I have pain when breastfeeding: causes and solutions

When your child was born, you chose to breastfeed. You wanted to experience this and give your baby the best. After all, you're providing better nutrition and sharing special moments... However, after a few days or weeks of breastfeeding, you experience pain during breastfeeding. Pain so unpleasant that you're considering stopping breastfeeding. What causes this pain and how can you address it? Should you really stop breastfeeding, and what will the consequences be? We'll take the time to unravel all these questions with you in this article.

Causes of breastfeeding pain

So, you're in the middle of breastfeeding ! Breast engorgement, cracked nipples, your baby's frenulum being too present, poor breastfeeding position: there are several reasons, both pathological and not exclusively, that can cause pain during breastfeeding !

🚩 The list opposite allows you to pinpoint the difficulties you are experiencing and what may be causing you pain during breastfeeding. Self-diagnosis is useful for informational purposes and to identify the symptoms that affect you. However, we can only recommend that you consult a healthcare professional (general practitioner, midwife, or gynecologist) to assess these symptoms and treat them, if necessary.

Essential accessories and care for breastfeeding > 

Bad breastfeeding position

Poor positioning of your baby in relation to your breast when breastfeeding can be one of the first causes of pain and, unfortunately, lead to others later. For example, cracked breasts, which we'll discuss again shortly, are generally caused by poor breastfeeding positioning.

Finding the Right Breastfeeding Position

There are many different breastfeeding positions. The right breastfeeding position for you is the one that best suits your current health concerns, makes you feel comfortable, and allows your baby to latch on comfortably. Don't hesitate to try several to find the right one(s) for you and your baby!

If you continue to have pain despite everything, talk to your healthcare professional or even a breastfeeding coach – the latter, who specializes in breastfeeding, will be able to give you personalized recommendations.

Breast engorgement

Breast engorgement is a common condition that occurs when the breasts produce more milk than your baby consumes. This can cause milk to build up in the breasts, causing a feeling of swollenness, tenderness, and sometimes pain .

Solutions to reduce and relieve breast engorgement

• Encourage more frequent feedings: Encourage your baby to feed frequently to stimulate milk production and relieve engorgement.
• Check your breastfeeding position and change it regularly: Make sure your baby is latching on correctly to avoid complications. Experiment with different breastfeeding positions to ensure your baby is emptying all quadrants of the breast.
• Apply heat: Applying a warm compress or hot water bottle to your breasts before breastfeeding can help your milk flow. A warm shower can also be beneficial.
• Perform gentle breast massages: Before feeding, perform gentle breast massages to encourage milk flow.
• Use cold compresses: After feeding, apply cold compresses to your breasts to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Note: Some people find pain better relieved by heat. In this case, apply a warm compress or hot water bottle after feeding.
• Use a manual or electric pump: If your baby can't get enough milk, you can use a pump or breast pump to express extra milk and relieve pressure. Be careful: the goal is to relieve engorgement, not to stimulate excessive milk production. This method can make things worse by making your body produce more milk.
• Avoid tight bras: Wear comfortable bras and avoid tight clothing. 🌈 At Gapianne, we offer a seamless nursing bra from Smoon. Particularly elastic, it adapts to the fluctuations in your breast size for your greatest comfort.

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Also read: 12 galactogenic foods that stimulate lactation >

Blocked milk ducts

Blocked milk ducts, also called clogged milk ducts, can occur during breastfeeding. This occurs when milk does not flow properly through the mammary ducts, causing milk to accumulate in a specific area of ​​the breast. Common symptoms of blocked milk ducts include a painful lump, localized redness, and warmth in the breast.

Solutions to relieve blocked milk ducts

The solutions for relieving blocked milk ducts are the same as those suggested above for relieving breast engorgement (see above).

If symptoms persist or worsen despite these measures, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional. In some cases, a canalectomy, the incision of the blocked canal, may be necessary.

Breastfeeding cracks

Breast cracks are painful sores or cuts that gradually form on the nipple and areola during breastfeeding. They can occur due to poor latching position, improper sucking, dry skin, or other factors.

Solutions to relieve breastfeeding cracks

• Make sure your baby has a good latch: Usually caused by the baby not latching properly on the breast, the first solution to relieve and, above all, avoid worsening cracked breasts is to make sure your breastfeeding position is good. Seek the help of a midwife or breastfeeding coach if necessary.
• Change your breastfeeding position: Experiment with different breastfeeding positions to find the one that is most comfortable and effective for you and your baby.
• Promote impeccable and regular hygiene: If you suffer from breastfeeding cracks, it is absolutely essential to wash them regularly. In addition to your daily shower, during which we recommend opting for a very mild soap, wash with mild soap after each feeding. The goal? Keep the wound clean and avoid superinfection!
• Moisturize with your own milk or lanolin: Breast milk has antibacterial properties and can help speed the healing process. After feeding, express a small amount of milk and apply it to the crack. Use creams with medical lanolin on the nipples after each feeding to help prevent dryness and promote healing. 🌈 In our e-shop, we have selected nursing shells from the Hina Moon brand. These help protect the nipples from rubbing against the fabric.

