Painful Letdown

What is it?
Although a "pins and needles" or tingling sensation is normal, some women have mild to severe pain when their milk lets down. When the ducts constrict to force milk from the glands within the breast into the nipple can be painful.

What causes it?
Painful letdown can be the result of producing too much milk or mastitis. A thrush infection can also cause deep, shooting pain during a feeding.

What can I do?
If your pain is caused by excess milk, try feeding your baby from only one breast per feeding, alternating breasts with each session. This is the easiest and quickest way to produce less milk.

If you took a childbirth class and learned breathing or other relaxation techniques, try using them while you nurse. They may help you cope with discomfort during letdown. You can also safely take ibuprofen to help you cope with the pain.

If you have other symptoms such as itchy, red, or burning nipples or are running a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, call your healthcare provider to rule out more serious causes of breast pain such as thrush or mastitis, breast infections that need medical treatment.