Nipples
Nipple gaps are small painful wounds on the transition from your nipple to your areola. You get them from irritation by thrush, by driving, by irritation on clothing or by keeping your nipples moist.
How do I recognize nipple gaps?
Painful or sensitive nipples do not always indicate chapping. For example, many breastfeeding mamas suffer from sensitive nipples in the first days or weeks after the birth of their baby. That is because the nipples still have to "harden". However, that nipple sensitivity is not that serious. And should not influence your desire to breastfeed.
Nipple sensitivity:
- Your nipples are painful at the beginning of feeding. But that sensitivity disappears quickly.
- The pain gradually disappears from a week after delivery. And after two weeks, feeding is not painful at all.
Nipple gaps:
- Your nipples remain painful throughout the feed.
- The pain worsens during the feed. And will eventually become untenable.
- You have obvious nipple lesions (tears or small bleeding wounds).
Prevent and treat nipple gaps:
- Try to feed in a different posture. So your little one is not always on the same side.
- Apply dry wound healing: Let your nipple air dry after feeding, with a drop of milk still on it (not with thrush!). Or use breast shells (breast cups or nipple protectors). You can wear them under your clothes. They ensure that there is air circulation around your nipples. And catch any leaks.
- Apply wet wound healing: Use gel pads. You can put them in the fridge. Because they are cold, they relieve the pain after feeding. And they make sure that the wounds heal faster. You can also apply a thick layer of ointment based on purified lanolin (wool grease) on your nipples after feeding. The ointment is caring and ensures that the wounds heal faster. You do not have to remove the ointment for the a feed.
- Do not use teat caps. They only aggravate chapping.
- Replace your nursing pads regularly. Soaked compresses ensure that your skin stays moist. Making them more sensitive to damage.
- Do not use nursing pads with a plastic coating. And do not wear a bra or shirt made from synthetic material. The plastic (polyester) that is incorporated in it promotes the accumulation of water, fungus and nipple gaps.
- Do not wear a bra or shirt with a seam just over your nipple.
- Wash your nipples with water only. Soap dries out the skin of your nipples. Making them more sensitive to chaps.
- Give baby the least painful breast first. This means the biggest portion of hunger is satisfied and there won't be such a strain on your most painful breast.
- Feed your child a little more often and thus shorten the time between feeds. That way he is less hungry. And sucks less greedily and powerfully.
- Do not lubricate your nipples with a nurturing ointment that you need to take off before feeding. Getting rid of it can create new cracks. Preferably use an ointment based on purified lanolin (wool grease). You do not have to remove it again if you start feeding.
- If you are going to pump into a milk flask, do so by hand. That is more nipple friendly than with a breast pump.
Also see these information articles: · Breastfeeding · Benefits · Bottling · Breastfeeding diapers · Changing food · Clustering · Duration · Empty days · Let down reflex · Menstruation · Milk channels and breast inflammation · Milk production · Physical consequences · Positioning · Quickly stopping · Reasons to stop · Tandem feeding · Thrush
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