Maternity Help Desk
Maternity Help Desk: Your Pregnancy, Postpartum and Breastfeeding Questions, Answered
Take a breath. Whether it’s 2am and a feed hurts, or your back aches at 30 weeks, you’re not the only one asking. These are the questions mothers ask me most often in clinic, answered simply. Each answer tells you what’s going on and points you to the step-by-step guide that helps you fix it at home.
— Prachi Shetye, Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Lactation Consultant
Breastfeeding questions
Each answer explains what is going on, then links to the guide with the step-by-step fix.
Why do my nipples hurt when breastfeeding?
Some tenderness in the first few days is common. Pain that lasts through the feed usually means the latch is too shallow, so your nipple is being squeezed against the roof of your baby’s mouth. A flattened or lipstick-shaped nipple after a feed is a common clue. The cause decides the fix, so start by finding which one it is.
Find your cause: Quick Fix for Sore Nipples (free guide)
Why are my nipples sore after pumping?
Sore nipples from pumping usually come from the wrong flange size or suction set too high. A flange that is too small rubs the nipple. One that is too big pulls in part of the areola. Higher suction does not mean more milk, and it often makes pain worse.
Check if it’s your pump: Quick Fix for Sore Nipples (free guide)
How do I know if my baby is latched on correctly?
A good latch feels like a strong tug, not pinching. Your baby’s mouth is wide open, lips flanged outwards, and more of the areola is covered below the nipple than above it. You hear swallowing, not clicking. If any of these are missing, small changes to position and timing usually fix it.
See the four parts of a correct latch: Basics of Breastfeeding Latch (₹149)
Why does my baby make a clicking sound while breastfeeding?
Clicking usually means your baby is losing suction and re-latching during the feed. The most common reason is a shallow latch or a position that pulls baby off the breast. If clicking continues after you’ve corrected the latch, ask a lactation consultant to check for tongue tie.
Fix the latch and position: Basics of Breastfeeding Latch (₹149)
What breast pump flange size do I need?
Your flange size depends on the width of your nipple, not your breast or cup size. Most pumps come with one standard size that doesn’t fit many mothers. Signs of the wrong size include rubbing, pinching, swelling after pumping and low milk output.
Measure at home in minutes: Nipple Shield and Flange Sizing Guide (₹149)
How do I know if my nipple shield is the right size?
A nipple shield should fit your nipple closely without pinching, so milk flows and your baby can draw it out easily. A shield that is too small can cause pain and blocked flow. One that is too large can make your baby slip and feed less effectively.
Fit-check your shield: Nipple Shield and Flange Sizing Guide (₹149)
Should I stop breastfeeding if my nipples are cracked?
Usually not. Stopping suddenly can lead to engorgement, blocked ducts and a drop in milk supply. Most mothers can keep feeding once the cause of the cracks is fixed. If feeding is too painful for now, expressing milk keeps your supply going while you heal.
Find out what’s causing the cracks: Quick Fix for Sore Nipples (free guide)
How do I go back to breastfeeding after resting sore nipples?
Go back gradually. Returning to full feeds overnight is the most common reason the pain comes back. Building up direct feeds and pumping sessions step by step gives your nipples time to finish healing while protecting your milk supply.
Follow a day-by-day plan: Gradual Reintroduction to Breastfeeding and Pumping (₹99)
Can I learn how to breastfeed before my baby is born?
Yes, and it helps. Mothers who know what a good latch looks like before birth often avoid sore nipples in the first week. Late pregnancy is a good time to learn the holds, including positions that are comfortable after a C-section.
Learn the latch and holds now: Basics of Breastfeeding Latch (₹149)
When should I see a lactation consultant or doctor?
See someone in person promptly if you have a fever, a red, hot or hard area on the breast, cracks that aren’t healing within a week, or a sudden drop in supply. Also see someone if your baby has fewer wet nappies, isn’t gaining weight, or is unusually sleepy at feeds. For everyday soreness, start with the free guide.
Start here: Quick Fix for Sore Nipples (free guide)
Pregnancy questions
Back pain, pelvic pain, swelling and leaking: what causes them and what helps.
What causes lower back pain during pregnancy?
As your baby grows, your centre of gravity moves forward and your lower back curves more to balance it. Pregnancy hormones also loosen the ligaments around your pelvis, so the muscles work harder to keep you stable. That’s why back pain often builds in the second and third trimester.
