Women who don’t have a close friend or relative to talk to about breastfeeding often aren’t aware of some of the common issues that arise at the beginning and throughout baby’s first year.
In our first common breastfeeding problems blog, we talked about low milk production. (Read more about how to overcome that obstacle here.)
For our second blog, we’ll investigate why some mothers experience pain while breastfeeding and what they can do about it.
The Pain of Breastfeeding
New mothers are frequently surprised by how much breastfeeding hurts initially. It’s very normal to have sore, cracked nipples in the beginning as your baby is learning how to latch and your breasts are getting used to frequent nursing.
The pain, however, should begin to die down after the first week or so. If it doesn’t, you may be dealing with a more serious problem and should call your doctor or lactation consultant.
Tips for Reducing Pain
Even if you’re doing everything right, a first-time mom will generally have to deal with some discomfort in the beginning, but these tips will help to reduce and even eliminate the pain. The sooner you can figure out how to make the experience more comfortable, the sooner you can enjoy breastfeeding your baby.
- Make sure your baby is latching properly. You want the baby to have an asymmetrical or “bull’s eye” latch and make sure their mouth completely covers your nipple. Learning proper latch techniques can help reduce pain significantly.
- Use lanolin-based cream. Lanolin can be very helpful in healing cracking and also keeps nipples moisturized. Another trick to heal your nipples is to allow some breast milk to stay on them and dry. Avoid using a lot of soap or any other type of lotion as these can further irritate the problem.
- Feed more frequently. Although this may seem counter-intuitive, more frequent and shorter feedings can help to reduce pain because your baby isn’t as hungry and generally won’t suck quite as hard.
If you are experiencing problems with breastfeeding, please call and talk to an All About Women OB/GYN or maternity consultant. We want to help make breastfeeding a successful and enjoyable experience for both you and your baby.
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