There are many things that can cause your breasts to be sore
. Injury, sleeping awkwardly, being pregnant, PMS and fibrocystic breast disease are all things that can be to blame. The most common reason for breast soreness is nursing.
When your breasts swell up and become heavy with milk they are considered to be engorged. This normally happens a few days after having your baby and can be very uncomfortable. It usually goes away after you get on a regular nursing schedule.
Mastitis shows up with a number of symptoms including redness, hot and inflamed breasts. You can usually find a lump on the breast and symptoms that seem much like the flu. Mastitis can be caused by either an infection or inflammation in a nipple or blocked duct. This often occurs when you are failing to hold the baby in the right position or not feeding him/her regularly. Rushing to feed your baby too quickly can also cause mastitis.
If you are failing to hold the baby properly or he/she is not latching on to the nipple right then you can end up with cracked nipples. This often leads to thrush, a fungal infection that affects both the baby and you. Thrush shows up as white patches in the babys mouth and a pink rash on your nipples that is itchy.
If you notice that the baby is biting on your nipple after feeding then you should detach them right away. There are plenty of toys available that your baby can use to help with their teething and make their gums feel better. Not allowing your baby to teeth on your nipple can help to solve a lot of problems before they even start.
You will want to avoid prescription medications while breastfeeding because you will pass the side effects right along to your baby, through the breast milk. Herbal medicines are much better during this sensitive time. Marigold and Chamomile are great choices if you are looking to avoid fungal infections, inflammation and the spread of bacteria. They are also great at naturally helping to stop the pain you might be experiencing in your breasts. Vitamin E and Silica will help your skin to heal better and put a stop to the uncomfortable itching that often occurs with breastfeeding.
Make sure that you feed your baby anytime they need it and if your breasts feel too full then express the milk. When you are breastfeeding make sure that the baby is positioned right. Your entire nipple and most of the areola should be in his/her mouth.