OK this is a new one for me!
This is my fourth babe, and got a plugged duct over the weekend. Well, really bordering on mastitis...fever, chills, red area on breast etc. I got to bed, nursed as much as possible, did heat, breast compression, pumping etc. Finally got the hard lump to disappear. In 24 hours the fever broke etc. and I was feeling better. Took it easy for a few days, yet continued to express, etc. as the lumpy area got engorged and hard.
Fast forward a few days. Apparently the pumping has caused some injury to my areola/nipple. My nipple is quite large and would *just* fit into the flange on the pump. Well, now, the nipple is quite firm, swelled, as is the areola. And, I use the term edema because really it's acting like that...when I do get him to nurse on that side it's quite painful, the nipple isn't stretchy like usual, and after he gets in and nurses, the nursing is very slow (slow milk flow in comparison to the other side). When he unlatches I can clearly see the indentation in the areola that he has made from the tissue that was in his mouth. And, he is getting enough areola into his mouth. No color change, just a pitted area. I also notice that if he puts his fingers by the areola, it will leave a pitt. It's really acting like pitting edema. I also get a deep painful ache after he is done nursing as the fluid returns to the area. The areola area is very full/stiff as is the nipple. Hand expressing is quite difficult, if not impossible. Compression in the area is quite painful, as is nursing initially as the nipple gets stretched at the beginning of a feeding. However, the actual breast feels completely normal, like the other breast. It appears to only be the areas that came in contact with the pump that are experiencing the edema.
I'm not concerned about supply, honestly I generally have oversupply, and literally I'll nurse him all day if I need to...he's having generous amounts of poop/wet diapers and is doing well.
I generally don't pump, have never used a baby bottle either. Likely got a bit overly assertive with expressing when i had the clogged duct (bordering on mastitis) as I didn't want to have to deal with antibiotics, etc.
I'm concerned about comfort levels, and if anyone has any suggestions on things I might try. It seems that only the areas that came in contact with the pump are affected.
And, it IS swelling, not engorgement. Having functioned as a breastfeeding counselor in the past I know the difference. This just doesn't exactly fit with the typical 'sore nipples' I used to council on and I'm wondering if anyone here may have some different suggestions to try. I have read through my resources, the breastfeeding answer book, etc. and haven't really found anything that directly addresses this type of situation.
This is my fourth babe, and got a plugged duct over the weekend. Well, really bordering on mastitis...fever, chills, red area on breast etc. I got to bed, nursed as much as possible, did heat, breast compression, pumping etc. Finally got the hard lump to disappear. In 24 hours the fever broke etc. and I was feeling better. Took it easy for a few days, yet continued to express, etc. as the lumpy area got engorged and hard.
Fast forward a few days. Apparently the pumping has caused some injury to my areola/nipple. My nipple is quite large and would *just* fit into the flange on the pump. Well, now, the nipple is quite firm, swelled, as is the areola. And, I use the term edema because really it's acting like that...when I do get him to nurse on that side it's quite painful, the nipple isn't stretchy like usual, and after he gets in and nurses, the nursing is very slow (slow milk flow in comparison to the other side). When he unlatches I can clearly see the indentation in the areola that he has made from the tissue that was in his mouth. And, he is getting enough areola into his mouth. No color change, just a pitted area. I also notice that if he puts his fingers by the areola, it will leave a pitt. It's really acting like pitting edema. I also get a deep painful ache after he is done nursing as the fluid returns to the area. The areola area is very full/stiff as is the nipple. Hand expressing is quite difficult, if not impossible. Compression in the area is quite painful, as is nursing initially as the nipple gets stretched at the beginning of a feeding. However, the actual breast feels completely normal, like the other breast. It appears to only be the areas that came in contact with the pump that are experiencing the edema.
I'm not concerned about supply, honestly I generally have oversupply, and literally I'll nurse him all day if I need to...he's having generous amounts of poop/wet diapers and is doing well.
I generally don't pump, have never used a baby bottle either. Likely got a bit overly assertive with expressing when i had the clogged duct (bordering on mastitis) as I didn't want to have to deal with antibiotics, etc.
I'm concerned about comfort levels, and if anyone has any suggestions on things I might try. It seems that only the areas that came in contact with the pump are affected.
And, it IS swelling, not engorgement. Having functioned as a breastfeeding counselor in the past I know the difference. This just doesn't exactly fit with the typical 'sore nipples' I used to council on and I'm wondering if anyone here may have some different suggestions to try. I have read through my resources, the breastfeeding answer book, etc. and haven't really found anything that directly addresses this type of situation.
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At least now I can call back my LLL friends and tell them how things went. It really was just time that healed it. Boy am I happy now as that was my favorite side to nurse on!
