Hi! I have probably posted more in the last few weeks than ever ha ha! I am exclusively breastfeeding and have noticed a couple of things. First, my right breast seems to always be more full of milk than my left. Is that something to be concerned about? I always feed on both sides and alternate for the next feeding. Second, I have been nursing for 2 months and it has gone very well. After the initial "2-3 week" pain that comes with nursing, I was virtually pain free. However, now I have developed sores under my nipples at the base, it is very painful to nurse and not sure why. I am home from work now for several months and have been going around braless so they can air out in case it is moisture being trapped in there due to the hot weather. Any thoughts our advice on these questions would be great, mainly the painful one. I enjoy nursing but not really within the last week or so. Thanks Mamas!
One thing you can do until this heals is feed on exclusively on the other side and pump the sore side. I did this occasionally for a couple of days, and it made it soooooo much easier to heal. It also gave me a few extra bottles just in case :-)
Great job on breastfeeding! I also had more production on one side than the other - I think as my daughter preferred that side so she took more during the feedings on that side. The pain - have you tried lanolin to help with the latch - maybe your little ones latch is changing a little. If you can check it out with a lactation consultant. The hospital I delivered at offered me free advice over the phone and I could take my baby to the hospital for an evaluation if necessary. "breast" of luck to you!!! :)
If its yeast you are going to want to treat is ASAP because if you develop open wounds, its very painful and takes a long time to heal. I had it and in my experience you are far more likely to get good treatment and diagnosis from a lactation consultant than a Dr. I battled yeast on and off for months due to my daughter being on long term antibiotics. It started with itching, and a whitish area on nipple (like a wet scab), redness, maybe bumps. Then the irritated area if left untreated turned into a papercut like wound that was very painful to nurse with. there are lots of natural and medical ways of treating breast yeast. In the end I responded best to Multipurpose nipple ointment (for me) and gentian violet for baby's mouth. Your dr. will likely not know what all goes into MPNO so do google it and bring in a print out so the dr. can figure out how to write the perscription.
More milk on one side then the other is normal. There is breast cream for nipples this will help healing. Are you using soap on your nipples when you shower? If so don't because it dries the skin out, & water cleans just fine. Going bra less is a great idea!! This will help a lot.
My right side has always had more than the left and I have been nursing for the last 3 years. I have a new baby and thought that would change but it hasn't. Make sure to get your baby's tongue checked. I had an awful time with my son and it turned out he needed his tongue clipped. That fixed the problem. My daughter has not had that problem and nursing has been a breeze this time. I have also had good success with Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter, that stuff is awesome. :)
I think it is very normal to have one breast fuller than the other. My right is always fuller than my left. ( it was other way around until I got mastitis on my left) just keep alternating the breast and make sure you empty one before you switch to the next. About the sore if it is the skin sore you can try really weak cortisone cream at the store. ( over the counter) apply as soon as you breastfeed so by the time you nurse the cream is gone from your nipple and it is safe for the baby. I had to do this and I still do sometime. Or try lanolin oil?
My fave site for BF: www.kellymom.com be sure to check it out!
S.:
Congrats on your baby!!!
Hmmmm....soreness under the nipple? Is there a lump or hardness there? If so - it MIGHT be mastitis....
I would contact your PCP or your GYN to ask them if they want to see you or if they feel that you can put a warm wash cloth over it to help alleviate the pain.
The breast being larger? Happens - even when you are not nursing...my left is bigger than my right...and I've not nursed in 8 years!! :)
I would try pumping to see if you are getting all of the milk out - the hind milk can hang in there....
GREAT JOB MAMA!!!!
A difference between breasts is not unusual-- I had a "pumper" and a "nurser" It seemed like we were more comfortable nursing and maybe he got more on the left side, but when pumping at work it was the right side that produced.
Do you always nurse in the same postion or do you use different holds? I always thought switching around was a good idea... But I'd definitely have a LLL leader or LC look at the sores
One breast is usually preferred by baby and will make more - but it eventually balances out.
As for the sores, sounds like the latch is getting lazy - you may need to have your baby's latch re-evaluated to see if that is the cause. With baby being only 2 months - that sounds like the most likely problem. It could also be the position the baby is held in, or possible tongue tie.
