How to avoid cracked nipples during pregnancy

After a woman becomes pregnant, her breasts will change, which can be easily seen from the appearance. At the beginning, the breasts will feel more sensitive than before and a little swollen and painful. The longer the pregnancy lasts, the more obvious the changes will be. For example, the nipples will get bigger, the areola will change in color and size, and the color will become darker. Some people's breasts will expand and they may even develop stretch marks, and milk will gradually be produced. If you don't take good care of your breasts during this period, your nipples may easily crack.

Expert response:

Breasts are very sensitive organs. During the late pregnancy and lactation period, as the breasts grow larger, the number of blood vessels increases, the number of nerves innervated also increases, and they become more sensitive, it is very important to increase the adaptability of the nipples during pregnancy. Regardless of whether you decide to breastfeed, please start doing breast care every day from the 6th month of pregnancy to prevent nipple cracking and inflammation, and to correct inverted nipples.

Breast care can be performed every day when taking a shower. Use your fingers to massage the entire breast in a circular motion. After rinsing and drying, apply some lubricating oil on the nipples and knead the nipples with your thumb and index finger to increase their flexibility. When massaging your breasts, be sure to use gentle techniques. Don't be too rough, just stop when it's enough. Pregnant mothers can prepare a coarse-toothed wooden comb and use it to circle the breasts, which can also have a massage effect.

Case tracking:

I have been pregnant for more than 7 months. My breasts have grown very fast. My nipples are not only sunken but also cracked. I feel burning pain every day. What should I do?

Case expert analysis:

The nipples should be kept clean and dry, but it is best not to clean them with soapy water or alcohol, because this will remove the natural lubricant on the surface of the nipples, causing the nipples to become more dry and cracked.

Especially for pregnant mothers with inverted nipples, they should spend 10 minutes every day lifting their nipples to make them erect. This can not only avoid the occurrence of mastitis during breastfeeding, but also healthy nipples can provide the baby with rich milk. Babies who grow up on breast milk have stronger immunity.

Pregnancy tips:

Exercise can prevent pregnant mothers from losing their physical strength and avoid fatigue. Exercise can also maintain muscle strength and make delivery smoother.

We should also pay special attention when choosing underwear. Good underwear can protect our breasts from harm and our nipples from abrasions, thereby reducing the risk of cracking. You should change your bra one month into your pregnancy and switch to a larger cup size designed for pregnant women. This will protect the entire breast and reduce the chances of damage to the breast and nipple.