Picture this: Your baby is starting to wake- you pick her up and settle in for a nice, calm, feed. Except…OUCH! Excruciating pain ensues. So many of us have been in this position. Not only can it be super uncomfortable, it can cause feeds to be a source of anxiety instead of peace and happiness (which they should be). So what is problem? What is causing this? And most importantly-how can we make it better? As a mom who has experienced many of the issues I am about to discuss, I want to share some information to help make breastfeeding the absolute most positive experience for you and your baby! If we can learn to avoid some of these issues, then why not?
Troubleshooting can always be your fist line of action. If you think something isn’t quite right, chances are, you’re probably right. Try not to panic, take a big breath and a step back, and do a little reading.
Here are some of the most common causes of nipple pain for a breastfeeding momma:
Top of the list, the most likely culprit and the easiest fix. A SHALLOW LATCH. Ladies- CHECK. YOUR. LATCH. A deep latch is the cornerstone for for successful, comfortable feeds and damage free nipples. Make sure your baby has a wide open mouth and is taking some of the areola (not just the nipple) in his/her mouth. Often times, its a matter of adjusting your positioning by just a few inches. If you can’t see what’s going on down there, ask your partner or a friend to have a look. Take a picture. Move things around a little and see what feels right. Read a post specific to latch and position (here) or watch a video. This is one I love to refer to when helping mom’s achieve a deep, pain-free latch: https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-attachment/
Some other, less common reasons for nipple pain:
- Tongue/lip tie. A baby with oral restrictions (tongue or lip) may have a difficult time achieving and sustaining a deep latch. This can cause pinching and pain. Double ouch! You can find more details about this in another post. If you suspect this applies to you, get a proper assessment from a professional trained in oral assessment.
- Milk blisters. A milk blister can look like a small white dot on the nipple and can be very painful. This is thicker milk with a thin layer of skin grown over and can be caused be improper latching. If you think this may be the case for you, there are many tricks to treat and prevent further blisters from happening ( my personal favorite is using the HAKKA collector with warm water and Epsom salts). Check out my post specific to milk blisters here!
- Vasospasm. A sharp nipple pain that usually occurs after a nursing session. The nipple may not turn white, but this doesn’t always happen. There are a few things that can make moms more prone to this ( history of Raynauds, excessive caffeine consumption). If you suspect you’re experiencing vasospasm head on over to my post specific to this.
- An overgrowth of yeast. There are so many reasons mom’s can develop nipple yeast (aka thrush). A C-section birth, recent use of antibiotics, a history of being susceptible to yeast infections, and/or nipple damage are all things that can promote a problematic overgrowth of yeast. This can feel like a burning or stabbing pain that can go right through the breast. Nipples may be pink, red, shiny and/or flaky. You might even notice some thick white patches in your baby’s mouth or a relentless diaper rash.
Am I trying to scare you? No! Do I want you to feel your breastfeeding journey will be nothing but a series of painful encounters? Absolutely not! With the right information and help, we can prevent so many of these annoying issues-And THAT is my ultimate goal!
So there you have it, the most common causes of nipple pain and, in a nutshell, some troubleshooting ideas to fix the issues. Do your research-read up and try some tips to see if you can easily resolve the problem. If things aren’t improving easily, reach out to your local Lactation Consultant for help. Chances are, she will be able to assess and help you get breastfeeding going in the right direction once and for all!