sore boob mystery at ~10 months

[clh]

OK, ladies.  I need some help figuring this out.  This week my boobs have been *so* sore, particularly when I latches or the pump starts.  I haven't felt like this since he was a newborn a couple of weeks old.  Any ideas why?  Our feeding *pattern* (doing nurse or pump every 3 hr) has stayed the same, but a couple of weeks ago, I had to increase my time at work.  I went from pumping 3 days/week (MWF) to 5 days/week (M-F).  Do you think that may have kicked my body out of "exclusively bf'ing" mode?  Am I ovulating or something?  Could it be a problem I need to see my doctor about? 

Tell me it'll get better!  BTW, it does get better after a minute or 2, but that initial pull...  YIKES!

All help appreciated... 

[Purplecattypants]

Could you be pregnant?!

[clh]

OH, GOSH!        I guess anything is possible, but I didn't even consider that b/c we've been careful and I *do* remember something like this happening with ds1, but I can't remember what it was...  Still trying to think...  Maybe with ds1 was soreness, decreased supply with periods returning?  Does that make sense?

Angela, you 'bout made me fall out of the chair.    A little warning, woman! 

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

If your pumping on a high setting it does make your boobs hurt mine did the other day when i was pumping after every feed. There fine again now

[Purplecattypants]

Angela, you 'bout made me fall out of the chair.    A little warning, woman! 

OOps sorry Candice!! LOL.

So, is it just your nipps that are really sore or your whole boob in general? If its just the nipps it could well be the pump, if the whole boob then maybe a hormonal issue......

[clh]

Just the nipples.  I'd think it was the pump, but I hardly turn it on & it gives me fits.  It's never been close to the highest settings.  Usually somewhere in the middle.  Do you think it might be because I'm pumping more (as opposed to nursing)?

[binxyboo]

When I got my period back at 10 months, my nipples were very tender a few days before. Maybe something like that??

[clh]

Maybe so.  I guess I'll know if it's that in a few days. 

[Purplecattypants]

Let us know! 

[Lilah'sMommy]

Since AF resumed after her lovely 10 month hiatus after DD2 was born, my boobs (my whole boob, not just the nipples) are pretty sore pretty much from OV until AF arrives.  I am thinking every month that I'm pregnant because of the sore boobs, but I never really believe I am, it's just that this isn't exactly what used to be "normal" for me.  So maybe something hormonal?

I also remember after DD1 around 9 months (right after she got teeth) I ended up getting a tiny, barely visible nick on my nipple from her teeth and it hurt like the ens every time she's latch on.  It took me awhile to relaize there was actually a tiny cut there.  But it's unlikely that would happen on both sides, I guess....

[NoonieP]

Have you tried a different size breastshield? I was using the ones that came with my pump and couldn't turn the pump up very high without pain. I got some bigger shields and when I turned the pump on to my "regular" setting, nothing came out. I went to turn the pump off, but tried the highest setting for just a sec (last time I tried it with the old shields I thought I was going to cry and couldn't imagine why they made such a high setting, who would use it?) My milk flowed faster than ever, I got a lot more milk and no pain.

Turns out that my nipple was rubbing on the sides of the shield. I'm not a Dr. but could your breasts have changed lately and you need a different size? Breasts are always changing when we're not pregnant or nursing so I would imagine they would change a lot while we are breast feeding.

[clh]

Good thoughts, ladies.  Thanks!  I don't know why, but today has been easier.  Still a little tender, but not the pain of last week.  If it doesn't clear up completely, I'll look into a different shield size.