What to do if nipple skin breaks during breastfeeding

New mothers always encounter various problems. The number one problem is nipple cracking. This situation is very common. For the baby's health, you have to endure the pain and let the child eat well. So, what should you do if your nipples become cracked during breastfeeding? If the situation is serious, it is best to breastfeed temporarily. You can use a breast pump to express the milk and feed it to your baby. Pay attention to changing the breastfeeding posture to avoid wrong posture that may cause your nipples to break and cause unbearable pain.

Switch to side breastfeeding, or use a breast pump or express the milk by hand, and feed it to the baby after disinfection. At the same time, apply cod liver oil ointment or antibiotic ointment locally to avoid infection and promote better healing. You can also use your own breast milk to drop a few drops on the broken nipple and let it dry naturally to prevent cracking. If it has already cracked, you can also use cooked cooking oil to apply to the wound every day, which can also better promote wound healing.

What is the correct breastfeeding posture?

Before breastfeeding, you should choose a comfortable position and use a hot and wet towel to apply to the breasts and areolas for three to five minutes. Of course, you should also massage the breasts to stimulate the milk ejection reflex and squeeze out some milk. After the areola becomes soft, it is easier for the baby to suck. First feed with the breast that hurts less, and put most of the nipple and areola into the baby's mouth. If breastfeeding is stopped, the mother can use her index finger to gently press the baby's lower jaw, so that the nipple will be spit out automatically.

First of all, you should apply a hot towel to your breasts frequently. If your milk is swollen, remember not to apply it to the nipples, but apply it around the breasts. If your milk is not engorged, you can apply it to your nipples, but the towel should be very soft. Some people say that you should apply it before breastfeeding. Of course, if conditions permit, it is best to apply it before breastfeeding. Personally, I think you can apply it whenever you have free time.

Secondly, there are some things to pay attention to when dressing. If your nipples are broken, it is best not to wear tight clothes, or clothes made of hard materials or of poor quality. Secondary pain is easy to occur, so choose some light and soft clothes. Also, if your nipples are broken, never use nipple stickers. They may feel good when you use them, but they will only worsen your wound and make you very dependent on them. Also, don't rely on a breast pump, as it will cause nipple edema and deformation.

Then, after each feeding, apply sesame oil (black sesame oil is best because sesame oil can be eaten raw and does not need to be wiped off every time you feed. Rapeseed oil is also good but it must be washed, otherwise the baby may have diarrhea after eating it).

Finally, nipple pain will usually last until the baby is about one month old. At this time, the breasts have become accustomed to feeding, and you can rub some milk on the nipples after each feeding, and there is no need to apply sesame oil. If the environment at home allows, you can let the nipples come into contact with the air more often to speed up wound healing. I have done this by cutting two holes on the chest of my home clothes. If your nipples are broken, do not use medication easily or stop breastfeeding. Do not rely on a breast pump, which will only cause nipple edema and worsen the wound.