Help - I'm ready to throw in the towel and I really don't want to!

[Powelly]

Hi Ladies (or LC's),

I'm in desperate need of help. Quick run down - my DS2 is 3 weeks old today. He's been breastfed from the moment he was born. At 4 days old I had severe mastitis (caused by severe engorgement) and was admitted to hospital for two nights on a drip and subsequently had ten days additional antibiotics which finished last Sunday. My boobs are still so sore that it makes me cry at feed times. My right nipple is cracked and no matter what I try, it won't heal. (Let air dry, expressing milk on it, Lahnisoh). My left nipple has finally healed. The biggest problem is the intense pain in both breasts shortly after a feed. It feels like someone has taken to them with a cricket bat, they throb and feel painful for half hour or so and wearing bra's, or having anything rub on my nipples makes my skin crawl.

I fed DS1 for twelve months after a rocky start (he was a small baby and couldn't latch so was on nipple shields for 4 months). Is this pain normal at the commencement? I've been to two breast feeding clinics but they tell me the latch is correct and that my boobs will stop hurting soon but when? I can't cope with the pain and am sick of being a panadol junkie, taking it day and night so that I can manage to feed my son.

It's getting me down in a big way and I'm not sure where to turn or what to do.

Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. He's my last baby and I don't want to give up by any means, but I also can't cope with being in this much pain (and this coming from someone who had two natural drug free births).

Thanks!

[onthefly]

Oh dear!
First - that pain could be thrush, have you & baby been checked out for that?
second - Nipple damage suggests a problem with the latch. Has baby been checked for tongue tie or other issues that might affect latch?
Also, if it's only one side, maybe it's a mobility issue. You could try chiro or osteo to see if that helps. Do you use the same hold each side? If you use cradle hold on the 'good' side maybe try football on the bad side...?

If your nipple is damaged, it's normal to feel some pain at the start of the feed, but it should ease off and disappear. Pain after a feed could be thrush. Could also be vasospasm (particularly if it's cold). Have you seen IBCLC LCs at those clinics? Might be worthwhile getting a recommendation for a good LCs in your area.

Really hope you can get that pain sorted soon - it's awful, I remember from DS

[MantaRay]

You are really doing it tough hun MadB has given some great suggestions. It can be hard to know from your post what is going on, but it does sounds like there could be an attachment issue there. Have you tried baby led attachment (or heard of it?). Many mums find this a more successful way to feed in the early days, especially if there is something like a tongue-tie going on. Have a look at Baby-led attachment and Baby Led, Mother Guided - Biological Nurturing/Laid-back Breastfeeding - Dr Suzanne Colson, MSc, PhD (Nursing), also Birth - Initiating Early Feeds - 'Breastfeeding. Naturally' DVD - New Zealand Ministry of Health.

It sounds like it would also be worth calling the ABA helpline - it is a free call on 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 2 68), and operates 24 hours, 7 days a week so you can even call right now. Anyone can call and talking things through with a breastfeeding counsellor can be really helpful - they are all mums themselves and know what it's like.

I am sure that with the right information you will be able to get past this. All the best hun

[hdc]

Hi, please have a look into nipple vasospasm.. I had a similar experience to you early on, re-occuring mastitis, cracked nipples and severe nipple pain during/post feeding. My nipples were so damaged they would blanche and lose circulation during feeds, when cold etc.etc.
I saw many people, my GP, obs, lactation expert at the royal womens (who suggested thrush or infection) etc.. tried many different treatments.

I came so close to giving up, many feeds would end in tears and frustration and i spent the good part of the first 2 months pumping at least 50% of feeds to bottle feed my bubs. Slow pumping on a light setting was slightly less painful than having bubs feed.

Finally, as a last resort, my maternal child health nurse suggested a drug which has been used (off-label use) to treat nipple vasospasm - 'nifedipine' which is actually a calcium channel blocker (blood pressure lowering) medication. She referred me to the head of lactation research at monash medical centre and he ok'd it as safe during bf.

went to my GP (big womens clinic) for script - the doctor had never heard of nipple vasospasm or the use of nifedipine to treat it, she was utterly condescending, saying the latch must be the problem (which i knew it was not!!). I returned with my partner, who insisted the GP talk to the lactation spec. At monash, after which finally and reluctantly, she agreed to let me try the nifedipine..

It took around 10 days to notice any change, but the spasms suddenly started to become less painful and frequent. My nipples were still blanching, but it didn't hurt as much! Finally!!! By 4 weeks I was completely pain free and could enjoy breastfeeding for the first time (baby was around 3 months old when i stopped expressing and could 100% breastfeed!)

Many people who hear my story are surprised i didn't give up along the way.... To be honest, i came close more than once, but so glad now that i didn't! After 1 month I weaned myself off the nifedipine gradually, until i was completely off it. The spasms never returned and I assume the early trauma that caused the spasms had been able to heal.

I just wanted to share my story, so you know there is light at the end of the 'extreme nipple pain' tunnel!!! My symptoms may not be the same as yours, but it did sound very similar... Also, if it becomes too much and you need to stop, please don't beat yourself up for it. I had a very supportive partner who would often tell me i was doing a great job even if I couldn't keep bf'ing, it really helped me perservere through the hard times....
(ps sorry for any bad spelling, not sure how to spell check on my phone)


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[hdc]

forgot to mention, my baby is (almost) 8 months old now and still bf'd :-)

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[Powelly]

Thank you all for your responses and stories. Mantaray and Madb, I think I'll go to the doctor tomorrow and investigate the thrush aspect as I had thought it could be that, after taking pretty crazy antibiotics for 12 days. Upon "googling" thrush, it does describe the pain I'm feeling. That deep throbbing breast tissue pain.

I tend to feed normal and then I finish off with the football hold. The right nipple has a crack right in the middle of it and there is a bit of skin hanging off (lovely huh!). It's a lot better than it was, but is taking it's time to heal so I'm confidant the latch is ok but I'm certainly going to be more careful in the night feeds to ensure he's on right.

Thanks for the ABA number. I did call them after I had mastitis and I might get onto them again to see if they can recommend a good LC nearby. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it work as I know I can do it.

Thank you once again for being so amazing and responding so quickly with your advice and stories. That nipple vasospasm sounds horrific! I wouldn't be able to take those tablets as I have very low blood pressure as is, at normal it's 90/60 so I'd be surprised if they let me take them. The pain is more in the breast tissue and it hurts when he latches on the right boob but it only hurts for a few seconds and then feeding is fine. It's the awful throbbing half hour after the feed that kills me.

Not sure if it means anything but my lochia also came back today. It sort of faded the last few days and today I've been having awful cramps and light bleeding again. Guess there are some crazy hormones at work too?

Thanks so much again!!!

[hdc]

ah that makes sense.. not a good idea to lower your blood pressure in that case, and probably unlikely to be a high pressure prob such as VS was for me...
wishing you lots of luck, if you ever want someone to chat about it on a crappy day I would be happy to help!

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[organic-girl]

I had thrush for 14wks after needing antibiotics for strep B at birth. I got rid of it with APNO, google it, it's awesome!!! HTH


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Leah and Dan
Lucy 5
Minnie 2
Pippi due 29 sept

YOU are what YOU eat!