I am in so much pain!!! HELP!

[Noell]

Let me just start off by saying that I am determined to BF my son so unless something drastic happens I will continue to keep trying. I was able to BF my little girl for 16 months so I know that things can/will get better.

Now...my "little" guy is 11 weeks old and quite the eater! Ever since he was born, however, I have had this excrutiating pain my right nipple/breast. At first I thought it was solely due to his latch so we tried correcting it. Then I thought he wasn't latching correctly because he was tongue-tied (ankyloglossia) so we had his frenulum snipped. At about that point (when he was 3 weeks old) I got mastitis in my left breast and had a plugged duct in my right breast. I began antibiotics and then developed thrush (which I knew would probably happen). Ever since I have been experiencing this horrible pain in my right nipple/breast.

It occurs right away when he latches and lessens (sometimes) as he feeds. When I stop BF'ing the pain starts again, the areola turns flaming red and the nipple begins to turn white. The pain is a sharp, stabbing, shooting pain that begins at the nipple and radiates to the rest of my breast. It will continue like this for up to an hour or so after I feed. As I type I am sitting with my breast hanging out of my tank top almost in tears! I keep wondering if it's still thrush and I haven't gotten rid of it...I've tried everything (cleaning the nipple & letting it dry thoroughly, taking probiotics, ibuprofen, pumping only on that side until my nipple has recovered, nipple shield) and nothing seems to work. I am at my wits end here and am scared to nurse him on that side because I know it will hurt:(. I can't believe that I've been dealing with this for 11 weeks!! :eek:

[sweetsaranade]

Did you try gentian violet?

It's kind of an old-fashioned cure (according to most doctors), but it does the job. It's just messy. It's literally violet, and it stains everything it touches.

You just brush it over your nipples, twice the first day and once a day after, using a little more if it hurts now and then. Look up instructions online to get something more specific... I've never done it before, but I actually came here tonight with a thrush question, too, and I think I might run out and get some. I used to teach breastfeeding, and it worked well for some of my clients. I seem to recall someone telling me they didn't need a prescription and it was less than five bucks.

At least, it is something you could try tonight! Hope that helps!

[Amy_G_]

It could still be thrush.
http://lactinv.com/breastfeeding_qna.php?article=tscreen that has some pictures.

these are some other resources http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/thrush-resources.html

best advice
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/c-candida_protocol.html

[Amy_G_]

It could also be poor latch on one side, but with the pain in the breast it makes me think
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

[Amy_G_]

If you are ok feeding on one side, you can always consider just feeding on one side. ;)

You can work on bettering his latch by placing him on the better side first, and let him nurse, and then put him on the other side without moving him, just move yourself over so he thinks he's still on the same side.

Moving yourself over instead of him over, will also put pressure on a different part of your nipple, which is imperative to do if you have any soreness. Using different positions each time you nurse, nursing on one side only per feeding so the other side can rest, ibuprofen for pain management, even ice cubes on the nipple before feeds if that is where the pain is concentrated.

consider a check with another Lactation consultant in person to help resolve your problem.

[madelsmama]

I was thinking Raynaud's, too...

[Amy_G_]

Raynauds is usually in both breasts though. so I'm thinking one sided yeast, which doesn't happen often, usually you spread it to yourself on both sides or baby spreads it. yeast down into the ducts on one side could be possible.
Or it's a plugged duct that is still plugged and causing pain but that's unlikely cause usually it would get infected again at this point after so long.
So then the other idea would be a sloppy latch on one side- which only explains nipple pain but not usually breast pain.

hmmm....

[Noell]

Everything I've read so far suggests vasospasm due to compression or Raynaud's (but you're right Amy it's normally both sides that are affected with Raynaud's). Maybe we started out with a sloppy latch on that side and it's caused damage to my nipple so now I'm experiencing vasospasm since my nipple is constantly being traumatized. I think the plugged ducts and thrush on that side are just other issues that have exacerbated the pain but aren't necessarily related to what's going on right now...you're right Amy, if it was still a plugged duct I probably would've gotten mastitis and if it was thrush I would keep spreading it to the other breast and to my son (and as of his 2-month appt. a few weeks ago he no longer had thrush).

So if it's the vasospasm thing should I just give that breast a rest (lol!) and pump only to allow for the nipple to heal? I really see that as my only option at this point since the nipple shield or changing nursing positions haven't seemed to help much. If I do this will I have to worry about supply issues in that breast?

[Amy_G_]

read this thread.
http://www.breastfeeding.com/forums/showthread.php?p=439633&mode=linear

see if some of those suggestions from our other moms will help you out.

[pumpkinhead7]

Raynauds is usually in both breasts though. so I'm thinking one sided yeast, which doesn't happen often, usually you spread it to yourself on both sides or baby spreads it. yeast down into the ducts on one side could be possible.
Or it's a plugged duct that is still plugged and causing pain but that's unlikely cause usually it would get infected again at this point after so long.
So then the other idea would be a sloppy latch on one side- which only explains nipple pain but not usually breast pain.

hmmm....


You can get a sort of "induced Raynauds" or a type of vasospasm due to trauma though. If the thrush was worse on that side, it could very well be Raynauds. I have it in just one breast due to a bad latch and damage on that side.

ETA: I see this was already addressed :blush: Carry on. ;)

[jgassa]

I had raynaud's and one side was worse than the other. I am finally raynaud's free. My son is 7 months. Try warm compresses and showers. It's the only thing that helped me a little.

[Nipple_nectar]

I have had Raynauds as well and the only thing that fixed me for good was owning a pair of silverette: a small pair of pure silver cups that you literally place on your nipples, finally eradicated the pain I had been dealing with for months. You can read more about them here: www.breastfeedingheaven.com

I agree that trauma may cause this temporary phonomenon, only in one breast. I would be abadoning the current position that you are using and switch to something completely different, go from the cradle hold to the football hold, go from a sitting position to a side lying position.

What position do you use? I would also be seen by a lactation consultant to evaluate his latch, has that been done?

You can also use GSE to treat yourself and baby FOR A MINIMUM of one week to rid the nasty yeast~ have you done that? You can use GSE on mom and baby without cause for concern as a preventative measure, it will not cause harm for either of you. Here is a great link on thrush: www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/thrush.asp

[Amy_G_]

I would try all the pain relief methods offered here and on the ask an lc forum and try to continue to breastfeed on that side. be sure to mix up your positioning for sure, if baby's latch is good on one side but not the other, start him out on the other side and then move yourself over.
If you can't stand the breastfeeding on that side, try all the comfort measures offered, and pump, but yes, unless you let down well for he pump, your supply MAY be compromised on that side a bit. Pump at every feeding on the other breast and you should be ok. keep trying like one time a week to latch on that side, working up to 2, 3, 4 times a week until you are trying every day. maybe that will help? good luck