Sore boobs, what should I do?

[Superkat]

Charlie is two weeks old today and I am having a bit of trouble with bfing. No issue with supply, have more than enough. Had had a few issues with feeding at the start so was kept in hospital an extra day. He jus wouldn't feed, and when he did it would only be for a minute or two. He was being fed with a spoon and a syringe for a bit before he started feeding properly.

My right nipple (sorry tmi) was quite sore and red when i first came hone but it eased and have been using the lansinoh cream. Then a couple of days ago I had been having shooting pains in my right boob and the mw gave me some Canesten to put on my nipple. Charlie doesn't have any thrush in his mouth, by she said to keep an eye on him. Have been using it on an off for two days now.

Charlie still inly feed for a short perio each time, he just pulls off or falls asleep and won't go back on. I noticed he didn't seem to be emptying my boobs, especially the right one, as they still felt a bit full after. Yesterday and today there is an area on the outside of my right boob that is sore to touch and a bit hard. It's gone a bit softer after feeding off that side all morning, massaging and hand expressing all morning. Fed off the left boob once and it feel nice and empty, not sore at all. But have fed loads off the right and it's still sore to touch and just doesn't feel right.

Should I pump the right boob? Wasn't sure if I should as that would increase the supply to that boob?

[Oana]

It sounds like a blocked duct on the right side. The best way I found to get rid of it was to lay baby on the bed and kneel over him on all fours and dangle your boob in, sounds so attractive You could try feeding him off the right side for a couple of minutes when you should be starting on the left as the suck is more powerful then.

[lazymummy]

What Oana said, does sound like a blocked duct and the dangling thing does work. Also 'combing' the sore bit with a plastic comb!

[creamcracker]

I've suffered with blocked ducts a couple of times recently and posted a similar thread asking for help. I found all the advice brilliant including the dangling!
What works best for me is a hot shower or hot water bottle, lots of massaging and feed feed feed. Best position I found for my ducts was biological nurturing (I googled it), it seemed to shift the lumps within a few hours.

[creamcracker]

I seem to have cursed myself! Since writing my original reply to this thread I've developed a humdinger of a lump in my right boob!

[Superkat]

Well I ended up ringing the midwife as combined with a sore boob Charlie has been really unsettled, the mw and hv had both said wait and see for a few days, but I was a wee tearful heap earlier so the mw came out to see me.

I expressed and emptied my boob using the pump and then fed him to completely empty it, it feels so much better now, although I still have the shooting pains deep in it. So she got me to ring OOHs GP, both Charlie and I are going to be seen at 6.30pm.

[creamcracker]

How are things this morning SK?

[Superkat]

Lots better, feeling much more positive today.

GP thinks charlie has silent reflux and has given him ranitidine 3 times a day, of course all the chemists were closed last night, but oh is away to get it now.

I got a script for anti-fungal for thrush in my right boob and also some antibiotics for the lump in my boob, I'm not to take the antibiotics unless it really flares up again, red/hot/ high temp but she wanted me to have it so I can start them straight away I it happens.

I'm hoping Charlie is going to be more settled now, he grunts and moans and squirms and cries for hours at a time and it's so hard to deal with at 3am after 5 solid hours! Fingers crossed he will be a happier wee baby now

[Superkat]

I hope your boob is ok now! X

[creamcracker]

That all sounds positive SK! Hopefully all will be sorted now.
DD1 had reflux and ranitidine changed our lives from misery to happy baby and mummy!

Dd2 has sorted my lumps out this morning thank goodness.