Does it hurt to breastfeed after childbirth? How long does the pain last?

The development of breast milk after childbirth is a process that mothers must go through. Today, I will tell you in detail whether mothers will feel pain during the process of developing breast milk. Many mothers who insist on breastfeeding hope that their milk will increase. So let me tell you how long the pain of breast milk after childbirth lasts?

How long does postpartum breast pain last?

When does breast engorgement mainly occur?

Generally, it is 2-5 days after delivery (most commonly 3-4 days). It is also a signal of the arrival of the second stage of lactation. Pregnant mothers can produce colostrum around 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is the first stage of lactation; the milk supply begins to increase within 30-40 hours after delivery, which is the second stage of lactation; followed by the third stage of lactation.

How long will breastfeeding last after childbirth?

The duration of physiological milk swelling varies from person to person, and the longest duration is no more than 12-48 hours. What kind of people have a long duration and what kind of people have a short duration? The duration is determined by the degree of refilling of the mother's breasts. The faster the refilling speed and the more severe the refilling, the longer the duration.

Why do you need to suck more when your breasts are swollen?

The lactation mechanism of the first and second stages of lactation is different from that of the third stage of lactation. The lactation of these two stages is dominated by hormones. That is to say, these two stages will come regardless of whether the baby sucks or not. Therefore, even though some babies are separated from mothers and babies for various reasons since birth, their mothers will still have breast engorgement.

A large number of clinical observations have shown that if the baby does not suck or sucks less in the first two days, the mother will experience very painful breast swelling 3-4 days after delivery. And the degree of swelling is directly related to the frequency and duration of sucking in the early stage.

Avoid brutal massage when breasts are swollen?

When milk is stagnant, the local pressure is high, and the edema squeezes the mammary ducts, making it more difficult for milk to be discharged. If you press and rub the lump vigorously, it is equivalent to applying external force to the already edematous tissue. Not only will the milk not be discharged much, but more importantly, it will cause external force damage to the mammary tissue, lymphatic tissue, skin, etc. Many mastitis and even suppurative mastitis are caused by improper and vigorous massage!

Rubbing vigorously will not help the milk to be discharged, but will cause new damage! If there are lumps in the breast, it is best to let a professional lactation consultant to clear them.

Can I apply heat to my breasts?

This point is also controversial among experts. Some breastfeeding guidance books, including textbooks, recommend hot compresses; some books recommend not to use excessive hot compresses because it can sometimes cause blood vessels to become congested and swollen.

It is often difficult for new mothers to grasp the scale. If the new milk produced after the breasts are not emptied in time, breast engorgement will only become more serious. Therefore, mothers should choose hot or cold compresses according to their own situation.

Do not apply hot compresses during the 72 hours after childbirth when the milk is swelling. Instead, apply cold compresses. This is because the mammary ducts are congested and will become more and more blocked the more you apply the compresses. After the milk swelling period, you can apply hot compresses and massage to promote patency.

How to relieve breast engorgement after childbirth

1. Let your baby suck milk as soon as possible

Let the baby start sucking as early as possible, and start breastfeeding within half an hour after birth, so that the milk secretion will be more. Because the baby's sucking ability is very strong and the little mouth is particularly powerful, the mother's milk duct can be unblocked through breastfeeding, so that the milk can be discharged more smoothly. Pay attention to the number of feedings, about once every 2-3 hours, to remove the milk, ensure that the milk duct is unobstructed, and prevent milk engorgement.

If the milk secretion is too much and the baby can't eat it, use a breast pump to suck out the excess milk. This can not only solve the new mother's breast pain, but also promote milk secretion.

2. Massage in a loving way

Appropriate massage can also effectively relieve breast engorgement. You can do the massage yourself. After all, you know your body best and it is also easy to control the strength of the massage.

After washing your hands, hold the entire breast, and evenly and gently massage and squeeze from the periphery of the breast toward the nipple. This can help dredge the milk ducts and reduce or eliminate skin edema. If you find that a certain part of the breast is particularly painful during the massage, you can squeeze it slightly to discharge the accumulated milk to prevent the milk ducts from being blocked and causing mastitis.

