A brand-new breastfeeding mother becomes familiar with pain the first weeks following her baby’s birth. Nipples not used to breastfeeding can become excruciatingly tender, especially during the first minute after the baby latches. Before the mother’s body adjusts to the needs and appetite of the new baby, her breasts can become painfully full of milk.
Breastfeeding should not, however, begin to hurt when your child is 9 months old. If breastfeeding has been pain-free for quite some time and the pain returns, something is probably wrong.
The culprit could be thrush, which causes a burning or itching sensation in the breasts; mastitis, which causes a fever and deep, shooting pain in the breasts; or, it could be something as simple as a plugged milk duct.
Plugged milk ducts aren’t necessarily a big deal, but they can quickly turn into mastitis if a mother is not vigilant in unclogging them.
We were recently on vacation, and I noticed a hard spot on one of my breasts. It was very tender – almost felt like a bruise – and did not soften after my baby breastfed. After calling around to friends (we had no internet access), I realized I had a plugged duct. I couldn’t figure out what might have caused it, until one friend asked a specific question: “Have you been wearing your underwires again?”
I, indeed, had been wearing my underwire bras. I think all mothers out there can relate when I say it felt good to finally have the girls back up where they used to be (or at least close to it) before pregnancy and breastfeeding took their toll.
As good as it felt emotionally, the underwires did not make me feel good physically. I quickly shed them, put on my old, trusty, flimsy nursing bras, applied heat to the plugged area, massaged the area while my baby ate, and the problem quickly resolved itself.
What is it about underwire bras that can contribute to plugged ducts? Women have milk ducts circling their entire breast. Although milk often feels like it comes only from the top of the breast (I can feel my milk coming down from my shoulder area), it flows from all directions in the breast, toward the nipple. An underwire bra can often cut off, or at least inhibit, milk flow from the bottom of the breast, thus creating a clogged or plugged duct. Left untreated, the duct can become infected, turning into mastitis.
If breastfeeding has become painful again, your breast feels bruised, and you can feel a hard spot on your breast that does not go away after your baby eats, a plugged duct may be your problem. Try eliminating the use of underwire bras as a first solution.