Deep Pain

The most common causes of deep breast pain are:

Plugged Duct

• hard painful area in part of the breast
• may start with just a sore feeling in the breast
• if the blockage is very deep, you may only feel pain and not hardness
• may have redness over the skin

Mastitis

• same symptoms as blocked duct but with fever

Engorgement

• fullness or hardness of the entire breast
• may extend to breast tissue in the armpit

Inflamed duct / bleb/ milk blister

• white dot, yellow scab, blood blister or bloody scab on nipple tip-pain during nursing, after nursing or both
• usually only on one side, but can be on both

Yeast infection

• Sharp shooting pains, deep in both breasts between feeds is a later sign of yeast
• yeast that causes deep pain will also have:
• Pain on latch-on that usually improves during the feeding.
• Burning, stinging discomfort of the nipples and areolae between feeds.
• Sensitivity of nipples to anything that lightly brushes against them.
• Painful or uncomfortable letdown.

Vascular spasm

• When blood vessels clamp up and don't allow enough blood and oxygen to the breast tissue, nipple and/or areolae.
• Stabbing, aching, throbbing or shooting pain.
• Can be severe, intense pain.
• Usually feels worse in the cold.

Pump Trauma

• may occur if you are pumping for long periods of time
• or pumping at too high of a vacuum

Let down

• small stabbing or "electric shock" pains when the breast is filling
• lasts only a few seconds
• should not be very painful
• yeast infections and vascular spasms can make let down sensations more painful