What to do if your breasts swell during lactation

Breasts are a woman's secondary sexual characteristic. In addition to providing her partner with a greater sense of sexual pleasure during sex, after giving birth, the breasts will secrete a large amount of milk to provide the child with the nutritional needs. However, there are also mammary glands under the breasts. Many mothers have experienced breast edema during lactation. If it is not relieved in time, it is very likely to lead to diseases such as breast cancer. So what should be done when breast edema occurs during lactation?

What to do if you have nipple edema during breastfeeding

The following methods can be used to relieve nipple pain and promote the healing of chapped nipples.

(l) 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 breast milk and apply it on the nipples and areola. Expose and dry the nipples briefly, preferably near a window in the sun. 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) After breastfeeding, wear loose underwear and bras, and put the nipple shield in the right place to facilitate air circulation and healing of skin lesions.

6) If the nipple pain is severe or the breast is swollen, and the baby cannot suck the nipple well, you can temporarily stop breastfeeding for 24 hours, but you should squeeze out the milk and feed the baby with a small cup or spoon. Try these 7 methods for nipple pain during breastfeeding. What should I do if the nipple hurts during breastfeeding? Some mothers reported that after feeding their babies, their nipples felt like being pricked by needles. What's going on? How can it be relieved?

How to wash breasts with soap for nursing mothers

Soap-like cleansing substances will wash away the keratinized cells on the surface of the skin through mechanical and chemical effects, promoting cell division and proliferation. If these keratinized cells are not removed regularly, the protective layer on the skin surface will be damaged, causing the epidermal cells to swell. This swelling is caused by excessive dryness and cell shedding in the breast area.

If you use soap or other cleaning substances too much, it may alkaline the local skin of the breast. It takes a certain amount of time for the local skin of the breast to be covered with a protective layer again and to restore its acidic environment. While soap continuously alkalinizes the skin surface, it also promotes the growth of alkaline bacteria on the skin, making it difficult to acidify the local area of ​​the breast. In addition, washing with soap will also remove the substance that protects the local skin lubrication of the breast - the oil.

Therefore, it is of no benefit for breastfeeding women to frequently wash their breasts with soap. It will also reduce the local defense ability of the breasts, causing the nipples to become dry and cracked and cause bacterial infection. In order to fully maintain the local hygiene of the breasts during lactation, it is best to wash them with warm water and avoid irritating substances.

Causes of Nipple Pain

First, the most common cause of nipple pain is due to 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.

What to do if you have nipple pain during breastfeeding?

From the above reasons, it can be seen that the causes of nipple pain and nipple cracks are related to the baby's incorrect sucking of the nipple. Mastering the correct breastfeeding posture is the key to preventing nipple pain. What should I do if I already have nipple pain?

1. 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.

2. First breastfeed with the breast that hurts less, and make sure 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.

3. If breastfeeding needs to be stopped due to 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.

4. 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.

5. Mothers should wear loose underwear and cotton bras, and put on nipple shields when necessary to facilitate air circulation and promote the healing of nipple cracks. If nipple pain is severe and unbearable, breastfeeding can be temporarily stopped for 24 hours, but the milk should be expressed and fed to the baby with a small cup and spoon.

6. Before breastfeeding, it is advisable to prepare by massaging the breasts. Starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, breast massage should be done to increase breast tissue and promote blood circulation in the chest, increase postpartum lactation function, and prevent postpartum breast diseases. The week after delivery is a critical period for establishing breastfeeding. In the first few days after delivery, the internal structure of the breast changes greatly, and the milk secretion and the sucking ability of the newborn have not yet been coordinated and adapted, which can easily cause milk to accumulate into lumps and cause breast swelling and pain. Therefore, it is advisable to actively perform breast massage within 2-3 days after delivery.

7. Before going to bed every night before delivery, use the palm of the opposite hand to massage both breasts in a clockwise direction, while pushing from the base of the breast towards 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.

Note: Keep warm during massage, keep your hands clean and disinfected, and massage should be done 1-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes. You can do self-massage or ask your family to help you with massage. It is best to combine self-massage with massage of your husband. The massage should be gentle. If there is still a feeling of swelling and pain, ask your husband to gently suck and massage the nipples with his tongue. Effective breast massage can make it easier for babies to suck breast milk. Some mothers have excess milk, so it is advisable to squeeze out the excess milk in time.