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• Avoid tight bras: Wear comfortable bras to avoid further irritation of your cracks. 🌈 At Gapianne, we offer a seamless nursing bra from Smoon. Particularly elastic, it adapts to the fluctuations in your breast size for your greatest comfort.

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• Stop breastfeeding and/or use a breast pump: Stopping breastfeeding can be a solution to prevent cracked nipples from worsening. If you want to continue breastfeeding and not stop lactation, you can use a breast pump to continue producing milk and giving your milk to your baby.
  🌈 In our store, we have selected for you the portable and wireless breast pump from the Perifit Pump brand . Discreet and efficient, it slips into your bra so you can continue your activities without worrying about it. You will also love the application that will allow you to track the quantity of milk extracted by your breast pump.

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Mastitis

Mastitis is a painful inflammation of the breast tissue that can occur in women who are breastfeeding on one or both breasts. It is often caused by a blocked milk duct, which leads to an internal infection. If the nipple does not change in appearance, the infected breast will enlarge, and a greenish discharge (this is pus) may escape from the nipple. The onset of fever is also a symptom that should alert you.

🚩If you suspect mastitis, make an appointment with your doctor immediately: this infection is not dangerous but needs to be treated quickly, particularly with antibiotics.

Solutions to relieve mastitis

After consulting a doctor to determine the extent of the infection and treat it if necessary, you can try to reduce the pain associated with this problem. Here are some tips:

• Continue breastfeeding: It is important to continue breastfeeding because emptying the breast helps relieve engorgement and prevent more serious infection. Without antibiotic treatment, there is no major risk to your child continuing to breastfeed.
• Encourage frequent feedings: Encourage your baby to feed frequently, making sure the breast is completely emptied at each feeding. This will reduce your pain.
• Change your breastfeeding position: Varying your breastfeeding positions during and between feedings helps ensure that your baby empties all quadrants of the breast.
• Use warm compresses or a hot water bottle: Before feeding, apply warm compresses to the affected area of ​​your breast to encourage milk flow. Warming the compress will help the milk flow more easily.

Thrush on the nipple

Nipple thrush, also known as breast candidiasis, is a fungal infection that can occur in breastfeeding women. It is caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Symptoms include sore nipples and during breastfeeding , itchy, red nipples , and white patches on the nipples . Your baby may also be affected, and you may notice thrush in their mouth.

🚩If you suspect an infection of this type, contact your doctor quickly: breast candidiasis is not dangerous but needs to be treated with antibiotics and/or antifungal treatments.

Solutions to relieve nipple thrush

After consulting a doctor to check the extent of the infection in you and your baby, and to receive treatment if necessary, you can adopt different solutions to relieve the symptoms related to breast candidiasis and limit its recurrence.

• Continue breastfeeding, if you can: It is not recommended to continue breastfeeding your child if they have breast candidiasis. However, you may need to implement various precautions to discuss with your doctor, especially if your child has not been infected.
• Change bedding and bras: To prevent the spread of infection, change nursing pads, bedding, and bras regularly.
• Practice good hygiene: Make sure you maintain good hygiene, washing nipples thoroughly and changing nursing pads frequently.
• ⚠️ Never use gentian violet for breast candidiasis without first consulting your doctor. Gentian violet preparations are often recommended for treating yeast infections. However, ingesting gentian violet is harmful and may harm your breastfeeding baby: consult your doctor.

Strong ejection reflex

A strong let-down reflex (or let-down reflex) occurs when breast milk is ejected from the breast with more force than the baby can easily handle while breastfeeding.

Here are some signs to be aware of it:

• Your baby coughs and chokes while feeding
• He seems restless or struggles while breastfeeding
• Your baby may turn his head away from the breast or refuse to suckle
• He may cry or appear frustrated while breastfeeding
• Breasts may leak excessively between feedings

Solutions to slow down your milk flow

• Test different breastfeeding positions: Experiment with different breastfeeding positions to help your baby better manage the flow of milk. Positions where the baby's head is higher off the breast can help. Try lying down while breastfeeding, as this can help reduce the force of the milk flow.
• Express the first stream of milk: Hand express or use a pump to trigger the let-down reflex before putting your baby to the breast. This can reduce the strength of the initial flow.
• Encourage more frequent and shorter feedings: Encouraging more frequent and shorter feedings can help prevent a rapid influx of milk.
• Use nursing pads or a nursing bra with pads: Absorbent nursing pads help manage excess milk between feedings.

