Postpartum Breast Pain

Postpartum Breast Pain – General Information

In most of the cases, the postpartum period is quite difficult for a woman, as a lot of changes happen. The pain which usually appears in the first weeks after a woman gives birth to a child can be quite difficult to handle if we take into consideration all the stress the mother has to deal with. The mother usually experiences a feeling of extreme discomfort and fatigue which affects almost any part of the body. This is mostly because of the extreme effort during labor, effort which results in stiffness and muscle pain.

In what concerns the changes which affect the breasts, the newly mothers are expected to suffer from Postpartum Breast Pain, a complication which is also known as engorgement. In a normal situation, the milk reaches the breasts and they might feel warm, tingly and full; but this does not create a feeling of discomfort or pain. In the case of those mothers who experience Postpartum Breast Pain, the breasts may become extremely heavy; however, the easiest way to relieve this discomfort is nursing. One important thing which should be known is the fact that, if the mother can not nurse as soon as possible, she shouldn’t use a pump. This will only increase the amount of milk produced by the body and Postpartum Breast Pain will worsen; this is why the mother has to allow the child to nurse only when she/he wants and as much as she/he wants. This way the body will naturally adjust the amount of milk produced. 

Postpartum Breast Pain - Symptoms

The first signs and symptoms of Postpartum Breast Pain usually develop during the two to five days after a woman gives birth to a child. In most of the cases, the breasts become firmer, larger and somewhat tender, as the result of the fact that they start producing large amounts of milk. This engorgement of the mother’s breasts can be quite problematic at first, as the baby may not be able to get any milk. This could happen either because the high pressure in the breasts cause the mother to produce less or no milk at all or because the child is not yet able yet hold on correctly and the nipple becomes painful.

The most common sign of this complication is the swelling of the breasts, which gives the mother the feeling that she produces more milk than her baby needs. The problem, however, is not necessarily the quantity of milk produced by the mother’s body, but getting it to flow. However, the good part is the fact that the signs and symptoms of Postpartum Breast Pain should not last more than a couple of days, until the body adjusts the quantity of milk produced. In addition, after the baby starts to nurse well, the milk will flow easily and the firmness and swelling of the breasts will start to disappear. After only six to eight days, the breasts should conform to the baby’s appetite and produce the exact quantity of milk which the baby needs. This way, the engorgement of the breasts will cease completely.

Postpartum Breast Pain – Treatment

Taking into consideration the fact that Postpartum Breast Pain is not actually a medical disorder the treatment recommended by the doctor usually consists in some simple measures which can be applied by the patient at home. First of all, the new mothers should be aware of the fact that the breast engorgement can be significantly reduced if the nursing becomes more frequently. This is why they are advised to nurse the child every 3 to 4 hours, even during the night, at least until some improvements appear.  In order to avoid any further complications, women are advised to nurse their child at no more than every 5 hours; furthermore, doctors consider that the baby should be fed 9 to 12 times everyday and that he should nurse for about 10 to 15 minutes at one breast.

In what concerns a later stage of Postpartum Breast Pain, when the mother starts to experience extreme discomfort and fullness, the doctors usually recommend her to warm her breasts before nursing. This is because the heat will improve the flow of blood and let-down of the milk. In addition to this measure, the mother has to perform certain steps in order to encourage the baby to nurse. For example, she has to support her breast and start squeezing her fingers in order to make the nipple easier to hold on for the baby; a gentle massage performed while the baby nurses can soften and empty the firmer areas of the breasts. Between feedings, those who present Postpartum Brest Pain are advised to use cool washcloths in order to decrease swelling; in some cases, some anti-inflammatory agents, such as Ibuprofen, are recommended in order to reduce pain faster. This is quite safe, as only a small quantity of these agents will get into the milk. A more traditional method used to decrease breast engorgement involves cool cabbage leaves which are applied directly to the skin, after being carefully washed and dried. This method is quite efficient and the best part is the fact that the leaves can be placed in a bra and the patient can wear them all day long.

Another important issue associated with Postpartum Breast Pain is whether the new mothers should or should not pump their breasts. The general belief is that pumping will also determine the breasts to produce more milk; however, if the breasts are too full and the baby is not able to nurse or if the breasts remain full even after the baby is fed, the patient is advised to pump her breasts until they become softer and the feeling of discomfort disappears. There were, however, some more severe cases of Postpartum Breast Pain, when the engorgement of the breasts can not be relieved. In such situations, the mother is advised to use an electric breast pump, which will immediately relieve fullness and will assure a normal production of blood. Even though serious complications associated with this disease are not frequent and the simple steps described above can significantly improve the mother’s condition, she will probably be advised to also visit a lactation consultant.