Breast feeding with a sore breast...?

Question

I've been breast feeding for nearly 9 months, and have never had a problem with sore breasts, but today my left breast is so sore, it feels as though someone punched it or feels bruised, any ideas on why this is happening ? (I haven't hit it on anything, the only thing I can think of is that I missed my feed last night, and my right breast was engorged this morning, but my left breast was okay...)

My left breast is not engorged, just sore, and am still nursing on that side.

Answer 1

Ouch that's no fun at all!!! Missed feedings and engorgement can sometimes cause a plugged duct.

Occasionally (not always) with a plugged duct you can see a small white spot somewhere on your breast or on the nipple and you can tell which area is actually plugged. I've heard from a few people (and read online) that if you can nurse with your baby's chin pointing towards the area of hardness (or where you are most sore) it will help clear the blockage. Use whatever position will accomplish this, even if it means getting on all fours and hanging your boob over your baby to nurse. (Been there, done that... the baby may think you're nuts, but whatever will give you relief is worth it!!)

This happened to me twice and all you can do is breast compressions/massage while you nurse and nurse like crazy to try to work it out before it turns into a Mastitis infection. (Keep a close eye on it.. especially if you develop a fever... this can happen rapidly.) Take a Tylenol if you need to for pain or fever. (I got lucky and only ever had a low fever, but it still hurt like crazy!!!)

If you've got a manual breast pump (rather than electric) take it with you into the tub. I'd nurse my baby on one side and take the pump with me into the bath. I'd lay on my tummy in nice toasty warm water for a few minutes and then pump as much as I could while still in the bath. It got things flowing smoothly again in no time at all. (You could also express by hand if you don't have a pump... I tried this too when my breast was too sore for the pump, but didn't find it quite as effective as the pump. The extra suction seemed to be better once the Tylenol was doing it's job and I could tolerate the pain.)

Good luck, take care!!

Answer 2

missing feedings will cause you to get sore, engorged, and many other things. The best thing I can say is to just keep feeding as usual. It might hurt at first, but you have to keep feeding or you will really get ingorged and hurt. good luck and hope everything works out.

Answer 3

put a warm compress on it, its prol just engorged or a clogged duct. If it becomes red or hot, see your doctor as those are signs of an infection.

A hot shower might help it too... but when I was breastfeeding.. I would leak everytime I took a shower or ran water! lol

Answer 4

in the beginning, please do not supply up - that's only too significant!! Your toddler is having hassle latching on when you consider which you're too finished, you may desire to particular some milk to assist them soften up slightly. in the event that they are too sore to pump or manually show, get right into a heat bathe and enable the water hit your chest and run over your breasts - think of roughly your toddler, and this might set off the "enable-down" reflex. save attempting, and are available across a lactation representative, do not enable anybody supply you that "oh nicely, you tried even though it is going to not paintings" line. you're able to try this!!

Answer 5

well if your engorged thats enough to make your breast sore. try to pump or squeeze milk out in a hot shower.

Answer 6

it could b a clogged duct, they hurt, and can make your entire breast ache. have the baby nurse more on that side to help relieve it, if it becomes swollen, red, or hot to the touch call your dr, it could b an infection. massage can help, so can heat....hope that helps u, I know how terrible it can hurt