nipples starting to hurt---5month old

[Renee'sMum]

Within the last 3 days my nipples have been REALLY sore when my dd has been feeding.  The one looks like there is a small blood blister, maybe. Why would they start to hurt now? I have noticed that she is sucking harder, tugs and pulls a bit. Is it time to start giving her solids? I have been getting my period...sensitivity from that?  I have a call into my local health nurse and will try to see doctor, but just wondering if any of you had any insight as well.

[Samuel's mum]

Could be your period as that can certainly cause nipple sensitivity and sometimes a variation in supply.

It could be that her latch has changed perhaps as a result of discomfort through teething.

You could also 'express' a tiny bit by hand to start the milk flowing just before you put her on incase she's frustrated with a slow let-down.

Sometimes thrush causes nipple pain and things a bit like blisters. This website has a couple of (scary photos) of nipples with thrush.
http://lactinv.com/tscreen.htm

I'm not sure how old your baby is but it really is worth waiting until 6 months if you are breastfeeding before starting solids.
The following organizations recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):

World Health Organization
UNICEF
US Department of Health & Human Services
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Dietetic Association
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Health Canada

On the kellymom site you can click on the name of each organisation and find out why.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html

[Kate A]

My dd did this too and I got my period back at five months.  When you are ovulating and when you are menstrating your supply will go down and let down will be slower.  I am in the midst of ovulating and let down is really slow....she's so frustrated.  Also, she's teething and that will change the way she sucks.  Does it hurt on top of the nipple or on the bottom?  That might help with the teething question.  I was sore on the bottom and it was right as the bottom teeth were poking through. 
Drink alot of water, pumping before will help to get flow going and there's herbs you can take as well.

[Renee'sMum]

After talking with the health nurse, she thought that it sounds like we have thrush and to see the dr.  Now the frustrating part is trying to see one!  Hers is away till May 2 and mine wasn't taking any more patients today, so I have to go to an after-hours clinic tonight.  So we shall see what they have to say!!

[gavinsmum]

We had thrush due to vaginal delivery - (It was horrible and lasted forever)  But now that my LO is 6 months I thought we wouldn't have to worry about it again.  Can I do anything to prevent us from getting it again?  I have recently had sore nipples too, small abraisions.  I was thinkning that maybe he was just sucking harder now that he's older, or maybe teething.  I never realized that about my period though.  I haven't had one yet, but he is definately nusing less now that he has solids, so maybe that is coming??  Interesting to learn...

[Renee'sMum]

So saw an after-hours doctor.  He said that there is no evidence of thrush--dd has no white patches in her mouth. He said to use a warm compress after feeding and then apply lanolin to the nipple for the next 3 days or so.  If it hasn't improved, see my doctor.

[Samuel's mum]

gavinsmum - you can help prevent thrush with various supplements and your diet. e.g taking a acidophilus supplement, taking garlic, avoiding too much refined sugar (Yeah, right!). Plus being extra vigilant if you have any nipple trauma (changing bras and breast pads regularly, washing bedding and towels on 'hot', allowing nipples to dry).

Here's a link:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/preventing-thrush.html

[evelyn]

My lo is almost 7 months old and i am currently having my 5th AF.....and i can definately say that my nipples are very sensetive at this time...i have had cracks, scabs and bloodblisters....oooo the joy!

[Mum of girl, boy, boy]

Wow thanks for your post.

Was just searching because I am sore on one side. I had a very light period at the start of the week. DS has been pulling more and judging my the replies I guess they feel a bit more sensitive because of the period etc.

Hope all is going ok now for you.

J

[Renee'sMum]

Things have cleared up!  Thanks for asking!
I went back to my dr the following week and he gave me some cream to use.  The cut or whatever it was went away.
He also said that they can't tell you its thrush just by looking in the mouth for the white patches---they have to do a swab. I guess it is b/c you can be showing signs but the lo might not be.