Do you think the pain and lump could be from a milk pimple or blocked duct, early mastitis, thrush etc?
Usually pain from damage, thrush etc will slowly disappear after attachment and unless there is a problem with attachment the rest of the feed should be pain free.
Usually the only way to stop little bad habits is to stop the feed and put them down, letting them know it hurt.
Maybe have a lc look at his attachment and see if it has changed? Did he get any new teeth recently, it can upset them a bit?
Kaz, it could be that his attachment is not so good now that he is bigger and moving around. Sometimes mums find it helps to make sure they are still really close to mum while feeding so that the chin is well on the breast.
The other thing is that pain that is there between feeds as well but worse during them can be a sign of thrush. It might be an idea to have this checked by a doctor if the pain doesn't ease within 24 hours or so. Make sure that if that is what is, that the doctor treats both your nipples and your DS's mouth, or you can cross infect each other.
I understand the pain and frustration from sudden nipple damage after so long! My DD waited until 2 years of age before causing me dreadful nipple damage. Watch his attachment carefully and pay attention if he's coming to the end of a feed particularly. Try a different hold (a lot easier said than done once they're bigger, but it may take the pressure off the sore area), or like Kmn suggested, lying down might work.
All of the nipple care stuff from the early days advice might come in useful too!
I don't think it's thrush, have had that before (twice) and I can see where he's taken the top layer of nipple skin off. It's an achey feeling after feeds but doesn't persist for hours or anything. It's made worse cause he's doing a lot of grabbing and hitting and rubbing his face in our chests atm
I think it is a combination of his new teeth and attachment/position. He has always fussed more on my left and is more prone to turn his head while still attached and pull off that way. It's hard to know when he'll do it cause sometimes it's at the beginning (waiting for let down he'll come on and off) and sometimes at the end when the flow slows or he's had enough).
I might try lying down, (was never comfy in the early days but he's bigger now) and I have been stopping the feeds if he bites or pulls.
Ok - lying down was not so sucessful. He moved around heaps and was still pulling on and off.
I think the pulling back and forth while sucking is just the way he feeds. That's how all the early damage was done and I think my nipples just toughened up and I stopped noticing but now that he's broken the skin with a bite it's painful again. The welt thing has gone but the break is bigger. I have been detaching him when he pulls back (and the pain is too much, I have to get him OFF!!) but I haven't stopped the feeds cause I don't want mastitis. He just screams and screams so I don't know that he understands even though I'm telling him not to pull and that it hurts me.
Watching him drink from a sippy cup this afternoon I realised he still just wants it really fast (which is funny cause he's a slow eater). He wasn't interested in the lunchtime feed today so that gave my left side a much needed break. I think he'll continue to pull back and forth - I already hold him quite close to my body and he'll happily lie chest to chest but I can't get his chin to my breast - he fights that all the way and pulls back more
Oh well. I know it will eventually heal. At least today was better and not so painful. Going longer between feeds means that there is more milk there, the let down is bigger and he is not as impatient!
Just thought I mention that yes Lansioh worked last week for myself, I had similar issue with my right nipple, I put my down to L's teeth, not actually getting anymore but moving down as they grow. I just put Lansinoh on it for two days whenever I fed and it really helped. I also tried to feed L in the foot ball hold a couple of times, was actually a pretty funny sight feeding a 12 months old like that,
The look on his face was priceless, ( like this is not how I normally get my milk)
Thanks Pinny. It's weird and unexpected that these twelve month olds are doing damage again! So frustrating. I managed to get near a shop and remember to pick up some Lansinoh (or however it's spelt!) yesterday so I have been using it since and I think it's helping.
I also tried the football hold last night! Was funny here too. He went along with it for a few minutes but then got frustrated (cause let down was still taking too long for him) and squirmed around too much.
Yay Kaz!!! This is what happened with us too, it took about two months for DD to stop hurting me at age two. at the possible weaning, what makes you think it's imminent?
He's sometimes not very interested in the early morning feed. Sometimes he is though, & will drink from both sides and seems to have a 'full' feed. Other times he will only have one side, or one side and a tiny suck on the second side. Sometimes he has really short drinks on both sides. He usually then wants/has a full sippy of cows milk (maybe 3/4 cup of milk) afterwards. But he doesn't always have that either (especially when he's had a more 'full' feed). I don't know really. I guess he just seems inconsistent but I know I don't know how much he's really getting in the feeds. It's just a feeling I have that he's very gradually reducing this feed.
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