Sharp Pains During and After Breastfeeding

So to chime in with others, it doesn't sound like a supply issue or a coffee issue. Caffeine would cause a jittery baby not pain. A strong let down can feel a little painful - it would only be for several seconds near the beginning of the nursing session, not continuous pain. (Possibly repeated again later in the session.) I wouldn't describe plugged duct pain as sharp pain - it's feels more like something tender, achy & swollen. You'd be able to feel hard or tender parts of your breast too.

Is there a La Leche leader you could call for reassurance?

Painful milk let down. I had it for about the first 9 months. I had a ton of milk and large breasts. It hurts and isn't fun. It will eventually go away. I breastfed for 20 months. I feel for you, hang in there.

Just know you are giving her the best food possible! :)

Whenever there's an issue with your breasts, please call your OB/GYN ASAP!

I learned this the hard way while nursing my daughter at 4 weeks and having some aching in my armpit (there's breast tissue there). They had me come immediately for a breast exam and sent me for an ultrasound. They eventually determined it to be mastitis (infection in the mammary tissue) which it was ultimately proven not to be.

90% of pain is going to be related to your body accommodating the changes associated with being a new mom and having a new baby. But, call your OB/GYN and see how quickly they respond to breast issues.

In my case, the pain was unrelated to a serious health issue, but it was my body's way of telling me I needed to press to get the answer, and it took an additional 7 weeks for proper diagnosis.

My close friend who has a now almost 6 month old has been going through the same thing as you since her son was born, I did not have any problems myself so this advice is just what she has told me. She went to her doctor and she also goes to another doctor that is a natural doctor, they both came with the conclusion that she had clogged milk ducts. Her natural doctor gave her some sort of drops medicine but I'm not sure what it was. She also was dealing with having a lot a yeast problems which also caused the pain. I would maybe check those two things out and see if that could be the problem for you because if it is those can be helped with medicine. Set up and appointment with your doctor and I would maybe even set up an appointment with a lactation consultant too.

I dont remember the details but yes, coffee is bad for your body. Better if you can avoid it for you AND baby.

It could simply be that you drank the starbucks and then drank less water/other fluids than usual, when you actually need MORE when drinking caffeinated drinks since they're a diuretic I think. Stay hydrated, and like other moms said, watch for continued or worsened symptoms. If it lasted just one day and is gone the next, I'd chalk it up to the starbucks and/or not enough water.

It might be the let down. I don't remember it being a pain, but it was a weird sensation.

How much you pump is NOT a good indicator of your production. Pumping is a very different action than a baby's sucking. It was hard for me to pump much at all, but my kids never had a drop of formula and thrived. I doubt you need to worry about supply.

If your pain does not subside (and everything is painful and uncomfortable for a little while for some who nurse), contact LLL or a lactation consultant. What you pay her will save you in formula and worry. It's very worth it.

Thrush was really painful but I remember feeling the pain on whichever side I was nursing on-not both simultaneously. The let down I would describe as more of an ache than a sharp pain though it can be pretty uncomfortable. It may be clogged ducts-massage your breasts in a warm or hot shower a couple of times a day. It doesn't sound like mastitis but if you get a fever or notice a red area on your breast call your Dr. right away because you may need antibiotics.

Hopefully it's just that you're getting more milk and it'll feel better in a day or two.

Feel better and congrats on your new baby!

This has happened to me as well. My doctor told me that the sharp pains come from milk production. So no worries. You do need to drink ALOT of water and definitely stay hydrated. Just make sure you are breastfeeding/ pumping frequently to maintain/ increase your production. Best of luck and congratulations.

You should never use pumped volume as an indicator of actual milk supply. Even in the best case scenario, pumping is estimated to get 60% of what the baby can. Besides...when did your milk come in? It is still in the normal timeline to be "arriving". I have birth on a Wednesday and mine was there in full force by Saturday morning--I definitely remember some pain during the first few days after.

Make sure you aren't dehydrated. It is VERY easy to get dehydrated after giving birth. Coffee wouldn't necessarily be the problem on its own...but if you drank a big one...and you were already a little dehydrated....then the caffeine could certainly exacerbate the situation. I was drinking nearly two gallons of water a day during the first weeks of nursing.

It probably isn't thrush this early on...not impossible, just not the most probable situation.

You could be experiencing some engorgement...are your breasts hard and much larger than normal? You can use warm compresses to help the milk let-down before you nurse (or pump).

Of course, if you're really worried called your midwife/OB...or find a local La Leche League group. The leaders are always full of information and support.

It sounds like it could be clogged ducts to me. Try to push thought the pain, the baby needs to nurse to get the clogs out. Try a warm, wet compress before feeding and massage any areas that are giving you pain. As your milk is letting down and it hits the clogged areas you will experience pain. Also try to alternate your nursing positions. I learned that pointing your baby's nose at the clog helps to drain those ducts, each postion works different ducts. If you are still experiencing pain call your OB or contact a lactation nurse. Good luck and stick with it... it will get better!

I had the same thing happen when I started nursing a year ago. its just your breasts stimulating the milk prduction. I know its really anoying but stick with it, it will pass. also your milk production will fluctuate. right now your lo's tummy is so tiny and can only hold like an ounce of milk, so she needs to feed more often. DON'T compare yourself to the other mothers that just have milk pouring out of their breasts, it can be nice to have all that stored milk in the freezer but the amount that the baby gets can be uncomfortable when its pouring out into their little mouths.

It sounds like the milk is letting down to me, too. The sharp pain is really weird (sort of on the side of the breast but then not really)...but totally normal. I had the same experience and gratefully, the sensation gradually subsided over many months.

To Robin's point, always be on the lookout for fever or redness. And if you feel engorged, remember your baby is much more effective in extracting the milk than any breast pump. Finally, in regards to your Starbucks, just keep in mind that what you eat/drink, your baby does too (that is, if she nursed within two hours after consumption). I love my coffee, but I had to make sure darling son didn't have too much caffeine, otherwise, I could say goodbye to a chance of sleeping early.

Good luck and congratulations again on your new baby girl! Enjoy her!!

Do you have red splothchy marks on your breasts and do they feel warm to the touch? Are you feeling feverish at all or super exhausted? I had pains and those other symptoms and ended up having mastitus. My daughter was also about 3 weeks old when it happened. Luckily once I got on antibiotics I felt better in no time. That may or may not be the case, but if so, I would just call your doctor to get some medication. You can also try warm/cool packs on your breasts, drink LOTS of fluids, and try to feed/pump as much as possible to relieve it. Good luck!