Painful Nursing After 3 Months of No Problems

It might be latch due to his teeth starting, or it could be thrush. Below is a list of symptoms from BabyCenter.com. Check in his mouth and see if he has any white patches as well. Maybe that's your culprit?

"Some common signs of a yeast infection in nursing mothers are:
itchy, pink, red, shiny, or burning nipples (may be cracked) (Note that pink, tender nipples can also be a sign of a bacterial infection, or dermatitis, which should be diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist.)
deep, shooting breast pain during or after feedings
a vaginal yeast infection"

To me it sounds like thrush. I had it a few times when I was nursing my little girl. I would check in his mouth for white spots on his checks. I would also go to your OBGYN and have them take a look at your nipples. They will give you a cream that is safe. Both of you will have to be treated at the same time in order for it to go away because it is passed back and forth between mother and baby a lot. I would also make sure that after you pump you are cleaning your pump very well. The doctor said that is most likely how I got it in the first place was due to not cleaning out the pump well enough. Hope you get relief soon!

Yep, as they grow and the shape of their mouth changes, and they/we are more comfortable with nursing we can develop issues again... Make sure the latch is right... Also, I noticed that if I used the nipple cream too often it would actually hurt more than letting them dry out a bit... I only used it 2 times a day for the first week or so then cut down to as needed...
Keep doing what your doing with extra attention to the latch...
With my oldest it looked like someone took a knife across the bottom of my left nippleright at the base... If I remember correctly it was because she was tucking her bottom lip when latching...

Especially if you or your son has been on antibiotics lately, I too would suspect thrush.

Hi L.!

I had this problem with both of my boys. I honestly think it was a latching problem. It hurt so bad. I just kept at it and eventually it passed and once it was gone it was gone. I saw a lactation consultant with my little girl, she was premie and didn't nurse well at first, and I never had this problem with her. Try to get an appointment with a Lactation expert and it may help. It will get better just keep doing what you are doing!!! Good Luck!!
M.

Sound like your son may have changed his latch lately, causing the problem. This can happen as you both get comfortable in nursing and don't pay quite as much attention. Make sure his mouth is open wide, taking a large part of your breast in his mouth. Also, try nursing in different positions as this can help the area that is damaged heal. You may want to consider meeting with a lactation consultant experiences in working with older babies. Hang in there!

lanolin was the only thing that healed my nipples. Within a week things started feeling better and not so painful. It actually looked like someone took a chunk out of one of my nipples. My issue was at the beginning though so it could be a latching issue. Either way I recomend the lanolin or putting breastmilk over your nipples after nursing and air drying before putting them back.

this sounds exactly what happened to me after 8 months of painless nursing, then out of the blue it was so painful! turns out my little girl had a yeast infection in her mouth (barely noticeable by the doctor) that had spread to my breasts (were dry, cracked and were extremely painful with latch and with any pressure at all...but, the pain went away after about 30 seconds of nursing)...my little girl was treated with gentian violet and i put it on my breasts as well and within days i was feeling much better and no longer had painful nursing.

i think you should take your little one to the pediatrician and see if he has signs of a yeast infection...if so, your pediatrician will be able to give you some cream or gentian violet for your breasts. if not, you may have to go to your ob/gyn and get them checked out. and, just fyi, the gentian violet is over-the-counter medicine that is not harmful to you or your little one...and, it only costs a few dollars. but, the down side is that it is purple and stains! so, if you need to use it, i have some tips...just send me a note and i'll get back to you!

good luck and happy nursing!

-B.

I agree with Jess. It sounds you might have some sort of infection. Like thrush or a form of mastitis. I would call your doctor and have him take a look.