Hi ladies! I posted this question in the Breastfeeding forum but no one has responded so I thought I would try here as well. My baby is almost 5 months old. About a week ago I started having pain in my right nipple. It's super tender and hurts to the touch. Like even when my shirt or bra rubs against it, It had gone away after a few days but now seems to be back with a vengeance. When my daughter first latches on it hurts SO much and for the first few minutes I just want to cry. It usually settles down a little once she gets going. It's only my right nipple and it doesn't look any different than my left. Maybe a little pinker but if at all, barely. It is increasingly more sore today. Any thoughts as to what it could be or similar experiences? Also who would I go see? My ob or lactation?
Re: Nipple pain (one side) Exclusively breastfeeding. HELP!!! OUCH!!!
I have this issue with this LO. She is a lot rougher on my right boob than on the other. Weirdly enough, that's also my stronger producing side. It started right at the hospital when she was born. At that time the LC showed me a cross body hold which positioned her slightly different and took care of that.
Lately she's been doing sone weird stuff on the right side again and the pain came back. But now she's too big and too heavy to hold in that way they showed me. So I met with the LC again and she watched us and told me to cut her off as soon as she started her funny business (usually 10 min mark) and switch to the other and then once done, to come back to the first side.
That technique has taken care of if for me.
But I'd say see an LC and see what they say. Don't assume it's some infection right away. When I saw the LC recently, one of the first things she said was 'oh it might be thrush etc' and I stopped her right there because I knew if I had it, I'd have it in both sides... My gut told me it was a more mechanical issue.
The feeling you are describing I had with my daughter on both sides and unfortunately it never got any better and I ended up exclusively pumping. The LC said she just had an extremely intense latch. So I agree it might be a latch issue.
Sorry you are experiencing this, I hope you figure it out!