What to do if the breast milk nipple is broken

Many families will hire a confinement nanny specifically for the mother to better help her recover and allow the baby to grow healthier. Take breastfeeding for example. Many mothers are novices and are not even professional in feeding their babies, so it is inevitable that the nipples will be sucked and broken, which is very painful for breastfeeding mothers. So what should you do if your breast milk nipple is broken? Keeping clean and seeking medical treatment promptly are all necessary.

Breastfeeding tips

1. Most nipple pain and injuries are caused by incorrect breastfeeding posture and the baby's shallow latch. Correct the breastfeeding and latching posture, try different breastfeeding postures, and decide which one is most comfortable.

2. To avoid the baby's greedy sucking of milk which may aggravate the pain, breastfeed from the breast with the uninjured nipple first. The baby will be relatively gentle when sucking the second breast. Hand expressing or pumping for a few minutes before feeding can help trigger the let-down reflex and elongate the nipple. The first suck will make the wound more painful, but you can relieve the pain by briefly numbing the injured area with ice.

3. Maintain milk supply If breastfeeding on the injured nipple is too painful, it is important to express milk, which can reduce the risk of mastitis and maintain milk supply. If pumping is too painful, try hand expressing.

Nipple cleaning

1. Particularly effective - saline flushing method

The special saline solution - normal saline - has a concentration similar to the salt in tears and does not cause pain on nipple wounds.

Preparation method: Mix half a teaspoon of salt with 250ml of warm water. Replace the saline solution with fresh one every day to avoid bacterial accumulation. Alternatively, you can use sterile saline solution in separate packages.

How to use: After breastfeeding, soak the nipple in the prepared warm salt water for one minute so that all parts of the nipple surface are covered with warm salt water, or use a spray bottle to gently spray on the nipple. Use a large amount of salt water to ensure that all areas of damaged skin are covered with salt water.

NOTE: Avoid prolonged soaking (more than 5 minutes) as this can dry out the skin and delay healing.

Dry the salt water: Use a soft paper towel to gently dry the surface moisture (note: do not wipe it dry).

Salt water rinse before feeding: Directly before your next feeding, soak your nipple in a bowl of clean water, then gently blot dry with a paper towel. Avoid letting your baby mind the taste of salt water.

2. Daily cleaning and care

Once daily, use a non-antibacterial, unscented soap to gently clean the affected area, then rinse well under running water. It is not recommended to use soap on the nipple area unless the skin is broken.

Between feedings, keep your nipples exposed to air if possible. When wearing a bra, use clean, disposable pads (change when damp).

If your nipples are too painful and you can't stand the pressure of a bra, you can use a breast shield to protect your nipples from the moisture and friction of the bra.

Promotes healing

1. The first step - milk application

Squeeze out a few drops of breast milk and apply it on the surface of the nipple to promote surface skin healing, because the vitamin E in breast milk can promote skin healing. However, you cannot apply capsule vitamin E directly on the surface of the nipple, as this will cause poisoning to the baby. This step should be used before other treatments.

2. Several effective external application methods to make mothers feel comfortable

Tea bags: Some mothers report that warm, wet tea bags feel soothing when applied for a short while after breastfeeding.

Warm compress: Apply warm compress to the nipples before and after breastfeeding to relieve nipple vascular spasm pain.

100% Pure Lanolin: Studies have shown that using 100% lanolin can retain moisture inside the skin and speed up the healing process. There is no need to clean the nipples before breastfeeding, which can prevent the nipples from being repeatedly scrubbed and causing wounds to be difficult to heal. It is safe for babies to ingest.

Nipple Hydrogel Pads: Use cooling action to aid recovery and promote moist healing.

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3. Find the cause and treat it accordingly

If there is a specific injury - such as an injury caused by a baby biting the nipple, a cold compress may help: apply for 20 minutes, then rest for 20 minutes; repeat as needed.

If you have a candidal infection, use an antifungal ointment or other candidal treatment.

If an antibiotic ointment is needed, mupirocin ointment (Bactroban), risk category L1/safe during lactation), is the best choice for breastfeeding mothers.

If you have fever, inflammation, redness, swelling, drainage, pus, or other signs of infection, you may have multiple infections (fungal and bacterial) and should seek medical attention.

2. How to teach your baby to suck breast milk correctly?

The baby's first sucking posture on the mother's nipple must be correct. If the baby sucks incorrectly the first time, it will be difficult to correct it later. Start feeding by touching your baby's lips with your nipple, and your baby will open his mouth. Place the nipple as deep as possible in your baby's mouth, with your baby's body close to you and his or her belly facing and touching your belly. Your baby's lips and gums should cover the areola (the dark area around the nipple). Be sure not to let your baby hold or suck the nipple with just his lips, as this will avoid discomfort for the mother. If your baby is feeding in the correct position, his lips should be outside, not drawn in onto his gums. You can see your baby's jaw moving back and forth and hear gentle swallowing sounds. Your baby's nose will be touching your breast, but he or she will be able to get enough air. If you feel pain, it means the position is wrong. Move the baby away from the nipple and try again. Place your fingers gently at the corners of the baby's mouth to stop the baby from sucking the breast.

Dear new mothers, in order to avoid troubles such as nipples being sucked and broken in the later stage, please pay attention to teaching your baby to suck breast milk with the correct breastfeeding method in the early stages of breastfeeding. If the nipple is sucked and broken or even infected, please seek medical attention immediately to avoid delaying breastfeeding.