Bit by 14 mo - still in MAJOR pain days later

[Ellien C]

My 14 mo old and I kind of fell asleep on the couch nursing on Saturday afternoon and I guess he was clamped down. I have EXCRUCIATING pain on nursing now on Monday - days later. I can tolerate the breast pump on it's lowest setting so I'm pumping every 12 hours or so. It still hurts but I can tolerate it. I tried 3x to have him nurse on the sore side and it's incredible.

What's happened here? Could he have bitten a ligament? Crushed a duct? What do I do? I've never experienced anything like this. My daughter nursed until over age 4 and I was bit a few times. Once we didn't nurse on one side for like 24 hours, but this is far beyond that. My breast is also sore I've noticed, at night when I take my bra off. It's very tender to even the slightest touch.

[PatioGardener]

Ouch! It sounds like you may have an infection, Mama. Can you see your primary car physician about it?

[Ellien C]

Well - that's interesting. He didn't break the skin, do you still think that could be it? I do have a call into my PC physician.

[Marissamom]

I haven't ever had this happen, but maybe because you weren't nursing on that side from the bruising mastitis set in? there also could be breaks in the skin that are too small to see. 

[Ellien C]

I'm wondering about mastitis - but I don't feel sick, no fever, no heat on that breast and no swelling. But it's pretty sore. I called my internist and she was unhelpful. Just told me to apply ice and call the OB if I had fever, swelling or flu-like symptoms over the next few days. I am pumping at least 2-3x a day on that side. My boy is "day weaned" from me since I WOHM full-time and he's over a year.

[PatioGardener]

I wonder if you got a blocked duct with the chomp (I was imagining blood when I first read your post and suggested infection)? The worst pain I had had breastfeeding came from a nipple bleb. Have a good look at your nipple and see if you have a bleb that started from the trauma.

If not, I think I would treat for blocked ducts/mastitis in your situation - hot bath/shower, massage, expression or nursing or pumping, followed by ice packs and ibuprofen (only if you take it usually.)

Hope it feels better soon!