Anyone pumping and breastfeeding also? Please no negative comments. I breastfed our son his whole first year with no problems, but this time has been different since our daughter was born at 33 wks. I had to start out pumping and taking it to NICU. She only stayed a week and then came home, but they said to wait till she was 5 lbs before nursing, which was only a week after we got home. So I cut back on pumping when I started nursing, and found out she wasn't strong enough to keep my milk supply up (which I was pumping 6 oz altogether and it dropped to 1.5 oz-and she was not sucking good). So got it back up to 3 oz each side after I started pumping again every 2 hrs, she reached her due date and started nursing well but I still pump, but now after I had sore breasts and fever over the weekend which I took care of, my supply has dropped again. I have sharp pains shooting toward my nipples. I don't know what to make of it. I am determined to keep breastfeeding though and I know there are other women out there who feel strongly about it also, so please, no negative comments.

Kudos to you for breastfeeding! If your supply has slowed down and you're experiencing pain in your breasts, you may be engorged. Do your breasts feel warm to the touch? If the pain gets worse, I would consult your doctor. I've heard that engorged breasts hurt very badly and I hope that's not the case for you. Just giving my two cents, I hope it was helpful.

Google "thrush Breastfeeding" and compare your symptoms to the ones listed on websites. This is what I just found out I have. It's yeast in the breasts and makes bfing very painful and nipples burn during and after feeds. Also, it feels like shooting pains thru the breasts. Could also be mastitis which can give you a fever although the best thing to get rid of mastitis is to pump/feed often.
Try googling that too and see which one fits. I doubt that it's pain from enforcement. After having 2 babies, I'm sure you know what that feels like.

To treat thrush, you can apply canesten to your nipples after every feed (wipe it off before feeds), change nursing pads after every feed, and paint the inside of your baby's mouth with gentian violet before you go to bed. You can do this by soaking a q-tip in gentian violet, then painting the baby's mouth.
You have to do this for 10-14 days but most Drs recommend 14 days.
Reduce dairy intake, and cut out sugar.
Use a clean towel after every time you shower.
Disinfect all bottles and pump accessories after every single use by boiling (very important!)

No, it's not engorgement...I know what that feels like! I have been soooo engorged a couple of times since having her, I don't think my breasts could have gotten any bigger! lol Actually I don't feel like I have any milk today. I did pump 3 oz a couple of hrs ago and about to go pump again. I am having that shooting pain on my left side down to my nipple. Awhile ago it was almost like a throbbing sharp pain. I will have to check out the thrush symptoms. I know how mastitis feels because I had it with my son and that's what it felt like Saturday-feels like the flu and it is awful! Thanks for the help!

Oh my I had mastitis 3 times while nursing my son. That stuff is no joke! I' m not really sure what the breast pain might be, but I can possibly help with supply issues... the best method I found was this : stage a nurse-in with your little one and pump. Pump and nurse as often as possible for 24 hours. I had to do that a couple of times to build my supply up. Also, I found that eating a bowl of oatmeal every morning helped keep my supply nice and steady. If you aren't a fan of oatmeal, you can find creative ways to sneak it in,such as putting it in meatloaf in place of cracker crumbs...Good luck! And good for you for breastfeeding!