Carol posts about a mom of a 4 mo. old who experiences deep breast pain.
The fact that she has a crack on the nipple of the affected breast is quite
significant in connection with the pain.  It provides a portal of entry for
pathogens and could be connected with a low-grade bacterial infection.
Nipple trauma can produce referred pain from bruising and irritation of the
sensitive nipple nerves.  This pain can radiate and be perceived deep in the
breast.  Cracks which don't heal and which are this painful are indicative
of either:  1. repeated trauma or 2. infection (bacterial or fungal) or
perhaps both!   It may be that the mother considers herself too
"experienced" to require an in-person visualization of her nursing technique
and of the wound, but what she may be experienced in is poor latchon
technique which has sabotaged 2 lactations.  Pain is an abnormal symptom.
If I had a nickle for all the women who have assured me over the ph. their
positioning and latch were ok,  I'd be painting beside Lake Como instead of
sitting in my office.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html

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