What to do if your nipples keep cracking

Repeated nipple cracking is quite sad for mothers, because when it hurts, it is really painful, so you also need to understand the correct relief methods. You should pay attention to the cleanliness of the nipples and your breastfeeding posture. The right breastfeeding posture can actually help relieve the pain, or you can apply some professional anti-crack ointment after breastfeeding.

1. Nipple cleaning

When cleaning the nipples, soap is highly alkaline and irritating, so it is not recommended to use it. Also, do not choose to apply medicated oils to the breasts. Just use warm water for cleaning.

2. Breastfeeding posture

Patients with chapped nipples can first use the side without symptoms to let the child suck, making sure the child holds most of the areola in the mouth to reduce the friction of the nipple. Proper breastfeeding posture can reduce the pain caused by the disease and effectively improve the symptoms.

3. Breast placement

In between breastfeeding, expose the cracked breasts to the sun to help the wounds heal. After feeding, choose a loose bra and make sure to straighten the nipples. The flowing air will help heal the wound.

4. Not wiping away the milk

After your child finishes drinking milk, do not wipe the milk stains off the nipples. The antibacterial factors and proteins contained in breast milk help wounds heal themselves. It should be noted that only one drop of milk should be left on the nipple. If breast milk overflows, it should be dealt with immediately.

5. Expressing breast milk

If some mothers still experience nipple pain after changing breastfeeding positions, it may be because the breasts are swollen and the child is not drinking enough breast milk, resulting in excessive milk accumulation in the breasts. It is recommended to express all the breast milk in the breast before the wound heals.

6. Avoid infection

Mothers should pay attention to bacterial infections to avoid inflammation. Mothers with chapped breasts can use warm water to clean their breasts first, and then apply compound benzoin tincture on the cracks. Or you can choose Chinese medicine such as Phellodendron chinense and Angelica dahurica, grind them into powder, mix them evenly with sesame oil or honey, and then apply them to the wound. Please note that when using (Chinese and Western) medicines, you must clean the medicine before feeding your child. After applying the medicine, the breast can be covered with a special shield or sterilized medical gauze to protect the breast and help the wound heal.