Breastfeeding+pain and Maybe Thrush, Not Sure. Moms, Ever Get This?

Updated on April 17, 2012
D.N. asks from Chicago, IL
8 answers

Let me start by saying my son has no white spots in his mouth except some milk on his tongue--easily wipes off. He is mostly breastfed, with some formula supplementing, maybe one bottle a day. I work full time and pump at work. For the past couple of days I have been having needle like pain in my left breast and have no idea why. No cracking, bleeding or redness. But the pain, when it comes is like needles sticking me. First I thought I was really getting hit with letdown but it is all the time, and prevents me from sleeping. The first time, it lasted a day or so and went away so I figured a fluke or something. But my milk decreased. Then it came back and it HURTS!! It feels like needles sticking me. I took a chance last night and nursed my son on that side and could not sleep unless I had a cold pack (used a refrigerated gel eye mask). Now today, my milk is lower again. I am going to pump an extra time to try to put it back up but....the pain. Have you ever had to deal with something like this? I guess it could be blocked duct but I had that with my daughter and it was not this painful. This bloody well hurts. I googled and found that it could signal thrush but no cracking or bleeding. Also, have you ever taken acidopholus? Where did you buy it? What did you look for to make sure it was what you wanted. I don't have a health food store near my home and with this weather, no way I am walking half mile+ to one "near" work. One of the results I got was using vinegar and another was to take acidopholus as well. I have a call in to the ped for my son but not sure since he has no symptoms.

ETA: The ped is actually my doc as well, family physician and wonderful with my kids. I plan to ask for myself as well.

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So What Happened?

Well, I cannot get in to the doc until Friday though if I get any fevers or changes I should go to the emergency room. I hope to avoid that. I already have a ton of medical bills this year as it is. Since the pain is not every second, mainly for a while and then subsides and then comes back later in the day, plus no discharge or bleeding/cracking they think it is probably a clogged milk duct and I am using warm compresses (and a hot hands pack you use in the winter to keep your hands warm).

Featured Answers

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds like yeast to me and I've had a whopper of a case. I had zero luck with effective treatment with Dr.s but the laceration consultant saved the day. We used Genitan violet and its not easy to find. You need to treat baby and mom at the same time and wash all bedding, clothes, and bras in hot water. Kellymom.com is helpful on this subject. Don't go another way without seeing someone for diagnosis and treatment because the yeast can cause so much pain for you that you may be unable to continue feeding. It can take a good three days of treatment before you feel any relief from the pain and its likely to get worse before it gets better.

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, there. I hope that you're feeling better. I would have yourself checked out-any kind of pain should be checked by a doctor, just in case, for your sake and the baby's sake. Best of luck.

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

Sounds like mastitis or a clogged duct. I have had both. With mastitis you will get flu like symptoms as well. So fever, chills, run down feeling, along with stabbing horrible pain in your breast but the pain doesn't go away it just stays, every time you nurse your baby it's killer pain. Now a clogged duct can be just as painful! i had one once that lasted a whole month! Horrible pain in my right breast. But it would kinda come and go sometimes. Because some times the duct would unclog for a day or two but then come back. You just have to keep working the milk out. So lots of warm packs on your breast before and after you pump or feed your baby. massage the sore area and just keep working at it. It will get better. But go to your doc first to make sure it's not mastitis. You would need meds for that.

B.F.

answers from Toledo on

When I nursed my oldest I had both the thrush and mastisis. My guess would be a mastisis, and an ultrasound will tell you. Another reason I dont think it is thrush is because you would be bleeding and cracking.

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B.F.

answers from Chicago on

I had a breast infection (mastitis) when I was nursing my son. It felt as you describe, as if someone stuck needles in there. I got a prescription for an antibiotic and the pain went away right away. I think it would be best to go to the doctor and have it checked out and get a prescription if it's an infection.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

take him to the Pediatrician.
A Professional has to diagnose this.
Then prescribe you and him, medicine.
IF it is Thrush, then you AND your son has to be treated. Otherwise the Thrush will continue to go back and forth between you and him.

Per your breast pain, see your OB/GYN. Only a Professional can diagnose this.

Don't guess, with either one.

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Please call your GYN about this. All pain in the breast should be examined.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

I had that sharp needle like stabbing pain while breastfeeding the ENTIRE time I breastfed. It really sucked. I had it with both kids and they never could figure out what was causing it. I'd just grit my teeth and bear it. I saw all kinds of breastfeeding experts and we could not figure it out. Antibiotics did not help. I had it from the first time I breastfed till the last. I also had a low supply of milk the whole time...maybe 1/3 of what my child would need. If you can ever figure it out, let me know. I have always wondered why.

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