Question for pregnant women or mothers only. I need help with a symptom here. Immmature people need not click.

Question

When I get cold (even if it is just a chill from air conditioning) my breasts and nipples ACHE LIKE THE DICKENS!!! Ghheeeesh! The only thing that helps ( I've tried many many things over the last 2 months - it started 2 months ago - I'm 5 months pregnant) is
to completely set the puppies (you know, the mams) free with no clothing touching them and rubbing them with warm dry hands or
just letting them be free until the pain subsides. Usually takes 3 - 20 minutes. Milk production should not hurt so dang bad! It HURTS!! I cried once or twice and I have a HIGH threshhold for pain. Please tell me what may work. My male doctor and male doctor husband cannot help...they're suggestions are...insufficient. Staying warm is a no-brainer, but not always possible.

;-D Velken!
Sorry, but I couldn't help but to laugh!
Thanks for the comic relief. Thanks EVERYBODY for all your help and answers. I am going shopping now for a ricebag and a heating pad...while the shower warms up for me. Oh, yeah, and some nursing pads, too.

Answer 1

Try a warm, damp compress. It helps with circulation. It's better then the dry heat of a heating pad. I used to use a dish towel that was wet with pretty warm, almost hot water. I would do it for 20 minutes at a time and it seemed to start to help. Warm baths help too, or (this might sound a bit weird) putting your breasts in a bowl of really warm water.

A good tight bra is good, if you can stand the pressure, no underwires. They tend to restrict blood flow.

If you use a heating pad, make sure to put a towel between your skin and the pad. It can cause them to get too hot.

Try putting nursing pads in your bra. They add some cushion, and some warmth. I use the curity kind. They tend to be softer and have more padding then the other kinds. I get them at walmart.

I hope some of these things help!!!

Answer 2

Taking a warm shower was a relief for me when I had that. The things we go through as women - it's amazing we do so well - from sore breasts to achy backs, it's not fun all the time but it's worth every second of it once you have your baby. Another thing that I can suggest would be to take some Tylenol (you can have acetaminophen, but not Ibuprofen while pregnant), when it's gets really sore. Also try massaging your puppies a little bit, in circular motion to ease the pressure. It gets worse when the baby comes - your breasts get so full and tight, but as soon as you nurse and the milk is drained, it won't be as sore. So with that same theory in mind, maybe you can try to pump your breasts a little bit, just to ease the pressure. If milk comes out, you can always freeze it and use it later for when the baby comes. At this stage though I doubt that a lot of milk will come out, but the pumping will ease the pressure, even if no milk comes out.

Goodluck and sorry for the pain, hope all goes well with you and your pregnancy!

Answer 3

Try a heating pad against your breasts for about 15 minutes. I also liked to take hot showers and just let the water run down my chest. Bad news for you...it will only get worse...especially after you give birth. They will be so overfilled with milk that mine stuck out like torpedoes. My husband loved it but most men are more worried about their sexual needs than anything else. You can also try to repress some of the milk out by massaging and squeezing them like an icing bag. It might help a little, but honestly it's more painful doing that then it's worth. Good look on your sore boobs and the joy of a baby! Once you have the baby all the pain you endure will definitely be worth it! Again GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 4

The pain is normal theres isn't alot you can do. I thought I was dieing for the last 4 months of my pregnancy but I did find out if you do get chilled and also when you get further along the milk production gets worse but a heating pad in the evenings helped ALOT. After the baby is born and the milk comes fully in it isn't to bad unless you don't nurse the baby and they fill up then it hurts but a heating pad still helps then too.

Answer 5

I'm right there with you! Mine started about the same time as yours (I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow). I have a rice pack that I toss into the microwave. It produces a moist heat which has been a life saver. Dry heat or even a bath or shower just seems to irritate the girls more. Other than that, I haven't found anything that gives me relief. I have to admit I'm even wondering if breast feeding is going to be worth it if I have to keep going through this kind of burning agony and I also have a high pain tolerance. Good luck!

Answer 6

I had the same problem. There's not really anything you can do, except let them relax on their own. Sometimes, I would get a hot shower, and let the water run over them. Or I would get a heating pad and place it over them until the pain went away. Those two things made the pain more tolerable until the pain went away.

Answer 7

When i first had my baby and was nursing my breasts hurt soooo bad i would get a headache. I suggest u stand in the shower and let the hot water hit them for about 15 minutes or just put hot towels on them.

Answer 8

This is actually quite normal. Nipples tend to constrict when they get cold anyway, but a pregnant or nursing woman's nipples are very sensitive. Obviously, what you are doing warms them up. Moisturizer may help also, but mostly just warming them up is the best way to relieve the discomfort.

Answer 9

Ouch. Bless your heart(. When I was breastfeeding, mine would get super-sensitive. I'll tell you my trick if you promise not to laugh!! I put bandaids across my nipples. That way fabric would rub across me less. If you put them on when your nipples are flat, then the sticky also helps them not have room to get as pointy. It might not work for you, but its worth a shot! It won't help the aching, but it might help with the nipple sensitivity.

Answer 10

A tight bra is my only suggestion. The pain gets much worse after baby is born and milk comes in.