General information
Pain during breastfeeding can be caused by various factors, which can come from the woman or even the baby. However, even at the beginning of breastfeeding, severe pain is not common, so a visit to a doctor is recommended in these cases. In the meantime, however, pain when breastfeeding in the puerperium has become so widespread that many lay people and sometimes even specialists consider it normal.
An increased sensitivity of the nipples, which is no cause for concern, is harmless in the first days to weeks after the birth of the child and does not occur in every woman. A tingling or a feeling of warmth are also no cause for concern at first. These sensations are a sign of the milk-donor reflex and therefore a completely natural process.
Causes
Pain during breastfeeding can have various causes, such as incorrect positioning of the baby, or cleft lip and palate. In some cases, bacterial or mycotic infections are also the cause. Some babies also have a pronounced milk-donor reflex, which can cause discomfort for the mother. If such symptoms occur, it is advisable to have them clarified by a competent person.
Diagnosis
Pain during breastfeeding, which is extremely unpleasant, accompanied by other complaints such as fever and/or persists over a long period of time, should be clarified by a midwife and/or gynecologist. If pain occurs during breastfeeding, an inspection of the breast and nipples should be carried out at the beginning in order to rule out possible infections, a deviating shape of the nipples, hematomas or rhagades (skin tears) as pain triggers. In addition, the oral cavity of the newborn should also be inspected, since the cause of the pain may be found here as well.
In addition, a competent person, for example a midwife, should observe the positioning of the newborn. In 80% of cases, an incorrect positioning technique is the cause of pain when breastfeeding. In these cases, the positioning technique should be optimized.
The so-called asymmetrical positioning technique can also help here. In addition, the breast including the nipples should also be viewed shortly after the newborn has been put on and attention should be paid to possible changes, such as deformed nipples. If the cause is not directly visible, a palpation of the breast and also a blood test can be helpful in finding the diagnosis.
