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05
Apr
rachelcook

Sore breasts question?

by rachelcookComment Published at 20:3520:356 comments6 comments191 Visits191 VisitsReport

Hi all, I have been breastfeeding our 10 day old newborn and I am still getting sore areas on my right breast. I am trying to express and freeze as much as I can, warm compresses and cold compresses and I still have sore areas more so on my right than left. Any other better tips to manage my breasts would be great!! It's difficult when I fall asleep and wake up with full breasts (if bubby has slept a little long than the 3 hrs). I think my breast are on a 2 hourly timetable and little man is on a three to four hour timetable. He is also sleeping very well apart from a little fussing in the late evening.

Any help would be great!!!!

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rachelcook
5.00 (Excellent) | April 22nd | rachelcook
Re: Sore breasts question?

thanks all...stopped expressing after week one, only needed to express 5 times and have them in the freezer. Worked out how to help get rid of upper and lower wind. I still get the witching hour, but it's becoming less and less (instead of 3 hours, now only 2).  Sore breasts have disappeared the hot and cold compresses system worked...

all these replies help. Much appreciated!!! All the points worked for me!!!



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PHOENIX
5.00 (Excellent) | April 12th | PHOENIX
Re: Sore breasts question?

A few things that might help.

-stop expressing. unless you are expressing to store to return to work very soon there is no reason to express. The only expressing you may need to do is if you get too full and bub is having trouble attaching

-unsettled in the late evening is NORMAL. It's called the arsenic hour and all you can do is take a seat and feed, comfort etc until it's over. A fewt heories are that the baby is setting up your supply for the next day and another is that the milk is higher in fat at that time of the day so the frequent feeding gets bub fuller so they stay settled for longer

-The soreness could be from engorgement, blocked ducts etc. Put a warm compress on before a feed, massage gently towards the nipple over the sore area while you feed and a cool compress after the feed. Use cold cabbage leaves between feeds.

-when in the shower massage around your boob towards the nipple to help with lumps.

-are you feeding off both sides per feed? Sometimes with oversupply feeding off just one side is needed. you can do this by just popping bub back on that side instead of giving the other side.

-How many feeds is he having in 24hrs. Babies should feed 2-3hrly during the day and 3-4hrly at night. Having 8-12BF in 24hrs is normal but must be at least 6. Perhaps try putting bub on every 3hrs rather then letting him go 4hrs.

Have you tried calling a local breastfeeding counsellor? The helpline in your state is on 24hrs a day so give them a call and chat through what's happening. they can give you some more info based on what's going on and some tips to help things.

Hope it gets better soon



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Izzy
5.00 (Excellent) | April 8th | Izzy
Re: Sore breasts question?

Is it sore because it's fuller than the left side? is the baby nursing more on the right side and favoring it more?

Or is the soreness due to hard spots in certain areas of the breast? Is it getting emptied adequately? You may be experiencing blocked ducts. If this is the case, I suggest having baby nurse on this side to get that blockage out and have the breast emptied properly. And at the same time, massage where the lump is in the shower to get the milk flowing.

This can be very painful and if you leave it for long, you may develop mastitis.



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Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 6th | Libby24
Re: Sore breasts question?

with alex i had to express a  bit before trying to feed him once my milk was in ( i ended up giving up)

if it isnt a pain call nagala ( ur in perth right?) they are just the other side of vic park and they can help u better as they have a lactation specialist there. they helped me alot with alex.

but to me it just sounds like your breasts are getting used to the milk flow again and should settle in a few weeks. i would keep up the compresses get clay to massage pref after a feed or he will cop a face full of milk. keep up the water and juice (not orange)



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kseers
5.00 (Excellent) | April 6th | kseers
Re: Sore breasts question?

I don't know if it helps, but I used to stroke them in the shower - towards the nipple, to help any blockages.  The combination of warm water and massage seemed to help.  Otherwise it sounds like you are pretty clued up - it takes  a while to adjust to each other and feel comfortable with it all.



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toosh
5.00 (Excellent) | April 5th | toosh
Re: Sore breasts question?

The first thing I can suggest is to stop expressing as this will be increasing your supply - if you need to express for some reason keep it to a minimum. Do you favour your right breast when feeding? If so this may be why it is sorer than the left as it may be producing more. I know how painful it can be when bub sleeps a little longer than normal & your breasts fill up, there is nothing much you can do about that except get up & express a little out. Keep doing the warm/cool compresses if it helps but avoid too much heat & this will make your milk flow, LOL! Good luck & if I can help more please ask.

Teshia



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