What to do if your breasts hurt during lactation

For our female friends, having a baby of our own is a very happy thing. Women are born with the radiance of motherhood. However, after the child is born, most mothers will encounter a problem during the breastfeeding period, that is, the mother's breasts sometimes hurt. So what should mothers do in this situation?

1. Before breastfeeding, the mother should take a comfortable position and apply a hot and wet towel to the breasts and areola for 3-5 minutes. At the same time, massage the breasts to stimulate the milk ejection reflex and squeeze out some milk. This will soften the areola and make it easier for the baby to suck.

2. First breastfeed with the breast that hurts less, and make sure to put most of the nipple and areola into the baby's mouth. Also pay attention to changing the baby's feeding position to reduce the stimulation of the nipple caused by sucking.

3. If breastfeeding needs to be stopped due to other reasons, the mother should gently press the baby's lower jaw with her index finger, and the baby will automatically spit out the nipple. Never pull out the nipple forcibly, as this will damage the nipple.

4. If nipple cracks have occurred, squeeze out some milk after breastfeeding, apply it on the nipples and areola, and wait for it to dry naturally.

Mothers should wear loose underwear and cotton bras, and put on nipple shields when necessary to facilitate air circulation and promote the healing of nipple cracks. If nipple pain is severe and unbearable, breastfeeding can be temporarily stopped for 24 hours, but the milk should be expressed and fed to the baby with a small cup and spoon.

It is advisable to prepare by massaging the breasts before breastfeeding. Starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, breast massage should be done to increase breast tissue and promote blood circulation in the chest, increase postpartum lactation function, and prevent postpartum breast diseases. The week after delivery is a critical period for establishing breastfeeding.

In the first few days after delivery, the internal structure of the breast changes greatly, and the milk secretion and the sucking ability of the newborn have not yet been coordinated and adapted, which can easily cause milk to accumulate into lumps and cause breast swelling and pain. Therefore, it is advisable to actively perform breast massage within 2 to 3 days after delivery.

After delivery, gently hold the breasts with both hands and circle around the breasts with your fingers; hold the base of the breasts with both hands and pull towards the nipples; cross your palms and rub both breasts evenly; pinch the nipples with your index finger and thumb to pull them apart from the nipple neck and the areola, and then wipe the nipples with a hot towel.

Remove impurities from the nipple pores; use your palms to rotate and massage both breasts in a clockwise direction, then use your thumb and index finger to squeeze around the areola. If you see light yellow or colorless, transparent, and slightly sticky colostrum overflowing, you can start feeding the baby.

Mothers can massage their breasts to relieve breast pain. The most important thing is to keep your hands clean and disinfect them during massage to prevent bacteria from entering. If mothers think their breast pain may be caused by other factors, it is recommended to go to the hospital for examination. I hope the above content will be helpful to you.