Nursing becoming painful

[Babieseverywhere]

Not sure what it is.

Nursing 8 month old DS, who now has 4 teeth but has not bitten me (yet). He nursed a lot more than usual over the last couple of days and is snotty from recent chest infection but frequent nursing shouldn't make things this painful/sore.

I have tried being more careful with positioning and that helps a little. Nursing my toddler is only slightly painful but nursing the baby is so hard at the moment.

Don't think it is thrush, pain is in nipples when feeding and my breasts look normal no hard patches etc.

Any other suggestions I am starting to dread DS asking for his next feed.

Could you be pregnant babies? I found feeding very sore at a certain point, mind you I suppose you know how feeding in pregnancy feels anyway...

No, this is not like nursing whilst pregnant(which I am definately not).

Any other suggestions ?

Might be the increased use in the recent days, but it could still be thrush even if you don't have the usual symptoms. Do you notice any abrasions on the nipples at all...small cuts? When he comes off after a feed, are your nipples the same colour as your areolas? Is the pain throughout a feed....and do they hurt inbetween feeds?

I have exactly the same, will watch this thread

I put mine down to possibly the start of mastitis but knocking it on the head before the hot patches, but then I am always getting it

I might have a very tiny graze on my left one, certainly that side hurts more. They are slightly tender when I am not nursing.

They are very painful when latching on either side and then the pain subsides to a gentle throb (which isn't to bad TBH just worrying)

I can't make my mind up if my nipples are slightly more pink than usual but I can't remember what they normally loook like

Keep a watch for possible thrush if things don't clear up before long. Be sure you treat yourself and baby if you find out that it is a yeast infection.

You could give the left side a bit of a break and nurse through two or three sessions with just the right side alone. (pumping the left for comfort). Definitely watch the latch...if he has been congested, he may be altering how he is on and his suckling just a bit to make breathing easier while he nurses. Shorter, more frequent feeds may help. The usual remedies for soreness.....breast milk on them and air drying, small amount of nipple cream and air drying, salt water soak and air drying.

Thanks for your post.

DS is a snacker so we already do short frequent milk feeds. I will take your advice on watching the latch more closely. I do agree I think his illness is making him struggle to nurse and breath at the same time...poor love. I wonder if he is slipping off more at night (we co-sleep) and I haven't noticed.

I can't feed off one side for several times. I am tandem nursing toddler and baby and need both sides operational and sometimes at the same time. Ditto because of this I made a LOT of milk and would be pumping continously to keep myself comfortable

Is 'air drying' coming back in ? I was advised to do 'moist healing' with any crackes & grazes ? I have been applying lashisoh cream to my left one and it does seem slightly less tender.

Hello BE, no advice I'm afraid but sorry to hear your nips are sore

(Never thought I'd ever have to say that to you )

hello Be. i haven't had thrush but your description does sound so like lots of bf threads i've read here which turned out to be thrush.

otherwise do you think ds is slightly digging his teeth in? i got actual holes before i realised. try changing position, rugby hold or turn him other way round.

i don't think air drying is the way to go, it is the scab coming open which is the most painful bit, so keeping it moist stops that happening.

Thanks Fishie I'll try another position I nurse tummy to tummy lying down at night (usually asleep LOL) and rugby hold during the day. I'll try and use other positions and watch his little teeth

Tigerfeet, What are you like, LOL ? Yep, never thought in all our years of friendship, we would end up online discussing my nipples How you doing honey ? I'll be on MSN is a couple of minutes if you want to chat ?

I'm off to bed BE but will be about tomorrow.

Good night TF

Is 'air drying' coming back in ? I was advised to do 'moist healing' with any crackes & grazes ? I have been applying lashisoh cream to my left one and it does seem slightly less tender.

It is going to depend on the reason for the soreness. Soreness due to thrush would need to be dealt with differently from soreness due to cracking or nipple damage.

doulalc,
Thanks for that...off to goggle Thrush symptoms so I have a better idea what I am looking out for. I had it years ago but that was with very deep crackes in my nipples and a deep constant brusing type pain. Shudder, it was painful.

I have this a lot when DD is teething due to her making her latch shallower and pressing her teeth on my nipple. For top teeth I held her slightly lower than usual as it made her have to tip her head back further and lifted her teeth off my nipple. Hope it settles down soon

Thanks CharChar

I think he is teething, he actually bite me early this evening !!! Despite that I am slightly less sore, so hopefully in a few days we'll be back to normal

Good to hear BE, hope it continues to improve

Things are getting better through still painful at times...plus he has bit me twice over the last couple of days !!!

Overall I feel much better