Hello Teacher,
The baby is about to turn a full moon and has been exclusively breastfed since birth, but from the first day my nipples were eaten by the baby very painfully, repeatedly and even cracked and bleeding, and I gritted my teeth every time I fed.
Family members say that breastfeeding is not painful, after the full moon is fine, but now almost the full moon I still feed every time it is very painful, I really dare not feed, can you help me?
When I received the platform consultation message, my heart also twitched tightly, not only sad that this mother was suffering from the physical and mental damage caused by the pain and cracking of her nipples, but also that she was misled "Bear with it, the full moon is good" for a month to come to seek help.
Nipple pain, crack injury is not every mother's normal breastfeeding process, take the three magic weapons, 99% of the nipple pain, chapped injuries can be avoided.
Magic weapon one
Maintain the correct latch position
When the baby is breastfeeding, the mother's nipple is within 5mm of the junction of the hard palate and soft palate of the baby's mouth, which is called the comfort zone, and when the mother's nipple is in this area, there will be no breastfeeding pain and nipple injury.
However, if the baby's latch is shallow, the mother's nipple will be in the front of the baby's mouth, that is, the hard palate, and the hard palate will squeeze and rub the nipple every time the baby feeds, causing nipple pain and nipple injury.
Therefore, the first magic weapon to avoid painful nipple cracking and injury is: the latch position is correct, make sure that the baby is a deep latch breast, so that the nipple is in the "comfort zone"!
The latch position is correct, and we can do this when breastfeeding:
❶ Baby-led breastfeeding
That is, the reclining breastfeeding position is adopted, because with the help of gravity, the baby latches more deeply. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed in this position from birth to 5 weeks. (Click to watch: Reclining Breastfeeding |.) Essential postpartum breastfeeding position)
❷Mutual-guided breastfeeding
When the mother holds the baby to feed, the tip of the baby's nose is against the mother's nipple, and the mother will touch the baby's upper lip with the nipple to make the baby's mouth open very large, then quickly put the baby close to the breast, let him start from the lower areola, hook into the nipple, and contain as much as possible areola. (Click to watch: Latching position demonstrated by Dr. Ma himself)
Consider that your baby's latch position may be incorrect and needs to be corrected if:
Sore nipples while feeding
After feeding, the nipple deforms and becomes a lipstick
Your baby's cheeks are extremely sunken during feeding
Your baby has a snapping sound while feeding
You can't hear swallowing while pumping, or you can't see the action of swallowing
Key points: Nipple pain and lacerations that occur at the beginning of breastfeeding after childbirth, first consider whether the baby's latch position is correct. Mothers can try to adjust their latch position first, if you still feel that the adjustment is not good, please seek help from professional breast milk guidance in time.
Magic weapon two
Use the breast pump correctly
The second biggest factor that causes sore nipples is the wrong use of breast pumps.
Breast pumps are not a must for postpartum mothers, but if they need to be used, then be sure to use the right method. How should it be used?
1. Choose the correct horn cover:
When pumping with a breast pump, the cup size of the breast pump in Figure 2 is just right, there is a gap of 1-2 mm between the nipple and the cup wall, a small part of the areola is sucked into the cup, and most of the areola is outside.
Figure 1 The breast pump cup is too small, and the nipple rubs against the cup wall, which will cause nipple injury.
Figure 3 is that the breast pump cup is too large, and most of the areola is pulled into the cup, so that the breast pump does not work well and will cause areola injury.
2. Correct pumping time and comfortable negative pressure
The correct use of breast pumps is here:
Magic weapon three
Proper care after breastfeeding
Usually, after each breastfeeding, you can squeeze some breast milk and apply it to the nipples and areolas, and put on clothes after natural air drying.
If you feel dry and tight or have a cracked wound, you can apply some mutton cream-like cream cream to protect the nipple.
Properly keep the nipple ventilated and dry, especially when the anti-spilling breast pad is wet, pay attention to replace it in time to avoid the risk of growing bacteria.
The function of nipple cream is to moisturize and promote wound healing, so it is not a simple drop to apply it and it is done, and the massage application in circular motions can make the skin near the nipple better absorb and soothe the nipple areola that relaxes tension.
No additional cleaning is required to wipe the nipples before breastfeeding. Just do a good job of daily cleaning, such as gently washing with warm water when bathing every day.
Unless the nipples are contaminated with dust or dirty things that need to be cleaned, cleaning the nipples too often, especially using extra soap shower gel to disinfect wipes, etc., will wash away the protective oils on the nipples and areolas, making the nipples easy to dry out and easy to crack the risk increased.
Take these three magic weapons well, and 99% of breastfeeding pain and cracking can be prevented.
