Hello fellow mothers. I'am currently exclusively breastfeeding my six month old, except for the once a day solids I just introduced to him. My problem is when I feed him on my right breast, for about two hours afterward it really stings, and I have shooting pains in my breast. My left breast is fine. The nipple on the affected breast is really tender too. I haven't had any kind of fever, so I really don't think it's an infection, its been going on a little too long for that anyway. He is my third child, and I breast fed my older two for 12 months. I have never bought an ounce of formula. I have never had this problem before. Any suggestions are welcome.
Babies do great on formula and their mothers have more time for the rest of the family.
Just a thought.
B. v. O.
You might not be getting a good latch on that side. Try a different position to see if that helps. Do you have a lactation consultant at your doctor's office? They can help. Also, you could contact La Leche League for more help and info.
Call your doctor. I believe shooting pains are a symptom of a yeast infection. You might check to see if the baby has white spots in his mouth (thrush), though I'm not sure that the two always go together.
I used to get that with my daughter too. After a while it turned into a blocked duct and it happened on and off for a few months.Miserable.... Try to put hot wet cloths on your breast before you feed him and sometimes after. This will help the flow and hopefully stop it from getting blocked. That is no fun at all! I hope it works for you.
Hi A., you maybe want to have a doctors checkup you could have mastitis, it usually only affects one breast, and can be caused by a blocked milk duct so you may not have an infection so would not neccessarily have a temperature or flu like symptoms. This is what happened to me. Hope this helps you, take care R.
Sounds like thrush (a yeast infection in the nipple). You should see your Dr immediately to get treatment or it could spread into baby's mouth and then it will be painful for him too. I have heard gentian violet can help, but have never had/used it, so am not sure what else to do. If you see white spots in his mouth or he starts fussing about nursing, he may have it and you'll need to take him to the ped right away. I hope you find relief quickly!
**Also, if you wind up with a clogged duct try mixing 1 tsp turmeric spice into a glass of water. Drink up (i know, it's pretty gross) and the duct should clear within the hour. It's a pretty miraculous remedy and has saved me from some severe pain!
sounds like thrush, call your dr for meds and ped to treat son
get Phytolacca 30C. whole foods carry it. take it every 20 min for the 1st hour and then every 4 hours for the 1st day. repeat the next day if needed. stop as soon as condition improves.
Good luck
V.
I had this exact problem and the doctor said it was plugged ducts in the breast. This happens when you don't empty your breast often enough, which was weird because I felt like I was nursing ALL the time. It is extremely painful and can lead to an infection; basically feels like someone poured shards of glass into your breast. I had to apply heat to the affected breast and massage it before I breastfed my daughter; more frequent feeding is also recommended. It became excruciatingly painful, so I definitely don't envy you! However, it did clear up and I never got it again.
sounds like mastitis.
cover breast with castor oil.
wrap with saran wrap.
microwave heat pack.
cover over breast.
heat and castor oil with draw out infection!
Call or make an appointment to see your doctor. If the pain has continued for days, it's best to get your advice from a medical professional to ensure that you get proper treatment for whatever it is early enough.
Hey A.,
I have not had any children, but I have done quite a bit of reading in preparation. I am wondering if your child has had thrush? This is easily passed onto the breast while breast feeding and typically stays on the surface of the skin. I would suggest you talk to your doctor, especially if it has the chance to either cause an infection in your child, or could progress to something worse.
Hi A.,
It is quite possible that you do have a minor breast infection or a yeast infection of the nipple. For many years, when women presented with theses symptoms, the diagnosis was intraductal yeast (candidiasis) and the treatment Diflucan. However, last year at the ILCA conference Dr. Thomas Hale who is a renowned breastfeeding expert and author, presented his newest study in which he demonstrated that candida does not grow in the breast ductal system. There is the posiibility that yeast on the nipple could be causing the pain/burning but it is highly unlikely that it would be only on one breast and not the other. This information presented in a room full of lactation consultants who frequently diagnose "intraductal yeast infection" caused quite an uproar, because if it is not yeast what is it? And if we can't give diflucan what can be done? The study did not determine this, but Dr Hale's best guess was low grade bacterial infection. If that is the case, emptying the breast after breastfeeding would be help, natural immune boosters like fresh fruits and vegtables, vit. C, herbal or homepathic remedies to support the immune system, MOST important sleep and rest! Try taking a weekend with no other obligations except rest, sleep good food and breastfeeding; try warm packs and massageto the affected area. Check yourself and make sure that you do not frequently hold the breast and press with thumb or fingers in the same area as this can also damage ducts and cause blackage. Bravo to you for being an exclusive breastfeeder for the first year....that is really excellent and if none of these suggestions help, please let me know.
yep, sounds like a yeast infection... thus, if it is, you AND your baby have to be treated simultaneously, or it will return and affect both of you.
Moms get yeast in the nipples/breasts and babies will get it in their mouth, ie: Thrush.
Good for you, w/breastfeeding so well w/all your kids!
I had something like this. I had scar tissue in one breast from a lump years ago, so it clogged milk ducts... have an ultra sound done.
Could it be something like thrush? For me, the only symptom I ever get is pain while nursing and wierd, tingly, shooting, itchy pain afterward. DD never exhibits the diaper rash or spots in the mouth.
Also, could new teeth be affecting his latch? Around that age DD and I had to work to re-learn good latching.
Hope this helps.
HI A., I feel for you. Although my "baby" is now 16, I remember that my right breast was so sore. I almost gave up nursing (at least on that side) because it hurt so bad. That didn't happen with my older two kids ever. I just stuck it out a little longer and finally that nipple got tough enough. I don't think my daughter latched on properly on that side for some reason- maybe that's what your son is doing as well.
Don't feel guilty if you have to slow down on nursing him- he's made it through 6 months, so that's good.
