Breastfeeding, as you may have already heard, is the most recommended form of providing nourishment for the growing baby. Doctors and health care centers cannot stress enough how many great benefits are given to the mom and the baby when breastfeeding becomes established as a routine. If you are not yet familiar, here is a brief run through of the plus sides of breastfeeding.
The baby is said to gain weight faster because of mom’s breast milk. Infants who are born with jaundice are able to recover faster when they are breast fed. Furthermore, the digestive systems of babies can break down breast milk more efficiently, so less constipation or diarrhea is experienced.
For the mom, breastfeeding is an effective method to help her regain her pre-pregnancy weight. Furthermore, some sources say that moms who breast feed have a form of natural birth control. More importantly, breastfeeding helps the mother bond with her baby more.
However, great as breastfeeding may be, there are some woes that many women experience with this task. One of the most common problems is cracked nipples. This is caused by drying of the skin around the nipple area, which can be irritating and painful. Here are some tips on dealing with cracked nipples when breastfeeding.
1. Use a lanolin-based nipple cream to moisturize the cracked area. Aveeno and Lansinoh are some brands that are highly recommended, and these are readily available in drug stores and supermarkets. You don’t have to rub off the cream before feeding, as it is safe for the baby.
2. You can also rub your own breast milk on the sore or cracked area as the Vitamin E contained in it can moisturize and heal your skin.
3. If your breast pads get soaked, change them right away. Nursing pads made out of cotton are the best to use. Also, use a comfortable bra to relieve any irritation from the cracked nipples. If the cracked nipples have not healed completely, you may use a breast shell inside your bra, this prevents any skin contact with the fabric of your nursing bra.
4. Take warm showers before or after nursing, to help the blood circulate better and to soothe any pain in your nipple area. Some people use warm compress on their breasts for relief.
If symptoms still persist, you may want to contact your doctor to find more effective solutions for cracked nipples.
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Help answer the question about bra breastfeeding
i need help finding a breastfeeding bra that fits?i went to a few stores and they didnt have my size 38 DD. im 16 and yes, i am blessed with the tatas LOL. i know im 4 months but i went looking for breastfeeding bras and none are 38 DD, and plus wont my boobs get swollen after i deliver.. so maybe even a size bigger than that. Please help me out
yea i know the problem is none come in my size
About Author
Heather Jacobson -
About the Author:
Heather recommends using breast pumps if you are going to be breastfeeding and working. A Medela breast pump is one of the best.
Oh my love I REALLY feel for you and wish I was there. When I had first had a C section but really wanted to breastfeed and being the most natural thing in the world hey ladies thought it was goinna be easy – well whata shock I had by day 3. I thought I was doing ok so WHY the hell did my nipples feel like broken glass and theywere SO cracked I was like you and just could not face another feed time and almost gave up. Like you I can stand quite a lot of pain but this was something else.
A tiny Chinese female Doctor came into see me and I was having a hard time and she saw me bawling silently into a pillow . If it wasn't for her I would not be able to write to you now and tell you how we overcame it and I went onto breastfeed 2 more babies (yippee).
She got me sat in a tall comfy chair and hold baby on a pillow ready to feed her – she asked permission to touch my breast and from behind me put it in baby's mouth herself to actually "show" me how it was done. NOW what actually surprised me about this was how much she had just shoved in, and I said to her that that was surely too much and she would choke. She said not as all baby's have naturally flared nosterils to compensate for the amount of flesh they are close to. Whilst I fed my daughter she ran flannels under hot tap and placed these across top and side of my breast to help with the pain – yes it still hurt but not as much as baby was not chewing / sucking on the very sensitive nipple tip – this is what we all think is the feeding part – IT IS NOT. She drew me a diagram whilst I fed and I realised I had been using the first 1/4 of what actually should have being going in. By day 4 there was no pain no crakced nipplea and I went onto feed her for 5 1/2 months and it was a fab time for us and I loved it after I was taught properly how to do it.
The lumps will be stored milk that is not being released and the hot flannels will really help this but you need to get yr son feeding – even from a cracked nippled breast. If this milk is not released then you could get mastitis where the breast feels very hard and painful and it may have red mark on like you just burned it in the shower. Now I don't know why but Savoy cabbage leaves in the bra really help – and no I'm not joking either or sending you on some goose chase. It is real.
The nipple AND aureole have both practically got to go in which means the nipple is then towards the back of the baby's throat. This is where THEIR sucking reflux is NOT at the front where you just pop the nipple in. Your lovely son will get a longer feed you will become more satisfied too over the next 3 or 4 days and everything WILL settle down. You are a brand new Mum and you are putting yourself through agony to do the best for him.
Next feed try it – get those hot flannels in a bowl and once he is latched on get them across your breast. Grab that breast with finger and thumb and when his little mouth is open carefully get in as much of the red area as you can – so his lips will be around the edge of the red area – not much showing. This is your son being latched on correctly. You are doing a superb job already, you are emotional, tired, highs & lows, dealing with own body changes and hormones raging PLUS a new baby and worrying about this.
Don't give up just yet – you will need 3-4 days to see if it has worked – the pain threshold will tell you !! Your cracked nipples will be the decider when they actually start to heal up. Get as much in as you can and down his throat !! That's why it's called BREASTFEEDING – give him the whole breast otherwise its just nipple feeding.
Good luck and if I can help further email me I wish you both well. damnfinewoman@btinternet.com