What is the cause of breast pain and lumps during lactation?

Breast milk is the most natural and safest food for babies. Especially after problems with major milk powders have been frequently exposed, more mothers will choose to breastfeed their babies. However, many mothers will find that they have breast pain and lumps during breastfeeding. They often don’t know what causes it, and they feel particularly upset when they feel pain. Let’s take a look at what causes breast pain and lumps during breastfeeding.

What is the cause of breast pain and lumps during lactation?

Reason 1: Milk stasis

Treatment: Wear a comfortable bra, apply hot compress on the affected side for 3-5 minutes before breastfeeding, massage the breast to clear the lumps, increase the number of feedings, express milk correctly and use a breast pump.

Reason 2: Mastitis

Treatment: Use a breast pump as early as possible. If there is no breast abscess, the expressed milk can continue to be fed. If a breast abscess occurs, the expressed milk should be discarded. You should see a doctor and receive anti-inflammatory treatment under the doctor's guidance.

3. Nipple illusion:

Cause: Within one month after the baby is born, if the mother's milk production is low or the mother and baby are separated for various reasons, such as feeding the baby with milk from a bottle, the baby may no longer be willing to suck the mother's nipple.

Treatment: Maintain confidence in breastfeeding and do not give up breastfeeding easily; make full use of the breast pump to help mothers promote milk secretion in various difficult situations; use auxiliary feeding devices and special feeding cups, and try to avoid using bottles.

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Lactation is a special physiological period. Taking good care of breasts during lactation is of great significance to the health of both mother and baby. Breastfeeding mothers need to pay special attention to the following issues:

(1) During the lactation period, mothers should ensure adequate nutrition to meet the physiological needs of both mother and baby. Otherwise, they may produce less milk or lack of milk, which may affect the growth and development of the baby. It may also cause excessive consumption of body fat, resulting in weight loss, which may easily lead to breast atrophy in the future.

(2) Breastfeeding mothers should maintain a good mental state, be in a good mood, lead a regular life, get enough sleep, and avoid various mental stimulations and negative emotions that may cause poor milk secretion and excretion.

(3) When breastfeeding, you should try to empty the milk as much as possible. If the baby cannot completely suck out the milk each time, use a breast pump to suck it out to avoid milk congestion, otherwise it is easy to cause bacterial infection and lead to acute mastitis.

(4) When breastfeeding, feed alternately on both sides to avoid breast asymmetry caused by feeding one side too much.

(5) Pay attention to health care during breastfeeding to avoid acute inflammation of the breast caused by milk accumulation, trauma, nipple biting by the baby, etc.; breastfeeding mothers should avoid contact with toxic substances such as benzene, lead, mercury, organophosphorus, and various radioactive substances such as X-rays and isotopes, and use various drugs with caution or not at all.

(6) During breastfeeding, you should wear a soft cotton bra. During breastfeeding, the breasts become larger and more prone to sagging due to gravity. A bra can help to stabilize and support the breasts, thereby preventing them from sagging. A cotton bra can prevent fiber dust particles from chemical fiber fabrics from entering the mammary ducts, thereby avoiding the resulting milk secretion and excretion disorders.

(7) Breastfeeding should not exceed one year. Generally, six to ten months is appropriate to prevent ovarian function suppression, excessive breast atrophy and degeneration, and decreased sexual desire caused by prolonged breastfeeding.

The above is an introduction to what causes breast pain and lumps during lactation. After understanding it, we know that this phenomenon is generally caused by breast milk accumulation and mastitis. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, we must find the cause and make adjustments. If it is milk accumulation, it must be sucked out in time. In addition, when using a breast pump, we must also master the correct usage.