If you continue to experience problems with a strong let-down reflex (or what you suspect is a strong let-down reflex), consult a breastfeeding coach. This professional can ensure that your issues are related to this condition and provide personalized advice for managing your strong let-down reflex.

Baby malformation

Certain malformations (not necessarily serious!) in your baby, such as a tongue tie that is too short or a labial tie that is too thick and tight, can affect breastfeeding and cause pain. Indeed, these malformations can restrict or even prevent the movements necessary for good sucking.

These malformations are usually detected in the maternity ward. However, if you feel that your baby is having difficulty breastfeeding, it is important to speak to a doctor or your midwife. They will be able to make a diagnosis and refer you to specialized healthcare professionals, including an ENT specialist.

Is it normal to have pain while breastfeeding?

It is not normal to have pain while breastfeeding.

Usually, the first pains related to breastfeeding are caused by a bad breastfeeding position which can lead to other problems such as cracked nipples.

Other pathologies can then intervene, such as mastitis, breast candidiasis or engorgement.

Whatever pain you experience while breastfeeding, whether from the maternity ward or after some time of breastfeeding, it is important to report it to a healthcare professional to quickly identify the causes and prevent the situation from getting worse. Indeed, continuing to breastfeed despite the pain can tend to worsen the situation to the point of forcing you to give up breastfeeding against your will.

Reduce pain with breastfeeding techniques

Generally speaking, you will be able to reduce the pain felt during breastfeeding thanks to two solutions:

1. Consult a healthcare professional , then a breastfeeding professional: We mentioned this throughout the first part on pain felt during breastfeeding: feeling pain during breastfeeding is often linked to the breastfeeding position and/or a pathological problem. The first solution to reduce this pain is to consult your healthcare professional (general practitioner, gynecologist and/or midwife). Depending on the feedback and their diagnosis, then consider consulting a breastfeeding professional if you wish to continue breastfeeding: they will give you personalized tips and techniques to reduce your breastfeeding pain.
2. Vary your breastfeeding positions: The second solution to reduce breastfeeding is to vary your breastfeeding positions . This will allow you to find the breastfeeding position that suits you and your child best, but also to empty your breasts completely during feedings in order to limit the risks associated with engorgement.

How to care for your breasts and prevent pain

While breastfeeding pain cannot be 100% prevented, there are still solutions and accessories to protect you!

• Promote rigorous hygiene: In addition to your normal personal hygiene, adopt specific hygiene for your nipples. Clean your breasts after each feeding with soap-free intimate gels.
  🌈 On our e-shop, we have selected for you a very gentle soap-free gel from the Jhô brand.

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• Apply your own breast milk to your nipples as a soothing and healing balm: Breast milk has soothing, antiseptic, and healing properties. Place a small amount on your nipples after each feeding.
• Apply nursing shells for comfort: Nursing shells are polished shells that provide cooling to your nipples after feeding and protect the healing balms applied to your breasts from rubbing against your underwear. They're a breastfeeding must-have for your comfort!
  🌈 On our e-shop, we have selected nursing shells from the Hina Moon brand. They are polished in France by a mother-of-pearl craftsman.
• Wear a seamless nursing bra : Beyond being easy to handle while breastfeeding, nursing bras are comfortable and elastic, adapting to significant variations in your breast size.
  🌈 At Gapianne, we have spotted a seamless nursing bra from the Smoon brand for you.
• Use fabric nursing pads to absorb excess milk and let your nipples breathe: There are plastic and fabric nursing pads available. We recommend fabric ones to allow your nipples to breathe better and avoid irritation that can result from a plastic pad.
• Use a breast pump to continue breastfeeding: If you experience pain while breastfeeding, it may be necessary to stop breastfeeding for a while (especially in the case of cracked nipples). In this case, using a breast pump will allow you to both continue giving your baby breast milk and maintain lactation so that you can continue breastfeeding after healing.

What are the consequences of stopping breastfeeding?

Stopping breastfeeding has two consequences:

1. You will be required to give your baby formula. In many ways, powdered formula is similar to breast milk : both provide the energy and nutrients your baby needs while quenching their thirst. Therefore, your baby will grow up healthy, regardless of which milk they drink. Breast milk has additional benefits over formula, such as providing the mother's antibodies or donating white blood cells, but many babies are fed primarily on formula without any health problems.
2. Stopping breastfeeding requires you to stop breastfeeding permanently. In fact, stopping breastfeeding gradually causes lactation to stop. If you want to continue breastfeeding your baby after taking a break for treatment, for example, you must continue expressing your milk, particularly with a breast pump.

We're giving you this information because if there's one thing you should remember from this article, it's that you have the right to stop breastfeeding if you feel the need. We're absolutely trying to make you feel less guilty: stopping breastfeeding because of pain (or for any other reason, if that's your decision) won't make you a bad mother. It's also important that you think about yourself, your health, and your mental health as a new mother.