What to do if your breast hurts after milk pumping

If a breastfeeding mother experiences breast pain after feeding her child, she should pay attention to it. There are many reasons for breast pain. Parents do not pay attention to the breastfeeding posture, which may even cause some inflammatory reactions. If breast pain occurs, it should be treated with emphasis. When the pain is severe, you can use hot compresses to relieve it. Let’s take a look at this aspect below.

Causes of breast pain during lactation

Generally speaking, the most common cause of nipple pain is that the baby does not latch on correctly when sucking. The baby does not put the nipple and most of the areola into his mouth, but only holds the nipple. This way of sucking only the nipple is sucked hard, so it makes mothers feel painful. As a result, the mother will have concerns about breastfeeding and may reduce the number of feedings and shorten the breastfeeding time. Unhappiness also affects milk secretion.

Because the baby only sucks the nipple, he cannot suck enough milk, the breast milk cannot be emptied, which in turn reduces milk secretion and ultimately leads to breastfeeding failure. This creates a vicious cycle.

What to do if your breasts hurt during lactation

1. Before breastfeeding, the mother should take a comfortable position and apply a hot and wet towel to the breasts and areola for 3-5 minutes. At the same time, massage the breasts to stimulate the milk ejection reflex and squeeze out some milk. This will soften the areola and make it easier for the baby to suck.

2. First breastfeed with the breast that hurts less, and make sure to put most of the nipple and areola into the baby's mouth. Also pay attention to changing the baby's feeding position to reduce the stimulation of the nipple caused by sucking.

3. If breastfeeding needs to be stopped due to other reasons, the mother should gently press the baby's lower jaw with her index finger, and the baby will automatically spit out the nipple. Never pull out the nipple forcibly, as this will damage the nipple.

4. If nipple cracks have occurred, squeeze out some milk after breastfeeding, apply it on the nipples and areola, and wait for it to dry naturally. Never wash your nipples with soap. Because there is a gland in the nipple or areola that secretes oil to protect the nipple and prevent it from drying out. Washing your nipples with soap will remove this natural protective film.

5. Because the nipple skin is relatively delicate, especially the nipples of first-time mothers are thinner and more tender, and the nipples are easily cracked due to being soaked in the baby's saliva for a long time. Therefore, each feeding time should not be too long, generally 15 to 20 minutes is appropriate, and do not let the baby sleep with the nipple in his mouth.