How to heal cracked nipples quickly

Whether during pregnancy or breastfeeding, women face a variety of problems. For example, breastfeeding during lactation has become a very troubling problem for most women, because if you are not careful, it is easy to leak milk or have insufficient milk. And for a small number of women, nipple rupture may also occur. So is there any way to quickly heal cracked nipples?

1. How to treat nipple cracks

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1. When breastfeeding, you should start with the breast that is less painful to reduce the sucking force on the other breast, and let the nipple and part of the areola be sucked in the baby's mouth to prevent the nipple skin from becoming more chapped.

2. Alternate the position of the baby during breastfeeding so that the sucking force is dispersed around the nipple and areola.

3. Breastfeed frequently to facilitate milk emptying and soften the areola, which is easier for the baby to suck.

4. After breastfeeding, squeeze out a small amount of milk and apply it on the nipples and areola. Expose and dry the nipples briefly, preferably near a window in the sunlight. Because breast milk has antibacterial effects and is rich in protein, it is beneficial to the healing of nipple skin. After breastfeeding, you can also apply a thin layer of water-based lanolin on the nipples. It is harmless to the baby and does not need to be wiped off before breastfeeding.

5. Wear loose underwear and bras after breastfeeding, and put the nipple cover correctly to facilitate air circulation and healing of skin lesions.

6. If the nipple pain is severe or the breasts are swollen and the baby cannot suck the nipple well, breastfeeding can be temporarily stopped for 24 hours, but the milk should be expressed and fed to the baby with a small cup or spoon.

2. How to prevent nipple cracking

1. Gently wipe the nipples frequently with a dry and soft towel to increase the toughness of the nipple epidermis and avoid damage during sucking.

2. Inverted or flat nipples will greatly affect breastfeeding and should be corrected actively. Every time you scrub the nipple, gently pinch the nipple outward with your hands; or use your fingers to gently pull the nipple outward while twisting it, and then wipe the nipple with 70% alcohol. Once the nipple skin becomes tough, it is no longer prone to inversion.

3. Develop good breastfeeding habits and breastfeed regularly every day. Each breastfeeding time should not be too long, 15-20 minutes is enough, and once every 4 hours.

4. Wash the nipples and areola, including the hard scabs on the nipples, with warm water before and after each feeding. Keep them dry and clean to prevent cracks on the nipples and areola skin.