Julie
Your friend might be suffering from a pinched nerve in her back. Each
vertebrae has a nerve running from it (from the spinal cord), which
then follows a rib around to the breastbone.
If posture is poor during feeds, or the mother has had problems with
her back already, then parts of the skin supplied by the nerve that
is being pinched could become numb or feel tingly. Usually the
problem is only one sided, and may take a while to appear during a
feed as the nerve becomes more irritated.
Trying a change of posture eg not slumping, may help. Otherwise, the
advice of a doctor or physiotherapist may be useful.

Hope this helps


>
> Date:    Tue, 30 Jul 1996 10:04:45 -0400
> From:    Julie Hilson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: numbness in breasts
>
> Good Morning! I have a question for all of you. A friend of mine, who is
> breastfeeding a 1 month old, has been having numbness in her breast
> extending into her chest while she feeds her son. As I am not qualified to
> counsel her (I am a graduate student studying maternal and child nutrition),
> I thought I would ask my fellow Lactnetters. I have learned quite a bit from
> the scenarios posted here, but have never heard of this, does anyone have
> any experience with this "problem" (I label it as a problem now because my
> friend is quite scared by this sensation and is considering switching to
> formula--yikes!-- so any words of wisdom I could offer her would *really* be
> appreciated).
>
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Julie A. Schneider Hilson
> 107 Savage Hall
> Division of Nutritional Sciences,
> Cornell University
> Ithaca, NY 14853
> phone: 607-255-7547
> fax: 607-255-1033
> fax: 607-255-1033
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Tue, 30 Jul 1996 22:26:41 +0800
> From:    Joy Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Hyperlactation syndrome?
>
> I have
> >a mom that started out great with BF. Nursed well for 3-4 weeks. Now baby is
> >extremely fussy. Cries after every feeding. Mom was about to have dad
> >introduce a bottle of expressed milk. She pumped 3 ounces from each breast
> >in just a few minutes and could have pumped more. he does not vomit, has
> >gained three pounds over birth weight.
>
> Sounds like classic oversupply to me.
>
> For the
> >past 24 hours she has nursed all feedings in four hours from one breast,
> >then the other. She feels her supply has diminished some in that time, and
> >now he "isn't getting enough".
>
> It takes a few days of this sort of strategy to see the difference in the
> baby usually. What makes her think he "isn't getting enough"? How many wet
> nappies, etc?
>
>  We
> >have talked about eliminating dairy and artificial sweeteners (she is a die
> >hard diet drink fan). She says she hasn't had much in the last few days. I
> >saw her at a restaurant last night eating hot wings. We'll dig a little
> >deeper into the diet tomorrow.
>
> Is there any history of food intolerances at all?
>
> Other possibilities
> - silent reflux (baby doesn't vomit, but gets 'heartburn'). Timing of onset
> would fit. Is baby worse when laid down, and happier when kept upright?
> - birth trauma. I have come across a couple of babies who had difficult
> forceps delivery or similar, and had necks put out. Fixed by a
> chiropractor.
>
> With these sorts of things bothering baby, he sucks for comfort frequently,
> thereby inducing an oversupply. This gives him tummy ache from undigested
> lactose going into the bowel, causing wind and colic pains, which makes him
> more unsettled and wanting to suck more. Vicious circle.
>
> Let us know what you learn when you visit them.
>
> Joy Anderson IBCLC, NMAA (Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia)
> Breastfeeding Counsellor
> Perth, Western Australia
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of LACTNET Digest - 29 Jul 1996 to 30 Jul 1996 - Special issue
> ******************************************************************
>
Fiona Coombes MBBS IBCLC               [log in to unmask]
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Lactation Consultant, Family Physician
Perth Western Australia