Common misdiagnoses when breastfeeding women and their babies have fit and hold problems

Dr Pamela Douglas14th of Jul 202429th of Sep 2024

Misdiagnoses are commonly applied when your baby has an unstable position or there's nipple and breast tissue drag

Here are the diagnoses babies often receive when they're showing signs of positional instability and breast tissue drag. You can find what these signs are here. Click on the link to find out about each diagnosis, including when it is and isn't relevant.

Misdiagnoses that are commonly applied when you have nipple pain or damage

Here are diagnoses that women often receive when they're experiencing nipple and breast tissue drag during breastfeeding. Again, you can find signs of a fit and hold that predisposes to nipple and breast tissue drag are here. Click on the link to find out about each diagnosis, and when it is and isn't relevant.

Nipple thrush
Subacute mastitis
Neural sensitisation or allodynia
Idiopathic vasospasm
Oral connective tissue restriction in your baby

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Next up in why does fit and hold matter so much?

Let's talk bras ( ... important, even though it gets tricky!)

 “_When you find burden in either belief or apparel, cast it off."_ Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894) American suffrage reform, pioneer of the Victorian Dress Reform Movement

Does bra-wearing help breastfeeding?

Unfortunately, wearing a bra for much of the day can increase some women's chances of developing breastfeeding problems. This is because bras can

Alter the biomechanics of breastfeeding and cause fit and hold problems
Increase the chances of overhydration of the nipple skin, which makes our nipples less resilient when they're exposed to the stretching and expanding pressures which are a normal part of breastfeeding. You can find out about this here.
Interfere with the natural vibratiang movements of the breast in relation to gravity, which support