Nipple Pain Just Started After 8 Months of Nursing!

A lactation specialist will give you the best advice. Either try what the lactation specialist has advised (see other answers) and/or make an appointment to see someone RIGHT AWAY.

Typically a later onset of pain after months of successful nursing is from thrush :( . Hopefully there are others who have a more complete listing of everything you can do to cure it. I had it for 2+months and it was the WORST pain of my entire life. I used gentian violet (you can get it at most pharmacies, Walmart carries it OTC, but you have to ask for it) on my nipples, along with rinsing with 1 Tbsp white vinegar to 1 cup of water after every nursing. After two dr visits I finally got a month's worth of Diflucan (an vaginal yeast infection medication, a pill you take orally). That finally cured it for good. I also chose to not eat any yeast or refined sugar during that time. It was HARD to do, but worth it for me.

I always hate contradicting others, but if you do have thrush, the WORST thing you can do is let breast milk dry on your nipples. It will keep the yeast infection on them, making the thrush worse, or at least maintaining it. Ditto with Lansinoh as it traps the moisture on the skin.

The thing you have to keep in mind is, like mastisis, even if you wean, you still have the infection. Some good websites to get more info are Kellymom and Dr Jack Newman. Good luck!!

D.,
You should make sure you dont have a clogged milk duct. Or a cracked area on your nipple. Both can cause terrible pain. At 8 months into nursing for me, my daughter actually bore a small hole on the side of my nipple due to where she always latched on at. I too wanted to give up nursing. I was able to use neosporin in combination with a lanolin nipple oitment and change how I held her for nursing and it cleared up in a week. Oh.. For the first day or so, I did use a nipple shield. It worked for me. Good luck.

I just thought I would add my input...

I have nipple pain for about 3-5 days when I am ovulating or right before i ovulate. Other people get it during their period or other times during their cycle. If you have started menstruating again this could be the cause. It goes away. I totally get it though, I was freaking out when it happened to me. Good luck!

PS Sometimes i start using nursing pads and the lanolin if it gets really bad but really it is just time.
PPS i have also heard that when you are pregnant and nursing it feels the same way.

You might just be careful it's not an infection. My little guy was/is prone to thrush (we got rid of it at 6 months and just went through it again at 10 months), and that's how the infection affected me....(yeast infection). Try some monistat cream on your nipples, see if that eases the pain(and check inside your baby's mouth for white patches). However, mine have slowly become more sore as well, I think as he is trying to look at everything while he is nursing he might be pulling more or something... good luck!

We had a similar situation and it conincided with her exploring her new teeth and learning how to squirm more. The combo of the two meant that my nipples were getting twisted and pulled and bit at each feeding. If didn't take very long for us to get it sorted out that biting is NOT okay (maybe 2 or 3 bites worth). She also has slowed down on the twisting and turning and I've found positions that limit how much she can tweek me. Please keep with it if you don't want to wean! It will pass!!!

Went throught the same thing. The babys sucking motions are getting stronger. The pain will go away as your nipples get use to it.

1) See your doc to check for infections.

2) Hop down to your local lactation consultant. If they're an RN they could probably do double duty and also check for infection, but not all of them are.

Sudden pain is usually mechanical or microbial...and like a previous poster mentioned...if you treat for the wrong one you could make things worse.

~Z.

How about using a nipple gaurd? They saved my boobs when I was nursing! You can get them at target They are made by Medela and are in the aisle with all the bottle stuff. Since nursing has already been established there isn't need to worry about your baby having any confusion. It's kind of like a bottle nipple for your boob. good luck!

I'm a lactation consultant in private practice. Don't use tea bags! The tannic acid breaks down the tissue and can lead to more problems. The latch is probably incorrect. AFter 8 mo both mom and baby stop being so careful. Just go back to the basics and make sure her mouth is open wide, etc. Also---maybe you're PG.??

R. beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC
www.second9months.com

I know that if the baby has an yeast infection in the mouth that causes horrible pain on the nipples. It can clear up but, then come back b/c you keep passing it back and forth. I would try to make sure you can fix it before you decide to wean. Call a lactation nurse or go to a breastfeeding group they can help you. Tuality hospital has great people Group is Tues day or night and the lactation center is open all week. You can just call them and ask advice too. Good luck.