3. Use a breast pump

If for some reason the baby is unable to help the mother empty the breast by sucking, then a breast pump should be chosen.

When choosing a breast pump, you should pay attention to its suction force, which must be moderate and the nipples should not feel painful when using it. It is recommended to choose a breast pump with the function of adjusting the suction strength, and the pressure and speed of the breast pump can be adjusted in time according to the actual situation. However, you must pay attention to hygiene when using a breast pump, especially for new mothers with damaged skin in the areola area, to avoid bacterial invasion and infection.

New mothers who suffer from nipple cracks must take timely cleaning measures at this time. At the same time, they can also apply breast milk evenly after each feeding, which can also effectively relieve the cracks.

4. Choose a wide bra for support

For swollen and sagging breasts, you can use a wide bra made of soft cotton cloth to support them. This will not only improve blood circulation in the breasts and promote lymphatic return, but also help keep the mammary ducts unobstructed, thereby reducing milk accumulation and alleviating breast pain.

Note that new mothers should not wear bras that are too tight, as such bras may inhibit milk secretion.

5. Cold compress vs. hot compress

Hot compress can make the milk blockage in the mammary glands unblocked and improve breast circulation. Before breastfeeding, you can use a hot and wet towel to warm the breast for a few minutes, and then use gentle massage and patting to soften the breast and areola and reduce the feeling of milk swelling. When breastfeeding, you should feed the breast that feels more swollen first.

If the pain from breast swelling is very severe, cold compress can be used to relieve pain. Apply a soft towel dipped in cold water to the breast, or use a cold water bag for cold compress, which can help reduce breast congestion and relieve swelling pain. Remember to squeeze out the milk before applying cold compress.

6. Diet to regulate lactation

New mothers should ensure a light diet and avoid greasy food. It is best not to drink too much milk-inducing soup. They must also eat high-protein, high-fat, and high-sugar foods in moderation to prevent excessive and thick milk secretion, which may cause lumps in the mammary glands and make it difficult to be discharged.

7. Soak in warm water

New mothers with engorged breasts can also effectively relieve the discomfort by soaking their breasts in warm water. First, prepare a basin of warm water and place it on your knees, then bend your upper body to your knees so that your breasts can be soaked in the basin. At this time, you can also gently shake your breasts, and gravity can make it easier for the milk to flow out.

Does it hurt to breastfeed?

"Breastfeeding" is the first feeding of a newborn baby after it is born. In the past, some sugar water was always fed before breastfeeding, which was called "breastfeeding". However, many mothers are worried that breastfeeding will hurt, and they are not clear about some precautions for breastfeeding.

Opening of milk ducts

Once the thin yellow mucus secreted by the breast dries up, it is not easy to be removed and can easily block the opening of the mammary duct. As a result, the mother's milk cannot be discharged smoothly after delivery, affecting the smooth breastfeeding.

Nursing points:

1. From the 33rd week of pregnancy, pregnant women should use their fingers to squeeze the area around the areola to allow the colostrum in the mammary duct to flow out. This is conducive to opening the mammary duct and avoiding milk stasis after delivery. It also has a good preventive effect on milk accumulation, nipple lacerations and insufficient milk secretion.

2. Apply a small warm towel to your breasts frequently, then hold your breasts between your palms and ribs and massage them over the towel to promote breast development.

3. Every time you wash, be careful to gently clean off the hard particles that block the nipple opening. After washing, apply a layer of oil on the nipple and areola skin, and massage the breast at the same time. This can gradually make the breast skin tough, which can prevent the opening of the milk duct from being blocked after childbirth and prevent the nipple from cracking.

Speaking of which, I started breastfeeding my baby the day after I gave birth in the hospital. The nurse came to check on the same day and recommended exclusive breastfeeding. At that time, I already had 5 or 6 milk ducts on each side of my body that were open, which was enough to meet the needs of the newborn baby (later, I had milk clots, and after using the following method to open the milk, all the milk ducts were opened. When I used a breast pump, I could see 12 milk lines gushing out at the same time. It is said that there are 12 ducts on each side of the human body, so it can be said that they were all open).