Painful Breastfeeding
Some mothers experience a strong let down, or milk ejection reflex (MER). This usually occurs early in the breastfeeding relationship. Since most mothers experience several MERs throughout a feed, this can cause nursing to become quite uncomfortable for them.
A strong MER can be the result of a very abundant milk supply. If an overabundant supply is causing other breastfeeding problems, such as your baby's refusal of breast, or gulping and choking during a feed, it may be very helpful to work on reducing your supply so it is more in sync with your baby's needs. Nursing at one breast per feed, and only expressing enough milk from the other side for comfort may be of help.
Nurse frequently. When the breasts become overly full, a mother may experience more painful MERs.
Warm, moist compresses may help to ease the pain. Apply just prior to and during a feed. Ibuprofen can also be taken for pain relief about 20 to 30 minutes prior to a feed. Check with your Health Care Provider.
Ductal thrush can be one of the other causes of deep breast pain. It is really impossible to rule out thrush on your own. If these measures do not provide you with any relief, it is wise to consult with your midwife or doctor. It is important to get to the cause of your breast pain, and correct the problem. Breastfeeding should be comfortable.
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