If you’re a new mama experiencing breastfeeding pain, know that you are not alone. In fact, many mamas share that breastfeeding pain seems like labor itself! We’ve heard of many stories of breastfeeding pain especially on the breast area and nipple itself. Thankfully, breastfeeding pain remedies are aplenty these days.
Here’s what to do when breastfeeding becomes too much to handle for you.
Hot compress for breast pain
Breast pain when breastfeeding may be caused by a lot of things like clogged ducts which leads to engorgement, too much milk letdown, or due to hormonal changes that make your breasts feel extra tender. One reliable breastfeeding pain reliever that doesn’t cost much and is safe to do is hot compress on the affected and surrounding breast area. Hot or warm compress helps unclog milk ducts, and soothes tired muscles.
As a home remedy for breast pain, you can use a bath cloth, dip it in tolerable warm water and put it over your breast. You may also use hot packs available in pharmacies to help treat breastfeeding pain. Or you can check out Lansiloh Thera Pearl 3-in-1 hot or cold breast therapy, a BPA, BPS and latex free pads that are shaped to fit around a breast pump to encourage let down and promote faster milk flow. These packs can also be heated in the microwave for a maximum of 15 seconds to provide relief for plugged ducts and mastitis.
Breastfeeding pain may also occur if your milk ducts are clogged. Help your body release that milk with a doughnut-shaped Breast Comfort warmer by Little Tots eases the pain of engorged breasts and helps increase milk yield. Put it on your back and your sides for better results.
You may also try the Crane lactation massager, which provides gentle pressure and vibration to your breasts.
Moisturize your nipples
If you’re wondering how to stop breastfeeding pain, especially in the nipple area, there are many available remedies. Before nursing your baby, you can clean the nipple area with a cotton soaked in warm water; this not only sanitizes your nipple prior to feeding, it also helps stimulate letdown and moisturizes the area.
Avoid using harsh soaps too when taking a bath as this could worsen nipple wounds that are normal during cluster feeding or when you’ve just started breastfeeding. Choose mild bath soaps or a moisturizing body wash.
You may also choose to use nipple shields on days you want to recover. Note though that your baby’s saliva and your breast milk has moisturizing and healing properties so it’s still best to latch to help heal nipple wounds.
Nipple balms and creams can also save the day. Among the best nipple creams for breastfeeding pain are Pigeon’s nipple care cream, which continually hydrates your cracked nipples, Biolane’s nursing balm can soothe tightness around your breasts, and repair your irritated nipples, and Mustela’s nursing comfort balm, which uses fragrance-free and organic ingredients guaranteeing safety for mom and baby.
Massage may be the key
You can also stop breastfeeding pain by loosening tight muscles on your back and arms. When you are many weeks postpartum, you may start getting a massage on your upper back and arms that may be feeling heavy due to your body’s milk-making processes.
Use a massage oil that eases pain or you can opt for a milder, lavender-scented oil for better relaxation and sleep.
Wear a comfortable nursing bra
Get rid of underwired bras to lessen breastfeeding pain. Your breast needs space, especially during engorgement prior to feeding time. Get something breathable and expands while you move, like Bosom Buds Nursing bra. If you’re looking for a stylish, lacey brassiere that’s also great for nursing mamas, White Dahlias maternity bras are your best pick.
Check your pump flange
If you’re a pumping mama and your breasts feel very tender after every pumping session, you have to check your flange. Check if it’s the proper size, or what it’s made of. For flange comfort, some breast pumps like Spectra have flange sizes to choose from, and apart from comfort, proper flange size helps you achieve maximum milk yield.
Usually silicone pumps are more comfortable to use and they’re durable too. This manual pump vows comfort with its silicone make. You may also choose electric breast pumps with soft silicone cushion that adapts to the shape of the breast, like Nuk Luna Comfortable breast pump.
The Haakaa, meanwhile, remains a favorite because of its soft silicone material, effectiveness in catching letdown, and ease of use (no valves to clean!). It is also BPA-free, and 100 percent environment friendly. Its strong suction base prevents milk spills (yikes!) by stopping your baby from knocking it over.
Practice your latch
Before giving birth, watch video tutorials on proper latching, which not only guarantees better milk production but also lessens breastfeeding pain. A good latch won’t be painful in the long run, mama, because the baby is able to sufficiently empty the breasts, preventing engorgement and clogged ducts.
A good latch also lessens nipple pain, because the mouth won’t put too much pressure on the areola with continued nursing.
Check your breastfeeding position
Newborns nurse round the clock and carrying them all day could put a strain on the new mamas arms. Though this does not directly tackle breastfeeding pain, using a nursing pillow will bring comfort to both mama and baby. This nursing pillow allows mama and baby to find a more ergonomic feeding position.
As they say, mama, nothing worth it comes easy. Breastfeeding is one of those challenging tasks. It is an act of love that we have to do for our children and we dare say — it’s all worth it.
