Taking the Pain Out of Weaning
Once you get through the initial discomfort of breast-feeding, nursing becomes easy and relatively painless until that fateful day when you decide it is time to wean your baby off of the breast. In addition to producing some emotional discomfort, weaning can cause physical pain. As you decrease feedings, it takes a little time for [...]
When to See a Doctor?
While some causes of breast discomfort can be effectively treated at home, see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
A lump or firmness
Soreness in only one breast
A change in your breast self-exam
Nipple discharge on one side (Lactating breasts may secrete white/yellow discharge for up to a year after nursing is discontinued.)
Soothing Strategies
While you can’t always escape the natural fluctuations in hormones, there are things you can do to make yourself and your breasts more comfortable.
Wear a supportive bra. Breasts often swell with fluid during periods of hormonal fluctuation. Susan Woodruff, B.S.N., childbirth and parenting education coordinator at Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon, advises women to [...]