Please help, breastfeeding getting me down but don't want to stop

[Soozee2]

Dd is 14 months, for last 4 months breastfeeding has been making me miserable, as have had mastitis twice and persistent thrush in the milk ducts which is so painful.

Have followed advice from threads, etc. on thrush, and am now on fluconazole (had to get private prescription as none of my drs would prescribe it) but no improvement as yet, am getting shooting pains deep inside the boob.

Everyone thinks I should stop bfing, though tempting as it is to put an end to the mastitis, antibiotics, thrush cycle, just the thought of giving up makes me even more miserable as now I've got it down to a manageable 2-3 times a day I really enjoy it and besides I cannot face the engorgement (and possible mastitis?) of dropping feeds. Yet I'm so afraid that the thrush won't clear up or i may get another bout of mastitis, which could have been avoided if i'd given up.

Sorry for ramble but just don't know what to do? Really don't want to give up yet so please tell me it will get better.

Don't give up if you don't want too, why should you?

Have you spoken to a bfing counsellor, they may have some tips to help you through. Its worth a go, especially as you are in pain.

Just think I should as I don't know anyone who's breastfed longer than a year, so feel like I'm a bit mad to still be doing this when it's causing me so many problems.

I think its fab that you are still bfing ( despite the pain) You should continue as long as you wish but your health is important so you must see a bfing councillor or your doctor to ease your pain and discomfort. good luck and take it easy on yourself.

If we all worried about what other people did, none of us would ever bf. All of my older friends ff right from the start.

Anyway, you do know people who have bf past a year, they have probably just not told you. I still bf DD who is 2.9, its a sad fact of our society that bfing your toddler is seen as a shameful act that women feel inclined to hide.

And if you start a thread on here asking who has bf past a year you'll get lots of replies.

Is there a LLL group near to you? You'll meet other people there who bf over a year and they might be able to help with your problems.

Oh, and don't forget that the WHO recommend that you should bf your baby till 2, as an absolute minimum.

Did you contact a bfing counsellor about the pain?

Just wondering how you are feeling tonight.

Are you still in pain?

Are you still thinking of giving up?

Let us know.

I've heard that changing your diet can help thrush, think its high sugar levels that thrush feeds off (google?).

Sorry to hear you're having problems though and just to let you know you're not alone, I still BF DS who is 19 months now - usually 3-4 times a day.

Thank you everyone.

Ineedsomesleep (yes me too!) Pains are slightly better now (from fluconazole i guess) plus am trying to cut down on sugar, not that I have much of a sweet tooth anyway. Am also taking probiotics etc., have been since 1st mastitis.

Just think that now I'm only doing 2 feeds, milk supply has gone right down so nutritionally milk is no longer a main part of her diet, it's more about the comfort and enjoyment I guess. And it's hard to enjoy it when so painful. So I think why am I doing this? But I guess I just don't want to finish in such a negative way.

So will carry on for the time being (at least until finished medication), and hope for the best.