If nipple pain has become common for the reasons you describe Mary,
then I would refer to it is iatrogenic,
but that does not mean it is normal. That said, I think a lot is going
on in women's breasts due to environmental
toxins, use of hormonal contraceptives, poor nutrition and inflammation
that may make all of our experience a lot
less applicable than we'd like it to be.

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, France
Intuitive Parenting Network, LLC


"Yesterday in the breastfeeding support group I posed a question to the
mothers,"What was a piece of unconstructive or bad advice that you heard
from healthcare personnel during your early breastfeeding experience?"
I thought as a nurse who has been working in the field 30 plus years
that I couldn't be surprised.  Unfortunately, I was mistaken.  I won't
take up space with some of the absurd 'advice' but several mothers
surprised me with their response.  More than one mother mentioned that
hearing a nurse say,"It is not supposed to hurt" was unhelpful.  These
mothers had seen lactation consultants in the early days for latch
assistance and infants were thriving and nipples showed minimal signs of
damage,if any.  I had been schooled in the theory that no nipple pain is
ever normal.  I am beginning to rethink this.  Some new mothers have
poor give to the areola and dense tissue.  Most babies are born in our
hospital medicated and suctioned and heavily stimulated before going
skin to skin.  I am wondering, given the abnormal state of birth,
whether some nipple pain in some women for the first few weeks may be
considered normal, even when latch appears adequate and milk transfer is
good.  I find myself telling these mothers (after evaluating for sneaky
tongue ties etc.) that we've tried to minimize the pain as much as
possible and most mothers in these instances get relief in time.  What
are your thoughts?

Mary Westra RN, IBCLC
Miami, FL





Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, France
Intuitive Parenting Network, LLC

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