Cracked nipples

Cracked nipples
Cracks on the nipples are a kind of skin damage on the nipples of the mammary glands. In the first weeks of the postpartum period, about half of women in labor, especially those nursing for the first time, face the problem of cracks and abrasions on the nipples of the mammary glands. During this period, the formation of the lactation process and the habituation of the child and mother to breastfeeding occurs. Cracks on the nipples form in the first 3-4 days after childbirth and this unpleasantly painful process can last almost a month. Often cracks are multiple, affecting both nipples, can be circular, transverse or radial, can occur on the surface of the skin or be very deep. The breast is constantly injured during feeding, the wound does not have time to heal, it becomes an entrance gate for the penetration of infection. If the cracks are not treated, an inflammatory process develops, mastitis. Mom in the postpartum period is in a state of immunodeficiency and this contributes more than usual to her predisposition to diseases and infections.

The content of the article:
Causes of cracked nipples
Symptoms of cracked nipples
Complications of cracked nipples
Treatment of cracked nipples
Prevention of cracked nipples
Cracked nipples
Cracks in the nipples, even at rest, cause soreness, and during the feeding of the baby, the pain sensations multiply, the feeding time turns into torture.

Causes of cracked nipples
Medicine strongly recommends that all healthy women breastfeed, even if at first there is some discomfort, soreness. After all, it is the milk produced in the first days after childbirth — colostrum, that has the greatest value for the health of the child. It is in the first 3-5 days that it contains the entire complex of protective antibodies, proteins and other vital components for the newborn. But colostrum does not moisturize the nipple enough, which leads to cracks. In this case, it is necessary to wait until the colostrum is replaced by milk, which will sufficiently moisturize the nipple.

Each individual case has its own cause of cracks on the nipples. Since this problem most often affects young mothers who are nursing their firstborn, the skin of the nipple-areola complex is very sensitive and vulnerable, not previously exposed to such a strong effect, suddenly it begins to be strongly and continuously affected. Even with repeated childbirth, the nipples become rougher, the mother becomes more experienced, which allows her to avoid these unpleasant painful sensations.

Very often cracks on the nipples are formed due to improper application of the baby to the breast, irrational feeding regime. During feeding, the baby, grabbing only the upper part of the nipple with his mouth, cannot get the necessary amount of milk. The baby remains half-starved, ineffective sucking causes him negative emotions. He may refuse to breastfeed or, conversely, try to suck especially actively. Such aggressive sucking provokes the appearance of cracks on mom’s nipples, brings her painful sensations, turns such a useful process for the child into torture.

Improper removal of the baby from the breast can also cause cracks. Often, the child, having had enough, turns away from the breast, clamps the nipple with his jaws. There is pressure on the nipple, thin vulnerable skin cracks, a wound forms. This also happens if the mother tries to stretch her chest, and the baby holds her, squeezes her jaws. Therefore, if it is necessary to interrupt feeding, you should fix the baby’s jaws with your finger and pull out the nipple.

An important factor provoking the appearance of cracks on the nipples will be the dryness of the skin of the breast. The risk of cracks with dry skin is much higher; it is less protected from injury, wounds and abrasions that quickly appear on it heal longer than on normal skin. Dry skin may be due to heredity, lack of vitamins B, A, C. Also, the cause of dry skin can be improper care: excessively frequent washing with soap, treating the breast skin with antiseptic solutions that cause dehydration — all these factors increase the risk of dry skin and, as a result, the appearance of cracks.

In the case of partial leakage of milk from the milk passages with galactorrhea, a moist environment is created, the constant exposure of moisture to the nipples also contributes to the appearance of cracks. Thrush also contributes to this.

When feeding children with erupted teeth, cracks in the nipples from the bite may also appear.

Symptoms of cracked nipples
The presence of cracks on the nipples of the mammary glands can be judged by the pain that a mother feels while feeding her baby, especially the firstborn. Visually, you can see obvious damage to the skin near the nipples of various depths. The deeper the crack, the more likely damage to the capillary network under the skin, blood is released from the cracks during feeding. In such a favorable environment, infection may occur, which will cause inflammation in the form of hyperemia, erosion and ulceration, pus may be released. If the infection is of fungal origin, there is a risk of developing mastitis. During the time between feedings, the mother does not have time to heal the wounds and repeated feeding returns the same problem. The characteristic tenderness of the mammary glands, which increases when the baby is applied to the breast, often forces the mother to stop breastfeeding.

