Breast Pain During Breastfeeding

Breast pain is a common complaint in breastfeeding mothers. Before breastfeeding, pain and hardness in the breast are usually seen together. Breast pain after breastfeeding sometimes worries the mother. So, what causes breast pain during breastfeeding and what should be done? Let’s answer the questions about breast pain during breastfeeding one by one.

Breast Pain and Nipple Sensitivity

First of all, it is necessary to explain two issues that are often confused with each other but are completely different. Having pain in the breast during breastfeeding and experiencing nipple tenderness during breastfeeding are two different things. Let’s explain these two breast complaints of breastfeeding mothers.

1. What is Nipple Sensitivity?

In the early postpartum period, that is, during the first breastfeeding period, there may be tenderness in the nipple due to various reasons. This problem, also known as nipple pain, usually goes away in a short time. It appears in the first 1-2 weeks of breastfeeding and decreases in the fifth or sixth week. Unfortunately, some mothers may stop newborn breastfeeding, not knowing that this condition is temporary and can be easily overcome with proper breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the second most effective reason for mothers to stop breastfeeding worldwide is nipple tenderness. To avoid such sensitivity, you can apply lanolin nipple cream tothe nipples from the 35th week of pregnancy to soften them. After birth, you can quickly overcome this situation by being careful about breastfeeding the baby correctly and ensuring that the baby takes the entire brown part of the nipple into its mouth. Of course, you can continue to use lanolin cream after birth. Moreover, you do not need to wipe it off before breastfeeding.

1. Breast Pain

One of the common complaints of breastfeeding mothers is breast pain. The condition, which is described as tingling in the chest and pain in the breast, is usually relieved by breastfeeding. It is caused by the milk remaining in the breast and the breast ducts relax with breastfeeding. Sometimes breast pain persists despite breastfeeding. In this case, the possibility of mastitis may be emphasized.

What Causes Breast Pain in a Breastfeeding Mother?

Breast pain in a breastfeeding woman is not something to worry about immediately. However, since it is a similar symptom of problems such as mastitis, it is absolutely necessary to consult a doctor. Basically, the causes of breast pain in breastfeeding women are as follows:

• The effect of dilated milk ducts
• The body is getting used to breastfeeding
• Milk is too thick
• Milk duct obstruction ( You can relieve the ducts by collecting the milk in your breast with a breast milk collector )
• Thrush
• Breast inflammation

How to relieve breast pain during breastfeeding?

Chest duct problems can sometimes be treated with surgery or medication on the advice of a doctor. Sometimes it is enough just to spread it out over time and relax the ducts. It is important to consult a physician about the procedure. If it is a chest pain that does not require medical intervention, such as thrush or mastitis, the following can be soothing.

• A warm bath has a relaxing effect on the ducts.
• Hot and cold compress therapy can open and relax the breast ducts.
• Increasing fluid intake also helps milk to come out of the ducts easily.
• It is important to breastfeed the baby more often or express milk with a breast pump and relieve breast stiffness.
• Rest and being stress-free also help the ducts to empty and the mother to relax.
• Breastfeeding equally from both breasts and not always from the same breast

What Causes Nipple Cracks?

Nipple pain is also very common among breastfeeding mothers’ complaints of breast pain. Cracks in the nipples can turn into a painful and painful result over time. It is necessary to understand the cause of the tenderness in the nipples and find solutions accordingly. This is usually caused by improper breastfeeding. So, what can be done to reduce nipple sensitivity?

• Be in the Right Position

It is necessary to hold the baby in a way that is comfortable for both the baby and the mother, that is, to take the right position.

• Should Grasp the Entire Nipple

It is very important that the entire brown part of the nipple is put into the baby’s mouth. Because giving part of the nipple to the baby’s mouth both makes it difficult for the baby to take milk and causes sensitivity in the nipple. These should be taken into consideration in newborn baby care.

• Nipple Relief

Nipple creams with natural ingredients can be used to relieve nipple sensitivity .

What to do for breast pain during breastfeeding?

If you experience right chest pain while breastfeeding, first check that you are in the correct breastfeeding position. Then make sure that you give both breasts to the baby equally. Express excess milk with a breast pump. Drink plenty of water and breastfeed a lot. If you are still not relieved, see a specialist immediately.

Single breast pain during breastfeeding

You may complain of pain in one breast during breastfeeding. It is usually expected to have pain in both breasts, sometimes more in one. If the complaint of pain in one breast is intense, in other words, if one breast is constantly and predominantly more painful than the other, it may be necessary to consult a physician here. Because you may be suffering from mastitis in one breast. The physician will tell you the most accurate information. Because each case has its own specific details.

breastfeeding Mom’s Chest Tingling

Breast tingling during breastfeeding is common and generally considered normal. During this period of constant stimulation of the breast ducts, mild tingling may occur from time to time. By evaluating the severity and continuity of the tingling, it can be decided whether the condition requires treatment or not. If your complaint of breast tingling during breastfeeding is intense, you can get information from a specialist doctor. Here are some of the things you can take into consideration about breast pain during breastfeeding:

• Tearing in the breast is most common during the new breastfeeding period. It is not seen much in later periods.
• If there is pain and burning sensation during breastfeeding, mastitis may be suspected. Symptoms such as swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, spotting in the breast also indicate mastitis.

The number of mothers who experience breast pain and tingling in the breast during breastfeeding is quite high. In fact, almost every mother experiences these complaints during early breastfeeding. On the other hand, if symptoms such as swelling, pain, fever, spotting accompany breast pain during breastfeeding, it is recommended to see a doctor. It is also important to know that all these complaints are a natural part of the process and that they can all be easily resolved.

Sources

Journal of Research and Development in Nursing, 2013, 15(2), 17-34 pages were utilized for this content.