What to do if your nipple is broken during breastfeeding

Many mothers experience nipple rupture during breastfeeding. The emergence of this situation is very troubling for mothers. In order to ensure that their babies can drink enough breast milk, many mothers breastfeed despite the pain. So, is there any way to help mothers reduce their pain? Today we will look at how to breastfeed when nipples are cracked during lactation.

1. When the nipples are cracked, apply hot and wet compresses before each feeding, massage the breasts to stimulate the milk ejection reflex, and then squeeze out a little milk to soften the areola, making it easier for the nipple to connect with the baby's mouth.

2. When feeding, suck the healthy breast first. If both breasts are cracked, suck the lighter side first. Make sure the baby holds the nipple and most of the areola in his mouth, and change the feeding position frequently to reduce the stimulation to the nipple when sucking hard.

3. After feeding, press the baby's lower jaw lightly with your index finger, and when the baby opens his mouth, take the opportunity to pull out the nipple. Do not pull the nipple out of the baby's mouth abruptly.

4. After each breastfeeding, squeeze out a little milk and apply it on the nipples and areola to keep the nipples dry. At the same time, the protein in the milk promotes the repair of damaged nipples.

5. When the fissure is very painful, do not let the baby suck for the time being. Use a breast pump to extract the milk in time, or express the milk by hand to feed the baby to reduce the inflammatory response and promote healing of the fissure. But do not give up breastfeeding easily, otherwise it will easily lead to a decrease in milk supply or the occurrence of milk boils and mastitis.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

① The ratio of lactoprotein and casein in breast milk protein is most suitable for the needs of newborns and premature infants, ensuring complete metabolism of amino acids and avoiding excessive accumulation of phenylalanine and tyrosine.

②Breast milk contains high levels of cysteine ​​and aminotaurine, which are beneficial to the brain growth of newborns and promote intellectual development.

③Breast milk contains a high level of unsaturated fatty acids, which are easily absorbed. The calcium-phosphorus ratio is appropriate, and the main carbohydrate is lactose, which is beneficial to calcium absorption. The total osmotic pressure is not high and it is not easy to cause necrotizing enterocolitis.

④ Breast milk can enhance the disease resistance of newborns. Colostrum and transitional milk are rich in secretory IgA, which can enhance the respiratory resistance of newborns. Breast milk contains high levels of lysozymes and abundant macrophages, so it can be sterilized directly. Lactose helps the growth of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, and contains a lot of lactoferrin, which can effectively inhibit the growth and activity of Escherichia coli, protect the intestinal mucosa from bacterial invasion, and enhance the resistance of the gastrointestinal tract.

⑤ Strengthen the relationship between mother and child, so that the newborn can get more maternal love, increase their sense of security, and help establish good interpersonal relationships in adulthood.

⑥ Studies have shown that newborns who are breastfed are much less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adulthood than those who are not breastfed.

⑦ Breastfeeding can speed up the mother’s postpartum recovery and reduce the incidence of uterine bleeding, uterine and ovarian malignant tumors.

⑧Breastfeeding is simple, convenient and timely in method, and the milk temperature is appropriate, which reduces the possibility of bacterial infection.

There are many benefits of breastfeeding. Whether in terms of health and nutrition or safety, it is irreplaceable by milk powder. Therefore, after giving birth to a child, you must insist on breastfeeding as much as possible. This will allow the baby to grow well, grow fast, be healthy, and have better immunity and resistance.