In Absolute Pain...Help Urgently Needed

[Eggflip]

It is 96 hours since I had a ceaser and my breasts are absoloutly killing me. Its not the nipple as I had a cracked nipple early on and attacked it with attaching properly. It is the actual boob. I still haven't got any milk and need to know how to fix this as I am on the verge of ....eeek...formula...which I dont really want to do. This is my 2nd child but first attempt breastfeeding. Will using a breastpump fix this? My nipples especially my left seems to have changed colour in parts like a pale or whitey colour. I know my mother suffered from mastitus and couldn't breast feed could it be this?

[PunkyDiva]

Hiya and congrats on your new bub.
Sorry, have no def answer as to what is wrong with your breast.
Mastitis is a blockage of milk ducts and you usually see red angry lines radiating out from breast. But if your milk hasn't come in yet I doubt this is what it is. Prob best to get yourself along to GP for diagnosis.
Good luck with it all

[Tam-I-Am]

It is possible that its mastitis - which, by the way, means that you should breastfeed MORE from that breast, not stop breastfeeding altogether (sounds like your mum got some bad advice ).

Has your milk come in yet? Its fairly normal to feel some pain when its coming in - the 'let down' sensation can border on painful for a couple of weeks to months too, like a tingling feeling in your breasts as your baby begins to suck.

The other thing that I can think of is, it could also be something called a nipple vasospasm, where the blood vessels in the nipple for some reason constrict, causing whiteness and pain. Have a look at this fact sheet from the RWH.

In any case, I'd contact your hospital and ask to speak to a lactation consultant. If they don't have one available for you, try this mob...Hope you work it out soon!

[ZooKeeper]

I helped my milk come in by munching on fresh fennel as soon as I got home from hospital (which was two days after the birth)... it helped with the achey feeling and made it come in really well. My Elder sis swears by sugar loaf cabbage leaves too for mastitis type symptoms, Mum in Law told me they use that in some of the sunshine coast hospitals too -- just put one sugar loaf cabbage leaf in hot water for a few minutes to soften it slightly, let it cool, then put the whole leaf over the boob. Sis says she reckons it's handy creator made the leaves the right size for a bosom. the Aboriginal midwife who helped me out in hospital also suggested cold compresses made by putting panty shields (or nipple shields) in the freezer if the breasts felt hot/swollen/uncomfortable.

lavender aromatherapy may also help you relax -- stress can block the let down sometimes. also I get trouble with ducts now and then so massage those parts of the breast and also when feeding kinda hold those areas and try and help the milk let down while she's sucking.

speaking of which, she is up.

hope you can get the help you need

Z