Since yesterday afternoon, feeding on my left side has been quite painful. It's a sharp pain that's worse during let downs but is pretty consistent throughout the feed and it was still hurting after the overnight feeds (of which there were a few last night). It feels tender generally.
My left side has always been a bit more problematical than the right and we had lots of issues early on. I actually have scar tissue in three places on that nipple All the issues were pretty much sorted by the time DS was 4 months old though - especially in terms of the damage healing up and we've been feeding without any major dramas since then.
Why is he damaging me again now? I thought we were past all that? I have looked at the nipple this morning and it could be caused by a bite (which he does occasionally) but there's also a raised hard lump around it - kind of like a welt? It's not particularly angry looking though.
Any ideas or advice? Should I just keep feeding through the pain and keep an eye on it? Would Lanisoh help?
Arrgghhh!! So frustrating, I just posted in Jennifer13's thread yesterday about how I wanted DS to self wean and now I'm having second thoughts!!
ETA - Obviously I need to watch his attachment but that's always been good. The damage he did early on was from pulling back on the nipple which I noticed he was doing a bit last night. How do I stop him pulling back? I really struggled with this last time because holding the back of his head in place doesn't work. The pain interferes with my let down which makes him more impatient and prone to pull. It's a viscious cycle and I feel like I'm right back where we started!
Can you feed with you both lying down? Otherwise detach him as soon as he pulls back! Holding his legs may also help, as may giving him something to play with.
good luck...
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.
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.
12 months old and he's just damaged my nipple!!!
All the issues were pretty much sorted by the time DS was 4 months old though - especially in terms of the damage healing up and we've been feeding without any major dramas since then.
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