Pain as Milk is Coming In
Breast swelling and tenderness is very common as your milk first comes in, typically around day 2 to 5. You may feel some lumpiness that comes and goes.- Very gently massage your breasts between feedings, perhaps with oil or unscented cream on your fingers.
- Take Ibuprofen or Tylenol as needed.
Let-Down Pain
The let-down, or milk ejection reflex, is the term used when stored milk is prompted to flow from your breast for a feeding session. Many mothers don't sense the let-down in the first week or so, due to breast swelling and all the other new sensations going on. It feels different for everyone, perhaps like pins and needles, tugging or intense heaviness.Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (DMER) is a rare phenomenon in which mothers react adversely to the oxytocin let-down hormone. They experience nausea, headaches or a sense of doom. These symptoms usually go away over time.
Vasospasm Pain
Click here to ready about nipple vasospasm. This can also cause shooting breast pain.Mammary Constriction Syndrome, is similar, in which the deeper blood vessels constrict, perhaps in response to chest wall muscle tension. Very gently massage your ribs around the edges of the breast tissue.
Over-Production of Milk
Some women feel uncomfortable when their breasts are full and feel heavy. The let-down (milk ejection reflex) might be painful, and vasospasm may cause nipple pain and stabbing breast pain. A lactation expert can help figure this out and help you down-regulate your milk supply if needed.Click here to learn more about abundant milk supply.
Pain from Engorgement, Plugged Ducts and Mastitis
Click here to read about engorgement and plugged ducts.Click here to read about mastitis.
Kay Anderson, MD, IBCLC