What to do if your nipples crack during breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, mothers must take good care of their nipples. Because women's nipples are relatively fragile, and during breastfeeding, the frequency of nipple use is relatively frequent, so symptoms such as nipple cracks and nipple pain are very easy to occur. For example, many women find that their nipples become cracked during breastfeeding. What methods can be used to promote recovery at this time?

Why does nipple cracking occur?

1. Incorrect breastfeeding method

When breastfeeding, new mothers do not put the front of the breast (areola and nipple) into the baby's mouth, causing the baby to often drink milk from the front of the nipple. Prolonged sucking and friction can cause cracks in the nipple; or frequent use of one breast can also cause cracks in the nipple on that side.

2. Too little milk secretion

Some new mothers have too little milk, and the baby cannot suck out much milk. The baby will increase the sucking force and pull. If the problem of insufficient milk is not effectively solved in a short period of time, this will also cause symptoms of chapped breasts.

3. Breastfeeding for too long

The nipple skin is delicate. If feeding lasts too long, the nipple skin will become softened and cannot tolerate the baby's sucking or may be bitten by the baby during sucking.

4. Inverted or small nipples

In the case of flat nipples, inverted nipples, or nipples that are too small, it is difficult for the baby to drink milk, which may cause damage to the nipples due to excessive sucking force.

5. Improper cleaning and care

Excessive cleaning or use of improper cleaning products can cause excessive irritation to the skin around the nipples, leading to cracks. On the other hand, insufficient cleaning and care can easily lead to bacterial infection of the nipples, increasing the chance of cracks.

6. Baby's oral problems

Babies' brains are not fully developed, and they have poor control over their movements. Some babies may have inflammation in their mouths, and biting the nipples while breastfeeding may cause nipple fissures. Some babies who have already grown teeth do not hold most of the breast in their mouths when drinking milk, and only bite the nipples, which may also cause nipple fissures.

What to do after chapped skin occurs

1. When the nipples are cracked, apply hot and wet compresses before each feeding, massage the breasts to stimulate the lactation reflex, and then squeeze out a small amount of milk to soften the areola, which will facilitate the connection between the baby's mouth and the nipple.

2. When breastfeeding, start from the breast that hurts less to reduce the sucking force on the other breast. Make sure the nipple and part of the areola are in the baby's mouth to prevent the cracks from getting worse.

3. You can cover the nipple with a rubber nipple or wrap the nipple with sterilized gauze to avoid touching it to relieve pain.

4. When nipple cracks are severe, breastfeeding should be suspended to reduce the development of inflammation and promote healing of cracks before breastfeeding can be resumed. During this period, you can express the milk and feed it to the baby with a spoon, but you should not stop breastfeeding.

5. If it is a minor crack, you can apply some children's cod liver oil. Be sure to wash off the medicine before breastfeeding. You can also apply some red dates, sesame oil and honey paste. Take 1 part sesame oil and 1 part honey, wash the red dates and remove the core, add appropriate amount of water and boil for 1 hour, filter out the residue and keep the juice, boil the date juice until it is thick, then add sesame oil and honey and boil over low heat for a while, remove the foam and cool into a paste. Apply to the crack after each feeding. The effect is very good.