Painful stinging sensation

[Kailani]

My boobs have this awful stinging pain, almost like a sharp stabbing kind of pain, it's hard to describe. It is worse just after a feed but still occurs at most times. I've heard these are symptoms of thrush. Could I have it? And how would I know if I have it? Any help would be much appreciated

[Acacia]

Hi Holly,

Firstly, congratulations on the birth of your little boy!

I have experienced sharp stinging in my breasts as well (on and off since DD was about 3-4 weeks old), and it usually occurs between feeds, but occasionally straight after. I spoke to a BF counsellor about it, and they concluded that it wasn't thrush. Thrush would give you a deep, aching sensation for 20+ mins directly after a feed and possibly very sore nipples. Another indicator would be the way it affects your baby - there could be problems with attachment and feeding as it could hurt your baby's mouth. Also to watch out for is a white "coating" on your nipples or in bub's mouth, especially on their tongue. Do you have any of these things happening?

The stinging I experienced would be strong, but only last seconds at a time, right through the day. I've worked out (as it continues to happen sometimes even now) that it happens the most when DD is trying to increase my supply to match her needs (growth spurts) as it often happens in conjunction with when she was feeding vigorously and quickly, as well as more frequently.

I have thought that it is my ducts and reservoirs in my breasts learning to hold more milk, and doing what ever they need to do physiologically change to produce milk in quicker/greater amounts.

Have a talk to a counsellor at the ABA if you're concerned, and perhaps Barb Glare will come in and let you know what she thinks, but my thoughts are that you're getting that sensation as your breasts adjust physically to the increased demand on them as your little bub grows and requires more, especially if you don't have any other symptoms of thrush.

HTH,

Miss C

[~clover~]

I had thrush with DS at 6 weeks. It's hard to know if thats what it is.
From what I remember the stinging was kind of itchy?
Does your bub have oral thrush? Milky white on the toungue/inside mouth that can bleed if wiped off.

The best cure IMO is Nilstat. You put it on your nipple, then feed bubs. That way it stays in bubs mouth a bit longer too. Its sposed to be swished in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
Just be warned, its bright yellow & will stain your bra's/clothes if you aren't careful & it will stick your breast pad/bra to your nipple if still wet when you put them on.

I ended up just using it, kind of trial & error, to see if it worked.

Good luck

BTW, my LC suggested a warm (not hot) washer on my nipple just before a feed. I don't know if it's just for thrush, but there was no pain when I fed!

[Arcadia]

Have a look at your nipples when you feel the pain. Are they white at the tips?

Do you get it when you get out of the shower too?

I had a similar pain for the first three weeks. Like a stingy, stabbing like pain in the nipple and radiating out into the breast after a feed and when my nipples were exposed to cold air. It was nipple vasospasm...where the blood flow to your nipples is constricted. It can be caused by poor attachment. It can also just be sensitivity cased by the new experience of having something chomping on the nipple 12 times a day!! Mine went away on its own...

HTH

[Olive]

holly i think i have thrush too nipple were burning all night and DD didnt feed well this morning, ive been and gotten stuff for the both of us as well as some probiotics

[Kailani]

Yes DS's tongue is white! But I haven't noticed it on my nipples...will look out next feed.

Anna, yes it is very bad after a shower, I can't dry them it hurts too much and they definitely hurt more in cold air. That really sounds like what I have!

DS feeds fine though, it doesn't seem to affect him. I think I'll go to the pharmacy today and see what they say, could be a matter of trial and error to figure it out. It really hurts though!

Thanks so much for the replies, it's been really helpful AJP, tell me how the probiotics go!