Breastfeeding Nipple Pain

After the baby is born, he needs to be breastfed. Mothers who have feeding experience know that breastfeeding is very hard. It not only takes a lot of time, but also requires energy. And sometimes for many new mothers, there will be problems of one kind or another during breastfeeding. If some mothers experience nipple pain, there are many reasons for nipple pain during breastfeeding.

What to do if breastfeeding causes nipple pain?

Mothers must pay attention to the breastfeeding posture. If the breastfeeding posture is incorrect, the mother lets the baby only hold the nipple when the baby is feeding, but the mother does not let the baby hold the areola with his mouth, then the baby will use more force and pull the nipple hard, causing nipple injury. In this case, you must correct the breastfeeding posture and let the baby hold most of the areola and nipple when feeding. When the feeding is about to end, gently press the baby's lower jaw and let the baby spit out the nipple by himself. Do not pull out the nipple forcefully to avoid injury.

After feeding, you can use a hot towel to warm the nipples to relieve pain. If necessary, you can apply anti-inflammatory cream to prevent infection of the injured nipples. However, you must carefully clean the remaining ointment on the nipples before the next feeding.

If the mother cannot drain all the milk for a long time, the milk ducts will be blocked, making it difficult to drain milk. Over time, the mother will suffer from mastitis, which will affect the secretion of milk. Insufficient milk will cause the baby to suck the nipple extra hard, which will also injure the nipple. Before breastfeeding, be sure to gently massage your breasts and apply a hot towel to help the milk flow out.

If your baby has grown teeth, you need to be more careful when feeding. You can use teething gloves to help your baby massage his gums to prevent him from biting your nipples. If he still accidentally bites the nipples, you should stop feeding, clean the wound, and apply disinfectant and anti-inflammatory ointment to prevent infection. Before the next feeding, clean the remaining medicine on the nipples.

Why does breastfeeding cause nipple pain?

This is medically called nipple fissures, which is mostly caused by the baby's incorrect sucking posture, failing to fully absorb the nipple and most of the areola. You can use breast milk as a treatment. After breastfeeding, apply a small amount of breast milk on the nipples and areola, expose and dry the nipples for a short time, and place a clean towel under the bra. Because breast milk has antibacterial effects and is rich in protein, it can help repair the epidermis. If nipple cracks are severe and nipple pain is severe, you can temporarily stop breastfeeding for 24 hours, express the milk and feed it with a small cup or spoon. In addition, pay attention to keeping the local area clean, increase wound repair, and apply appropriate sesame oil, which will be of great help in promoting the improvement of nipple cracks.