What causes hard nipples during breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding mothers need to secrete milk to feed their babies every day, which is very hard. During breastfeeding, many mothers will encounter the problem of hard nipples. Although this problem is common, mothers should not underestimate it. Mothers must find out the reason for hard nipples, which is not only beneficial to their own breast health, but also provides an additional layer of protection for the baby's health. So, what causes nipples to become hard during lactation?

If the nipples become hard during breastfeeding, the main consideration is that there is a certain inflammation of the nipples. On the one hand, be careful not to press the breasts, and observe whether there is any damage around the nipples. You can apply some erythromycin ointment topically for conditioning and treatment, or you can apply some Bactroban to play a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory role. At the same time, you must maintain a good mood and be careful not to be overly excited. At the same time, be careful not to squeeze the breasts. Massage the breasts frequently to avoid milk congestion that causes breast pain, which can also cause nipple pain. Avoid the occurrence of acute mastitis. Be sure to breastfeed on time to avoid milk accumulation that causes acute mastitis.

During the lactation period, the secretion and filling of milk in the breasts, the swelling, hardness, and even a little pain in the breasts are all normal phenomena. This is because during the nearly one year of lactation, blockage or narrowing of any one or several mammary ducts may lead to milk accumulation in the breasts. There are three levels of breast milk stasis:

1. Normal breast fullness: The breasts only feel swollen, sometimes with dull pain, and feel lumpy when touched. After breastfeeding or breast pumping, the milk is drained and the symptoms disappear. This is normal breast fullness and is not pathological.

2. Breast milk accumulation: If milk continues to accumulate, the breast will continue to swell, causing the breast skin to become thicker, harder, and more painful. As a result, the nipple cannot stand upright, making it difficult for the baby to suck and it is difficult to suck out milk.

3. Milk duct blockage and breast inflammation: When the breast swelling further increases, the breast tissue becomes edematous, the milk duct becomes narrow, the milk cannot be discharged, the blood circulation and lymph return in the breast are blocked, the breast swells further, the breast skin becomes edematous, shiny and hardened, and then becomes hot and painful. If not treated in time, it will lead to acute mastitis.