What to do if your nipples hurt

Everyone has nipples, and nipple pain can clearly show whether people have breast problems. Some people may feel nipple pain due to getting a fever, while others may feel nipple pain due to breast disease. Therefore, people who feel nipple pain must not ignore it, so as not to delay the treatment. It should be checked and treated promptly. Let’s take a look at what to do if nipple pain occurs?

Nipple pain during breastfeeding may be caused by:

First, the most common cause of nipple pain is improper sucking by the baby. When the baby sucks the nipple, he does not take enough of the areola into his mouth, but only holds the top of the nipple. Repeated sucking causes nipple pain.

Second, when the baby sucks, the mother feels a tingling pain in the nipple, which may be caused by nipple fissures. Causes of nipple cracks include improper sucking by the baby, application of alcohol and soap on the mother's nipples, or oral motor dysfunction in the baby.

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.

First breastfeed with the breast that hurts less, and be careful 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.

If breastfeeding needs to be stopped for 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.

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.

Because the nipple skin is relatively delicate, especially the nipples of first-time mothers are thinner and more tender, and the nipples are easily cracked due to being soaked in the baby's saliva for a long time. Therefore, each feeding time should not be too long, generally 15 to 20 minutes is best, and do not let the baby fall asleep with the nipple in his mouth.

Before going to bed every night, use the opposite palm to massage both breasts in a clockwise direction, while moving from the base of the breast toward the nipple. 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 two palms and rub both breasts evenly; pinch the nipples with your index finger and thumb to pull them to separate the nipples from the neck and areola, and then wipe the nipples with a hot towel to remove impurities in the nipple pores; use your palms to rotate and massage both breasts in a clockwise direction, and 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.