Painful Nursing

Go see your OBGYN.

Hope you're better soon

Could he have thrush? My daughter had thrush at one point and it gave me a yeast infection in my breasts. It was very painful and felt like they were on fire when she nursed. I also got engorged at that time but I don't know if that was why. The doctor prescribed Nystatin fore both of us which did clear it all up. Otherwise maybe mastitis? But that is not really commom later in breastfeeding and I think you run a fever with that???

It could still just be a plugged duct, but with the nipple involvement it could be mastitis, or it could be a plugged duct + thrush. Have you checked the inside of baby's mouth for white patches? There are natural methods you can try to get rid of these things but personally when I had them the thing that worked best was prescribed meds. I tried gentian violet with thrush and it was a mess and didn't work. The dr gave both baby and I an antifungal and it cleared right up. I had mastitis once and the antibiotic cleared it right up. I didn't have time to mess around as mastitis can just about incapacitate you. If you want to try some natural remedies go for it, but if you start feeling feverish, PLEASE call your ob/gyn/midwife.

Look here for some help in trying to figure it out:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

If it is a plugged duct, just nurse alot on that side (I know easier said than done) massage in the shower, use heat, try to vary the angle at which your baby nurses to help pull milk from less used areas of the breast. I think the grapefruit seed oil helps too. Here are some treatment options:
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html#ma...

I didn't get mastitis until my 2nd son was 4 or 5 months old, so it can happen at any time. Mine happened right after a big trip, during which I had to rewear some reusable nursing pads cause we stayed longer and I didn't bring enough clean ones...I also had on a tight bra and my little one slept through the night for the first time. Not sure which of those things caused it, but it made perfect sense after I thought about it.

Sounds just like mastitis, which you most likely need treatment for. I had it once when my baby was about 7 months old. Call your doctor ASAP!!

I would suggest a cold compress and pumping that side until it is completely drained. If that doesn't work, contact your local breastfeeding clinic (our hospital has one) for some additional advice.

If you still think it is a plugged duct try lecithin. I got them all of the time for a number of months with my son and that was the only thing that helped (besides massaging as strongly as I could handle in the shower). I took about 3 doses of lecithin twice a day and it was usually cleared up in a day.

I know there are other ideas that work for other mamas, but that helped me every single time!

Some people massage grapefruit seed extract (but wash it off before baby nurses) and some swear by cabbage leaf compresses.

Good luck, but try the lecithin! It is a cheap and safe option.

Is the breast hot to the touch? Is the nipple inverting?

When I had some issues soon after delivering my daughter (presented as pain in my armpits), they diagnosed me with mastitis and had me get a breast ultrasound. At least at the OB/GYN practice to which I go, they don't mess around with any pain/discomfort of the breasts.

I'd personally recommend calling your OB/GYN to see what they recommend.

In my case it was not mastitis - but it wasn't breast cancer either. It was a serious medical condition, but I don't want to get you worried - just do your due diligence in speaking with your doctor to be sure.

Go to your OB/GYN! They will be able to diagnose what is going on.

I had mastitis twice with my first. With my second, as soon as I felt something coming on, I would pump, massage, pump, massage, and keep it going, but my nipple was pretty much fine. Just go in and see what they say.