Why Does Breastfeeding Hurt?

Bleugh, there are just soooo many reasons, but they all have the one thing in common — It’s not your fault!

It’s very common for mothers to experience pain while breastfeeding, and ultimately it usually comes down to trauma to the nipples in some way. This could be due to sensitivity to the skin, dryness, flaking, cracks, infections and even bites (lil’ nippers…literally!). When your baby feeds, their sucking technique can cause rubbing against your nipple, and when you repeat that rubbing over and over again, you can run into some troubles.

Sometimes simply adjusting or training your child to latch onto your breast slightly different can help. Make sure you can see your little one’s lips, you want them to be pouting like a fish when they feed, not tucked in. Some women also find changing their position altogether can improve things. If you’ve been trying the classic cradle position, but it makes your teeth clench, then maybe try the football hold, or lie on your side or back. As long as bub is comfortable, safe, and can breathe through their nose, there really is no reason not to try whatever works for you. You also want to make sure your nipples stay hydrated to maintain their elasticity to deal with all the yanks and pulls. To do that, we recommend treating your nipples with our Boob Balm after every feed.

Of course, there are other reasons you might be struggling with painful breastfeeding. Tongue and lip ties are extremely common, effecting around 4-11% of newborns. It often runs along family lines and is three times more likely in boys than girls. You know that webbed-like stretch of skin underneath your tongue, well for some babies, it’s a little too tight, restricting how much they can open their mouths or stick out their tongue. A lip tie effects the same skin structure, but under the baby’s lip instead. This ultimately effects the way they suck, causing more rubbing on the mother, and therefore more damage and pain. Tongue ties can even affect their speech later on in life, so best to check if your baby has one.

How do you know if your baby has a tongue tie? Well, read Pippa’s Personal Story to see that sometimes it’s difficult to diagnose, but usually a paediatrician or a lactation consultant will be able to pick up on it. There are such things as posterior tongue ties, which are also known as ‘hidden tongue ties’, and, as the name suggests, their hard to identify. A specialist in the field should be able to diagnose and treat it, however. But certain symptoms you might notice, other than the damage to your nipples, are things like your baby not being able to open their mouth very wide, or not being able to stick out their tongue.

A simple procedure of cutting the skin flap with either a scalpel or a laser, can help release your child’s tongue and/or lip. This will allow them to open their mouth wider and hopefully suck in a way that stops the pain, although it can take some time to feel the difference.

Another reason there might be pain is a fungal infection in the nipples. Thrush is very common for breastfeeding mums. You might notice your nipples are extra red, or shiny, or even itchy and flaky. You’ll probably also notice the pain, which can be a burning or a sharp, shooting pain that can last up to an hour after feeding.

Thrush is a fungal infection, caused by the Candida Albicans organism, and likes to take advantage of cracked or damaged nipples. It’s also very easy to get if you’ve had a course of antibiotics recently. Unfortunately, it can pass between mum and baby or baby and mum, so once one of you get it, it’s unsurprising that the other will too, although in your baby’s case, you’re more likely to notice it in the form of white sores in their mouth and tongue, or a spotty rash on their bum. They might also become extra fussy, not wanting to feed due to the soreness in their mouth.

Thrush can be treated with various creams, different ones for you and your baby, and depending on where the infection is. So make sure you talk to your GP or pharmacist to ensure you’re getting the right ones, or try to stave off thrush from the beginning by using our Boob Balm which has anti-fungal properties.

There’s also the dreaded mastitis which could be causing you pain. Mastitis is inflammation in your breast that can lead to a bacterial infection, and is caused in one of two ways. The most common is a blocked milk duct, the other is through bacteria entering via cracked, damaged skin. The symptoms are the same, however. Usually it starts with a red rash on your breast. It might also feel hot, and be swollen and painful to touch. Mastitis can become quite severe, even requiring hospitalisation if the infection grows too strong, so if you think you might have it, then make sure you seek medical advice quickly.

To prevent mastitis, try massaging any lumps caused by a build up of milk, out of your breasts. Do this by pushing the lump towards the nipple, and be ready for some milk-squirts! Don’t leave it too long between feeds or pumping. If your breasts are feeling hard and full, best to get some of that milk out, even if it’s just a small amount. You can also warm your breast up with a warm flannel or a heat pack before a feed, to make the milk flow easier. And while Boob Balm can’t stop lumps from forming in your milk ducts, it can at least help prevent mastitis forming due to bacteria penetration, as it has anti-bacterial ingredients as well.

These are just a few reasons why breastfeeding may be painful to you, and as we stated, not one of them is due to the fault of the mother. So don’t be hard on yourself, you’ve got enough on your plate right now, self-blame needs to be taken off it. It is important however, to seek advice if you are really struggling. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand, you can search for a local lactation consultant at https://www.lcanz.org/. There will be similar directories in other countries as well. If you think the pain is in need of medical attention, then make sure you seek help immediately. We know leaving the house can be hard and confronting for some with a tiny bub, but remember, in this day and age, it can be as simple as making a phone appointment, and your health is just as important as your baby’s.

A healthy, happy mum, makes for a healthy, happy baby.