>Hi, fellow netters.
>I have a similar story about pumping for twins and deep breast pain.  This
mom has severe pain during pumping for the entire session.
Has had poor production all along.  Is VERY stressed - she and her husband
both.


"Is VERY stressed--she and her husband both."  Stress can certainly express
itself in pain--back, shoulders, breast, head, anywhere.  As has been posted
here before, back muscle tension/strain can cause breast pain, as the
muscles are connected.  Simply speaking, I'll bet that she is looking down
at her breasts and those bottles the entire time that she is pumping.  She
is under so much pressure to provide for the little ones, whom she is
worried about.  And she may have the pump on the highest setting and is
pumping for long periods. It's all up to her and her body is not coming through!

I doubt that fenugreek could cause breast pain. And the fact that, even
after the initial increase in supply, the supply went down makes me think
STRESS.

When you recommended massage you probably didn't mean husband rubbing her
back.  What she needs is a good, hour-long theraputic massage with a good
physical or occupational therapist.  Something that nurtures her, not just
so that she will make more milk for the babies but that says, "there, there,
just rest here and recieve this caring touch."  She could use more than one
of these sessions--at least once a week. (I have had several cases of
resolved breast pain with such body work.)

I don't know how much milk she was producing, but is she going to just stop
pumping?!
Doesn't sound like a good idea.

In my last post I recommended body work and I forgot to mention that anytime
a breastfeeding mother sees a chiropractor or body-work person she should
use a pillow or rolled-up towel under her breasts when lying on her stomach.
Her breasts shouldn't be pressed into the table.

Of course, it could be yeast, but I would recommend the above treatment
first. And even if the breast pain isn't resolved or even if she never pumps
again, it will be a gift to her and her body.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee