To pump or not to pump?

[NonnyMouse]

I've had to feed DS entirely from one side today because the pain is getting unbearable on the other. So far today it hasn't been a problem, in that the unused breast isn't filling up or uncomfortable or anything, but should I be pumping it anyway to keep up the supply?

I'm hoping to be able to go back to the other one tomorrow, but that will depend entirely on how long the pain sticks around.

[MsMummy]

I would pump, as I would be worried about supply.

Are you worried it's mastitis or a feeding related problem with the sore breast?

[MamaBleech]

I would pump to be on the safe side, although your breastfeeding relationship is so well established that it shouldn't be a problem.

What is causing the pain?

[NonnyMouse]

I wish I knew what was causing the pain. There's no sign of mastitis, no damage to the nipple I can see. Both breasts have been uber sensitive for the past few months (I'm pregnant again) and I assumed that was it, but one breast has now settled down to just moderately painful on latching (but bearable), whereas the left one is excruciating.

I'm hoping that if I give it a break for a day or two it might become bearable again, because right now as soon as he latches on (even if I feed him the "good" side first, check his latch and position etc) the pain is immediate and so bad I'm almost seeing spots. AFter a few seonds of this it settles down again until the letdown hits, when it hurts again. Once he's past the letdown and drinking gently the rest of the feed is fine.

I"m off to the doc on Wednesday for a different reason so I'll ask her if there's a way to check if it's maybe thrush and I'm just not showing the usual symptoms.

[MsMummy]

Goodness, you poor thing.

Does it hurt if you pump? Maybe you could give him EBM for some of his feeds. Although, if he's like my son, he won't be impressed. he chases me around the house when I get home if I don't feed him straight away.

HOpefully it's nothing serious.

[MamaBleech]

hmmmm, as far as i'm aware, if it was mastitis - with pain that severe you would be showing other symptons (fever, flu symptons, red marks on breast etc). I don't know anything about thrush really but I did think that there are normally visual signs of infection??? :confused:

Sorry I'm not any help. Hopefully it is just linked to your pregnancy and will pass quickly :hugs:

Your pretty cluey when it comes to natural medicine (I figure from other posts) so you may know this already... If it is a bacterial infection of some kind Grapeseed Fruit Extract (aka Citrus Seed Extract) may help if you are hoping to avoid antibiotics.

[NonnyMouse]

I haven't pumped since he was about 5 months so I have no idea if that will hurt (hopefully not though). I can't pump enough to supply him with EBM as it used to take me days to build up even one feed worth even with a letdown flowing.

What I've been doing today is just feeding him one side for as long as he'll stay latched, then half an hour later I offer the same side again as a topup... by which time it's started to fill back up and he can get a second letdown.

If I pump, I think it would only be to stop a blockage or something I think... I'm just not sure if it's worth it for just a couple of days if there's no engorgement or discomfort. I might have a go tonight after my shower when my breasts are all warm and relaxed.

I'm TOTALLY committed to feeding DS right through this pregnancy and beyond... I just need to figure out what's going wrong right noew and then I can work out a way around it. *sigh*

On the funny side, I was at the supermarket today, in the frozen section, and the usual pointy effect of being cold made both nipples hurt so much DP had to grab me in a big bear hug to warm them up so the pain would go away. :o

[NonnyMouse]

Your pretty cluey when it comes to natural medicine (I figure from other posts) so you may know this already... If it is a bacterial infection of some kind Grapeseed Fruit Extract (aka Citrus Seed Extract) may help if you are hoping to avoid antibiotics.

Thanks for that tip! :D

[AM]

Ouch. I wouldn't bother pumping personally, well maybe just the tiniest bit to allow a release of pressure, but I don't think it's going to make a lot of difference to your supply for a few days.

Hope it settles down for you soon!! :hugs:

[JabberJaw]

Sure you sure you don't have nipple thrush?

I had it recently and oh my goodness the pain was awful.

I have no idea how or why i got it, bub didn't appear to have it in her mouth, but i had been stressed out (which you have been i think!) so maybe it was just my body being out of whack, i dunno.

But anyhow i used daktarin oral gel first and it didn't do alot, nilstat sorted it out along with lots of yukult and cranberry juice :D

You could smear your boobies with natural yogurt and wear breast pads and see if that helps, i had a go at it but it was too messy i went to the chemist instead :p

[NonnyMouse]

Sure you sure you don't have nipple thrush?


Yep, that's about the only thing I can think of that it might be, although wouldn't it be on BOTH nipples? DS has no signs of in his mouth either. I've heard you can have thrush and only get the pain rather than other signs.

Do you know if they can swab for it?

I like the yoghurt idea... nice and soothing! Might have to warm it up first though (see my earlier post if you want to know why! LOL)

[JabberJaw]

Well when i had it a few weeks ago, i only had it one side, then when i finally worked out what was wrong, about 2 days after i got it on both nipples. It was weird, i have had it once before (years ago) and i was sure DS had it in his mouth and thats how i got it....dunno if they swab for it, my GP just said NUP thats what i had because of the intense pain and no nipple damage. I think i may have got it the other side because she was feeding from my 'good' side so much she damaged it a bit and it too got the infection in it!

It took maybe 2 weeks to clear up but DD was cutting a tooth and using me like a dummy, meanwhile i was basically crying every time i had to feed her.

:laughing: yes to warm yogurt....i was the same so i would say i am 99.99% sure that you have nipple thrush :D It always worked *down there* for my mum, and i have used it myself, so i guess it would have the same effect on nipples....worth a try anyway.

[NonnyMouse]

Thanks Kel, that's very reassuring! I was hoping it wasnt just a preggy thing cause I don't know how I could cope with that pain for another 5 months if I had to. :no:

Will grab some yoghurt tomorrow, and feed some to DS as well.

Wsh us luck!

[JabberJaw]

Good Luck :fingerscrossed: Maybe you are just a bit run down and it could have brought it on :confused: I dunno...but it seems the most likely explanation :yes:

[NonnyMouse]

I'm definitelu run down, but all that started only about 10 days ago, and the pain has been getting steadily worse for a few months.

Interesting what you said about being used as a teething dummy though.... DS has actually bitten me on the sore side a couple of times (although not in the past few weeks) so maybe there was a bit of damage from that that let the infection in?

[JabberJaw]

:yes: thats how i think i initially may have got it. I was really trying to wean her (because she is 2 now) but it didn't happen.

But i did notice when her new teeth came through (eye teeth) they were kind of grazing me a bit, they don't now, but yep i think for sure that is why i got it.

Just keep checking bubs mouth, GP said that sometimes just their tongue is whiter than usual or sometimes it looks like milk curd on the roof of the mouth or inside cheeks. Baillee never got that, but i didn't wash the nilstat off before feeding as it is safe for them to have. So maybe that helped her or stopped it...got no idea!

[Little-Pink-Hen]

I'd give it a go pumping but that comes with my obsession with pumping ;)
my lefty gets sore occasionally too and after bearing it for a while I stopp feeding lilly of that side for a day or so just to ease it. I discovered that dd bruises my nipple sometime but only lightly so you can't actually see a bruise

[SPC]

Is vasospasm, surely? Does it go white, at all? ABA sells heat packs, which might help. I have similar issue on left side, is often thrush and topical daktarin helps, but not always. Pain on let down is my symptom. But yes to pumping. The anti-milk production hormone is independent of boob and even lobe, so if you don't express it will build up and you will stop producing in that breast, albeit temporarily until you relactate.

[Hollywood]

Sure you sure you don't have nipple thrush?

I had it recently and oh my goodness the pain was awful.

I have no idea how or why i got it, bub didn't appear to have it in her mouth, but i had been stressed out (which you have been i think!) so maybe it was just my body being out of whack, i dunno.

But anyhow i used daktarin oral gel first and it didn't do alot, nilstat sorted it out along with lots of yukult and cranberry juice :D

You could smear your boobies with natural yogurt and wear breast pads and see if that helps, i had a go at it but it was too messy i went to the chemist instead :p

I was going to suggest thrush too. I have never had it, but my sister did recently (she's been breastfeeding for just over 2 months now) and she described very similar symptoms.

Definitely pump, it will help keep up your supply.

[NonnyMouse]

SUCCESS!

After loading up on the probiotics, smearing them with yoghurt, and putting on a thick layer of daktarin overnight, I managed to feed three times today from the sore side, with only mild pain on the first latch each time, and the letdown and any subsequent latching for that feed didn't hurt at all!

YAY!!! :smiliedance::smiliedance::smiliedance::smiliedanc e:

[JabberJaw]

:smiliedance::smiliedance::smiliedance:

[AM]

Oh that is great news!!!! :flowerz: