bad latch?

[damnitdamnit]

DD is 3 weeks old, bf has been going well, but since yesterday i have had really sore nipple (just one side). I have bought Lansinoh and started using today (no improvement yet) but after reading a few threads i wonder if it is possible to have a bad latch just on one side or can i rule this out?

Also the breast that is sore seems to be the one that has the most milk and has a really fast letdown. Could this be the problem, she quite often pulls off as if she is struggling to keep up with it and then starts again. Local bf cafe have shut for the holidays so i am unable to get my latch checked unless i contact my health visitor who i am not that keen on.

Its really getting bad now starting to dread feeding from it.

Any advice welcome. will try anything

ohh forgot to add, dd has thrush in her mouth, currenly being treated. But i am guessing if i had thrush in my breast it would be more painfull than this and again would i have it in both?

damnitdamnit, I have suffered from this, You're absolutely right in every thing you have said.
Your baby's latch is probably correct but your let down is so force full she pulls back because she thinks she's gonna choke thus her latch becomes incorrect.
Tips that worked for me, express some milk from the full breast prior to a feed so that the breast is softer and easier for DD to get a good latch.
Also, if you leak from the opposite breast during a feed press your nipple into your breast tissue with the heel of your hand when you feel the let down sensation for as long as it takes to pass, over time, you'll stop leaking but also your let down will be less powerfull (this technique applies to both breasts).
I hope that's clear, it worked for me.

thanks, i did think od expressing a bit before a feed but wondered if it might add to the problem of it being fuller than the other.

I will try doing both, might have to wait to press in my nipple though hoping lansinoh will ease some pain first.

I would go with thrush personally. you've had a good latch for 3 weeks and problems have suddenly started? have you been treating your nipples after every feed to avoid getting thrush? what are you putting on at the moment? no harm in paying close attention to latch during feeds as well of course and it is pos to have a bad latch on just one side but seems too much of a coincidence to ignore the thrush in mouth

i was not given anything for me just for dd, she has got some mouth gel i put on twice a day.

From what i have read thrush in the breast sounds like it should be more painful, i dont think i have a particularly high pain threshold, in fact would say it was quite low. May make an appointment to get it checked just in case, this might sound a daft question but do you treat it with cream?

I was told to use the mouth gel on my nips after every feed as well. mind you it didn't stop me getting thrush either so it can't be that great! it starts off as pain like a bad latch or as cracked nipples but it soon goes on to become pretty awful so if it is thrush you'll soon know about it. (starting to dread feeding from it doesn't sound like it is not that painful tbh)
also if it is thrush you will just be re-infecting each other back and forth until you are both treated. there are a few leaflets online you can refer your gp to for treatments - think it's just miconazole as first line treatment with tablets possible as well but I'm not that up to date on what they use nowadays. you could call one of the bf helplines as well for more info.

do your nipples look any different? is the skin shinier or redder/flakier for example? is the pain continuing after the feed as well as hurting during initial latch on and feed?

The pain is mainly during feeding and the latch is more painful than the rest of the feed. I can bear it at the moment but dont want it to get any worse. I have been getting some pain in between feeds (more like bra/pads feel uncomfortable like they are rubbing), The cream seems to be helping with this though.

I dont think my nipples dont look any different but only really started to look at them since problem started iyswim.

I think i will make an appointment with the doctor on Monday to get it checked. Just had a look at some of the leaflets and it looks like its quite hard to diagnose and you can get the tablets/treatment to prevent if baby does have thrush.

Just to add, expressed a bit off the side before feeding today, i can not seem to had express so i got the pump out. pumped twice and then stopped looked down and 3 oz milk was there. no wonder she can't cope with the flow, even the breast pump struggled. She seemed to latch on better though with a lot less pain.

There is a brilliant leaflet on thrush from the breastfeeding network which is worth a read. I think you can have thrush on nipples (pink and shiny) without having thrush in your breast and you can treat it with over the counter cream but worth seeing a breast feeding counsellor (either instead of your GP or as well as) who can check your latch.

If you phone one of the helplines they can probably get someone out to you.