Dear Lactnetters, 

Please allow me to tap into your vast knowledge and experience. 

Permission to post: Second baby, now just over 5 months old (1st baby died at full term in womb, reason unknown, second baby delivered a year later at 36 weeks via C/birth due to unknown reason for 1st baby IUD). Mother took almost 5 months maternity leave and has been back at work for almost a month now. Baby breastfeeds when they are together and at night and over weekends. They have had an “uneventful”, happy breastfeeding relationship. Mother pumps twice a day at work. 

Her puzzling complaint is that she experiences terrible headaches after the pumping sessions – this has been going on for the month she has been pumping back at work. She pumps at 10:30 and 14:00. The headaches start, or at least she notices the headache, immediately after the pumping session and then it subsides a little but builds up again when the next pumping session has ended. She has a Medela Swing Maxi but does not double pump; she pumps one breast at a time for 10-15 minutes in order to continue working while pumping. She says she notices the 10:30 pump-headache when she gets up to put the milk in the fridge. Yesterday it was so bad that she felt nauseous. 

She never really pumped during her maternity leave so not sure if it is related to being back at work. She pumps and breastfeeds in the same upright position. She reports no change in the amount pumped since she started. Her menstrual cycle has not returned yet. Only change she noticed is that although she is trying to eat a “well-balanced” diet she feels she is losing weight very quickly.

While we wait for your insights ;-), I suggested that, in the meantime, she try pumping in another room while either listening to music or reading (depending on her “learning preference”) and to breath consciously/relaxed same amount of air in and out, as well as enjoying a cup of tea. She will let me know if this changes anything!

Any ideas will be most welcome!! 
Thank you! 
Kind regards. 
Leana 
(IBCLC, South Africa)

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