For many women breastfeeding is very easily established without any hitches and for some it could be a great challenge. If breastfeeding seems challenging; it is all about taking the challenge up fighting it and winning it! At the end of the day, it is worth the fight as the mother gets a sense of FULFILLMENT breastfeeding the baby.
Listed in this post and the next few posts that are to follow, are some of the common problems that many breast feeding women under go.
Sore Nipples
Many women do experience sore/cracked/bleeding nipples during first few days of breast
feeding. Sometimes nipples hurt so much that the mother just dreads the next feed the baby is due and wishes to just give up breast feeding... But mothers, don't give up yet...
Causes:
First of all, check if you are holding the baby in the right position. Please refer this article in babycentre*.
Secondly, check if the baby is latching-on to most part of the aerola, not just the nipple.
Thirdly, whenever the baby is done feeding, slowly insert the little finger between the baby's mouth and the aerola to unlatch the suction. Pulling out the baby's face from the breast will not release the suction and could result in severe sore nipples.
Remedies:
a. Don't let them wilt!!
It is always a good idea to apply breast milk on the nipples and let it air dry after every feed. Also it is best to avoid direct application of soap on the nipples right from the third trimester of pregnancy to as long as you breast feed (as it takes away the natural moisture, resulting in cracks).
Applying Lanolin cream (brand name Nipcare in India) to the nipples after every feed comes of great help too. Use it sparingly, though!!
Despite having the right hold, right latch and unlatch methods and keeping the nipples moisturized (ONLY with the help of breast milk/lanolin, DO NOT use petroleum jelly or other creams, they could be harmful to the baby), if the soreness persists or worsens, it is always a good idea to make a trip to your doctor or to a lactation consultant.
The doctor will evaluate the nipples and can recommend medicines and/or nipple shields*.
b. Guard the nipples!
If nipple shields are recommended it is wise to buy one that gives your baby maximum contact with the mother's aerola (the one on the left).
(Image courtesy http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/112/nipple-shields)
They could be more expensive than the regular ones but they are worth it! It gives the baby a very close experience as that of direct breastfeeding. Sometimes nipple shields also help in enhancing the baby's latching technique.
c. Extract it!
Severe sore nipples require a break once in a while. It is a good idea to feed the baby expressed breast milk, but hey! use ONLY cup and spoon. Introduction of feeding bottles during the initial few days could make the baby lazy to suckle from the breasts. Try expressing the milk using breast pumps, manual extraction could be even more painful!
Remember mothers, this is only a passing phase... with a tiny bit of endurance breast feeding will turn out to be a gratifying experience. Just like the first picture of this post, in the end, bright red roses will stay in the memory not prickly thorns...
* Click on the words that are star marked to know more about them
Sore Nipples
Many women do experience sore/cracked/bleeding nipples during first few days of breast
feeding. Sometimes nipples hurt so much that the mother just dreads the next feed the baby is due and wishes to just give up breast feeding... But mothers, don't give up yet...
Causes:
First of all, check if you are holding the baby in the right position. Please refer this article in babycentre*.
Secondly, check if the baby is latching-on to most part of the aerola, not just the nipple.
Thirdly, whenever the baby is done feeding, slowly insert the little finger between the baby's mouth and the aerola to unlatch the suction. Pulling out the baby's face from the breast will not release the suction and could result in severe sore nipples.
Remedies:
a. Don't let them wilt!!
It is always a good idea to apply breast milk on the nipples and let it air dry after every feed. Also it is best to avoid direct application of soap on the nipples right from the third trimester of pregnancy to as long as you breast feed (as it takes away the natural moisture, resulting in cracks).
Applying Lanolin cream (brand name Nipcare in India) to the nipples after every feed comes of great help too. Use it sparingly, though!!
Despite having the right hold, right latch and unlatch methods and keeping the nipples moisturized (ONLY with the help of breast milk/lanolin, DO NOT use petroleum jelly or other creams, they could be harmful to the baby), if the soreness persists or worsens, it is always a good idea to make a trip to your doctor or to a lactation consultant.
The doctor will evaluate the nipples and can recommend medicines and/or nipple shields*.
b. Guard the nipples!
If nipple shields are recommended it is wise to buy one that gives your baby maximum contact with the mother's aerola (the one on the left).
They could be more expensive than the regular ones but they are worth it! It gives the baby a very close experience as that of direct breastfeeding. Sometimes nipple shields also help in enhancing the baby's latching technique.
c. Extract it!
Severe sore nipples require a break once in a while. It is a good idea to feed the baby expressed breast milk, but hey! use ONLY cup and spoon. Introduction of feeding bottles during the initial few days could make the baby lazy to suckle from the breasts. Try expressing the milk using breast pumps, manual extraction could be even more painful!
Remember mothers, this is only a passing phase... with a tiny bit of endurance breast feeding will turn out to be a gratifying experience. Just like the first picture of this post, in the end, bright red roses will stay in the memory not prickly thorns...
* Click on the words that are star marked to know more about them
1 comment:
Dreading feeds feeling... so true, for those just-been-a-mum days it is a painfully dreading feeling, every feed. Then you get the knack of it and Voila!
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