WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Beauty
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Beauty
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
Pro Surfer Laura Enever On What She'd Tell Her Younger Self
Watch 1:48

Pro Surfer Laura Enever On What She'd Tell Her Younger Self

{headline}

{headline}

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

The Internet Is Losing It Over The Contents Of Jessica Simpson's Freezer

The Internet Is Losing It Over The Contents Of Jessica Simpson's Freezer

The Internet Is Losing It After Discovering What Milk Ducts Actually Look Like

The Internet Is Losing It After Discovering What Milk Ducts Actually Look Like

Kristin Cavallari Says Jay Cutler Cleared Her Clogged Milk Ducts While She Was Breastfeeding

Kristin Cavallari Says Jay Cutler Cleared Her Clogged Milk Ducts While She Was Breastfeeding

{headline}

{headline}

Camilla Franks On Battling Breast Cancer Just Three Months After Giving Birth

Camilla Franks On Battling Breast Cancer Just Three Months After Giving Birth

Kate Hudson Just Shared Photos Of Herself Breastfeeding Mid-Workout

Kate Hudson Just Shared Photos Of Herself Breastfeeding Mid-Workout

Carrie Bickmore Shares All Too Real Struggle Of Caring For A Newborn

Carrie Bickmore Shares All Too Real Struggle Of Caring For A Newborn

{headline}

{headline}

Hilary Duff Just Recreated Rachel McAdam's Iconic Breast Pump Photo

Hilary Duff Just Recreated Rachel McAdam's Iconic Breast Pump Photo

Khloe Kardashian Says Stress Prevented Her From Being Able To Breastfeed

Khloe Kardashian Says Stress Prevented Her From Being Able To Breastfeed

Khloe Kardashian Is Being Majorly Mum Shamed For Feeding This To Her Daughter True

Khloe Kardashian Is Being Majorly Mum Shamed For Feeding This To Her Daughter True

Mum's Warning After Stranger Hacked Her Baby Monitor To Watch Her Breastfeed

Mum's Warning After Stranger Hacked Her Baby Monitor To Watch Her Breastfeed

This Mum Was Publically Shamed For Attempting To Board A Flight With A Breast Pump

This Mum Was Publically Shamed For Attempting To Board A Flight With A Breast Pump

This Mum Breastfeeds While Practising Yoga And It’s Causing Major Controversy

This Mum Breastfeeds While Practising Yoga And It’s Causing Major Controversy

This Common Part Of Motherhood Is Most Likely To Trigger Postnatal Depression

This Common Part Of Motherhood Is Most Likely To Trigger Postnatal Depression

  1. Home
  2. Parenting

5 Bizarre Breastfeeding Side Effects That No One Warns You About

Apparently tingly breasts are part of the deal. - by Jessica Migala
  • 14 Dec 2017
5 Bizarre Breastfeeding Side Effects That No One Warns You About
Getty Images

Your body on breastfeeding may not seem like your body at all. You may be rounder and curvier. Or you may be thinner than your pre-baby days. Your boobs probably leak at inopportune times — like when people are coming over — and it’s not uncommon to wake up in the middle of the night with your breasts full and aching. (Hooray, your baby slept longer, but now you’re in major pain.)

 

Sometimes you probably feel like your only hobby is breastfeeding your child (and talking about it), but when you stop and think about it, what you’re doing is so incredible. You’re helping a child grow and thrive. You’re sustaining a human life.

And while you may feel like a milk factory at times, breastfeeding can actually be pretty beneficial for you (in addition to all the benefits you already know you're giving to your baby). “Breastfeeding also has many health benefits for mum that we often don’t hear about. Mums who breastfeed have a lower incidence of breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and more,” says Zarya Rubin, doctor and founding director of Latched On MD. That — and the significant snuggly bonding time with baby — can help ease the blow when weird, funky, and what-the-heck things are going on with your breastfeeding body.

Another thing that might make the whole experience easier: understanding some of the more unpleasant and ouch-inducing side effects of breastfeeding. Here's what you need to know if you're living life with a baby attached to your nipple.

1. YOUR NIPPLES WILL TOUGHEN UP

The first time your baby latches, it’s surprising just how strong their little mouths are. “Nipples are full of nerve endings and have sensitive skin that has not often been exposed prior to breastfeeding, says Rubin. She says back in the day, expectant mums were advised to scrub their nips with a Brillo pad to prepare. (Um, ouch.) Luckily, your bod is gearing up for this moment on its own. “Pregnancy itself helps make the nipples more stretchy and stronger,” she says. After a week or two, any discomfort should start to go away. If it doesn't, there may be an issue with the latch or an infant tongue tie—see a lactation consultant for an evaluation.

RELATED: This Mum’s Brutally Honest Breastfeeding Selfie Is Something All Mums Need To See

2. YOUR BREASTS MAY TINGLE

Don’t be surprised if your breasts feel all pins-and-needles before the milk starts flowing. It’s called a “letdown” reflex, which is a “neurological phenomenon when the baby suckles at the breast,” says Rubin. She explains that a rise in the hormone oxytocin opens the milk ducts, starting the flow. The feeling may tingle, be enjoyable, or relax you, she says. Thing is, oxytocin can rise when you simply think about your little one or hear them cry, which means the floodgates can open at inopportune times. On the other hand, stress, anxiety, and caffeine can all interfere with this reflex, so it’s important to remember that you need to take care of yourself—especially when this whole mummyhood thing is so new.

