Sore nipples after nursing for 16 months?

[Happyli]

HI there...

So, in the last week or so, my nipples have become pretty sore when nursing and also pretty sensitive the rest of the time. They also seem to be almost swollen and pretty distended most of the time. I have read up on thrush and neither my DS or I exhibit any other signs, no discharge, no cracks or bleeding from me and no signs of thrush on him. He is teething like mad and is nursing a bit more than usual during the day, but he doesn't nurse from bedtime (around7:30 pm) until 5-5:30 am. I have been trying to do research on posible causes and cures, but haven't found anything for women who have sore nipples and who are nursing toddlers.

I am not interested in weaning him anytime soon, but I don't want the situation to get any worse...Have any of you experienced sore nipples after a pain free nursing experience with a toddler?

[smanore]

It might be from the teething itself. When babies/toddlers are teething it changes the ph balance of their saliva. This helps to break down the skin on their gums, to make it easier to cut their teeth (during this time their urine has a strong smell of ammonia as well -esp. noticeable if you're using cloth diapers). It's all well and good, but the nipple and areola are made of skin too. It can break down the skin surface a bit. This doesn't cause any cracks, scabs, or bleeding. It just causes sensitive, kind of sore nipples. Rinsing the nipples with warm water after feeds will rinse your toddlers saliva off the nipples. You can also use your breastmilk to protect and heal the skin a bit. It improves once the teeth are in.

Another thought. Is there any chance you might be pregnant? That can cause prolonged nipple tenderness as well. Just a thought. Sue

[Mom2Camryn397]

Have you gotten your period back yet? I had lots of soreness right before my cycles started to come back.

[kdtmom2be]

A little late with this response, but are you pregnant?

[thepeach80]

My breasts hurt the few times I Oed when bfing, it went away right before af came or I got my bfp.

[jaidymama]

Check the latch... I think sometimes they can become a little more freewheeling with their latch. They can become lax and not have the best latch. Oh, and the thing my ds did is to not actually unlatch as he came of the breast... so it was like he had the latch as he pulled my nipple each time he came off.