How Can I Relieve Pain Whilst Breastfeeding?

Many mums choose to breastfeed their babies, but sometimes it can cause discomfort. Common issues that present mothers include the following:

• Engorged breasts
• Mastitis
• Cracked and sore nipples
• Inflamed areolas

Sometimes symptoms can be so severe that mums decide to stop breastfeeding. However, there are things that you can try to relieve the pain.

If you are suffering from engorged breasts, this could be because your baby is not feeding as much as they should. To get your baby to feed more regularly, try our top tips below:

• Check your baby’s latch. If your baby is not latching correctly, we recommend speaking to a lactation consultant or your midwife. They will be able to check that there are no physical problems that are preventing your baby from latching correctly.
• Try an alternative breastfeeding position, or a different hold for your baby. There are plenty of positions that you can try when breastfeeding which may help any discomfort to your engorged breasts.

To ease symptoms of engorged breasts, try our ‘Ooh!’ breastfeeding oil that forms part of our ‘Bosom Buddies’ set. A blend of Geranium, Peppermint, Cypress and German Chamomile essential oils to soothe tender, full and heavy breasts, engorged breasts or the symptoms of mastitis. “Ooh” will also calm, relax and uplift any new mummy exhaustion. You can find this product here.

If you have Mastitis please seek medical advice. You can read our blog post about Mastitis here.

If you are suffering from cracked and sore nipples or inflamed areolas, this could be because your baby is not attached at the breast properly. Get help from a medical practitioner as soon as you can, especially if they are cracked or bleeding. You can also try our tips below:

• If you are using breast pads, ensuring you are changing these at each feed.
• Wear a comfortable, cotton bra.
• Avoid using nipple shields and breast shells.
• If your nipples are cracked, dab some expressed breast milk onto them.