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Breast hurts while feeding: what to do? Video
Breastfeeding is a natural process that is extremely important for the health and development of your baby. Thanks to breast milk, the baby is provided with ideal nutrition, close contact with the mother is established, immunity is formed and faster development is stimulated. But what if feeding is painful?
Does your breast hurt while feeding?
Correct latching is the key to successful feeding
The vast majority of causes of breast pain during breastfeeding are due to improper attachment. Even if you are not your first child, but have an impressive experience behind you, always monitor whether you are applying your baby to the breast correctly. Find a comfortable position so that your child’s head is tilted back a little.
You can lie on your side or sitting, the main thing is that it is convenient for you to be in this position for a long time. The baby should open his mouth wide and grab the nipple along with part of the areola, while his lips should not be pulled inward. During feeding, there should be no smacking, and at the same time you will hear the baby swallowing milk. If you do everything right, discomfort is acceptable only in the early days. Subsequently, all sensations will only be pleasant or neutral.
Getting rid of nipple pain
Correct attachment to the breast will prevent nipple problems in most cases. However, soreness can occur for other reasons as well. As a rule, the delicate skin of the nipples is too sensitive in the first days of breastfeeding. Until the moment when lactation is stable, you may experience discomfort and even bleeding cracks. After feeding, rinse your breast with warm water, wipe dry and apply a healing cream such as Bepanten or D-Panthenol. Do not put on your underwear right away: the cream should be absorbed and the skin should dry. Remember to flush your breasts before your next feed.
Sometimes you may be advised to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding while you are pregnant by rubbing your nipples with a washcloth or hard cloth. It is extremely dangerous to do this: such active stimulation can cause premature birth.
Preventing Milk Stagnation
Pain in the mammary glands often occurs due to lactostasis – milk stagnation. A young mother may feel excessive swelling and distention in the chest, a rise in temperature, and redness of the skin. If this condition lasts more than a day, you should definitely consult a doctor to rule out the occurrence of mastitis.
If you have too much milk, do not pump extra, as older women often advise. This will alleviate the condition for a while, but at the same time provoke an even greater flow of milk.
When lactation is finally established, you will produce exactly as much milk as your baby needs.
Here are some tips on how to prevent chest pains of this nature:
- before feeding, massage the breast with light circular movements;
- feed the baby regularly and on demand, allowing him to completely empty the gland;
- do not restrict fluid intake to facilitate milk flow;
- periodically change feeding positions so that milk does not stagnate in certain areas of the breast.
Read on for how to measure your basal temperature.