Tips to help relieve nipple pain while breastfeeding

A sore nipples are common among breastfeeding women. If you are suffering from this condition and want to find ways to relieve nipple pain, read the following article.

When the baby starts to suckle or the breast milk comes out, many women feel uncomfortable, sometimes in pain, but this phenomenon will quickly pass away. However, nipple pain can become more severe, thereby preventing the production of breastmilk, reducing milk production, and even weaning your baby early. So how to reduce nipple pain? aFamilyToday Health will give you 7 tips below.

1. Let your baby latch on the nipples properly to relieve nipple pain

This is one of the keys to success in breastfeeding and helping to prevent sore nipples. To properly latch on, the baby will be able to latch onto the mother's nipples and areola in her mouth. The nipple should be deep inside the baby's mouth.

If only the nipple is latched, the baby will try to get breast milk by gently crushing the nipple part with the gums along with the act of strong sucking, thereby causing nipple pain. Besides, the baby doesn't get much milk from its mother, so it's hungry and upset. So, to prevent nipple pain, try to let your baby latch on both nipples and areola from the first feeding.

2. Breastfeed properly

Good breastfeeding posture will create a sense of comfort for you and your baby, and encourage the baby to fully latch on to the mother's nipple and areola.

Sitting cross-legged makes it easy to see if your baby's nipples and mouth are correct.

Doctors recommend that women should use pillows under the baby's back to support placing the baby at the mother's level.

When you sit up straight and don't lean forward, it is easier to breastfeed as this can strain the neck, back, and arm muscles.

You can also alternate breasts with each feed. When you breastfeed in the same position, your baby's mouth puts pressure on the same nipple, causing pain. However, changing the sides of your breasts can help prevent the nipples from rubbing many times each time your baby sucks.

3. Breast softening

Lactation is very common during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. However, your breasts are also more likely to become fuller if you don't breastfeed and your breasts produce too much milk.

When the breasts become tense, your baby will have difficulty in breastfeeding. To make the process easier, you can express a little milk before each feeding. This reduces the tension and softens the breast tissue, making it easier for the baby to suckle.

4. Breastfeed every 2-3 hours

Infants' stomachs are very small and can digest breast milk quickly and easily. Therefore, it is normal for your baby to ask for food. The longer you delay breastfeeding, the more hungry your baby will be. At that time, the baby will use a lot of energy to be able to suck a lot of milk. Since then, the nipples are under a lot of pressure, leading to pain. In addition, if the milk is held for too long in the body, the mother's breasts will become fuller, making it harder for the baby to pump.

The combination of a baby not latching on to the nipple and sucking strongly while breastfeeding can cause nipple pain. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, feed your baby at least every 2-3 hours and don't let your baby get too hungry to breastfeed.

5. Keep the breast and nipple area healthy

There are a few steps you can take to keep your skin healthy and prevent sore nipples:

When cleaning the breasts, you should only wash with warm water, do not scrub thoroughly with soap because it can cause dry, irritated, cracked skin.

There is no need to use creams or ointments to prevent nipple problems before they even begin. Many products sometimes do not work as expected, but make nipple pain worse.

If you still want to use moisturizer, see your doctor for advice on choosing the right product.

6. Change bras and pads regularly

Milk leaking continuously makes many women feel uncomfortable. So, try to change bras or pads regularly. If it is not necessary, do not wear a bra to allow ventilation. If the bra is wet or dirty, change to another one.

Whether using disposable pads or washable and reusable pads, change into new ones often. Leaving these pads wet for too long can create a favorable environment for bacteria to grow. If the amount of bacteria is high, it can cause damage to the breast, leading to chapped breasts, sore nipples, infection of the breast or nipple discharge.

7. Be careful when separating the baby from the breast

After the baby is fully fed, the baby often falls asleep, but his mouth is still attached to the breast and refuses to release. Only when the child sleeps deeply does the mouth slowly open. At that time, you can separate the baby from the breast to do other things or rest. However, this sometimes makes you wait very long.

If your baby still doesn't want to leave the nipple, don't pull the baby out too suddenly. This will damage the nipples and cause sore nipples. To separate the baby from the nipple, you can follow the instructions below:

Place your finger in the corner of the baby's mouth to open the mouth.

Then, move your finger inside the mouth, place it on top of the nipple to bring out the nipple to avoid clenching the breast.