Breast Pain/Nursing strike

by Shaunah
(North Richland Hills, TX)

I have an eleven week old girl whom I exclusively breast feed. For the past few weeks though she has been rejecting my breasts. It started after her two month check up with her pediatrician when she recieved three shots. I assumed she wasn't eating because of a reaction to the shots. (I eventually figured out the only way she'd eat is if I feed her chilled expressed milk in a bottle.) After a week she would take the breast but only for a few minutes before she would contuinuosly cry until I gave in and fed her expressed milk in a bottle. I still try to offer her the breast everytime she's hungry but she refuses. I want to get her back on the breast because it's more convenient and I was having pains in my breast. My breast seem to hurt everytime I pump and even at random times afterward. Also my nipples turn white after feeding/pumping. I know it's not a latch problem because I have fortunately had a great latch from day one.
I thought the pains in my breast were from pumping but as I've read over some of your responses I'm wondering if it might be something else. First of all I am wondering if if is possible to have breast pain from pumping? I have to message my breasts everytime to produce let down and get my milk to flow when I pump (my barracuda baby is a very vigorous eater). Is it possible that I might have injured my breast from messaging them?

If that is unlikely I am thinking she might have developed thrush after her last doctor visit and maybe that's why she's not accepting the breast. It looks like she might have a little white on her tounge but I can never get a good look at it. I am thinking if it's thrush, that might also be why my breasts hurt. I'm going to schedule a dotor's appointment to see if it is thrush but I was wondering what this sounds like to you. If it is thrush - is it possible that she will take the breast again when it get's cleared up?

Thank you for your help!

Answer from the LC


Hi there,
You answered your own question before I could, good for you. Yes, sounds like thrush. The fact that your nipple is blanching /turning white after pumping makes me think that you have developed what is called Reynaulds Phenomenon. Which is a fancy word for nipple injury specifically nerve injury (due to pumping/thrush). Dealing with the infection (thrush) should fix it but if it does not seek care with a LC. Contact the hospital and they will give you a referal. I no longer work for NH.
I recommend an evaluation by a LC once the infection is dealt with. If the baby has not been suckling at the breast she will have to be retrained to nurse again. She has simply gotten lazy at the breast and there are some tricks, like using a SNS or supplemental nurser to ease the transition. I would not anticipate her going back to the breast without some work. It can be done, but you will need help.
So glad you reached out for help, this is surely resolvable.

Hang in there.

Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC