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What is the weird sensation while breastfeeding?

The Complex Sensation of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is often described as a deeply intimate experience, yet it can also evoke a range of unexpected sensations and emotions. For many mothers, the act of nursing their child is filled with joy and connection, but it can also bring about feelings that are difficult to articulate.
Physical Sensations
Mothers frequently report a variety of physical sensations while breastfeeding. Some describe it as a soothing experience, akin to the relief felt after holding in a need to urinate for too long. This comparison highlights the intense release of tension that can accompany nursing, as the body responds to the baby’s suckling with a rush of hormones like oxytocin, which promotes bonding and milk ejection.
However, not all sensations are pleasant. Some women experience discomfort or pain, particularly if they are dealing with issues like latch problems or infections. In fact, a study noted that some mothers report feelings of agitation or aversion during breastfeeding, especially if they are tandem feeding or nursing while pregnant. This phenomenon, known as breastfeeding aversion and agitation (BAA), is not widely researched but is recognized by those who experience it as a significant emotional response that can complicate the breastfeeding journey.
Emotional Responses
The emotional landscape of breastfeeding is equally complex. While many mothers feel a profound sense of love and connection with their child during nursing, others may encounter feelings of frustration or resentment, particularly if they are experiencing physical discomfort or fatigue. Anecdotal reports suggest that some women may even feel a sense of sexual arousal during breastfeeding, which can add another layer of complexity to the experience. This reaction can be surprising and may lead to feelings of confusion or guilt, as societal norms often frame breastfeeding solely as a nurturing act.
The Weird Sensation
The “weird sensation” that some mothers describe can manifest in various ways. It might be a tingling feeling, a rush of warmth, or even a wave of anxiety. For some, these sensations can be alarming, leading them to question their emotional and physical responses during breastfeeding. In some cases, these sensations may even signal underlying health issues, such as infections, which can exacerbate feelings of discomfort.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the sensations experienced during breastfeeding are as diverse as the mothers who undertake the journey. While many find it to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, it is essential to acknowledge the complexities and challenges that can arise. Understanding these sensations can help mothers navigate their breastfeeding experiences with greater awareness and support, fostering a healthier relationship with this natural yet multifaceted act.

What is sputtering breastfeeding?

Sometimes, your milk lets down so fast that your baby can have trouble swallowing the amount of milk that’s being released. Because of this, your baby may act fussy at breast or choke and sputter at the breast, and he or she may be quite gassy.

Why do I have sharp twinges in my breast while breastfeeding?

Symptoms: Breast or nipple pain that’s stabbing, burning, or feels like pins and needles—both during and after nursing—can be the result of a vasospasm, when contracting blood cells reduces blood flow to a particular area. You may also notice your nipples turning white, then blue or red.

Why do I feel a tingling sensation in my breast?

This tingling feeling arises due to the body’s immune response to the infection, which includes increased blood flow and the release of inflammatory chemicals. These changes can irritate the nerves in the breast tissue, leading to sensations such as tingling, burning, or numbness.

What is the weird sensation when breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding: The Let-Down Reflex
You may even have a let-down when your baby or someone else’s baby cries, or for no reason at all. Some women don’t feel the let-down. Others may feel a pins and needles or tingling sensation. Others will have a very strong sensation or discomfort.

Why do I feel fluttering in my breast?

Often, the so-called “breast” vibration isn’t occurring in the breast tissue itself, says Dr. Hensley, but in the pectoral (chest) muscle beneath. “The chest-wall muscles behind the breast tissue might involuntarily contract or spasm,” he says, which can create the sensation akin to that breast vibration.

What is breast nursing sensation?

Many nursing women feel a tingling in the breast when the baby latches on and begins to suck, causing milk to flow or “let down.”

What are breast zingers?

Zingers represent a term used to describe a specific set of sensations characterised by shooting, burning, sharp, and intermittent feelings that women may encounter following breast augmentation. This nerve hypersensitivity can be likened to a brief electric shock, lasting only a second or two.

What is the fluttering feeling when breastfeeding?

Your baby is a busy little bee and will be performing between 800 to 1000 such ‘wave-like’ movements during a feed! At the end of the feed, you will notice your baby ‘flutter sucking’ with occasional swallows and this is actually when he/ she gets the fattiest bit of the feed which is essential.

Why do I feel uneasy while breastfeeding?

D-MER is a rare condition which some breastfeeding women experience. Women with D-MER feel negative emotions seconds before their let-down reflex. It happens when they are breastfeeding or expressing and can also happen if their breasts let down at times when they aren’t breastfeeding.

What is the phantom feeling of breastfeeding?

Phantom Letdown
It may feel like breast milk is about to leak out, but there is no milk in the breast. The phantom sensation of letdown can occur long after weaning, and it’s typically nothing to worry over.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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