The breastfeeding woman is sometimes confronted with pain or complications that she cannot always explain. Indeed, breastfeeding - if not properly accompanied - can sometimes cause unpleasant sensations to the mother, and even pain, which plunges her into confusion and questioning about the follow-up of her breastfeeding. Some women may suffer for weeks with alternating fever and discomfort, but in the end there is almost always a solution.

Breast congestion

Congestion is a normal phenomenon that simply expresses the arrival of milk in the breasts. Breast congestion is therefore a normal physiological state, even if it is painful. The solution to ease the pain is simply to put the baby to the breast so that he can feed and relieve the mother.

Congestion

Engorgement is a painful problem that a breastfeeding mother may encounter. In fact, the milk no longer flows, the network of alveoli is blocked and there is a compression of the mammary gland. The mother's breast is swollen, painful and rather hard. Very often, the nipple is retracted. Due to the loss of breast suppleness and elasticity, latching on will be complicated and the baby will have difficulty sucking. Paradoxically, it is the feeding that will relieve the mother because it will allow to unclog the breast. Of course, the breastfeeding woman may not have the desire or the strength to offer the breast, but it would be a mistake to stop breastfeeding because it is precisely the mechanical action and the flow of milk that will allow an improvement.

In some cases, heat could be a solution to ease tensions. Hot showers or compresses would be optimal solutions. At the same time, some moms will have a greater affinity for the cold and will prefer cold showers or ice packs. Each woman will then be totally and completely unique in her situation.

In the most advanced cases, the engorgement can lead to inflammation which should be seen by a doctor so that he can best assess the situation and the follow-up.

Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast with a risk of developing into an infection. Soon, the mother will be able to notice on her breast, an area that is redder, hotter and often painful to the touch. These localized signs are usually accompanied by fever with the impression of the onset of flu. Moreover, these symptoms can be mistaken for a real flu and the diagnosis is then wrong.

In the case of mastitis, the best solution is to continue breastfeeding. Although it may be uncomfortable for the mother, the mechanical action of continuing to breastfeed her child may help healing through the drainage action of the breast. Eventually, manual extraction could also be an effective solution for recovery.

Obviously, a medical follow-up seems to be essential with sometimes the obligation to institute a treatment of antibiotics for the good of the mother and the child.

In addition, human accompaniment by a lactation consultant would promote the mother's well-being and confidence in her ability to feed her baby.

These breastfeeding-related ailments can sometimes discourage a mother from continuing to breastfeed because of the physical and emotional pain it causes her. If the desire is to accompany your child with a long breastfeeding, the solutions today are adapted.

Nevertheless, prevention is an important pillar in this type of pathology. Warn mothers that these problems exist but that they do not mean the end of breastfeeding must be emphasized today.