel I can feed on that side with it being so painful. She is feeding every 2 hours through the night, so am a bit worried about just doing it on one side.

OP posts:
Dreamergirl · 08/03/2009 18:49

Could be a blockage, can't be sure..
Is any milk coming out?

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 18:51

Yes, she's getting milk from it and it isn't engorged.

It's still painful now.

OP posts:
Kayteee · 08/03/2009 18:56

Hot flannel on your breast (as hot as you can stand) and massage breast with your hand with downward, stroking movement. Do this for as long as you can manage (it took me about 4 hours) but it's very effective. You should feel a sort of "pop" when it unblocks.

If you start to get a temperature you should see a doc though.

It's very painful but if you persevere you will feel relieved.

Kayteee · 08/03/2009 18:57

Also, if you can stand it, let her feed as this also can help to unblock it.

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 18:59

I really don't think it is blocked. Wouldn't it feel engorged or something? Or have a lump? The pain is sharper than that. And still going on.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:03

Aargh. Just noticed my nipple is dark purple.

OP posts:
QueenFee · 08/03/2009 19:04

It sounds like when I had thrush TBH
A sharp shooting pain right inside your boob.
If it is then your DC may have it too (although not always visable) You should be treated and DC with a mouth gel/drops (used to be nystatin or dactarin)

You will also be given tablets prob I was given Fluxomazole (I think that was the name it was a year or so ago)

Here is a leaflet in PDF form about it
here
hoping to help

QueenFee · 08/03/2009 19:05

With a blocked duct you usually have a red patch/circle somewhere on your breast which can feel hot to touch. Worth checking for anyway. If you start to feel feverish call GP straight away though.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 08/03/2009 19:06

Sounds like thrush to me to. Are your nips shiny at all? That is another tell tale sign.

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:12

did your nipple go purple with thrush? am a bit worried now.

OP posts:
QueenFee · 08/03/2009 19:17

I'm sorry I can't remember but it does mention symptons in the leaflet. I think you are best to go to GP first thing in the morning (preferably armed with that leaflet as most GPs i've seen don't think mother to baby infection is possible!)
Good Luck

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 08/03/2009 19:18

I don't remember my nipps going dark tbh.

Don't be worried. If it is thrush it is very treatable, albeit a bit painful and annoying. It's no reflection on your hygiene etc and it's really quite common.

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:22

Thanks.

I think I'm more worried because I haven't read that nipples would change colour with thrush so am wondering if it could be something else.

OP posts:
ragd0ll · 08/03/2009 19:25

I had exactly the same symptoms, Doc said def not thrush but she wasnt sure what it was. I had my first period since having dd about a week later so im pretty convinced the two were linked.

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:32

Really ragdoll? WHat happened? Were you able to carry on feeding? How long did it last? I just don't think I can feed her on that side atm and am worried.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:33

Also I think my nipple is swollen at the base. Feeling rather sorry for myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:45

I've just read in your leaflet, QueenFee, that pain begins after the feed with thrush. Does that mean that if the feed itself is painful it isn't thrush?

OP posts:
QueenFee · 08/03/2009 19:48

I would say it hurt me during the feed as well. Do you have a breastfeeding counsellor you could get in contact with?

ragd0ll · 08/03/2009 19:51

It lasted a week -10 days max, until I came on then it was better almost over night. I carried on feeding through it but dosed myself up on nurofen. You could try doing every 3rd feed on the painful breast just to give it a little rest but without risking engorgement. If I was you id go to the doctors, it may well be thrush which is easily treated.

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:51

I think the local breastfeeding support group is weekly on wednesdays, which feels an age away!

I have just tried the NCT bf support line and the nice woman on the other end said she couldn't say what it might be and that I should go to the GP.

OP posts:
ragd0ll · 08/03/2009 19:52

Agree with QueenFee about a breastfeeding counsellor, would probably be of more use than most gps

Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:53

I think I will go to GP tomorrow. I suppose probably it's worth trying thrush treatment. It looks as if thrush is rather hard to diagnose, so presumably it must be a stab in the dark quite often!

This is miserable.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aranea · 08/03/2009 19:55

Will try & get hold of a local bf counsellor too.

Thank you so much everybody for your help. I am feeling rather upset about this, and I do appreciate the support.

OP posts:
QueenFee · 08/03/2009 19:57

If you look on ABM / La Leche League and NCT websites they have telephone numbers for BF counsellors.
Hope you have a good night.

completelyabsolutely · 09/03/2009 11:53

I only say this because of the purple colour but is it affected at all by the temperature? I had and still have really painful nipples from nipple vaso spasm- basically with any change in temperature the blood supply gets cut off and my nipples go dark purple then white and it hurts like a flame being held to my skin.

I quite often feed dd to get it to go away - she gets the circulation going again for me it is intensly painful for a second at the start of the feed as the feeling comes back but then stops hurting.

If this sounds like a possibilty I can let you know some stuff that has helped - don't want to post an essay if it's not this at all.

I think it may be related to Raynauds as I also get very cold (but not painful) hands and feet but it can also start after some trauma to the nipple eg from thrush or a bite, latch problems etc.