Ok, I feel silly for writing this but I need help. I have a 10.5 month old who was exclusively breastfed until about a week ago when he decided he wanted to finally eat big boy food i.e. whatever we were eating. So he cut down to 3-4 times a day nursing but then he would be up every hour at night to nurse and would scream if I tried to get him back to sleep without nursing. My schedule does not allow for much sleep, so I just fed him (we co-sleep). I am thinking it was a growth spurt, but with 8 teeth and his squirmy nature, I became incredibly sore with all the feedings at night- not to mention I felt like I had no milk left (though I know I did, I just didn't ever feel full). So anyways, he is only nursing 3-4 times at night the last two nights, but it has come to the point where I am in excruciating pain every time he latches on. My nipples are cracked and look like they are blistered and it hurts to wear CLOTHES!!! Is this just from the frequency of nursing (it never happened before) or is it something else like thrush? I am taking Advil and using Lansinoh but I want to get back to the pain-free nursing that we both love!
A friend told me to use a saline wash after nursing 8 oz of warm water with 1/2 tsp salt for 1 minute, air dry, then breastmilk/lansinoh. After 12 hours, it was like magic! So I guess it is not thrush! He is sleeping through the night again, so I am still thinking it was a growth spurt mixed in! Thank you so much for the suggestions and support! K.
It could be thrush starting cause that is what happened to me inthe beginning and that is what the doctor said it was. Or it could be all those teeth cause she has two and it is like OUCH!
I think I would rule out thrush -- perhaps by using lotrimin on your nipples for a few days and see if that starts to straighten things out. Thrush can be very painful (either of you have a course of antibiotics lately?).
Meanwhile, I know you're tired and it's super easy for you both to nurse and sleep, but I would be getting up to nurse him so that you have more control over how squirmy he is and you're changing position while the soreset parts heal. Maybe even consider pumping instead?
You might also want to scale back the adding new food to his menu quite so rapidly. If this is something food oriented, you'll never know what it is affecting which of you unless you add only one new *thing* at a time and stay aware of his response to it.
My Mom gave me a book when my first daughter was born (13 years ago?!) that I really appreciated. It's called "Mommy Made (and Daddy too)". It has some nice toddler recipes, but even more handy for me was the 'what age to add which food' tables and then how to prepare them.
Good luck --- I know it's no fun!
A.
I would rule out thrush, your baby is a little too old for that. It sounds like it's the teeth and the baby is getting used to them in his mouth so he's unlatching and latching back on all wrong.
I agree with what a previous poster has said to nurse him while you're awake. At this age they don't need to eat during the night so you can cut out the night time feedings altogether and just snuggle when he wakes up. It might be a little hard at first but you'll be thankful for it, trust me. Feed him dinner before you go to bed, that way he won't be hungry and won't nurse as long. the last feeding is less about hunger and more about comfort. Good luck!
Something similar happened to me as my daughter got older, although I wasn't in as much pain as you are. I realized that my daughter was actually latching on wrong and detaching wrong here and there. So we had to kind of relearn nursing all over again. I had to put my foot down a lot because she would mess around and squirm. I would detached her and start over. She did cry and fuss more at first but it eventually got better. Good luck.
Wow, what a busy woman. I am a Botany Major so I understand. Anyway. Check your sons latch. I know that this sounds strange, but once teeth start coming in things change in his mouth and it might not be easy for him to make adjustments. My oldest teethed on me, or at least it is the only way I can decribe what happened. I went through the split, cracked, bleeding, blistered, oozing nipples. I am wincing thinking about it. I developed mastitis. Please get in touch with La Leche League and see if someone can make a home visit with you to evaluate what is going on.
I would rule out thrush.I would also try not too wear a bra/shirt whenever possiable at night.Every time he nurses, I would let your breast air dry, dont wipe them dry.The milk will help heal(natural moustrizer).I would lansinoh during the day.I would also if poss put him in his room to sleep, then go to him when he needs fed.I would decrease the vaarity of foods he is eating because he may not be used to all the new foods/spices.Just a thought.Take care, and Happy Holidays.
Hi K.,
Maybe it could be thrush. Does he have white patches in his mouth? My son when he was a baby got this...and yes, it's quite painful even for mom. I can relate... when he nursed, I was in excruicating pain. My pediatrician was able to give him and me some medicine for relief. I honestly do not recall the name of it. I do know that if that's the case...both of you need medication. If only one of you is treated you will keep getting reinfected. Talk to your pediatrican about it...they should be able to help you. Hope you feel better soon!
K., I know you already closed this out, but one thing that I did when I had cracked or sore nipples was to make your self a cup of black tea to drink. Once you have made your tea, take the tea bag and place it into a cup of ICE water. Then, take the tea bags and squeeze out the excess water and place them on you nipples. (It's cold and a shock to your body, but it relieves the pain and I was told that the tannic acid in the tea helps to heal...I've been told this also works for bee stings, but never have tried it for that) Put a pad between the tea bag and your bra. It really works well. This advice was given to me by the nurse at the hospital when I had my first son. I used it with all 3 of my kids. Hope your healed by know, but seriously, if it ever happens again give it a try!!
Mom of 3 great sons 11, 9, and 4
