Many mothers say that their nipples are too sensitive at the beginning of breastfeeding. Normally, breastfeeding should be comfortable in conditions of proper application of the child to the breast, a comfortable position for feeding and full-fledged sucking by the child.
Symptoms: painful sensations occur in the nipples while the baby is sucking the breast. The nipples may have cracks around the base or across the top of the nipple. The nipple may look flattened at the end of feeding.
Causes: the main cause of pain and cracked nipples is improper application. This may be due to the incorrect position of the nipple in the mouth with a shallow grip, when the child sucks the nipple, and not the areola, pulling the nipple when sucking, rubbing the nipple with gums, or excessive pressure on the nipple with hypertonicity of the tongue.
How to fix the situation
Mom must find optimal feeding positions in which it will be convenient for both her and the child, learn how to properly apply the baby to the breast for full breast grabbing and sucking. With the correct position of the child, a good grip of the breast and its sucking, the nipple will not be constantly injured, and will heal on its own.
If the baby is sucking only the nipple, gently interrupt the sucking by inserting a clean finger into the corner of the mouth. Try to attach the baby to the breast according to the rules, so that his chin rests on his chest, and his mouth opens wide, covering the breast, and not just the nipple. Try changing postures with each feeding to find the optimal ones.
If the pain is so severe that you would like to temporarily stop feeding, contact a lactation consultant who will tell you how to proceed: any delay in feeding can cause more pain and cause other problems with the mammary glands and breastfeeding.
To accelerate the healing of the nipples after breastfeeding, express a few drops of milk and gently rub it with clean hands into the nipples and areoles. Human milk contains substances that reduce inflammation and accelerate healing. Also, try letting your nipples dry outdoors after feeding, or wear a soft cotton shirt after feeding. Use only disposable absorbent inserts for nursing mothers in the bra. Do not wear bras or clothing that squeezes the breasts and presses on the nipples. Avoid soaps and gels with astringents when hygiene of the breast and nipples. Even ordinary soap or shampoo can dry out the skin of the nipples. Be careful when using cologne, deodorant, hair spray – prevent them from getting on the nipples. Wash your breasts and nipples with just clean water. It is not recommended to dry the nipples with a hair dryer or in direct sunlight. Creams, hydrogel pads or protective pads for feeding should not be used without the approval of a doctor or lactation consultant. Some women may be contraindicated from using these products. Your doctor or lactation consultant will help you make the right choice. For example, moistening of the nipples and areoles with ultrapure modified lanolin may be recommended. The pea-sized lanolin is applied to the nipples and areoles without rubbing – with light pats. It does not need to be removed before feeding. Lanolin provides a moisture barrier that slows down the loss of internal moisture, which is vital for healthy, supple skin, relieves discomfort and promotes wound healing without scarring. This process is called “wet healing”.
In case of severe pain, you can ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug that does not contain aspirin and will be safe for your child.
Nipple piercing
When piercing the nipples during piercing, problems may arise related to nerve damage, which is regulated by the reflex secretion of milk. A puncture can cause scarring, which will hinder the flow of milk. Piercing can also cause mastitis and breast abscesses.
It is recommended to remove jewelry from the nipples before breastfeeding, as this may be risky in terms of aspiration or ingestion of jewelry by the child. Also, the presence of a foreign body in the nipple will prevent the child from properly sucking the breast.