Preventing nipple fissures can improve the accuracy of diagnosis

Almost every new mother will encounter the phenomenon of nipple cracking. In order to avoid this phenomenon, you should try to let your baby suck most of the areola when breastfeeding, because the area below the areola is where the milk is concentrated. When sucking carefully, the milk is sucked out as if under pressure, which saves the baby's energy while protecting the nipple. It is the most effective way to prevent nipple cracks.

1. Diagnosis

In the early stage of the disease, when the baby sucks, the nipple will feel a knife-like pain, followed by bleeding from the nipple, or exudation of a thin yellowish liquid. After the exudate dries, a scab will form on the surface of the nipple. If the baby continues to suck, small cracks or ulcers will appear on the surface of the nipple. At this time, the nipples are red and swollen, and there is severe pain during breastfeeding. The scabs may also become softened, abraded and fall off, and the cracks will become larger.

Nipple fissures appear circular or vertically. Circular fissures are often located at the junction of the base of the nipple and the areola. If the fissure is deep, the nipple may be partially broken. When vertical fissures are severe, the nipple may split in two. Bacteria on nipple cracks can cause illness in infants. When the chapped stools bleed, the infant will inhale the blood into the stomach, forming pseudomelena.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by small cracks and ulcers on the nipple surface of lactating women and severe pain during breastfeeding.

Examination: Relevant physical examination may be performed.

2. Prevention

Nipple cracks are mainly caused by incorrect nipple posture of babies. To prevent nipple cracks, mothers should do the following:

(!) When breastfeeding, try to let your baby suck most of the areola, because the area below the areola is where the milk is concentrated. When sucking carefully, the milk is sucked out as if under pressure, which saves the baby's energy while protecting the nipple. It is the most effective way to prevent nipple cracks.

(2) Each feeding time should not exceed 20 minutes. If the nipple is immersed in the baby's mouth indefinitely, it is easy to sprain the nipple skin. There are also bacteria in the baby's mouth, which can cause breast infection through damaged skin.

(3) After feeding, make sure to wait until the baby's mouth relaxes the nipple before gently pulling it out. Pulling the nipple hard may cause damage to the nipple skin.

The key to preventing mastitis is to start breastfeeding early, suck frequently, keep milk flow unimpeded, and correct breast engorgement and nipple ulcers in a timely manner.