Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your little one, it’s a natural, convenient and the most successful way to ensure that your child is having the best source of nourishment. Breastfeeding may look like the laid-back and mindless thing to do but it in fact has a learning curve for both the baby and the mother. Mostly this learning process is aced after several episodes of pain, exhaustion, discomfort, frustration and almost giving up altogether. Breastfeeding is a full time job that needs the mother’s mind to the matter at all times. Mothers have to manage their milk supply, may have to keep lactation brownies handy at all times, pump the milk, drain their breasts and many more things to keep things afloat.
When talking about breastfeeding we generally talk about its amazing advantages for the baby, the immunity boosters, the changing form according to the needs of the baby and it being a complete food source but we hardly talk about the breastfeeding pain a mother has to go through at several points during the period. Nursing pain isn’t persistent during the entire period but it surely is recurring even if you do all the things that need to be done. Unfortunately, most new mothers learn about this with their own experience when they’re extremely overwhelmed, tired and in great pain and suffering.
This article is a tell-all for breastfeeding pain so that no other breastfeeding mother feels she’s alone in this and is clueless.
Pain and Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not supposed to cause you any pain, discomfort, soreness. But if you’re experiencing any of this while nursing the baby then it needs to be addressed because it means something isn’t right. The pain and discomfort in the breasts can be treated easily once the problem is diagnosed, these issues are also preventable so that the mother can be careful not to repeat them in future. Sometimes, the mother is doing everything right but remember it’s two of you in it, so you may still have to go through soreness, tenderness and extremely uncomfortable breasts. The silver lining is that with just little tweaks and adjustment everything can be brought back on track so please don’t even consider giving up just yet! Here are a few culprits that might be causing you pain and discomfort in breasts.
Culprits of Pain in Breasts while Nursing
- Poor Latch
One of the most common problems that further leads to several issues is a poor latch. In the early stages of breastfeeding, the mother and the baby can take time to figure out the latching but if it’s causing nipple pain, skin damage, pain even after the baby is done suckling means something is not right. A bad latch is when the baby is sucking on the nipples and not the areola. This can cause constant pain during the nursing session and even after it ends. With a bad latch your production can go down, breasts can get sore, breasts engorgement and even mastitis. A mother can use Lactation Bites as a milk supply booster after correcting her latch.
- Breast Engorgement
The second most recurring breast pain is caused by engorgement or swollen breasts. Breasts can get engorged at any point during the breastfeeding journey. The main reason for this isn’t fully draining the breasts or missing several nursing sessions at a stretch. Although the pain will only last till your next nursing or pumping session but boy will that hurt during that time when the breasts are full. The mother won’t be able to lift her arms, her breasts will feel like blocks of stone on her chest and the tenderness is real!
- Clogged Ducts
Clogged ducts are also a fairly common problem faced by breastfeeding mothers at some point or the other. Sometimes the milk ducts that flow the milk in the breasts get clogged due to a poor latch, if the mother wears tight clothing or an underwire bra or if several nursing sessions are missed frequently. This can cause a small lump in the breasts or a white mark of the nipple or a discomfort while nursing and pumping session. Leaving the clogged ducts untreated can cause serious breast infection called mastitis. The lump in the breasts has to go away.
How to Deal with Each one of them?
In order to get relief from breastfeeding pain, you’ll need to address any of the aforementioned problems you’re facing. Having a bad latch can be the first cause leading to the other problems, so make sure when the child latches on you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort. In order to nail the latch, make sure your baby is well supported with pillows. You should hold the baby in a way that they don’t have to turn to latch, instead your areola should reach the top of the mouth of the baby. Aim for a deeper latch which should feel comfortable and pain less.
Most of the breastfeeding problems are solved with nursing the baby, the more you nurse the better you get at it and resolve various issues on their own. Just like in case of breast engorgement, feeding the baby will cause the swelling to decrease and ease the pain. Frequent nursing sessions also act as a milk supply booster. In order to make sure that you don’t get breast engorgement, nurse the baby on demand or at least after every 2-3 hours initially and 4-5 hours after introducing solids. If or when you have to miss a session always keep a pump at hand to ease the filling breasts. Order lactation cookies and boost your milk supply!
Hot and cold compresses are also a great way to ease out lumps and swelling of breasts. The hot compress is great before the nursing session as it softens the breasts. The cold compress is great after the feeding session to numb the pain sensation and soreness. Ointments, balms, creams and medication can also help in relieving breast pain.
A Word from Milky Mama
Breastfeeding can hurt but it’s only about time you figure out the causes and alleviate them with a few simple steps. If you’re going through breastfeeding pain, consult your doctor, midwife or lactation expert and get the help you need!