Dear new mother, breastfeeding should not be painful but comfortable and easy.In the first few days after delivery, when the baby latches on to the breast, you may feel small contractions (stimulated by sucking) that are completely normal because they help the uterus to return to its normal size, a slight discomfort (not pain!!) in the breast, because it is not used to producing and secreting milk, but this sensation usually tends to disappear gradually
If instead of discomfort you feel pain, the baby is probably not latched on properly. If this is the case, try detaching it by gently inserting one of your little fingers into the corner of its mouth to interrupt sucking.
If the baby does not open his mouth wide enough, you could try to help him by pressing gently with your finger on the space between his mouth and his chin.
Breast problems: how to prevent them
Many of the problems encountered in the first weeks of breastfeeding (nipple pain, breast soreness, breast engorgement) occur because there are difficulties with feeding or because the baby does not latch on often enough.
Rhagades
These are painful and sometimes bleeding wounds of the nipple, caused by an incorrect attachment by the baby, by too strong a gum closure, by a short frenulum of the baby's tongue, by too strong a sucking force (vacuum), by a candidiasis or because the breast is left wet with milk, too much air and drying out, it cracks.
Prevention is based on a good breast attachment and not on the application of creams or ointments, or the use of nipple shields (silicone or rubber) and/or silver nipple shields, which on the contrary could complicate and aggravate the situation.
The treatment consists of obtaining a correct attachment to the breast (you can also try the semi-reclined position) so that you feel no pain and do not suffer during feedings, and applying drops of colostrum/milk, rich in anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, to the lesions until they are completely healed.
Breast engorgement
It is caused by inadequate (and insufficient) removal of milk from the breast in relation to the rate at which it is produced.
The sensation the mother experiences is of full, heavy, hard, tense, sore and warm breasts, the skin may be reddened and the baby may have difficulty latching on.
If the baby cannot co-operate in softening the breast because he or she cannot get the milk out, or is not interested in feeding, you can use manual squeezing or a breast pump. Before expressing milk, it may help to massage your breasts gently for 1-2 minutes or have a relaxing back massage on the sides of your spine or take a hot shower on your back and breasts... you will feel relief.
A mother's tip: wait to let the baby latch on as much as you can (and he can), then latch him first on the engorged breast side so that his pulls are more vigorous, because he is hungry. You should gradually feel the breast relax and deflate, and with that the pain will also subside!
Mastitis
Mastitis is often the consequence of stasis of undrained milk.
It presents with a sore breast that has a warm, hardened area and a fever of 38.5°C or higher, often with flu-like symptoms: cold chills, joint pain.
In the case of mastitis, it is necessary to talk to the doctor about possible antibiotic treatment (most antibiotics are compatible with breastfeeding). Also in this case, wait to let the baby latch on as much as you can (and he can), then latch on to him first on the side of the breast that is sore so that his pulls are more vigorous, because he is hungry. You should gradually feel the breast relax and deflate, and with that the pain will also subside! Do not try to breastfeed as frequently as possible, as your breast will continue to produce milk, the baby will not be hungry and will not require milk... causing the situation to worsen!