Is Breastfeeding Pain Normal? What You Can Do About It

Breastfeeding pain is common mostly in the early stages, but it should never be accepted as normal. Instead, it should be a warning that you need to reassess and adjust to make sure you're comfortable and your baby is getting proper nourishment. Nipple sensitivity occurs in the first few days after delivery, and hormones can make breasts feel tender and sore. However, any pain from nursing should be addressed right away.

Nipple size and shape could be a factor, especially if you have inverted or flat nipples, so it may take a little bit longer for your baby to get the hang of it. Silicone nipple shields help your baby learn to latch properly. Similarly, if your baby has a tongue tie, this could affect their ability to latch on properly.

Breastfeeding pain from a fungal infection like thrush causes burning pain even after a nursing session is complete. Stabbing breast pain or pain that radiates to the back can also occur when you have thrush, and nipples may either look normal or irritated and brighter in color.

If you're experiencing flu-like symptoms while breastfeeding, it could be the result of a blocked milk duct. Body aches and fever are symptoms of mastitis — inflammation of the breast — which causes milk to pool in the breast and leads to inflammation. Mastitis occurs when milk isn't flowing due to an improper latch, missed or infrequent feedings, or weaning.

While these are all factors that can contribute to painful nursing, the most common reason for pain while breastfeeding occurs when baby is incorrectly latching on to the breast.

"Pain in the nipples can be caused by the baby clamping down and using their gums to control the suck and flow," Ashley Georgakopolous, an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), told Mom.com. "There should be little to no friction happening in the nipple, and clamping down also makes it harder to obtain enough milk."

Georgakopolous, the medical lactation director for Motif Medical, warns that a latch problem can lead to lowered supply over time as well as backed-up milk, so encouraging proper attachment is key for successful breastfeeding.

A good latch should be pain-free, with your baby's chest and stomach resting against your body, face forward. Your baby's chin should be resting on your breast, and their mouth should be open wide around the entire breast, not just the nipple.

"Painful breastfeeding can be at the nipple with latching as well as within the breast tissue. Positioning, proper latching, nursing frequently enough, and correcting anything that prevents those things is the recipe for painless breastfeeding," Georgakopolous advised.

So what is the best painful breastfeeding remedy? That will depend on the cause of your breastfeeding pain. Some people who breastfeed may find relief through natural cures, while others — especially those experiencing mastitis — may need to visit their doctor for antibiotics to clear the infection.

New mom Grace Redmond shared her struggle with mastitis and tips for managing the pain on the breastfeeding resources site Boobing It.

"It’s a very painful condition and can come on very suddenly and quickly. If you’re lucky and can 'catch it early' there are some home remedies which you can do to combat it," Redmond wrote. "Things like a hot bath or shower while massaging the breasts can alleviate the engorgement and swollenness. It’s also important to continue to feed your baby from the sore breast(s). Hand expression and manual or electric pumping in between feeds can often remedy things."

Other natural remedies to alleviate breastfeeding pain include applying warm compresses to the breasts and treating irritated nipples with freshly expressed breast milk. Cabbage leaf treatment, which involves applying chilled cabbage leaves to the breasts, has also been shown to reduce swelling and pain associated with breast engorgement, according to research published in the National Library of Medicine.

Emollients, like 100% lanolin cream, applied to cracked nipples can alleviate pain and irritation. Over-the-counter pain relief also works, but be sure to get clearance from your physician. For serious concerns like mastitis, it's important to see your doctor as you may need a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.