Nipple pain is a common symptom of pain at the nipple that occurs in women during breastfeeding after childbirth.[1] The pain shows the highest intensity during the third to the seventh day postpartum and becomes most severe on the third day postpartum.[2]
Nipple pain can result from many conditions. Early nipple pain in breastfeeding is usually caused by improper positioning and latch while breastfeeding.[3] Other causes may include blocked milk ducts, tongue-tie, cracked nipples and nipple infections by yeasts, bacteria or viruses.[4][5] Complications in nursing women involve an increase in nipple sensitivity or breast engorgement, leading to mastitis and subsequent pain.[1] Common diagnostic approaches include quantifying pain by the numerical rating scale (NRS) and maternal breast or infant mouth examinations.[3]
Nipple pain may hinder breastfeeding[6] and is the most common reason for early weaning.[2] General management such as positioning and latch adjustment and thermal intervention can be administered for pain alleviation. Appropriate treatment of nipple pain is given based on the underlying cause.
- ^ a b Berens, Pamela D. (December 2015). "Breast Pain: Engorgement, Nipple Pain, and Mastitis". Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 58 (4): 902–914. doi:10.1097/GRF.0000000000000153. ISSN 0009-9201. PMID 26512442.
- ^ a b Dennis, Cindy-Lee; Jackson, Kim; Watson, Jo (15 December 2014). Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group (ed.). "Interventions for treating painful nipples among breastfeeding women". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014 (12): CD007366. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007366.pub2. PMC 10885851. PMID 25506813.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
:5was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Barrett, Meagan E.; Heller, Misha M.; Fullerton Stone, Honor; Murase, Jenny E. (July 2013). "Dermatoses of the breast in lactation: Dermatoses of the breast in lactation". Dermatologic Therapy. 26 (4): 331–336. doi:10.1111/dth.12071. PMID 23914890. S2CID 6068222.
- ^ Niazi, Azin; Rahimi, Vafa Baradaran; Soheili-Far, Sina; Askari, Nafiseh; Rahmanian-Devin, Pouria; Sanei-Far, Zahra; Sahebkar, Amirhossein; Rakhshandeh, Hassan; Askari, Vahid Reza (September 2018). "A Systematic Review on Prevention and Treatment of Nipple Pain and Fissure: Are They Curable?". Journal of Pharmacopuncture. 21 (3): 139–150. doi:10.3831/KPI.2018.21.017. ISSN 2093-6966. PMC 6168189. PMID 30283701.