Nursing HURTS! Anyone else?

[mrzmeg]

My toddler is still nursing and I started noticing that my nipples were sore about a week after ovulation. It's gotten steadily worse, to the point that I am nearly grinding my teeth when he latches on! His latch is just fine, etc, so I know it's because of the pg. Anyone else in a similar place? Does anyone know anything to do about it?
Does the soreness go away, or just get worse as pregnancy progresses? I must admit I'm somewhat looking forward to my milk going away and the possibility of him self-weaning.
TIA

[jessikate]

My breasts were sore in the beginning, and then it went away. Now, for the past week or so, it's felt like she's latching on with her teeth instead of the right way. I'm pretty sure she's latching correctly, and it's just nipple tenderness, but it's just killing me.

I doubt we have any chance of her weaning during my pregnancy here, but that's okay. I just hope she'll learn to accept some boundaries soon.

[ctdoula]

Me Me Me! It's killer when she latches. I'm literally gritting my teeth & breathing. It gets better after about a minute.

[MaryLang]

Me too!!! It kills. But I do not want her weaning, she's only 7months way earlier than I planned. I'm just going to bear it and hope my milk stays.

[mrzmeg]

Whew, good to know I'm not alone! Geez, I was open to tandeming---but I'm *really* hoping this pain doesn't continue.
Mary, from what I've read, the key to keeping your milk is making sure you eat plenty and get tons of vitamins---more prenatals than usually recommended. You might also try drinking Mother's Milk tea to help keep your supply up. But I don't think it's really an issue until 4 or 5 months (anyone know for sure?).

[saharasky]

It's just starting to be 'uncomfortable' ...doesn't quite hurt yet ...but i can tell it's coming.

[jessikate]

Originally Posted by mrzmeg

...You might also try drinking Mother's Milk tea to help keep your supply up....

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but you shouldn't drink Mother's Milk tea during pregnancy. It has fenugreek in it, which is known to bring on menstruation and could possibly cause miscarraige. Who knows how much you'd have to ingest to cause one, but better to avoid it altogether.

If you'd like to take a galactogogue, you can take nettle (up to 2 capsules, 3x/day), blessed thistle (up to 3 capsules, 3x/day), marshmallow (up to 3 capsules, 3x/day), or dill tincture (not sure of dosage). You can safely combine up to two of these herbs. It's also safe to drink fennel tea but not to take fennel tincture. There is also a tincture called More Milk Two that is safe to take while pregnant. I don't have a link, but it should come up on a Google search.

I've been taking nettle capsules when I remember, usually 2-4/day, and also adding nettle leaf to my RRL tea. I still have a ton of milk at 7 weeks. Hopefully, it sticks around.

[mrzmeg]

Oh, JK, I've never heard that! I even asked my midwife what she thought about using it to keep supply up during pg and she didn't mention it. Thank you for setting me straight!

[MaryLang]

Thanks, I remember you mentioning that someplace else.

[Marysmama]

EDD Jan. 21 17w3d

Hi everyone, just popping in from the Jan. group. Wanted to say that I'm still nursing my 19 mo dd. In the beginning, nipple soreness was my first sign I was pg. Anyhow, it has gotten progressively worse.

Lately she only nurses 2x a day. A huge difference from the beginning of pg. I think my milk is gone as well. It still hurts. In fact it is just as some of you described, teeth-gritting, heavy breathing pain. But, the good thing is that the pain goes away after about a minute or so.

The good thing is that my dd has started sleeping through the night for about 10 hours straight. And I didn't really do anything. I think it may heve something to do with my milk going away.

Good Luck with nursing, ladies.

[manzanitamomma]

My nipples are killing me, especially when she first latches on. My parents were here last weekend, and for some reason she wanted to nurse every hour and a half all day and all night. As soon as they left she slowed down again .

I bought the More Milk Two from motherlove.com. From what I hear, 20 weeks is a common time for milk to disappear, but that it is really individual. My midwives suggested Red Raspberry Leaf and Nettle teas.

Jennifer

[aprildawn]

hi. dd weaned around 18 months. but i have many many times wondered how you ladies do it, nurse a toddler or babe on your sore pregnant breasts. my breasts and nipples are so sore -- have been since b4 i found out i was pregnant. putting on a bra hurts! dd likes to lie next to me on the sofa and watch tv or read. she squirms and squrims. she inevitably rolls over onto my breast it, pinching the nipple between her arm or back and the couch. my gosh it hurts. do they make stainless steel bras? it's moments like that i wonder how other mamas can endure a latch even just once a day!

keep on nursing. i applaud you.

[goodcents]

Originally Posted by mrzmeg

Mary, from what I've read, the key to keeping your milk is making sure you eat plenty and get tons of vitamins---more prenatals than usually recommended.

Be careful when taking more than recommended. Too much Vitamin A can be dangerous to the baby. I will ask my sister (a nutritionist) but I think too much A actually may cause birth defects.

That said mine are so sore too. I really thoought it was a latch thing - but now after reading this thread I guess I am just part of the "I'm pregnant and my nursing baby is hurting my boobies club!". :LOL

[BlueStateMama]

No pain or discomfort yet...and I think I'm about 7 weeks or so along (I'll know after my u/s on Thurs.) - I'm keeping my fingers crossed that maybe I'm a rare case???? :

[saharasky]

The 'nana's' are officially sore ...nipples are fine though ...but the actual glands feel all bruised. UGH

I just keep telling myself it's a good sign that the PG is progressing normally because I'm totally paranoid that I'll miscarry this time.

[sarasprings]

No soreness yet at 7 weeks : . My son is close to 29 months and we are definitely weaning. It's going very slowly, but we are really committed to it at this point. Well, almost. I would like him to be weaned except maybe at nap (it's the only way he naps at all). He is a total milk hound and although he will be a different person in April, I'm not sure how he will be at sharing.