What is chest pain after childbirth?

Postpartum chest pain is not a healthy condition for mothers. It is most likely a symptom caused by acute mastitis. Acute mastitis has a great impact on postpartum women. When this inflammation occurs, breastfeeding must be stopped immediately, and timely treatment should be sought. Only after the condition has recovered can the child be fed. Below, I will introduce to you the common causes of acute mastitis!

1. Nipple cracking

It is usually caused by incorrect breastfeeding posture, the baby not sucking the nipple and most of the areola in the mouth, and breastfeeding on one side for too long.

2. Milk duct obstruction

It is common in secondary milk stasis, and its main causes are incomplete breast suction, irregular and frequent breastfeeding and local pressure on the breast. Milk stasis is also common in people with hypoplastic nipples (such as inverted nipples), which affects breastfeeding. In addition, the breast milk of primiparas contains more exfoliated epithelial cells, which are more likely to cause blockage of the mammary ducts and aggravate milk congestion.

3. Bacterial invasion

The main pathogen of acute mastitis is Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus is less common.

(1) Bacteria can directly invade through the milk ducts, which are prone to infection due to milk congestion and retention. Because retained milk is easy to decompose, the decomposition products are acidic, which not only irritates the mammary ducts but also serves as a good culture medium for bacterial reproduction.

(2) Bacteria can enter the nipple through small wounds or cracks, and invade the breast interstitium through the lymphatic vessels to form cellulitis.

(3) Pathogens that infect other parts of the mother's body during the postpartum period can circulate through the blood and cause breast infection.

(4) Another route of infection is that pathogens in the infant's body (such as oral and nasopharyngeal infections) directly invade the mammary lobules along the mammary ducts during breastfeeding, grow and multiply in the stagnant milk, and cause breast infection.

4. Milk stasis

(1) First-time mothers have no experience in breastfeeding and produce a lot of milk. Babies are often unable to suck out all the milk, causing excess milk to accumulate in the glandular lobules, which is conducive to the growth and reproduction of bacteria. The breast milk of primiparas contains relatively more exfoliated epithelial cells, which can easily cause blockage of the mammary ducts and aggravate milk congestion. The accumulation of milk promotes acute inflammation.

(2) If a primipara does not clean her nipples regularly during pregnancy, the epithelium will become fragile. If the baby sucks for too long, the nipple epidermis will become softened and prone to cracking. When cracking occurs, the baby's sucking will cause severe pain to the mother, affecting adequate breastfeeding. The breasts will not be easily emptied and milk will easily accumulate. In addition, if the nipples are underdeveloped, short, flat, small, or inverted, milk is more likely to accumulate.