Ouch - painful boob...

[MrsGravy]

Sorry, I seem to be posting on here a lot!!

Baby is now 10 days old. Had no real problems with engorgement when my milk came in but the baby feeds at very varying times - anywhere between 2 and 5 hours which was making my boobs painful. Left one has settled down but today my right one is really painful - even the nipple is painful despite me latching her on properly.

It does feel full but not rock hard like you get with engorgement - and there's no obvious lumps like with mastitis/blocked ducts. I'm wondering if it's thrush? But the baby doesn't seem to have any thrush in her mouth so is that possible?

can't really help, does it look normal? is it hurting all the time or only when you feed?

I'm no expert but it does sound like it could possibly be blocked ducts, does it feel better after feeding on that side? I would think it is unlikely to be thrush if it is only on one side... I sometimes get a tender boob before I can feel a lump from a blcked duct.

If you think something is not right, I strongly advise you get someone to check this out for you - breast advice counsillor or the doctor.
And definately do go to the Dr if a red/pink patch develops on the boob.

I ignored the possibility of a blocked duct, ended up with severe mastitis which developed into a nasty abscess that ended my breast feeding relationship prematurely.

Thanks everyone. I don't think she's been emptying it properly - I made sure she drained that breast really well with each feed yesterday, and fed her in varying positions and it's a lot better today. I think I must have had a blockage somewhere after all. She does feed strangely on that side - on the left she gulps down a feed quickly and comes off contented. On the right she suckles slowly and comes off and on. Very odd.

It is easy to get a block if your baby doesn't feed for a while,a block can also affect the milk supply and flow in that breast so that could be why she has been feeding differently from the one breast.You are doing the right thing,make sure she has a really long feed on that side,check that your bra or sling isn't pressing on the breast too as that can be a cause,although it sounds more likely that her erratic feeding has been the issue.