Painful let down between feeds

[Chuckie]

I am hoping someone has some advice because I have been searching for a while and no one seems to be able to help.

As you can see from my ticker my baby is almost 6 weeks old.

We have managed to work out breastfeeding pretty well from the start with only a few attachment issues early on so we are lucky.

But lately (the last three weeks or so) I have been getting REALLY intense let down pain after every feed. During the day it is okay but at night it keeps me awake for hours.

I have read somewhere that this will subside "within the first three months" but that seems like a long time! I have also been trying to up my water intake (I don't drink caffine).

Any other ideas or suggestions??

[MummaSue]

Hey Chuckie, I have no idea hun, but just wanted to give your thread a bump!

Hope that it gets better for you soon xxxxx

[~clover~]

I'm not sure. My let down is pretty strong & a bit painful. I feel mine between feeds & during feeds & felt it beyond 3 months.
I think at 3 or 4 months though, it was only during feeds, or if he skipped a feed. I did eventually stop feeling letdown, even during feeds, but that was at about 18 months.
I know that didn't really help you at all.

[UntoldAngel]

Hi Chuckie,
I've never felt my letdowns, but I did suffer from migraines in lactation which wasn't much fun!
I have however had immense pain between feeds, sharp stabbing pains radiating down to the nipple - turned out to be thrush... Does this sound similiar? Do you get relief if you apply pressure to the area?
Maybe if you have a chat to your doc they may be able to give you a better idea, and if it is thrush, a quick course of antibiotics clears it up
Keep up with the breastfeeding!

[~clover~]

Maybe if you have a chat to your doc they may be able to give you a better idea, and if it is thrush, a quick course of antibiotics clears it up
Keep up with the breastfeeding!

Actually, abs often can be the cause of thrush. You need an anti fungal treatment for thrush. Nilstat or daktarin usually for nipples & bub's.

[UntoldAngel]

Actually, abs often can be the cause of thrush. You need an anti fungal treatment for thrush. Nilstat or daktarin usually for nipples & bub's.

True! I'm actually on my second lot of nilstat... habit to say abs when getting a prescription

[Chuckie]

Thanks heaps ladies!!

Belle - Of course I had suggested thrush several times but the pain sounded different to what peole describe as thrush but after reading your tip about relief with pressure I knew it was the same (I found myself pushing my boobs when they hurt) so asked the nurse again today and we started on daktarin today - hopefully it is thrush and will clear up (I was not looking forward to months of this pain and I was not giving up bf.

Clover - thanks for the clarification re treatment - I am putting the oral daktarin gel on my nipples before feeds and hoping that this way me and bubs get treated (that's what the nurse told me to do) also have to soak all bras and breast pads in napisan.

Thanks again ladies - will keep you posted about how it goes.

[Chuckie]

Just an update ladies,

After treating the thrush for two weeks without any reduction in symptoms I had a telephone consult with another, more experienced LC who diagnosed nipple vasospasm. I am now taking drugs for that and hoping it goes away - fingers crossed!

Anyone know how long it takes for the nifidipine to kick in? I took my first one yesterday and my nipples are still hurting (but they are very cracked now) and I am still suffereing pain between feeds on my right breast.

[~clover~]

Ouch. I get that too. Did they tell you to put a warm facewasher on before feeding? Works amazing miracles I'm telling you!
Might keep you going til the meds work. Never tried them myself though I'm having issues too. You tried sheilds? Thats how I'm surviving the cracks.

[Chuckie]

thanks Clover I will give the warm up pre-feed a go. I have been using a heat bag at night when the pain is the worst but it is a little hit and miss and I use it after a feed. I can't wait for some pain-free breastfeeding!!! Have also found out today that Pearl has a high palate which is causing the cracks!! I am yet to try shields although I have some here, I guess I figure the cracks are not too painful.

I'm sorry to hear you are having problems the wool fat ointments seems to help with the cracks too.

[~clover~]

Yeah, lanolin helps them heal & protects them. Found they helped reduce the pain too... only my cracks now are caused by moisture, rather than attachment, so I have to keep mine as dried out as possible instead... its always something!
My LC the other day also told me caffeine/coffee can make vasospasm worse. So maybe cut back if you drink a bit & see if that helps too?
Good luck