The first days of breastfeeding can be challenging for mothers. There are many myths and lack of information that in some cases lead to breastfeeding being abandoned. But, here you will find useful information to cure this problem that affects most women in those first attempts.
WHY DO THEY APPEAR?
First of all, we must be clear that experiencing pain when breastfeeding our little one is not normal. When a baby does not have a proper latch, discomfort begins and eventually if not corrected, painful cracks appear. The best thing to do in these cases to avoid nipple injuries is to find the right position to encourage the newborn to take the nipple and most of the areola. By suckling only the nipple, his gum will exert a very strong pressure and he will not get enough nourishment and, therefore, will cause nipple injuries. Preventing with creams or massages is not effective, as the cause of cracks is not linked to dryness or lack of nipple elasticity, but to a mechanical cause. The nipple is designed for breastfeeding and there is no need to prepare it for the task.
CAUSES
If cracks begin to appear together with pain, it is necessary to seek advice as soon as possible. As we have mentioned, the cause is a bad grip, and we must correct it to prevent it from getting worse. There are three common causes of this type of injury:
- Short lingual frenulum
- Poor breast latch
- Incorrect posture of the baby
Although each case is particular, we can identify these three causes as the most common. The solutions will depend on the severity of the wound: a small wound similar to a scratch can be healed by leaving the chest in the open air for better healing.
SOLUTIONS
When the severity of the pain increases and we are confronted with a wound with pus or with very sore skin, it will be necessary to go to the doctor. Sometimes, it is advisable to use a breast pump.
not to interrupt lactation, but to allow the wound to heal.
Commercial creams are not always the best solution; they may contain local analgesics that disguise the pain, but do not put an end to the problem. In other cases, we have heard that placing the breast milk itself is the solution; however, in cases where there is an infection or the wound is very severe, this practice can worsen the scenario. Nipple cracks and sores are one of the main concerns of mothers, especially new mothers, as well as the stretch marks during pregnancy For this, our recommendation is to always seek professional help, either from a physician or a lactation consultant. The best prevention for this type of condition is information. The pain caused by a bad latch, in many cases, leads to the termination of breastfeeding, but it is not always necessary, if you want to continue your breastfeeding seek advice at the time when the discomfort begins.
