Breast nipple pain

Often after giving birth, a new mother realizes that breastfeeding brings her pain in the nipples. Having decided that this is how it should be, the mother shows heroic patience. But you should never tolerate pain in the nipples during breastfeeding.

First of all, putting the baby to the breast should bring pleasure and peace to both participants of this process - this is the idea of nature, without this the human race could hardly exist for a long time. But what joy can we talk about if the mother, offering the breast to the baby, literally clenches her teeth from the pain in her nipples.

In addition, pain during feeding almost always signals that the organization of feeding is not being done correctly. This threatens the child with a lack of nutrition (and as a result - the transition to artificial feeding), and the mother - with health problems (cracked nipples and mastitis, which can result from incomplete emptying of the breast). Diseases that cause pain in the nipples of the breast:

In order to continue full breastfeeding, it is necessary to determine the cause of pain in the nipples and eliminate it. This is what mothers often discover in the first weeks after childbirth, for whom the feeding process is painful.

1. Incorrect latching on to the breast and/or incorrect feeding position. Possible options: - the baby's lips are pulled inward, and not lying on the chest; - the breast and/or baby's head are poorly supported in the first days after birth, as a result of which the baby cannot hold the nipple in the desired position; - the "cross cradle" position, which is used later than 1-2 weeks after birth (the baby's head is not near the elbow bend of the arm, but on the palm of the mother's opposite hand, which can lead to sliding onto the nipple, since the growing head is already difficult to hold on the palm); - the baby periodically slides onto the nipple and begins to suck on it only after initially good latching; - the mother makes a kind of "dimple" on the breast with her finger for the baby's nose - this way the nipple in the baby's mouth shifts from the required position and becomes more vulnerable; - poor support of the breast from below, as a result of which its weight puts pressure on the baby’s lower lip – thus the nipple is positioned incorrectly in the baby’s mouth.
2. The sucking technique changes as a result of using an artificial nipple (in particular a pacifier).
3. Milk that flows from the breast is retained near the skin of the nipple (for example, if you use wet nursing pads) and can soften the skin.

If you notice something like this, try to make adjustments to the attachment (refusal of nipple substitutes, changes in breast care). If you cannot do this on your own, it is better to seek help from a lactation consultant.

There is probably a single case when pain in the nipples of the breast during feeding is normal. As a rule, it appears on the second day in the maternity hospital. Painful sensations are felt when the baby grabs the breast, but if you apply it to the breast correctly, the pain goes away during sucking. The reason for pain in the nipples of the breast is that the epithelial layer changes on them - thickened skin is formed, after which the pain disappears. As a rule, this happens in a week at most.

But it may be that the pain in the nipples does not disappear even after making corrections in latching on to the breast or appears suddenly, after several months of normal feeding. The reasons for this may be in both the child and the mother.

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Causes of pain in the nipples of the breast from the mother's side

1. Lactostasis or mastitis. The breast becomes engorged, making it difficult to latch on properly.
2. Abnormal nipples (indentation, depression, with a deep fold, skin growths on the nipple, wart in the nipple area).
3. Very sensitive nipples (usually observed before pregnancy).
4. Dry skin of the nipples and areolas due to washing them too often with tap water and soap. Moreover, there are still recommendations to smear the nipples with "brilliant green". This should never be done! It is also likely that the areolas have very few Montgomery glands, which secrete natural lubrication for the nipples.
5. The mother scratched the dry or itchy skin of the nipple, causing damage to it.
6. Damage to the skin from a very rough towel or too much rubbing during washing, or from vigorous pulling of the nipples during pregnancy.
7. Very strong milk let-down (may be painful for some mothers).
8. Sleeping on your stomach results in your breasts being very creased.
9. A history of breast or nipple surgery (even if the mother was still a child at the time).
10. An injured nipple or breast (from a baby's elbow, a blow from a ball, a mop handle, etc.).
11. Using a breast pump that is not adjustable or does not fit completely to the breast (very strong vacuum, for pear-shaped models – prolonged suction to the breast).

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Other Causes of Breast Nipple Pain

1. Poorly chosen or ill-fitting underwear – the seam of a bra (especially a new one) or lace trim can irritate the nipples; a bra that is too tight or the cup size is too small.
2. Allergy: to the finish or dye of the fabric (new items need to be washed before wearing them); to a change in detergents (powder, fabric softener, bleach, etc.); to residue from detergents (poorly rinsed clothes); to a change in personal hygiene products (especially aerosol deodorants); to creams, ointments, or other products that the mother used to treat the nipples, or a reaction to washing/wiping them off the breast before starting to feed; irritation from soaps, shower gels, powders, aromatic sprays, perfumes, etc.
3. A milk blister is a small sac on the nipple that forms when the opening in the nipple becomes blocked.
4. Candidiasis – in this case, the pain in the nipples of the breast does not go away for a long time. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor. Similar to fungal infection are lesions in diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, Reynolds disease (narrowing of blood vessels in the arms and legs due to stress or cold).
5. Vasospasm of the nipple (impaired blood supply to the nipple due to vascular spasm).
6. Damaged nipple nerve - due to injury or cut.
7. Psoriasis.
8. Herpes.
9. Impetigo.
10. Fibromyalgia (chronic pain in the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints).
11. Paget's disease is a type of cancer that has symptoms similar to eczema, but also includes bloody discharge from the nipple. If you suspect this, see a doctor immediately.

If you have pain in your nipples, first of all, you should consult a mammologist, dermatologist and oncologist. They will be able to provide you with qualified assistance and give the necessary recommendations.