3. YOU MAY LOSE WEIGHT…OR YOU MAY NOT

There are women who say they just couldn't keep weight on when breastfeeding—and then there are those who say they couldn't lose a pound until they stopped nursing. “Breastfeeding does burn about an additional 300 to 500 calories per day, and studies have shown that it helps lose the weight that came with pregnancy, but it’s not necessarily a magic fix for everyone,” says Rubin. There’s also #breastfeedinghunger, which leaves many mums even more ravenous than they were when pregnant. Rubin notes that there’s not data to show why some mums shed the weight quickly and others hold onto it until after weaning. No matter what camp you fall into, keep healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, and water nearby (like at your nursing station) to stay well-nourished and hydrated, she recommends.

4. YOUR BREAST MILK CHANGES

Considering some women breastfeed well into the second year and beyond, it shouldn’t be a surprise that breastmilk changes nutritional value depending on the age or health status of your baby. “The characteristics in breastmilk if you have a day-old newborn versus a one-month old infant or toddler are completely different,” says Rubin. For instance, as a baby gets older, certain immune factors in the milk will change (to combat all the crazy things they put in their mouths, natch). If your babe (or you) is sick, antibodies in the milk adjust to fight infection, she explains.

RELATED: Mum's Post About A Little Known Breastfeeding Phenomenon Goes Viral

5. YOUR SKIN MIGHT CRAWL

For as many times as you do it during the day, there may come a time when you physically feel like you can’t sit there and breastfeed anymore. You’re agitated or angry. You want to run away. To your surprise, you may even feel suddenly disgusted by it. Research shows that breastfeeding triggers a range of intense emotions, including negative ones like breastfeeding aversion.

While many women tend to feel guilty when this happens, it's important to note it's totally normal and there’s nothing wrong with you. Some mums report that normal baby behaviours, like when an infant tweaks the nipple on the other side while feeding, often set off these feelings. (On the bright side, while that handsy infant may be irritating, moving the nipple actually helps to increase flow that naturally slows down over time, says Rubin.)

Other triggers for these negative feelings include not eating or sleeping well, in addition to pain during nursing. For those reasons, it’s important to take care of yourself and address any latch issues, so you can feel more like yourself, breastfeeding or not. Pro tip: Rubin suggests wearing a nursing necklace can also keep wandering hands occupied.

This article originally appeared on Women's Health US

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

when you subscribe to Women's Health

Subscribe Now
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

when you subscribe to Women's Health

Subscribe Now
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack

Recommended to you

Pro Surfer Laura Enever On What She'd Tell Her Younger Self
Watch 1:48

Pro Surfer Laura Enever On What She'd Tell Her Younger Self

{headline}

{headline}

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

The Internet Is Losing It Over The Contents Of Jessica Simpson's Freezer

The Internet Is Losing It Over The Contents Of Jessica Simpson's Freezer

The Internet Is Losing It After Discovering What Milk Ducts Actually Look Like

The Internet Is Losing It After Discovering What Milk Ducts Actually Look Like

Kristin Cavallari Says Jay Cutler Cleared Her Clogged Milk Ducts While She Was Breastfeeding

Kristin Cavallari Says Jay Cutler Cleared Her Clogged Milk Ducts While She Was Breastfeeding

{headline}

{headline}

Camilla Franks On Battling Breast Cancer Just Three Months After Giving Birth

Camilla Franks On Battling Breast Cancer Just Three Months After Giving Birth

Kate Hudson Just Shared Photos Of Herself Breastfeeding Mid-Workout

Kate Hudson Just Shared Photos Of Herself Breastfeeding Mid-Workout

Carrie Bickmore Shares All Too Real Struggle Of Caring For A Newborn

Carrie Bickmore Shares All Too Real Struggle Of Caring For A Newborn

{headline}

{headline}

Hilary Duff Just Recreated Rachel McAdam's Iconic Breast Pump Photo

Hilary Duff Just Recreated Rachel McAdam's Iconic Breast Pump Photo

Khloe Kardashian Says Stress Prevented Her From Being Able To Breastfeed

Khloe Kardashian Says Stress Prevented Her From Being Able To Breastfeed

Khloe Kardashian Is Being Majorly Mum Shamed For Feeding This To Her Daughter True

Khloe Kardashian Is Being Majorly Mum Shamed For Feeding This To Her Daughter True

Mum's Warning After Stranger Hacked Her Baby Monitor To Watch Her Breastfeed

Mum's Warning After Stranger Hacked Her Baby Monitor To Watch Her Breastfeed

This Mum Was Publically Shamed For Attempting To Board A Flight With A Breast Pump

This Mum Was Publically Shamed For Attempting To Board A Flight With A Breast Pump

This Mum Breastfeeds While Practising Yoga And It’s Causing Major Controversy

This Mum Breastfeeds While Practising Yoga And It’s Causing Major Controversy

This Common Part Of Motherhood Is Most Likely To Trigger Postnatal Depression

This Common Part Of Motherhood Is Most Likely To Trigger Postnatal Depression

WomensHealth
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
WomensHealth Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • marie claire
  • Who

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Men’s Health
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from Women's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

Shop This Offer
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack