Breastfeeding is magic! Breast milk is full of good nutrients for your baby. Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your little child, but in some cases, it can cause some pain.
Is this normal? How to remedy these pains? If you have nipple pain while breastfeeding, read on.
What causes nipple pain while breastfeeding?
Nipple pain or tenderness is one of the most common problems reported by mothers during the first few days of breastfeeding. Any nipple pain beyond this period is not normal and deserves special attention.
If left untreated, sore nipples can lead to complications such as engorgement, mastitis, or early weaning. This pain in the nipples may be due to an infection.
How to relieve nipple pain while breastfeeding
While you’re still pregnant, you must be aware of something very important about breastfeeding and that is your breasts will have to get used to the baby’s sucking movements and this can cause nipple pain.
Having an irritated nipple and feeling pain, which can be severe at some time is completely normal.
After a few couple of days, or sometimes weeks in the most sensitive new moms, you will no longer have pain during breastfeeding.
Read also: Your First Week Home with a Newborn
To stop nipple pain while breastfeeding use the following steps:
- Spread a drop of your milk on your nipples once the baby has finished breastfeeding;
- Keep your chest exposed as soon as possible;
- Wear wide clothes and if possible in natural fiber to avoid chafing.
Nipple pain and breastfeeding with cracked nipples
But sometimes the nipple pain is intense. If on closer inspection you have like small cuts, they are surely cracks.
They can be due to a bad position during feeding, a bad attachment of the breast by your baby, but also to oral thrush: A practical way to resolve all this is making sure that the baby opens his mouth well to take the breast.
Another way is to use a silicone nipple shield while the cracked nipple heals. If despite these precautions, the cracks do not pass, your experience stabbing pains and the baby has white spots on the mouth then it is certainly thrush, and taking an antifungal is needed.
Is it normal for nipples to be sore when starting to breastfeed?
You have a sore nipple at the very beginning of the feed: again, there it’s all normal and there is nothing to worry about.
It is your baby’s sucking motion on your nipple that will trigger the milk let-down reflex. At first, this arrival of milk can create a feeling of tightness, tingling, even slight pain when the milk comes in, but these sensations are different from one mother to another. Over time, this discomfort will disappear.
When should I be concerned about breast pain?
If after reviewing the different causes of pain during breastfeeding and implementing solutions stated above you continue to have pain, consult your doctor.
Having pain all the time while breastfeeding is not normal. The consultation will determine the origin of the pain and find a remedy.
However, it’s possible that your infant is the cause of your pain: a tongue tie that’s too short or torticollis can hinder your baby from sucking properly.
Other tips to help you naturally stop nipple pain while breastfeeding:
- Avoid underwired bras, which risk compressing the milk ducts and causing engorgement: Go for suitable nursing lingerie.
- End each feeding session by smearing a drop of milk on both nipples
- Breastfeeding should be done in a comfortable position.
- If you use breast pads, make sure to change them on a regular basis.
A word from nursingyourkids.com
In conclusion, nipple pain while breastfeeding can be a result of a number of factors. The most common ones are improper latch, breast engorgement, and sore nipples.
If this is the case, you should try to remedy the situation. You can do this by using breast pads or switching to a different position while nursing your baby. It’s also important to try and find the right position for your baby so that he or she is comfortable with breastfeeding.
