Hard nipples during breastfeeding

When a woman is pregnant, her breasts will definitely undergo some changes. In the early stages of pregnancy, women will feel breast pain, and may also feel some lumps, and the nipples will become hard. When a woman is breastfeeding, the lumps in her breasts will disappear. So why do nipples become hard during breastfeeding?

This is the first breast "emergency" that most new mothers encounter and experience. It is caused by the inability of milk to be discharged or the poor discharge of milk, resulting in milk accumulation in the breast. During the lactation period, the secretion and filling of milk in the breasts, the swelling, hardness, and even a little pain in the breasts are all normal phenomena. This is because during the nearly one year of lactation, blockage or narrowing of any one or several mammary ducts may lead to milk accumulation in the breasts. There are three levels of breast milk stasis:

1. Normal breast fullness: The breasts only feel swollen, sometimes with dull pain, and feel lumpy when touched. After breastfeeding or breast pumping, the milk is drained and the symptoms disappear. This is normal breast fullness and is not pathological.

2. Breast milk accumulation: If milk continues to accumulate, the breast will continue to swell, causing the breast skin to become thicker, harder, and more painful. As a result, the nipple cannot stand upright, making it difficult for the baby to suck and it is difficult to suck out milk.

3. Milk duct blockage and breast inflammation: When the breast swelling further increases, the breast tissue becomes edematous, the milk duct becomes narrow, the milk cannot be discharged, the blood circulation and lymph return in the breast are blocked, the breast swells further, the breast skin becomes edematous, shiny and hardened, and then becomes hot and painful. If not treated in time, it will lead to acute mastitis.

The above is an analysis of some of the reasons why women’s nipples become hard and painful during lactation. After reading this analysis and introduction, I believe everyone should have a more comprehensive understanding of these common sense! I hope that after reading this analysis and introduction, mothers will pay attention to these common sense and do a good job of breast health care.