A Primi Mother's Unseen Battle: Navigating Breastfeeding Pain

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding, while universally recognised as the optimal source of infant nutrition, can present significant challenges for new mothers, particularly primiparous mothers. Among the challenges, the most frequent and distressing is breastfeeding pain. If unaddressed, it can become a decisive factor for premature cessation of exclusive breastfeeding, with lasting implications for both mother and child. Objective: To determine the prevalence, characteristics, and associated factors of breastfeeding-related pain among primiparous mothers. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 110 primiparous mothers in the maternity hospital, Coimbatore. The participants were chosen through simple random sampling and data collection was undertaken using a structured questionnaire and numeric visual analogue scale. To examine the associations, descriptive statistics was applied, followed by Pearson’s chi square test with Cramer’s V with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Significant associations were found between breastfeeding pain and high breastfeeding frequency of 8 or more times per day  (c² =65.3, V=0.545, p<0.001), cradle position (c²=23.437, V=0.768, p<0.04), interference with daily activities (c²=26.731, V=0.679, p<0.03), musculoskeletal pain (c²=43.152, V=0.626, p<0.005), nipple pain (c² =42.376, V=0.632, p<0.01).Severe pain was localized to the lumbar region and nipple. Pain reduction was reported with positional changes, notably side lying and football hold (c²=34.493, V=0.638, p<0.001). Common relief strategies used by the mothers were back massage (24.5%), rest (20.9%), lying down (16.4%), nipple cream (17.3%), warm compress (10.9%), medications (6.4%) and physiotherapy (3.6%). Conclusion: One of the multifaceted challenges is breastfeeding pain among primiparous mothers, strongly linked to feeding frequency, positioning, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Early ergonomic guidance, positional adjustments, and timely professional support are essential to improve maternal comfort and sustain breastfeeding.