Nipple soreness can produce a reluctant nursing mum;
this problems sprouts in the early days of nursing.
All the manipulation, tugging and pulling by the baby
contributes to some amount of soreness in every new
mother. Sore nipples can make breastfeeding a nightmare.
If not corrected it can lead to worse problems and
an aversion to the whole breast feeding routine
The
Facts on Soreness..
• Painful nipples create an anxious mum. Once
anxious, her letdown reflex becomes weak and feeding
becomes a bit of a problem
• If the pattern continues, further problems
like engorgement can set in
• It is certainly preventable. Treatment should
be executed promptly if the problem is already there.
• No soaps, scented stuffs and any form of
abrasion on the breast area
• There are 2 types of soreness: the mild
and the more serious version
• In the mild form, the burning sensation
happens at the beginning for a few minutes before
the letdown reflex begins. Because there isn't enough
milk, the baby will be tugging vigorously at the
breast. The tugging eases once the ducts start to
fill up with milk. Both the mother and baby start
to feel better when this happens
• Soreness in the mild form is temporary and
tends to wear off unless the nipple is already bruised.
Otherwise the problem tends to disappear after a
few days of routine and practice
• In the more serious situation the sensitive
skin around the nipple is already injured with cracks,
fissures or blisters. The whole feeding session
hence becomes painful and uncomfortable. Fortunately
they are fairly uncommon but they do require treatment
• The main argument is that sore nipples are
caused by babies not latching on properly. When
baby is properly latched on, the baby will be clamping
on the tissue surrounding the nipple and not the
nipple itself. If the nipple is not erect, the baby
faces problem of putting the whole nipple and the
areola into its mouth. The mother's position and
engorgement further act as
deterrents.
Sore Nipples is Preventable
• The mother should vary her positions. She
can try the 'football' position for instance instead
of the standard sitting positions, now that she has
nipple discomforts. Pillows can be used to prop the
baby to a suitable height and angle so that baby can
reach for the nipple without much effort
• Correct latching is very important. Basically
it will prevent baby from sucking on the nipple alone,
causing it to crack and become sore. Secondly a good
milk flow is ensured.
• Don't pull the baby off after its feed; carefully
break the suction by putting your finger in your baby's
mouth
• Some babies need to suck on and on. Offer
your little finger or your partner's finger between
feeds (avoid the pacifier if you can)
• Nipple shields should be used only if nothing
else seems to work. This is because these shields
confuse the baby in much the same way as bottles do.
• Expose nipples to air and light between feeds.
Rub some breast milk around the nipple, wait to dry
and then put on the bra. Alternatively, you may use
the shields between feeds to allow for ventilation
• Wash the breast and nipple areas with water
only. Avoid scented soaps and body wash and perfumes
for the time being. Washing agents only dry up the
skin and make it more susceptible to cracks
• In the initial months avoid bottle feeding
and pacifiers. This only creates confusion for your
kid
Nipple Care
• Following a feed, wash the nipples gently
with water and leave them to dry naturally for 15
to 20 minutes. Avoid the towel if you can
• Apply dry heat to nipples with the aid of
a hairdryer or a light bulb. Be careful on the degree
of heat utilized and the distance
• Apply lanolin or mild creams to protect nipples.
There are special creams for nipple cracks in the
market. Breast milk serve as emollients too
• Manual stimulation of nipple to make it erect
before putting baby to breast helps
• Let baby start on the nipple that is less
sore. Once the milk has let down, switch baby to the
sore nipple
• Avoid feeding using only one breast. After
about 5 minutes transfer baby to the second breast
• Get extra rest
• Seek help from your doctor or a lactation
consultant
