painful breast

[skfmama]

My son is almost 6 weeks old and my left breast is very painful when he nurses. It was worse over the weekend - I think I had a milk blister and some plugged ducts, but that seems to have cleared up. Now when he latches it hurts a lot, and as the feeding goes on the pain lessens some but is still there. After nursing my breast remains pretty tender - not just the nipple, but also the outside and lower part of my breast. It's hard to describe...it's a dull, achey pain that is also a little burn-y. It hurts more when something touches it (like clothing), and fades as more time has passed since nursing (but never really goes away 100%).

I'm pretty sure his latch is okay, and when he nurses on my right side there's pretty much no pain. I think I had a bit of thrush about a week ago, but it was minor and I've been using APNO consistently and I think it's cleared up.

Any ideas on what's causing this, or how to make it more comfortable to nurse on that side?

Thanks!

[LittleLegos]

I wonder if it's like a bruised sensation. I would get that sometimes after having a bout with plugged ducts.

[skfmama]

Would that even be the case if it's in a different area of the breast? The plugged ducts I had were at the top of my breast, more like towards my armpit, and this sensation is towards the outside and bottom of my breast.

Do milk blisters hurt for awhile after they've been popped? I can still see the white spot that I think was a milk blister, although it's much smaller now.

[LittleLegos]

Hmmm

I'd think a bruised sensation post plugged ducts would be in the same spot. It sounds like it might be helpful to run though a list of potential things with an LLL Leader or HCP.

Referred pain can sometimes occur too in the breast, particularly from a back injury or strain.

The burning reminds me of thrush though...