Do I have mastitis? A plugged duct?? Or is this normal???

[mamadelbosque]

So, my DS2 was born on friday (8/7/09) ~11pm and latched on within 20-30 minutes, which was/is awesome. He's been nursing really, really well since then, but I have some pain in both my breasts for the past 2ish days, and I'm starting to get kind of worried.

So, basicly my nipples are sore/tender to the touch. And both breasts feel warm to the touch, and I have slight shooting pain when DS2 first latches on. I've actually had this sort of tender breasts thing for the last 3-4 months with DS1 (hes 29 months, and was/is down to just nursing first thing in the morning), but I just chalked it up to being pregnant. Now DS1 didn't nurse very well in the beginning at *ALL* - we struggled to get him to nurse every single nursing sessino for the first 2-3 weeks (I forget exactly, I just know that at some point he finally 'got it' and it was smooth sailing from then on). As a result I *THINK* my breasts were sore, but I honestly don't remember much from that period, as I was just *SO* sleep deprived from trying to get him to nurse at night and just... yeah.

So... now I'm starting to get vaguely worried that I have mastitis, due to the warm-to-the-touch & pain/being *SO* tender (like, if my nipples just get brushed by a little leg/arm/whatever, I flinch). Oh, and on my right nipple the very center of it is a slight off color - yellowish almost - and was the one that was most sore first (the left has just started to get sore today - right was sore yesterday)...

What do you all think? Is this mastitis?? A plugged duct? Thrush? (I don't see any signs of that on DS2) Or just normal for the first couple days of nursing?? Lots of thanks in advance!

[fawnanddoe]

It sounds like it could be a plugged duct. That's what mine felt like. I did have mastitis a few weeks ago but I had a high fever.

Are your breasts red at all? With mastitis I had red spots where the inflammation was. Normally women only get it on one breast but I had it on both

Warm compresses, hot showers, massaging your breasts and nursing frequently should help. If it persists or gets worse definitely call your hcp.

I hope it clears up!

[smanore]

I think it sounds like it might just be the normal course of breastfeeding in the early days. The nipples get really tender and sensitive and the breasts will get tender, lumpy, warm, heavy etc. I think you're heading into the onset of your mature milk being in. Nursing frequently, using cool compresses, cabbage leaves on breast, and Ibuprofen if you're comfortable using it (it's considered compatible with breastfeeding) will help. You can try using saline soaks for 2 minutes after feeds too, to help heal the nipples. Use 1/2 teaspoon salt to a cup of water. Soak each nipple for two minutes. Pat dry. Change the solution daily. You could then dab some of your expressed milk to the tender areas as well. I hope you're feeling well soon. Congratulations.

[mamadelbosque]

Hmm well, while my breasts are still sore today they don't feel nearly as bad as they did yesterday, so I'm thinking that it must've either been plugged duct(s), or else just the normal initial soreness... Either way it seems to be subsiding which is encouraging!!