Complications of cracked nipples
As a result of the appearance of cracks in the nipples and the addition of infection, the inflammatory process of the entire breast develops — mastitis, which can cause the formation of a purulent focus. The infection together with the mother’s milk can be transmitted to the child. Therefore, when symptoms of infection of the nipples appear, in the form of puffiness, redness, an increase in body temperature, you should stop applying the baby to the breast, and you should be fed with expressed, pasteurized milk.

Treatment of cracked nipples
If cracks on the nipples still formed, it is necessary to identify and remove the cause of their appearance, then treat, using for this purpose means aimed at speedy healing and preventing the development of infection. In the event that the treatment did not help within 2 days, you should seek help from a gynecologist. At the time of treatment, a woman cannot breastfeed a baby, milk must be carefully decanted and fed with a spoon or bottle. The breast should be pumped regularly, manipulated with clean hands or a breast pump. After emptying the breast, it is dried with sterile wipes to prevent infection. The bra should be changed daily, it should be ironed with a hot iron.

With minor injuries, for the healing of the nipples, expressed milk is used, the nipple and areola are lubricated with it, and allowed to dry completely. Sun-air baths are useful for the breast in moderation. To do this, the chest is left open for a short time.

You can lubricate the damaged breast with vitamin E, sea buckthorn oil or healing creams, for example, Bepanten, D-panthenol, lanolin, leave them until completely dry, without rinsing. For deep cracks, selcoseryl or actovegyl gels should be used, which are applied directly to the wounds. Additionally, it is recommended to use physiotherapy procedures: UHF, UFO therapy, SMT, take multivitamin medications.

The use of special pads for ventilation of the mammary glands, which do not allow the underwear to touch the skin of the nipple and form an air cushion, also contributes to the speedy healing of cracked nipples.

If the treatment is carried out correctly and the course of the disease is uncomplicated, then nipple cracks can heal in 5-7 days. A woman can put the baby to her breast again, without forgetting about preventive measures in order to avoid the recurrence of cracks.

Prevention of cracked nipples
As preventive measures to prevent the appearance of cracks on the nipples during feeding, it is necessary to observe the rules of applying the baby to the breast and ensure proper nipple care.

Even during pregnancy, you need to prepare the mammary glands. To do this, you should adhere to hygiene rules that help maintain sufficient moisture, protective properties of the skin of the nipples, skin elasticity. The breast is washed daily with warm water, washing off the dried discharge, using less soap, then massage the nipples with cosmetic oil. It is recommended to rub the mammary glands with a towel to reduce the sensitivity of the nipples, and also use contrast baths in order to train the muscular contractile apparatus.

After giving birth, the breast is washed without soap before each feeding and dried dry with a towel or gauze. It is possible to wash the nipples with a soda solution (1 tsp. soda per 1 tbsp. boiled water). It is not advisable to use alcohol solutions for disinfection, as they dry the skin and remove the natural protective lubricant that the areola glands secrete.

It is possible to lubricate the nipples for softening only with special creams and ointments based on lanolin; it is not advisable to use vegetable oil, vaseline, etc., in order to avoid an allergic reaction or malfunction of the child’s digestive tract. It is best to lubricate the nipples after the baby is fed, so that the ointment can be absorbed before the next feeding.

You can use gaskets made of soft natural materials that allow air to pass well. They are inserted between the nipples and the bra and are regularly changed.

The main measure to prevent the appearance of cracked nipples is the correct grabbing of the breast. If the baby has just started to suck the breast, and the mother has felt the soreness of the breast, where there are no cracks yet, then the child has not completely captured the nipple, continued feeding in this case will inevitably lead to the appearance of cracks. It is necessary, carefully interrupting feeding, to try to give the baby a nipple correctly, with an areola. The main sign of proper breast grabbing is that the mother does not feel severe pain when feeding.

Before you deprive your baby of breastfeeding, you need to be treated in all possible ways, just do not take away the child’s natural immunostimulator — mother’s milk.

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