Make my left breast stop hurting.

labbielover07

Did you ever experience constant pain/discomfort while breastfeeding?  My left breast hurts even when DD isn't nursing.  DD is a little over 4 weeks old and I thought by now the discomfort would be gone.  Is it normal for it to last this long?  I am working with Cheryl, but she is on vacation this week so I haven't been able to catch up with her.  She thought maybe I should talk with my doctor, but when I spoke with my doctors nurse they seem to think I have a breastfeeding issue over a medical issue.  I feel like I am going in circles with the stupid pain in this breast. Thrush and mastitis (spelling?) have been ruled out because I don't really have the symptoms of either one.  I've also pumped after DD nursing to see what is left, and I barely get a total of one ounce from both breasts total.  I just want it to feel better and be more comfortable nursing DD.  My right side feels fine for the most part.  What do you think?  Are my breasts just still getting used to nursing?  Or is something else going on?  

HSartteach

I did experience that and I did battle mastitis.  I had a very bad experience breast feeding.  It hurt so bad that I cried when I fed him.  I don't know what to say if they have ruled out mastitis.  I feel your pain and I know how much it can hurt.

Taytee

Use a heating pad before and after nursing. Massage the breast before nursing and before/during/after pumping. You can have a clogged duct without infection which can cause pain. Take 400-800mg Advil (or generic) and that should help with any inflammation too.

Are you currently using massage/compression while pumping? It can make a huge difference in your output.

m_and_m

Where is it hurting? Inside the breast? At or around the nipple? In one specific area or all over? Does anything seem to make it feel better?

Inside could be thrush, mastitis, clogged duct. One specific area could be thrush or a clogged duct. 

I had thrush at the very beginning, but not the usual symptoms. My only signs were general pain all over (inside), slightly redder nipples (which was really hard to tell because they were just plain irritated and red from the constant nursing and DD's bad latch), and nipple pain that started after she latched and started nursing. We weren't even sure that's what was wrong until it went away with treatment.

You can have thrush inside without necessarily having it externally, and your DD doesn't have to have it either (although in some cases that's a big indicator). If you have it internally it's a bigger process to get rid of it (up to 14 days of diflucan instead of just one).

If your DD has a good latch and it's external soreness, then it could still be thrush or just getting used to the constant friction/stimulation. If your DD doesn't have a good latch, then that's the first place to start.

Internal pain is never normal unless it's pain from engorgement, which would feel better after nursing. 

labbielover07

m_and_m:

Where is it hurting? Inside the breast? At or around the nipple? In one specific area or all over? Does anything seem to make it feel better?

Inside could be thrush, mastitis, clogged duct. One specific area could be thrush or a clogged duct. 

I had thrush at the very beginning, but not the usual symptoms. My only signs were general pain all over (inside), slightly redder nipples (which was really hard to tell because they were just plain irritated and red from the constant nursing and DD's bad latch), and nipple pain that started after she latched and started nursing. We weren't even sure that's what was wrong until it went away with treatment.

You can have thrush inside without necessarily having it externally, and your DD doesn't have to have it either (although in some cases that's a big indicator). If you have it internally it's a bigger process to get rid of it (up to 14 days of diflucan instead of just one).

If your DD has a good latch and it's external soreness, then it could still be thrush or just getting used to the constant friction/stimulation. If your DD doesn't have a good latch, then that's the first place to start.

Internal pain is never normal unless it's pain from engorgement, which would feel better after nursing. 

My left breast is hurting all over.  I don't want anything to touch it at this point.  It hurts internally and also when DD latches.  When she latches, it hurts the most where her lower lip hits when she sucks.  I've used Triple Nipple Cream and also a natural cream by Motherlove to help soothe my breasts.  I just took a hot shower and massaged them and then I used a warm rice sock on them.  Nothing makes my breasts feel better.  I still hurt after she nurses.  I've pumped after nursing to see if that helps and no dice.  My left breast hurts 24/7 it seems like.   I can't even lay on my left side in bed because it hurts so much.  