If it is done, breastfeeding pain may also need to be checked for abnormalities in your baby's mouth and seek medical intervention if necessary. (Click to watch: breastfeeding hurts, have you ever thought about this reason?) ）
What else can you do if you already have a painful crack?
First of all, we still have to take our first three magic weapons: pay attention to ensuring that the baby has deep latches, correct use of breast pumps, and correct care after breastfeeding. Next we can:
1. Promote wound healing
Wounds that have been created can be treated using the principle of wet healing. A special nipple shield can also be used on the basis of a nipple cream or wet compress to prevent the nipple damage area from rubbing and adhesion with the anti-spilling breast pad or clothing, and the air circulation remains dry to better promote wound healing.
2. Stimulate the milk array in advance when breastfeeding
Before each feeding, use a hot towel to wet compresses, massage the breasts and other ways to stimulate the production of milk arrays, which is conducive to milk production and can reduce the stimulation of the baby's sucking on the nipple wound.
3. Adjust the order of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can start with the uninjured or less injured breast to reduce the stimulation of the nipple wound caused by the baby's hard sucking.
4. Change the nursing position
If the mother originally had a nipple laceration while breastfeeding in the cradle type, you can try changing to rugby, because the part of the baby that touches the mother's nipple when sucking is different, which can reduce the stimulation of the nipple wound.
5. Suspend feeding in severe cases
If the nipple laceration is too serious, the mother feels severe pain, or the wound has not healed, you can suspend the feeding, wait for the wound to completely heal and then resume the feeding, you can change to a breast pump or hand milking milking for the baby to eat.
6. Take painkillers as directed by a doctor
If the mother feels that the pain is too intense, she can use a lactation-safe drug such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen painkillers under the guidance of a doctor.
Breastfeeding pain do not endure, prevention + healing, two-pronged breastfeeding pain situation is a solution. Be sure not to "just put up with it."
On every mom's way to breastfeeding, I've more or less heard the "hearsay" that once misled you.
→ Heard: Can rubbing the nipple before birth avoid cracking?
There was a screenshot sent by a consulting mother, and a pregnancy group she joined had an "expert" say: 1 month before giving birth, it is necessary to rub the nipple to make the "skin thicker" to adapt to the baby's sucking in advance, and it is not easy to crack.
I can only reply with "huh-huh" and feel sorry for the mothers who have already done it.
This statement is like saying that you should drink more hot water from an early age to adapt to the temperature of hot water, so as to avoid burning after drinking hot water.
But in fact, the best way should be to control the temperature of the water to drink cold water or warm water to avoid burns, long-term drinking hot water not only can not reduce the chance of being burned, but will increase the risk of scalds and esophageal cancer.
The best way to avoid cracked nipples is our magic bullet: adopt the correct position with your breasts.
Nipples are very delicate parts of our body, and early rubbing not only increases the risk of infection with broken cracks, but also may increase the risk of postpartum breastfeeding difficulties and milk blockage due to broken wounds
→ Heard: Apply egg whites, egg yolk oil and other folk remedies to treat painful cracks?
Not recommended.
First of all, the safety of this type of home remedies is unknown, and it is possible to increase the risk of infection of mothers through the opening of the nipple hole or the nipple wound.
Secondly, the residue after coating is easy to be swallowed by the baby and causes the risk of allergies.
Finally, after using such home remedies, the need to repeatedly clean the nipple increases the risk of dry and cracked nipple skin.
→ Hear: Can breastfeeding with a breast shield protect the nipple from preventing/relieving cracks?
Not really.
Maybe it's the name Milk Shield, Shield = Protection. Let everyone produce its effect of "protecting the nipple from injury".
In fact, breast shield is usually used for babies with poor sucking power (premature babies, special oral characteristics, etc.) for some reason, in order to help these babies better suck, and after the baby's sucking power is enhanced, it is also necessary to gradually withdraw and resume feeding.
Under normal circumstances, there is no need to use it additionally.
On the one hand, the milk shield may repeatedly rub against the nipple areola and increase the risk of cracking and damage, and at the same time, it may reduce the stimulation of feeding and sucking, resulting in a decrease in milk volume or poor milk removal, resulting in blocked milk mastitis.
On the other hand, the baby may form a preference, only eat bottle feeding nipples or breast with milk shield does not accept direct feeding, but also may not use improperly to cause insufficient intake of the baby.
It is even less recommended to use on nipples that have been cracked and damaged, and it is more difficult to heal with wounds.
When to use breast shield, and how to use it, it is recommended to try it under professional guidance after a comprehensive evaluation of breastfeeding guidance.
Don't put up with the pain crack, find the right way to solve it, and when you need it, we are here.