Areola redness and pain during breastfeeding

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.

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.