BoxerMomma

with intenal thrush, I would feel waves of pain and burning inside. Like rolling waves of little knives as the milk made it's way down. I had no external symptoms and neither did ruby. But I was crying with each feeding, turning my head to have d latch her bc I couldn't bring myself to physically do it. 

With plugged ducts, I feel  more of a knot. The whole boob might hurt and be hot but I can usually pinpoint a main spot for the pain. 

does that feel like anything you have?

atlantic

thankfully i never had thrush or clogged ducts. i do remember though my breasts just ACHING all over in those early weeks.  if it's an all over kind of ache, that's what i experienced and it DEFINITELY got better with time.  i did also like the way heat felt on it.

m_and_m

Hm. Thrush doesn't usually cause pain from being touched, but it's very possible that you have thrush in addition to something else going on (thrush + clogged duct, for example). It's also possible to have it on one side and not the other.

You might try asking on the KellyMom.com forums, too.

This mama posted something that sounds similar to you; it's recent and doesn't have a resolution posted but you might try PM'ing her:

https://forum.kellymom.net/showthread.php?146006-Tender-breasts-advice-needed-plzzzz&highlight=pain+-mastitis+-thrush

 

And another (turned out to be Raynaud's, which I think a lot of Dr's are unfamiliar with):

https://forum.kellymom.net/showthread.php?140788-Help!-I-don-t-know-what-to-do-anymore!&highlight=pain+-mastitis+-thrush

 

bored

I had HORRIBLE trouble breastfeeding, including pain in my breast all over, even when not feeding.  Went to Cheryl, tried triple nipple cream, derm, shots in the nipple, mastits, all sorts of crazy stuff.  Thing that helped the most was the warm rice sock, extra vit B and calcium.  If you want to send me a PM I will send you a long note on my blog about breastfeeding, my battle, and my collection of what helped me and different friends. It's ok to give up (because it hurts and sucks, at least did for me) and it's ok to battle through (still hurt and sucked, but somehow I made it through the second time).  I have two kids, gave up on one and battled through on the other. Don't regret either.  You know what to do for you.   Good luck!  It can be done, it does get better, and try all the crazy ideas to help.  Eventually something will be the thing that helps you.  

mrs.wildman

I have dealt with the general soreness of getting used to BFing, clogged ducts, mastitis and now thrush. This definitely sounds to me like it could be thrush, or possibly Reynauds as m_and_m pointed out. With a clogged duct and mastitis you'll have at least one hard spot, so thats a tell tale sign. When I got thrush it started with what looked like a diaper rash around the nipple, and I treated that with grapefruit seed extract and triple nipple cream for a couple of days. All that did was soothe. Ultimately I started getting shooting pains inside the breast both when DD was nursing as well as for about an hour after. We're still dealing with it, albeit much more minor now. DD and I have been on and off antibiotics for about 2 months and passing the thrush back and forth it seems. I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel though. Keep in mind that if it's internal thrush, and you've had it a while, that homeopathic remedies probably won't cure it, but it can't hurt to try. Probiotics and Grapefruit Seed Extract worked wonders for DD. They did nothing for me. Also, fwiw - when DD was born, it wasn't until 6 weeks that the general nursing pains went away. ETA. Forgot one thing. When you're done nursing, is the tip of your nipple white and stay that way for about a minute (or more)? That's another indicator of thrush.

Emer

Thrush and clogged duct seem plausible. I would try a natural thrush remedy for sure. When I had all over deep soreness, we treated for thrush and it really helped. But that could definitely be a clogged duct and it's possible you aren't getting completely empty even though you are pumping. I would try compressions and heat while pumping to make sure you get completely empty, even if it's before or in place of a nursing session. Good luck!

Abrooks

Just wanted to add that in case you've got multiple issues (thrush and clogged duct), try taking Lecithin for the clogged ducts. I've had terrible issues with clogged ducts. I take one Lecithin every single day and don't get any clogs.  Within one day of stopping them, I'll get a clog again. (It's been this way with both girls.)  You can take up to 4 a day. I take one for maintenance but it might be worth trying to see if it helps.  You can find it with the vitamins.