What to do if the nipple is broken and bleeding

The nipples are sucked and cracked and bleed. This is a problem that is very likely to occur during breastfeeding. Nipple fissures are also the most common disease during breastfeeding. Therefore, mothers should not be too nervous. Knowing the correct treatment methods, you can apply hot and wet compresses before each feeding, or apply some breast milk on the nipple after breastfeeding to keep the areola moist.

1. Symptoms of cracked nipples

Nipple fissures are one of the common diseases during lactation. In mild cases, only cracks will appear on the surface of the nipple, while in severe cases, local fluid and blood will seep out. If it does not heal over time and recurs repeatedly, it is easy to form small ulcers. If it is not handled properly, it can easily cause mastitis. Especially when breastfeeding, there is often a heart-wrenching pain, which makes the patient restless and extremely painful. When the nipple is cracked, the baby will feel sharp pain when sucking, and it will bleed and ooze pus and form yellow scabs when wiping it.

2. Treatment of nipple rupture

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. 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.

3. When the fissure is very painful, do not let the baby suck. Use a breast pump to suck out the milk in time, or squeeze out 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.

3. Can I still breastfeed if I have cracked nipples?

1. When the nipples are cracked, you can still continue breastfeeding, but you must pay attention to correcting the baby's sucking method. The baby cannot only suck the nipple, but must also put the areola into his mouth.

2. When breastfeeding, feed the breast that is undamaged first. This is because a hungry baby will use greater force when sucking milk for the first time. After sucking one side, then sucking the cracked side, the sucking force will be slowed down and the pain will be relieved. After breastfeeding, you can apply a small amount of breast milk on your nipples. Milk has antibacterial effects, and the rich protein it contains is also beneficial for epidermal repair.