Breastfeeding brings pleasure to a young mother and helps her realize the happiness of motherhood. In cases where the breast hurts after feeding, it is necessary to immediately make an appointment with a mammologist so as not to miss the development of serious diseases at the earliest stages.
Causes of breast pain during feeding.
Reaction to the release of the hormone oxytocin. Under its influence, there is a strong contraction of the muscle fibers of the milk ducts, as a result of which an additional portion of milk is released.At this time, mothers feel pain, which they describe as squeezing or stabbing. In primiparous or emotionally labile women, the reflex to oxytocin can manifest itself even at the mere thought of the child or at the moment when she takes the baby in her arms. Usually, after three months of lactation, this reaction gradually weakens.
Lactostasis.
Very often, a nursing mother’s breasts hurt when, due to poor patency of the milk ducts, thick milk or a very large amount of it, stagnation occurs in the milk lobules. In this case, painful seals are palpated in the mammary gland. The skin above them may be warmer and with a bluish tint due to venous congestion. With lactostasis, it is imperative to express milk from the breast so that the seals disappear. Otherwise, mastitis may develop quickly.
Rapid filling of the breast with milk
During active sucking, in response to irritation of the nipple of the mammary gland, a large amount of prolactin and oxytocin hormones are released, which stimulate the production of a new portion of milk. In such cases, not only does the breast hurt after feeding, but it also quickly fills with milk, swells and thickens. This phenomenon indicates a normal lactation process.
Thrush
With candidal stomatitis in an infant, fungal colonies can penetrate the skin of the mother’s nipple, and then into the milk ducts with the development of thrush. In this case, the fungal colonies are practically invisible, and the main clinical symptom is increased sensitivity of the nipples. Cutting or piercing stabbing pain, itching in the mammary glands are not cured by conventional antiseptics. It is very typical that a nursing mother’s breast hurts more after the end of feeding.
Mastitis
As a result of inflammation of the lactostasis area or penetration of pathogenic microbes through cracks in the nipple into the milk lobule, a serous and then purulent process occurs, manifested by severe pulsating pain. The skin over the pathological focus becomes red and hot, body temperature often rises. The mother requires emergency help from a gynecologist and surgeon, since in advanced cases an abscess of the mammary gland quickly develops.
Cracks in the nipple
due to improper technique of latching the baby to the breast during feeding. Pain in the chest is most pronounced during feeding, and gradually subsides after it.
Compression of the chest
an incorrectly chosen bra, or when staying in an uncomfortable body position for a long time (for example, sleeping on your stomach). In any case, do not delay your visit to the doctor, only he will be able to establish the correct cause of the pain and give the necessary recommendations or prescribe treatment.
