Final answer:
Intense nipple pain during breastfeeding can be due to improper latch, infections like mastitis or thrush, or a blockage in milk ducts. Understanding how prolactin and oxytocin contribute to the lactation process can help identify potential reasons for the pain and appropriate actions to alleviate it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intense nipple pain in a mother who is breastfeeding is most likely to be caused by several potential issues, which include but are not limited to improper latch, mastitis, thrush (a yeast infection), or milk duct blockage. Ensuring a proper latch can often alleviate the pain, but if an infection is present, medical treatment may be necessary. Understanding the anatomy of the breast and the lactation process is crucial to determining the exact cause of the pain. The breast during lactation moves milk from the alveoli, through lactiferous ducts, to the nipple. During nursing, the baby's suckling triggers a release of prolactin and oxytocin, which respectively cause milk production and milk ejection.
Hormones play a critical role in this process. For example, prolactin stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk. Prolactin levels increase during the third trimester of pregnancy and remain high while the mother is breastfeeding. The oxytocin release, triggered by suckling, not only promotes the milk ejection reflex (also known as let-down) but also helps with uterine contractions and reducing postpartum bleeding. When breastfeeding ends abruptly, the hormonal signal for milk production does not stop immediately, which can lead to breast engorgement and leakage, similar to the experience during early breastfeeding.