D.,

Several people mentioned Lactation Consultants, but a terrific free resource is La Leche League International.
Accredited LLL leaders hold monthly series meetings that cover a variety of topics related to breastfeeding and parenting. LLL is considered the world's leading resource on breastfeeding. It is free to attend group meetings, but purchasing an optional membership gets you a subscription to a very good magazine called "New Beginnings", as well as a few other perks and discounts, including access to the group's Lending Library of parenting books. You can find more information at www.llli.org and there is also a section on the site where you can locate a group near you and their meeting times. Good luck!

Can you describe the pain? Shooting towards shoulder blades, latch on only, during the entire feeding, sharp, dull ?
I would recommend that you call the lactation experts at Great Starts in Seattle. They are highly qualified and have a free pager service telephone response.

GOod luck. Let us know how it gets resolved.

J.

If it's a searing, burning pain that feels something like having a knife stabbed into your nipple and deep into your breast, it's thrush. (Sorry for the clarity, but that's how it felt to me).

You should probably see a doctor first, though, to make sure it isn't a blocked milk duct. If it's both breasts, and occurs worst when you are feeding, it's probably thrush.

Now, if your doctor prescribes thrush medicine, don't waste your money on it. Instead, tell your doctor what will work (and have her/him tell all her/his patients, too): 5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. Keep it in a bottle, jar, etc., along with Q-tips and/or cotton balls (I liked the cotton balls better, but if your baby has thrush too, the Q-tips can be used for the inside of your baby's mouth). Then, right before and right after you nurse, use the cottonball, dipped in the solution. It will feel cooler, and after you nurse, within an hour of applying it, you will feel better. Keep applying it, once an hour, or right before and after you nurse! Wash your bras and the baby's clothing (anything that has the milk on it) in the laundry with one cup of vinegar, too. It will take weeks for the thrush to be destroyed, but it's cheap, and the vinegar solution is SUCH a relief.

If you want to try that while waiting for the doctor, you can. It won't hurt anyone. Good luck!

D.,

I feel you (no pun intended)!! I almost couldn't nurse my daughter, now 17 months next week. It felt like she was trying to chew my nipple off whenever she nursed on one side. I would literally cry with the pain of nursing her.

Now that I think about it, it was the same side that wound up blistering and bleeding when my son, now almost 5, was nursing.

Anyway, that was probably too much information. Here's what worked for me: The hospital sent me home with a little purple tube of lansinoh, almost pure lanolin I think. After every nursing I'd apply a liberal amount, and any time that the rubbing of clothes or anything else made it uncomfortable. About the time I was ready to say "I can't nurse her anymore, the pain is too bad" something changed and the pain faded. Then she weaned at 9 months.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Just noticed that you don't say how old your youngest is? That would also help with the advice. If (s)he's close to 12 months you might want to talk to the doc about starting on cow's milk. If (s)he's nowhere near 12 months it's a little tougher. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Is the pain just in the superficial part of the nipple? Is the pain caused by nursing or is it always somewhat there. Does your baby bite? Could you have an infection in your breast?

I've never been pregnant and have not nursed but I had mastitis and it is painful. I think mastitis is inflammation of the milk ducts.

You could consult with the LeLeche League or the Lactation support office sponsored by the hospital from which you delivered.

It might be an infection. See your dr.

Sounds like your baby is probably teething so your baby is nursing differently which is causing the pain. Now would be an ideal time to either ween or try using a nipple shield. Good luck!

Sounds like your little one has been using your nipple as a chew toy:) Teething maybe? Mine is 7 mos and started to chew on my nipple and I gave him a very stern no and he has only tried it a few times since then. Dont let him chew or suck longer than needed. Does pumping hurt? You may want to pump a few times a day and give him a bottle.
Good luck!

best advice: rub breast milk on nipples before and after nursing
let air dry
better in one week
mom of 3 weeks/ 3 year/ 6 year/ 12 year old boys
9 years nursing!

Deb, you might also try steeping black tea bags (such as Rose tea or it's organic equal) and putting the tea bags on your nipples. Something in the tea helps aid the healing.

Best wishes!
A.

In addition to the lanolin recommendation, you can smear a little bit of breastmilk over your nipple/areola after nursing and let it air dry. It will help your skin to heal and stay moisturized.

Yet another miracle of breast milk. :)