What to do if a pregnant woman has cracked nipples

What should mothers do if their nipples are cracked? Papillary cleft palate is one of the common diseases during lactation. The lighter ones only have cracks on the nipple surface, and even local exudate seeps out. Small ulcers are easily formed after repeated attacks. If not handled properly, it can easily cause chyle. This guide can be used. Apply olive oil or sesame oil to your nipples. After each feeding, apply some milk to the nipple to brighten the skin and promote healing. Usually use a wet towel to wipe the nipple to increase nipple elasticity

The nipple epidermis is thin and resilient. There are many factors that can cause chapped nipples. Common causes include:

1. Inverted or too small nipples make it difficult for the baby to suck, and excessive force during sucking may cause nipple damage.

2. Incorrect feeding, failure to put the nipple and most of the areola into the baby's mouth.

3. Excessive use of irritants such as soap or alcohol drying agents on the nipples.

4. Excessive milk secretion overflows and erodes the nipples and surrounding skin, causing erosion or eczema.

5. If the baby has oral motor dysfunction or oral inflammation, biting the nipple during breastfeeding may also cause nipple fissures.

Clinical manifestations

When the nipple is cracked, the baby will feel sharp pain, bleed, ooze, and form yellow crusts when sucking. Check the nipple and any small cracks or ulcers on the surface are nipple fissures. There can be one or more spots, with varying depths, and the nipple fissures can be circular or vertical. The cracked areas are often tender, and light yellow serous or bloody fluid can be seen oozing out. Erosion can often be found in the groove around the nipple.

examine

Stand in front of the mirror with your hands down and check if your breasts look normal. Check whether the nipple is sunken, whether the skin is wrinkled or swollen, and whether there is secretion when gently pinching the nipple. Check the armpits for swollen lymph nodes. Finally, raise your hands above your head and repeat.

Carefully observe the nipple to see if there is any sign of tissue cracking and whether it is accompanied by pain.

diagnosis

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

treat

1. When breastfeeding, you should start with the breast that is less painful to reduce the sucking force on the other breast, and let the nipple and part of the areola be sucked in the baby's mouth to prevent the nipple skin from becoming more chapped.

2. Alternate the position of the baby during breastfeeding so that the sucking force is dispersed around the nipple and areola.

3. Breastfeed frequently to facilitate milk emptying and soften the areola, which is easier for the baby to suck.

4. After breastfeeding, squeeze out a small amount of milk and apply it on the nipples and areola. Expose and dry the nipples briefly, preferably near a window in the sunlight. Because breast milk has antibacterial effects and is rich in protein, it is beneficial to the healing of nipple skin. After breastfeeding, you can also apply a thin layer of water-based lanolin on the nipples. It is harmless to the baby and does not need to be wiped off before breastfeeding.

5. Wear loose underwear and bras after breastfeeding, and put the nipple cover correctly to facilitate air circulation and healing of skin lesions.

6. If the nipple pain is severe or the breasts are swollen and the baby cannot suck the nipple well, breastfeeding can be temporarily stopped for 24 hours, but the milk should be expressed and fed to the baby with a small cup or spoon.