Breastfeeding question - owwww.?

Question

I breastfed one and am breastfeeding my 2nd - almost 3 months into it and last night when she latched on I felt a sudden pain. At first I thought she was chewing my nipple but then I realized she was feeding as usual. It continued through last nights feeds and this morning... It almost feels like a bruise down one side while she's feeding. Ill call my doc tomorrow but what might this be? THANKS!

Answer 1

it could be mastitis which is very painfull. I got it a few yrs ago even though at the time i was not breast feeding

Answer 2

Hello.It could be a blocked milk duct or an infected one.Do you have a fever or any redness on your breast?Ten mins before you feed take a painkiller.Put a hot flannel on your breast a few moments before your baby feeds to ease the pain.

Answer 3

Thought you might find this helpful. Good luck

• Producing too much milk

Some women who produce an abundance of milk have painful twinges deep in the breast after feeds. Provided your baby latches on well each time he feeds, your milk supply should quickly step down to match your baby’s needs exactly.

• Thrush

If yeast enters the milk ducts, (as a result of thrush) it can make breastfeeding painful. Unlike letdown pain, which is short-lived, thrush pain persists throughout the feed and is usually even worse after feeds. However, thrush in the milk ducts is uncommon - read our article on thrush for more information.

• Engorgement

Engorgement can over-distend the milk-producing cells of the breast, making letdown difficult and sometimes painful.

• Mastitis or blocked ducts

Mastitis or blocked ducts can cause an area of the breast to become red, sore, hard and inflamed.

Other possible causes of breast pain are:

• poor breast pump usage. See our article on expressing for tips on how to do it.

• a badly-fitting bra. The side seams should be on your ribs, not your breast, and the cups should not compress your b*****s. Go to a department store or old-fashioned lingerie shop and ask an assistant to measure you properly.

• premenstrual pain. If your periods have started again, you may experience premenstrual pain. This pain should go once your period begins and stays away for the next week or two. The pain then starts to build up again after ovulation. Most women will recognise this cyclical pattern if their breast pain is related to their menstrual cycle.

• fibrocystic breast pain. Some women have a condition called fibrocystic breast disease - lots of lumpy areas in their b*****s which can fill with fluid and feel tender and painful. This is a benign (harmless) condition but if you suspect you have it, it's important to see your doctor so that other causes can be ruled out.

If you learnt breathing or other relaxation techniques during your antenatal classes, try using them as you breastfeed. They may help you cope with discomfort during letdown. If your b*****s are engorged, your baby may not be able to latch on well enough to remove the milk effectively. You may need to start off with gentle hand expressing or pumping until your baby is able to draw your breast in sufficiently.

If your pain is caused by excess milk, it may be difficult to latch your baby well to your over-full breast. When your baby starts to suckle, and triggers the strong letdown, he may come off coughing and spluttering. Try this technique: put your baby to your breast as usual. When you feel your milk first let down, gently break the suction and allow the initial spurt to spray into a towel. Let your baby latch on again, better, when the flow slows down a bit. The more often the baby latches on well, the more quickly your supply will settle down and you should be more comfortable.

If your breast pain does not subside within a few days, contact your GP or health visitor to rule out more serious causes of breast pain such as thrush or mastitis. If you are finding it difficult to latch your baby on, try to get expert help from a breastfeeding counsellor or infant feeding specialist. Ask your doctor or health visitor if they can refer you or contact a breastfeeding organisation from our A-Z list for specialist advice.  

Answer 4

sounds like she wasn't latched on properly........ when i had my daughter and i was breastfeeding, she was really difficult to get to latch on and would make my nipples bruise and bleed.......

Answer 5

It sounds like a clogged duct.  Not serious but painful.  Let the baby feed on that side first.  Sometimes the sucking action will alleviate the clog.  Also apply warm moist heat to the spot and gently massage if you can.  But make sure you talk to your doctor as soon as you can to be sure there isn't anything more serious involved.  I had it happen twice and both times the three things I mentioned above helped and it got better within a day or so.

Answer 6

Keep an eye on your partner, is he's upper lip froffy.  hhhhhmmm!

I bet it's him, if not blame him anyway.

Answer 7

She may have latched on incorrectly or your nipple may be positioned incorrectly and it could be causing your nipple to crease. It happened to me with my 2nd. Just make sure she is latching correctly. If that's not the problem maybe you have a clogged duct or just some bruising from the feedings. Try some lanolin to help and if it continues, ask the doc. Good luck!

Answer 8

Sounds like it could be a lot of things - like a clogged duct, your let down reflex which seems to me to be heightened with subsequent babies, mastitis, that particular mammary gland (you have many in each breast) being emptied quickly...  Doubtful it's anything terrible, just a little painful right now.  You could try nursing her in a different position, like football hold or while lying down, and see if that helps.

Answer 9

Thats what happened to me, i actually had to stop because there was a fair bit of pain. He took to the bottle fine but i would suggest seeing a doctor and asking them first...

Answer 10

its bruising your nipple area. Make sure that you have the baby on different sides every other day.

To minimize soreness, your baby's mouth should be wide open, with as much of the areola (the darker area around the nipple) as far back into his or her mouth as possible. The baby should never nurse on the nipple only. If it hurts, take the baby off of your breast and try again. The baby may not be latched on right. Break your baby's suction to your breast by gently placing your finger in the corner of his/her mouth, and re-position your baby.

Answer 11

Sounds like what I have which is thrush.  Have you been on any antibiotics recently?  If you have or if you have been eating a high sugar diet that could be the reason behind the pain.  It feels like a hot knife going through your chest and giving you a nipple twister at the same time.

But it could also be a plugged duct.  My sympathies are with you whatever it is.  I am combating thrush for the first time and I am on my 3rd child!