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Post by benandjerrys on Feb 9, 2018 21:54:27 GMT -6
Hi! My DS is 2 weeks old today. Since he was born I've been in quite a bit of pain when nursing, particular on the right side. Sometimes it's worse than others, it always hurts for the first minute or so, but after that sometimes it hurts and sometimes it doesn't.
I saw an LC twice last week and she thought his latch looked ok, and said that it often takes about two weeks for his mouth to shape my nipple and the pain should go away. But now it's been two weeks and it really still hurts, like a clamping feeling.
Additionally, my boobs still are super engorged (possibly the right moreso). Is that normal? Is it related? What can I do?
Any ideas? I can go back to the LC, but maybe I should give it more time?
Thanks!
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vvvvvfee
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Post by vvvvvfee on Feb 12, 2018 10:47:01 GMT -6
benandjerrys, sorry you're having pain. are you feeling any better now? i had latching pain for the first week (at least!) with DS2, AND also mega-engorgement. i agree that hand expression might be helpful so LO can get a better latch. i used cold gel packs to help soothe the engorgement, and i also used soothies gel pads for nipple soreness. have you tried laid-back nursing at all? i found that that really helped with latching in the early weeks when LO has very little head/neck control.
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Post by benandjerrys on Feb 12, 2018 13:30:30 GMT -6
vvvvvfee, my right boob is still a problem. The left is fine now. its like a sharp clamping feeling when he latches. Its so strong i have to tru not to scream. It does get better as the feeding session goes on. But it still hurts a bit and is really sensitive to the touch even when not nursing. I read abouy vascospasms like @amc posted. Im not sure if its that or not. The nipple does seem whiteish when i take it out.
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vvvvvfee
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Post by vvvvvfee on Feb 12, 2018 14:06:24 GMT -6
you could try all-purpose nipple ointment... you can mix it up yourself from OTC creams: put a tiny dab of each on your nipple and rub in: Antibiotic: Bacitracin or Polysporin (not Neosporin) Anti-fungal: Lotrimin AF (clotriamzole) or Monistat (miconazole) Anti-inflammatory: Hydrocortisone 1% or if nothing else try the hydrocortisone by itself. i used APNO in the early days with DS2, too, and it did help with the pain. you can also try saline soaks and/or taking really hot baths with epsom salts. i'm hoping that since one side is now better that the other side will get better soon, too!
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Post by benandjerrys on Feb 12, 2018 19:29:24 GMT -6
you could try all-purpose nipple ointment... you can mix it up yourself from OTC creams: put a tiny dab of each on your nipple and rub in: Antibiotic: Bacitracin or Polysporin (not Neosporin) Anti-fungal: Lotrimin AF (clotriamzole) or Monistat (miconazole) Anti-inflammatory: Hydrocortisone 1% or if nothing else try the hydrocortisone by itself. i used APNO in the early days with DS2, too, and it did help with the pain. you can also try saline soaks and/or taking really hot baths with epsom salts. i'm hoping that since one side is now better that the other side will get better soon, too! Do i need to wash apno off before nursing? Wash with reguar soap or can o wipe with a baby wipe?
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vvvvvfee
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Post by vvvvvfee on Feb 13, 2018 8:56:14 GMT -6
benandjerrys, i never washed it off. i put it on right after nursing so it was basically all absorbed by the time DS was ready to nurse again. but you could use a baby wipe or a damp cloth if you're concerned.
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Post by moutonrouge on Feb 15, 2018 7:41:02 GMT -6
benandjerrys, I had what I've heard referred to as the 30-second sizzle when DD first latched. It was like a shooting, stabby pain in my breast that would disappear within a minute. Some folks think that just happens, but I suspect it was a plugged duct that eventually resolved. I found that pumping with massage helped sort out plugged ducts quickly - this link explains what that looks like: www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/6/27/to-pump-more-milk-use-hands-on-pumping.html If you have oversupply or overactive letdown, I wouldn't recommend the hands-on technique with baby at the breast. But if that's not the case, you can use your hands while baby is nursing instead of pumping. I just found the pump was a little easier to handle. If you eventually see a white lump on your nipple (milk bleb), that can be another sign it is a plugged duct. Soaking your nipple in a cup of epsom salts dissolved in water, and applying some coconut oil, can help with those. Be careful with the all purpose nipple ointment - it has a steroid, which longterm can cause your skin to get thinner. My lactation consult recommend only using that for cracks or bleeding, and only for 3 days at a time.
