Nipple Care

Although breastfeeding is a wonderful time, it can be disrupted or even made very complicated for some by irritation, pain, cracks or cracking in the nipples. Your breasts are tender the first days of breastfeeding, this is quite normal, however, sore, cracked or bleeding nipples should not be the price to pay for breastfeeding your child. Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt!

Breastfeeding makes the nipple more fragile, which gets stretched and wet with each feed. It takes a little time to adjust and this is quite normal, the force exerted on the breast by the baby to suck is very strong. If all is well, the pain occurs at the start of a feed and then subsides and after a few days of breastfeeding this sensation disappears.

Unfortunately, the pain does not always go away with the passing days. At first, the nipples are without visible lesions but painful during feedings. If the cause of the pain is not identified quickly, crevices can form.
Crevice lesions appear as small red cracks on the surface of the nipple or lesions, they are chapped nipples, or the whole nipple may appear red and abraded. In the most severe forms, these lesions can even bleed. As feedings are very frequent, the nipple does not have time to heal between 2.

In the event of bleeding from the nipple, there is no risk to the baby. A bleeding crevice is not a reason to stop breastfeeding, the pain will be.

It is essential to find the cause of these pains, because as we have already said, breastfeeding is not supposed to be painful.

• breast milk: the ideal solution at your fingertips

Colostrum and breast milk are an ideal dressing that provides hydration of the lesion. Its smell is familiar to the baby, tastes good, is non-allergenic and effective, because it is full of antibodies and growth factors (to regenerate the skin). It is enough to spread a drop of milk at the end of feeding on the nipples to avoid irritation. In case of cracks, it is possible to place compresses soaked in milk on the nipples several times a day.

• lanolin :

It provides a hydrating barrier that slows down preserves the internal hydration of the body while allowing oxygenation. Normal skin hydration is maintained and the skin remains supple. It is used in particular to treat cracks and irritations.
Lanolin is naturally dense and compact, do not hesitate to rub it a little between your fingers before applying it.

• Special nipple treatments or balms:

Balms or oils specially formulated to soothe and protect sore nipples exist.
The Essential Care balm, Calendula and Shea, can be applied before, during and after the feeding and relieves effectively.
Pranarôm Crevasses du Mamelon treatment is formulated with essential and vegetable oils that protect and regenerate the delicate skin of the nipple. It is applied just after feeding on and around the painful area.

• A vegetable oil:

Any vegetable oil can be used to hydrate the nipples. Calendula oil is particularly recommended in case of irritation. It is therefore useful in massaging the nipples just after feeding.

Nipple Care in pharmacies: Find a wide selection of nipple care in your online bio pharmacy.

Cracks, pain, skin dryness ... Breastfeeding is not always a pleasure.
It is essential to use a nipple care compatible with breastfeeding. To help breastfeeding women deal with these irritations , there are breastfeeding creams or nipple oils that moms can use safely.