How to Keep Breastfeeding Comfortable

To master how to keep breastfeeding comfortable can take time and patience but feeling pain shouldn’t be part of the equation.

It’s hard to know what breastfeeding should feel like if it’s your first time. You’ve probably heard women tell stories of nipple and or breast pain at one time or another. Maybe you’ve witnessed someone wincing or crying out while feeding. Or perhaps you have experienced this yourself. Some women think suffering is part of the natural process of being a successful breastfeeding mother.

What no one tells you is that breastfeeding should not be painful. Sure, you’ve never done this, and you may feel “tender” for the first week or two, but that’s it. Typically, in the first minute of the feeding. A strong tugging and pulling sensation is appropriate. A pinching, biting, or burning feeling is not. Statistically, most women with pain throughout feedings are incorrectly latching the baby. Yes, everyone does have a different pain perception, so deciding what is reasonable can be a struggle for some mothers who seem to be doing everything right.

Questions to Keep Breastfeeding Comfortable

• Are you in the early weeks postpartum?
• Are you supporting the breast and baby’s head with your hands?
• Has baby turned tummy to tummy? Are his ear, nose, and hip in alignment?
• Are you bringing the baby to your breast, not leaning into the baby?
• Is baby opening wide, like a yawn, when bringing him to latch?
• Do you feel tugging/pulling?
• Are your nipples intact? Long, but rounded when baby pulls off. Not flat like a pancake.
• Have you tried different positions?

If you answered yes to most of the above questions, then tenderness should be getting better by 2-3 weeks. Otherwise, keep reading:

When More Help is Needed

1. Are you fair-skinned with light or red hair?
2. Are your nipples usually sensitive? Some women don’t even like to be touched.
3. Do you have Raynaud’s Syndrome, vascular disorders or fibromyalgia?
4. Have you recently (past few months) had a yeast infection, used antibiotics or corticosteroids (asthma), or have a baby with thrush or diaper rash?
5. Could the baby be tongue or lip tied?
6. Have you ever had surgery to your breast or chest?
7. Do you feel pinching or biting throughout the feed?
8. Are your nipples cracked?
9. Do you take any medicine or herbal supplements?
10. Are you using something on your nipples for comfort?
11. Do you use a breast pump? 
12. What type of bra and or breast pads are you using?

If you’ve answered yes to any of #1-12, please reach out to your lactation consultant or la leche league leader. A phone consult can be helpful in certain instances, or for a visual assessment, you should go on FaceTime or Skype.

Understand that a better perception of the whole picture may take working one on one with an expert in the field to keep breastfeeding comfortable. Make an appointment for a home or office visit with an IBCLC as soon as possible. Most important, know that this is temporary. With help, time, and patience, you could be on the road to a more comfortable breastfeeding journey.

Happy Parenting!