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202436 tn?1326474333

Breast Pain after stopping BFing

For those who don't know I wasn't actually "nursing" DD, she never got the latch right so I was pumping and bottle feeding her the breast milk.  Last Monday was the last time I pumped.  I can tell that over the last several days the intitial engorgement has started to subside.  My breasts aren't as full and heavy.  Also note that I tapered off of pumping going from 4 times a day down to 3, then 2 then 1 gradually in order to help eliminate massive engorgement.  

Anyway, of course my breasts have been tender becuase my milk isn't dried up yet but last night the left one suddenly became extremely painful.  I was sitting at the computer and it started having really sharp, stabbing pains and the nipple became extremely tender.  It went on with the sharp, stabbing pains for an hour or so then it turned into widespread pain across the entire top half of the breast.  There is one spot that is noticeably more tender/painful than the rest but its still REALLY painful all over the top half/sides and nipple.  It's so painful that it kept me up most of last night.  The only thing that helped at all was to either use my hand to put some pressure on it or to lay on my back VERY still.

I've looked at it and there are no visible red spots, no lumps/hard spots.  It doesn't feel like typical engorgement..it's more like tissue-type pain if that makes sense.  I am still leaking just a little though. I haven't done anything different than in the last several days with the exception of DH and I being intimate last night (first time since I stopped pumping) and it was about 45 mins AFTER that the pain started.  I wore a snug fitting sports bra the whole time tho.  

Any ideas what this could be?  Should I try to pump and see if it relieves it or should I go to the doctor?  If so, should I wait and see if I can get an appt wtih my obgyn tomorrow or go to an urgent care place today?  This is really painful and the slightest movement/touch makes me cringe. Any help/suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
14 Responses
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1346146 tn?1299360497
I understand about the benadryl, does the same thing to me, any antihistimine will do if you can find one that doesnt make u feel bad.  Good luck, glad u are feeling a little better
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Thanks ladies.  I used the cabbage leaves last night along with a cold compress.  That side feels TONS better this morning.  Just a little tender which is to be expected til I dry up..but no more sharp stabbing pains or generalized burning pain.  The right side is now a little engorged so I'm gonna keep using the cabbage leaves and cold compresses.  In addition I'm still wearing two snug fitting sports bras.  

Joy:  Lily doesn't have any signs of thrush.  Since I'm not in that kind of pain anymore and don't have any other symptoms I'm gonna wait and see.  

trying43:  I thought about the benadryl but it makes me REALLY sleepy and if I take it at night it gives me a horrible hangover feeling in the morning.  

I'm just glad that pain is gone...whatever it was.  
Helpful - 0
1346146 tn?1299360497
Keep the cabbage leaves in the fridge and tuck them into your bra until they warm to your body temp.  Benadryl can also help dry you up too.  If you can take ibuprofin do so, its anti inflamitory.  Hope it gets better soon, good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Massage, massage, massage! This sounds like mastitis. I had this and it HURT and was so uncomfortable. I had a hard time finding a lump and then finally I found it. I massaged and massaged and tried to express milk to get it out. Cabbage leaves are good, pain relievers are good.

I would definitely call. Have you checked baby's mouth? Does it look like it might be thrush? Even if you haven't nursed thrush can spread through the pump and other breastfeeding paraphernalia.

If you're still in pain tomorrow definitely call. Better to get seen or get some advice then to suffer it out without knowing what it could be. I feel for you! Mastitis is horrible. I can't remember how long it took for mine to clear up. I want to say around 3-4 days?
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Well I tried pumping this morning, just a bit..not even an ounce worth.  It helped a TINY bit.  I used a hot compress for awhile and that helped a BUNCH.  I then did the cabbage leaves and took some pain meds...that helped immensly too.  I'm also now wearing TWO sports bras, 1 that fits right and one that is a little right.  I still have a burning type sensation in my left nipple and it's still tender but NOTHING like it was before.  I'll see how it goes tonight and in th emorning and if it's still like that I'll call my obgyn.  

I breastfed (well pumped) exclusively longer this time than any of th eprevious three so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it.  I never had any problems with my milk drying up before.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with some of the other ladies on here - it could be an infection.  An infection doesn't always first present with a hard lump, redness, fever etc.  especially in the early stages.

I had mastitis several times and what helped me was pumping with a heat pad and massaging.  it was very painful but I was able to resolve it without medical treatment.

If the pain persists or gets worse or you develop new symptoms, you need to be seen asap.

To be honest with you, I would go to urgent care right away though. Pain that is so bad that it keeps you up at night and is so painful you can't touch your breast is not normal.  Something is putting pressure on your nerve and the most likely culprit, since you are tapering off the pumping, is some swelling which absolutely could be caused from an
infection .
Helpful - 0
470885 tn?1326329037
I've heard of mastitis manifesting itself even without flu like symptoms - so it still could be an infection.  I've had mastitis.....and had the fever and chills in addition to the red and painful spot on my breast - which is the "classic" way it presents.  But it seems there's always an exception to every rule!

If the cabbage leaves don't work, I'd recommend getting seen.  I didn't get mastitis the second time - and I BFed Gil exclusively for 11 months, whereas I only BFed Daniel for 6, and 3 months of that I was supplementing with formula - and actually had NO discomfort or engorgement upon stopping, either.  

All the best - I hope it either resolves itself or you can get some medical intervention soon! :)
Helpful - 0
349463 tn?1333571576
I had that same sharp pain off and on for about two weeks after I quit pumping. If it's not hot to the touch and hard then it's probably not infected. Ice packs and a snug bra were the only things that seemed to help. Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Good luck hope it all works!
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
It's not an ER, it's urgent care...which some people use as primary care clinic...but they are open weekends.  I'm gonna hold off a bit...gonna run to Kroger and get some cabbage leaves and try those for awhile and see.  I've been researching the symptoms of breast infections and I don't have a fever, no flu-like symptoms (just some sinus/chest congestion I've had about a week now), no chills, no red streaking/spots or painful lumps.  

I'll see how the cabbage leaves/cold packs work for now.  
Helpful - 0
175665 tn?1306459024
You could have an infection. If I were you I'd call the on-call for my OB and ask their opinion.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't know if the er can do much for ya besides prescribe u some ibproffen.. It might b a waste of money. But if you got full coverage and no bill to worry about then go for it!
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Thanks for the reply.  I went ahead and tried pumping a little to see if that would help.  It didn't do squat.  So I know it's not engorgement pain.  My breast is SUPER SUPER tender, just my bra touching it is causing pain. I cant even wear my seatbelt in the vehicle becuz it hurts so bad.  I'm debating on going to the urgent care place today and see what they say.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Try ice packs.. That's what I did to dry up my milk.. Bc a hot bath does make it feel better but it also makes the milk come up and u profuse more.. So if u can stand to ice ur breasts then it should work... And hopefully relieve ur nipple pain as well.. But I don't think I'd put the packs directly on ur nipple.. Good luck then if this doesn't work I'd call ur ob 2moro.. Good luck :)
Helpful - 0
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