Pain Inside Breast While Breastfeeding

It could be inflammed milk ducts. IF it is you can knock it out with advil. Finding a lactation consultant to see would be a good thing.

Does it happen the entire feeding? Or just at different points. I remember when my 'let down' would happen, I would grab my boobs in pain. The description of 'acid' was exactly right. Unfortunatly, my 'let down' pain lasted the entire time I breastfed. But, I kind of got used to it, I guess like cramps. It took my breath away though many-a-times. I think it's really normal. Sorry, I wish I had some input on how to help ease the pain.

Have you been to Shasta County Brestfeeding Support Center?
They are a terrific support to all breastfeeding families. The number is ###-###-#### and they are located in Redding on Sacramento Street behind the Smart Business Resource Center. If they don't know exactly why you are having this sensation, my guess is they will try to find the answer for you. Goood Luck.

It sounds like Thrush (or yeast). That is very painful. Good luck.

Hi R.,
I had the same thing and it turned out I had yeast infections inside the breast. You should talk to your OBGYN. It is a pain to try to get rid of, but if you want to continue breastfeeding you have to be really thorough with the remedy. My breast yeast led to repeated mastitis, so get it checked ASAP. For now, though, try to eliminate sugar from your diet and white starch.
Best of luck,
J

I would agree that it is yeast. You will need to get an antifungal to help clear it up. I too thought it was normal to have the pain until I developed ulcers on my nipples that scabbed over. The pain decreased my milk production that I was forced to supplement my son with formula. When you start taking the medication you will need to sterilize all bottles and pumping equipment so that the infection doesn't re-emerge. After I started to take the medication it took a day or two and would believe breastfeeding became enjoyable.

Note: some doctors do not believe that yeast can enter into the breast just be adament about getting the antifungal. I took diflucan for a week or two. Make sure you get the full presciption; a day or two wont work.

Hi R.,
Either the beginning of some mastitis or some thrush. Either way, you need to see your OB. If it's mastitis, there aren't antibiotics or anything, just home treatments, but if it's thrush, you'll need a prescription for some yeast medication....it's not antibiotics, either. Antiobiotics are for bacterial infections. Thrush is yeast and requires medication like Nystatin (just like if you get a vaginal yeast infection you take over the counter yeast infection medication, not antibiotics). The let-down phase can be very painful but should burn like fire the entire time you're nursing, so it's not that. See you OB as soon as possible to get you out of your misery and to keep you from passing this on to your baby. God bless.

It sounds like Thrush. If it is that, it will not go away and will only get worse. You need to go to the doc and get antibiotics. Dont wait. I waited and it drastically affected my milk production and was sooo painful I had to stop breastfeeding. I recovered, but lost about three months of breastfeeding when my guy was about 5 months old. Thrush is very contagious and generally transmitted from child to mother. Look for white patches in your little ones mouth. You will continue to give it back and forth till you get the antibiotics.

Dear R.,
I have had pain like that too. I haven't heard about the let down reflex, in fact I haven't had let down that I could feel with this baby. (#7). But I took 1 TBSP of applecider vinegar in the morning and 1 in the evening and it went away. It tastes terrible and may be hard on your stomach, but 1 day of discomfort was better than day after day of pain.
By God's Grace,
Stac

I had a simmilar problem and it turned out to be thrush. I treated it with gention violet and diflucan. If the hospital where you delivered has a lactation consultant you could call her she will be able to help. The nursing mother's counsel can also help. When you left the hospital they may have given you a list of resourses, if the number is not in there you can look on line for it. The way you are describing your pain sounds like thrush. If you are not able to find help you are welcome to e-mail me and I can send you in the right direction. ____@____.com luck, M.

I agree with the others who said it sounds like thrush. I had it with my second child & what prompted me to seek medical attention is the fact that although letdown was initially painful, after a couple weeks that went away & I was pain free while nursing for probably about a month then the pain came back. Also with the pain from letdown it usually goes away once you start nursing or pumping but with thrush the pain just seems to get worse while your nursing (or pumping) Definitely call your ob or even your babies pediatrician either one can help you out. Good Luck!

I had insane pain as well for the first few months of breastfeeding. It felt like needles were stabbing me in the breast & nipple. But the docs & books say it's totally normal. It's just what happens when we "let down".

I too think this may be thrush, I had thrush and the pain felt like shards (sp?) of glass pushing out toward the nipple from the center of my breast - very painful. I had it for at least a month, I didn't want to take antibiotics so I finally used Nystatin (prescribed by your Doc), it's this awful sticky stuff that you have to put on your nipple 3-4 times a day, and also in the baby's mouth. I used it religously even though it was terribly inconvenient, but it seems to have worked. I also frequently washed my nipples with a solution of 1 tablespoon vinegar in 1 cup of water. I was about to try the Gention Violet stuff, but didn't need to - I hear it's very messy and can stain your baby's mouth purple. I would see your Doc to get diagnosed. Good Luck to you, thrush is awful!

If the pain lasts only a few seconds and goes away while he's still nursing it's the let down reflex. If the pain lasts the entire time he nurses I'm guessing it's yeast.

do you think you may or the baby may have thrush? this can be very painful. get it checked by your OBGYN, it is easily fixed with medication

Perhaps a VERY strong letdown or thrush. If it is actually pain, I think you may have thrush - either way, call your doctor.

Yes I had that... it's the let down effect. NO need to be alarmed and it will go away. So don't worry... yes it hurts like the dickens, but it isn't forever. I can't even remember the last time I had that and my son is now 14 months old :)

Maybe Mastitis? My friend just had it.

I have to agree that it's probably thrush. Letdown can be painful, but it doesn't last the whole nursing/pumping session. If it continues, your nipples will get bright pink and eventually you'll probably crack which just makes it worse (believe me, lol). Go to the doctor and get it checked. Also, your baby will have to be treated as well as it is passed from mom to baby. Neither of my children showed symptoms, but I definitely had it and we were both treated at the same time.

I am currently dealing with the same problem. After a misdiagnosis and three doctor's appointments I finally was give diflucan to take every day for 14 days. It is a yeast infection and antibiotics will just make it worse. Not nursing is also going to make it worse. Today the midwife looked inside my mouth to see if I had white patches (signs of thrush) and my babies mouth. Neither of us have any mouth symptoms. My symptoms are just when I nurse. Because it is just pain inside my nipple when I nurse they took me off the nystatin and put my on diflucan. The nystatin works better if you also have itching and if the baby has symptoms. This will not go away on its own so you should be seen by an OB or midwife as soon as possible. If your baby has signs of thrush your pediatrician might be able to treat you both. Good luck!

Sounds like the let down reflex. It's normal, but it will start to bother you less... if that helps. When my son was 8 weeks old I went back to work and I would get that feeling during the day at his normal nursing times even through I wasn't nursing! I've known women who have grown kids and still occassionally get that feeling when they hear a hungry baby cry!

Sorry I can't be much help.