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Post by benandjerrys on Feb 15, 2018 17:03:25 GMT -6
Thanks @amc, moutonrouge, and vvvvvfee. I'm still all kinds of confused. Just now both sides had sharp pain while nursing. Yesterday it occurred to me that the diaper rash DS has might be yeast and today after looking at it closely I'm pretty sure it is. We did have antibiotics at birth (I was GBS positive). Could thrush be the culprit? I'm having an LC come to the house on Monday. Any other ideas in the meantime?
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Post by moutonrouge on Feb 16, 2018 9:15:00 GMT -6
If it is yeast/thrush, the antifungal in the APNO will help. I'd try that for 2-3 days and see how things feel. I haven't treated a yeast diaper rash before, so I can't help there - can you call your pediatrician for help with that?
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vvvvvfee
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Post by vvvvvfee on Feb 16, 2018 9:23:38 GMT -6
benandjerrys, for sure it could be thrush. shooting pains in your breasts is the hallmark symptom. if you are having shooting pains (as opposed to *just* nipple pain) then topical cream is not going to cut it- that means it is in your milk ducts and you'll need oral antifungals. and you will probably want to have your pedi check out DS so you can get the oral meds for him so you're not passing it back and forth. you could call your dr in the meantime if you don't want to wait until monday. or, you could try antifungal cream on your DS's diaper rash and see if it responds to give you more of a clue one way or the other.
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lily
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Post by lily on Feb 16, 2018 14:16:07 GMT -6
Remember that yeast loves dark wet places. So change your breast pads often, go topless when you can. Change baby’s wet diaper as soon as you can, diaper free time when it’s feasible.
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Post by thechickencoop on Feb 20, 2018 20:16:58 GMT -6
How is your pain now benandjerrys? As I'm now on my third bout of thrush, I second (third?) that that might be the culprit. DS and I were both on antibiotics in the hospital because he was a premie (34 weeks) and I hadn't even had the gb test yet; I think that definitely contributed. First round we both had symptoms. Second and third time DS hasn't had a single symptom but I've had SEARING pain when nursing. I thought it was the 30 second sizzle but, oh man. It was unbearable. Like holding in screams when he would latch unbearable. Call your OB and see if they can call in an rx for diflucan if you're still dealing with it. It's cheap and just a week course usually.
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Post by benandjerrys on Feb 22, 2018 17:36:59 GMT -6
How is your pain now benandjerrys ? As I'm now on my third bout of thrush, I second (third?) that that might be the culprit. DS and I were both on antibiotics in the hospital because he was a premie (34 weeks) and I hadn't even had the gb test yet; I think that definitely contributed. First round we both had symptoms. Second and third time DS hasn't had a single symptom but I've had SEARING pain when nursing. I thought it was the 30 second sizzle but, oh man. It was unbearable. Like holding in screams when he would latch unbearable. Call your OB and see if they can call in an rx for diflucan if you're still dealing with it. It's cheap and just a week course usually. Thanks for checking in thechickencoop. I met with an IBCLC on Monday. She doesn't think its thrush. She thinks DS has a bad latch that is due to his extremely recessed (but oh so cute) chin. She suspects that it will correct itself over time and she worked with me on my latch, saying that because of the recessed chin I need to be extra super vigilant about his latch. Its actually been better so I think she really helped! I think he had done some damage that is slowly correcting itself from using APNO and from correcting his latch. So I'm calling this case closed for now and I hope that I'm able to nurse happily for as long as he wants
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lily
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Post by lily on Feb 22, 2018 19:43:52 GMT -6
benandjerrys glad the IBCLC was such a help and things are improving! Great news!
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