Better Breastfeeding by Linda D. Dahl MD

Author:Linda D. Dahl, MD [Dahl, Linda D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2022-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

9

Pain, No Gain: On Nipple and Breast Pain

The most common downside of breastfeeding is pain–pain with latching, pain during nursing, pain after nursing. But, for some reason, it is rarely taken seriously. Instead, you get mixed messages and generalizations that cause more confusion than clarification. In the same breath you are promised that nursing is supposed to feel good, you are also assured that breastfeeding pain is completely normal. Besides the obvious paradox, no one even explains what kind of pain they are talking about. All pain is put into one category, lumped together and brushed aside, effectively brainwashing moms into expecting it.

Pain may be common, but it’s not normal. There are many varieties of breastfeeding pain, from mild and unavoidable to severe and potentially life-threatening. Pain can also be a powerful diagnostic tool, if you pay attention. It hurts because your body is trying to tell you something. Listen to it. If you break down the pain and examine it, the differences can help you figure out what’s going wrong so you can look for ways to fix it.

Although pain can affect your mood, sleep, and energy level and make it nearly impossible to bond with your baby, it isn’t just bad for you. It also means your baby is struggling in some very real way. Your pain can alert you that your baby isn’t getting enough milk. It can also hint at why he has colic and cries all the time. If you ignore these clues, or just suffer like you’re told to, you may miss the chance to correct the problem. As we know, breastfeeding is all about timing. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

For clarification, when someone tells you, “Pain is normal,” what they really mean is a little pain for the first few days is expected. Breastfeeding is a learned skill, and although you and your baby are equipped with reflexes, you still have to sync up with each other to get it right. Engorgement as your breasts fill up–that can hurt. Their firm, more solid shape can make it harder for your baby to latch on–that hurts. Not latching your baby on deeply enough because you don’t know how to hold all the parts together–that hurts too. That is the extent of expected breastfeeding pain. Anything other than that is not okay. I repeat, anything other than a little pain for the first few days means something is wrong, no matter what anyone tells you. Pain can happen, but it is not a necessary part of breastfeeding.

In this chapter, we will discuss pain in detail, along with the very real ramifications of ignoring it. We will differentiate between nipple and breast pain, discussing the underlying causes of both. We will also talk about the quantifiable measures of pain, why it persists, and the repercussions of ignored pain, like infections, plugged ducts, decreased supply, and a higher risk of postpartum depression.

“No pain, no gain” may be true for many parts of life, but it’s not true for breastfeeding.

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