Is Pain While Breastfeeding Normal?
Pain while breastfeeding is not normal. Sadly, however, it is very common.
The reason is that many people settle for pain during feeds because they think it’s normal, or that their nipples just need to get used to the sensation. Often, they think pain is something they have to put up with so that their baby can eat.
Breastfeeding should not be painful. If it hurts, it is useful to look at why it is hurting and what might help.
The most common reason for pain with feeds is a poor latch.
This is not only painful for you, but it also means that your baby’s mouth is attached in a way that makes it harder to get the milk out. In other words, fixing the latch benefits you and your baby.
What a good latch looks like?
A good latch means that baby has a wide mouth with lips turned outward, and a deep mouthful of breast, not just nipple. Also, and this one comes as a surprise to many people, the latch should be off-centre. The following handout has good visuals for latch asymmetry. Not only will your feeds be pain-free (yes, you read that right, pain free!), but your baby will get more milk, helping them grow and thrive.
Occasionally, a painful latch can be due to a tongue tie (or “ankyloglossia”). This is when the frenulum, or the tissue attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is short and tight. This can cause limited tongue mobility and jaw tension that make it harder for baby to open wide enough for a good latch. This can also mean the baby’s tongue can’t make the wave-like movements needed while feeding to extract milk and compensates with a chomping movement that is painful. A lactation consultant can help identify tongue tie signs and symptoms and refer you to specialists that can discuss treatment options with you.
If the latch isn’t great for any of the above reasons, it can cause additional pain from blocked milk ducts or mastitis because the breast isn’t getting drained effectively. It can also cause the nipples to be pinched or damaged in such a way that blood vessels to the nipples constrict. This vasospasm affects blood flow, causing blanching or colour changes in the nipples, usually accompanied by intense pain that can last a few seconds, minutes or more.
If breastfeeding was previously pain-free and you have new nipple pain, this can be due to other reasons, such as a yeast infection (or “thrush”). Additionally, a drop in milk supply that can sometimes occur around 3 months postpartum can cause baby to get frustrated, pulling and twisting at the breast during feeds, causing new nipple pain.
If you are suffering through painful feeds at any point in your lactation journey, please reach out for support.
We are here to help
We can help with tips on milk supply and making subtle adjustments to latch and positioning that can make all the difference. Our lactation consultants also offer a thorough assessment of your baby’s mouth and if any issues are identified they can help you access further care or treatment.
Let us help you get to that enjoyable experience of feeding your baby that you were meant to have. Book an appointment today.
By Nadia Bellio, CBS, IBCLC
References:
American Academy of Otolaryngology. Clinical Consensus Statement: Ankyloglossia in Children. https://aao-hnsfjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1177/0194599820915457
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care. Nipple Vasospasm and Breastfeeding. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/vasospasm-and-breastfeeding
Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation. When Latching. https://www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org/basics/latching_diagrams.shtml
LaLeche League International. Breastfeeding Info Tongue and Lip Ties. https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/tongue-lip-ties/
