Modern pediatricians recommend continuing breastfeeding as long as possible. But many mothers are faced with such a problem: the chest hurts after feeding. Soreness of the nipples often begins already in the hospital. There are simple tips and rules, knowing which, a nursing mother will most likely avoid this inconvenience.
Why does my chest hurt?
Breast hurts during feeding due to the resulting cracks. Their depth can be very different: from minor to deep wounds. But any damage to the integrity of the nipple is an extremely painful phenomenon. The main task of a nursing mother is to identify the cause of cracks as quickly as possible and not to start the situation.
The main reason for the appearance of cracked nipples is errors during breastfeeding. Young mothers who have already given birth to their second child have experience of breastfeeding and therefore cope better with this task.
How to properly attach a baby to the breast is well told at a school for pregnant women. In the maternity hospital, you can contact a full-time breastfeeding consultant. He will show everything and help to attach the baby to the breast. If there is no such specialist, then any pediatric nurse, midwife or pediatrician can help. All these maternity hospital workers know perfectly well how the baby should take the breast so that there is no pain.
The chest hurts during feeding, sometimes for another reason. Colostrum, which takes the first 3 days, is very thick. To suck it, the newborn makes significant efforts. Tender nipples unaccustomed to constant rubbing can begin to hurt.
Prophylaxis
In the lists of necessary things in the hospital, they often write "Bepanten" or cedar oil. The ointment is safe for the baby if swallowed, so you can safely apply it to the nipples. It will heal minor cracks and moisturize your skin. Rinse off "Bepanten" before breastfeeding is not required. Cedar nut oil also softens the skin. It is convenient to apply it on bra pads. This will prevent the laundry from getting dirty, and the nipple will constantly contact with the oil.
A good way of prevention is to harden the nipples: a nursing mother is advised to leave her breasts open for a couple of minutes after feeding. It is also helpful to squeeze out a few drops of milk and distribute it over the nipple. After such manipulations, the nipple of the breast becomes less vulnerable, respectively, it suffers less from sucking by the baby.
It's important not to run the problem. As soon as the breast begins to hurt during feeding, you must immediately take action: heal the cracks with ointment, check the correct attachment of the baby to the breast. If the damage is already too severe and it becomes unbearably painful to breastfeed, you can buy special silicone pads. They will protect the nipple during breastfeeding. But it is advisable to use them only until the nipple cracks are completely healed. Indeed, because of them, the outflow of milk from certain lobes of the breast may be disturbed, which will lead to its stagnation.