Ease it today: Heat Application for Back Pain in Pregnancy (free guide)
Is it safe to use a heating pad for back pain during pregnancy?
Yes, gentle warmth on your lower back or hips is generally safe and helps tight muscles relax. Keep it warm rather than hot, never place it on your tummy, and don’t fall asleep with it on. Avoid hot tubs and saunas, which raise your whole body temperature.
See where, how long and how often: Heat Application for Back Pain in Pregnancy (free guide)
What exercises help back pain during pregnancy?
Gentle stretching and strengthening for your back, hips and legs can reduce pain and help you move more easily. The right exercises depend on your trimester, and most need no equipment. Check with your gynaecologist before starting any new exercise in pregnancy.
Get illustrated exercises with reps: Back Exercises during Pregnancy (₹249)
Is pelvic pain normal in pregnancy?
Pain at the front of the pelvis, in the buttocks or along the hips is common, because pregnancy hormones loosen the pelvic joints. It’s common, but you don’t have to just put up with it. Strengthening the muscles around your pelvis and changing how you move usually helps.
Strengthen and stretch safely: Back Exercises during Pregnancy (₹249)
How should I sit, stand and sleep with back pain in pregnancy?
Small daily habits often keep back pain coming back: slouching at a desk, lifting with a bent back, or standing at the stove for long periods. Changing how you sit, lift, carry and rest takes the strain off your back at home and at work.
Stop the pain coming back: Ergonomic Advice for Back Pain in Pregnancy (₹149)
Why are my feet and ankles swollen during pregnancy?
Your body holds extra fluid in pregnancy, and your growing uterus slows blood returning from your legs. Gravity does the rest, so swelling is usually worse by evening, in hot weather and after long periods of sitting or standing. Mild swelling in both feet is common, especially in the third trimester.
Prevent it with a daily checklist: Preventive Measures for Ankle & Foot Swelling (free guide)
How can I reduce swollen feet in the third trimester?
Regular movement, the right positions and good footwear help your body move fluid back out of your legs. Simple foot and ankle exercises done through the day work better than resting with your feet up alone. Tracking your swelling also helps you spot changes to mention at antenatal visits.
Get exercises, a daily routine and a 7-day log: Ankle & Foot Swelling in Pregnancy: Exercises & Ergonomic Guide (₹249)
When is swelling in pregnancy a warning sign?
Contact your gynaecologist promptly if swelling comes on suddenly in your face, hands or feet, or comes with a headache, blurred vision or upper tummy pain. These can be signs of high blood pressure in pregnancy. Swelling, pain or redness in only one leg also needs checking the same day.
Know what’s normal: Preventive Measures for Ankle & Foot Swelling (free guide)
Is it normal to leak urine when I cough or sneeze in pregnancy?
It’s common, but it isn’t something you have to accept. Hormones and your baby’s growing weight put extra load on your pelvic floor muscles, which support your bladder. Leaking, heaviness or needing to rush to the toilet are signs those muscles need attention, ideally before birth.
Learn how your pelvic floor changes: Antenatal physiotherapy guides
After birth questions
Rest, recovery and returning to exercise in the weeks after your baby arrives.
How can I get more rest when visitors come after my baby is born?
The first weeks after birth are for recovery and feeding, but well-meaning visitors can make rest hard. A clear, kind signal on your door lets people know when you’re sleeping or feeding, without awkward conversations. It’s also useful in the last weeks of pregnancy.
Print yours free: Gentle Mama Door Sign (free printable)
When can I start exercising after giving birth?
Gentle walking and pelvic floor activation can usually begin in the first days, if you feel well. Most mothers wait until their postnatal check, around 6 weeks, before returning to harder exercise, and longer after a C-section. Returning too fast can strain a pelvic floor and tummy muscles that are still healing.
Be first to get the postpartum guides: Postpartum physiotherapy (coming soon)
Is it normal to leak urine after giving birth?
Leaking when you cough, sneeze or lift is common after birth, because your pelvic floor muscles have been stretched. It’s common, but it isn’t something you have to live with. If it hasn’t improved by your postnatal check, ask for a referral to a women’s health physiotherapist.
Be first to get the postpartum guides: Postpartum physiotherapy (coming soon)
Still have a question?
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