Really sore nipple that won't get better and very unsettled 1 year old.

Hi,
I have had such a good run with breastfeeding, so I'm kinda surprised that i need to post this now. I really hope someone can help me as this is starting to really get to me.

My boy is almost one but I don't want to stop BFing him. He loves it, too.

Unfortunately, for the last month or 2 I have had a really sore on my left breast. The right side is absolutely fine and i can't see anything white in DS's mouth either. Some times it's just a little uncomfortable, other times it's excrutiating to the point that I have tears in my eyes while he feeds and really painful for about 20 minutes after. The left nipple is always errect and very tender to the touch. even just the slight pressure of my bra is noticeable. I can't see any cracks. Just after a feed and when taking the bra off, i can see a white patch on the nipple itself, not the areaola. But this disappears within about 30-60 seconds.
The pain does not seem localised to the nipple only, but also slighty "behind" the nipple.

Unfortunately, DS insists to feed from the left side. He doesn't like the right side. Only once or twice a day will he take the right side for more than a few seconds. Lately i have managed to gett him to feed from the right by holding him in the football hold to confuse him. That seems to work alright.

On top of all that, he is quite unsettled at night at the moment. He's happy as Larry during the day, even sleeps fine on his own for 2-3 hours. But at night I have a different child. We co-sleep part time. His cot is next to my bed and if he doesn't want to settle in there, I will take him to me. Which usually means he ends up with me by about 2am. But lately he wakes up before I even go to bed and then doesn't sleep for more than 15 minutes at a time until morning. I have no chance of putting him back into his bed. But even cuddling him doesn't make him happy. I have tried so much. Even letting him sleep on my chest/belly which usually was a sure fire thing (albeit uncomfortable for me as he's getting heavy). But not even that is working. he cries and cries. Sometimes I can calm him instantly by stroking his face gently. But the second I stop, he complains. He has no teeth yet and I also can't see any coming through. i have no idea what's wrong with him. It has been going on for a couple of weeks.

I have had those times with both my kids before. Sore nipples usually cleared up by giving them a break for a day and pumping instead. But this is not working this time. And periods of being usettled usually solved themselves after a few days. But this time it doesn't seem to want to go away. I'm seriously sleep deprived and am starting to resent him and get quite angry with him as I can't see anything "wrong" with him.
He does use a dummy for sleep, but that doesn't settle him either.

I don't know what to do. I hope someone can help me with either or both of those problems. I really don't want to control cry him. But I can't go on like this either. I'm starting to feel like I'm going insane. Am like a loaded cannon during the day and that's not fair to my DD either.

I remember my daughter's sleeping getting worse just before her first birthday and then getting much much better about a month after. But I can't take another month of this.

Thanks for reading this.

Hi hun,

Sounds like it's possibly Raynaud's syndrome/phenomenon/vasospasm (not sure of the difference between all three). Google it for some more info and to see if you fit the descriptions. I have this and can relate to much of what you've said. Have you ever seen it turn from white to pink? Main treatment is to keep really really warm all of the time (warm drink before a feed can help) - there are supplements that help some women, and there is a drug you can try if nothing else works.

I'm afraid my DS is only 15 weeks, so can't help with the sleeping sorry. Hope you get it sorted!

Hugs xo

It must be disappointing to be having this now when you have been doing this for a while. It could be a white spot - this is where the skin can block an opening in the nipple and milk builds up behind it. If you can see this spot you can try and fix it yourself. Start by soaking the breast in warm to hot (not burning hot) water, or use a warm wet cloth instead. Then try to loosen the skin over the blister by rubbing firmly but gently. More vigorous rubbing works better for some mums but can be very painful, and can also lead to bruising if it is too rough. Once the skin over the spot has rubbed off or been loosened, breastfeed or express to clear the milk and if there is a plug or thin strand of milk at the duct opening, wipe this off gently but firmly. If that doesn't work, a doctor can use a sterile needle to clear it.

If the spot doesn't seem to be a white spot (also called bleb or milk blister), then it might be thrush. A visit to your GP might help to figure out what is going on.

All the best hun.

Thanks so much, girls, for your thoughts.

Yes, MantaRay, it is very frustrating to have this now seeing that I've been breastfeeding for over 3 years. But I guess I should just be very grateful that apart from a few issues when my oldest was born, I had no problems worth mentioning.

Surprised, I'm so sorry you are having such a difficult time. I hope you find something to help your situation. I really hope that is not what I have got.

I have been doing research all day. I am now convinced i have thrush. It has been in the back of my mind all along, but I didn't think it is possible to have thrush symptoms on only one nipple and for it to not show up in his mouth. But apparently it is.
I went to the chemist and got some Daktarin. If this doesn't help within a few days, I will go and see my doc. I hope he will be supportive and not just say to wean as my son is 12 months old.

I think if the feeding pain is under control, i will be able to deal with the sleep issues better. it was just the combination of both that made me quite resentful (which of course he does not deserve. I know that by the light of day. But in the middle of the night I am less reasonable).

Cheers, Sasa

i would def be seeing a dr if i was you. it sounds like you could even have a mild case of mastitis.

Ginger, I highly doubt I have mastitis. My breasts are neither swollen nor are they lumpy or hot. I also don't have any flu like symptoms. I had the beginning of mastitis a couple of times and it was very different. Also, this has been going on for a long time without getting better or worse.

But thank you so much for your input. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me figure this out.

Cheers, Sasa

I hope the Daktarin works hun :hug: I think we are all a bit unreasonable in the middle of the night :hug:

:hug: Sasa, I hope the Daktarin works. Don't feel bad, apart from mastitis, the only problem I had with bfing my DD (that meant pain and damaged nipples) first happened not long before she was two years of age! Needless to say, there's not a lot of medical knowledge on resolving an issue with a toddler... Thank goodness for BB and the ABA!