Breastfeeding found to decrease the chances of pain after C section

According to the latest research presented at Euroanaesthesia Congress in Geneva, pain after Caesarean section (C-section) can be easily managed by breastfeeding. The probability of experiencing pain after C-section is three times less with the mothers who breastfed their babies for a minimum of two months as compared to those who breastfed for less than two months.

C-sections have become the most common way of giving birth these days. One out of every five mothers’ experiences chronic pain after C-section. Breast milk is undoubtedly the most essential and suitable nutrition for the early life of newborn babies. In fact, the regulatory authorities (WHO, the UK Department of Health, and US Department of Health and Human Services) recommend mandatory breastfeeding up to 6 months of age. But, there has been limited evidence regarding the impact of breastfeeding on chronic pain experienced by most of the mothers after C-section.

Dr Carmen Alicia Vargas Berenjeno and colleagues from the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Valme in Sevilla, Spain conducted a study which included 185 mothers who underwent C-section between January 2015 to December 2016. The mothers were asked about breastfeeding patterns. They were also asked about the level of pain at the surgical site in the first 24 and 72 hours after C-section and after four months. The researchers also explored the impact of other factors (surgical technique, pain in the first 24-72 hours, maternal education and occupation, anxiety during breastfeeding) on chronic pain.

In this study, about 87% of the mothers breastfed their babies. Out of which, 58% mothers breastfed for two months or more. Overall findings revealed that one out of every four mothers (23%) who breastfed for two months or less experienced persistent pain at the surgical site after four months of operation as compared to only 8% mothers who breastfed for two months or more. Even after adjusting mother's age, the differences were found to be significant.

Further investigation recommended that educated mothers were less prone to experience chronic pain compared to less educated mothers.  Also, nearly 54% of mothers who breastfed reported suffering from anxiety.

Overall, the study furnishes another good reason to promote breastfeeding. However, the anxiety felt during breastfeeding may impact the possibility of pain at the surgical site four months after the C-section.