Breastfeeding is a great way to start bonding with the newborn baby. New mothers enjoy this bonding and take breastfeeding as a great experience. But a lot of lactating women complain of breast pain while nursing which reduces the pleasures of breastfeeding. They complain of sore, painful breasts which feel lumpy and tender. Experiencing breast pain during the first 30 to 60 seconds is normal while breast feeding but if the pain persists then there can be several reasons behind it which you should address immediately.
Let us enumerate some possible causes of breast pain during nursing.
Reasons behind breast pain while breast feeding
- Improper positioning is often the most common cause of breast pain that mothers experience. If you lean over your baby then you may experience breast pain and back stress.
- Improper drainage - If the baby is feeding insufficiently then the breasts may pain due to accumulated milk.
- Nipple blanching - This is also known as vasospasm. The nipples turn white during and also in-between feeds. The mothers complain of a burning sensation in their nipples too.
- Engorgement - This refers to the buildup of fluids that occurs during the first few weeks after birth. This occurs due to the conversion of colostrums into mature milk. This is a temporary condition and usually lasts around 24 hours.
- Strong milk ejection reflexes -When milk comes out, women get a tingling sensation but some women feel a strong reflex which causes pain during milk ejections. Women with more abundant milk supply mostly experience this pain.
- Thrush infection -A thrush or yeast infection is associated with burning breast pain during feeding and pain deep inside the breasts. The nipples may also become itchy, red, flaky and cracked and can have rashes.
- Mastitis - It is a benign condition that is quite common in women who breastfeed. The skin around the nipples cracks which allows bacteria to enter the breast duct where they grow and excites the inflammatory cells. This causes the breast tissues to swell and increase blood flow. The breasts become swollen, red and often feel hot.
- Other reasons - Women with inverted nipples or flat nipples often feel pain while nursing.
Breast-pain during breast feeding
Breast pain remedies and enjoy breast feeding
If your breast pain persists then you should seek medical advice for your and baby’s wellbeing.
- Pains arising due to improper positioning can be reduced easily by properly holding the baby and sitting comfortably. You may take support of pillows to rest your arms. Change your nursing position while feeding so that the entire breast is emptied.
- Nursing frequently and empting the breasts will also give you relief. Most breast pains are caused by improper drainage which can be reduced by nursing often. Feed the baby from both breasts.
- Wear a bra that provides support but do not wear bra that is too tight or with underwire.
- For nipple blanching taking warm compresses is very soothing.
- You can breastfeed your baby even with mastitis and this may speed up the recovery. Otherwise mastitis can be treated with antibiotics also.
- Massage your breasts after every feed to ease the pain.
- Take plenty of rest and increase your fluid intake.
Following the advice of your doctor will mostly ease out your breast pain and you can enjoy nursing your baby.
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