Treatment and care

Cracked nipples are very painful, they can spoil the joy of motherhood and nursing Breastfeeding - a personal choice   feeding. To avoid disaster, you need to learn how to properly care for your breasts during pregnancy and prepare it for feeding. This can only be achieved by systematic prevention of cracking. The mammary glands during pregnancy are very sensitive increase, but gradually pain disappears, but are clearly visible superficial veins and nodules on the areola (the areola). Nipple and areola usually grow and darken.

Increases the production of female sex hormones, and prolactin Prolactin - effect on the body is not fully known   - A hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland (the main endocrine gland located in the brain) and stimulates the production in the breast milk. This process usually begins 5-6 months pregnant, and sometimes later. At this time, you can see that from the mammary glands secrete a fluid - or immature colostrum milk. It happens that the milk is released in large amounts, it contains an admixture of blood - a sign of the development of new blood vessels that supply the growing breasts.

During pregnancy, the need to observe the rules of hygiene, allowing the skin in the nipple is not too dry. This requires daily cleaning to remove dried discharge and subsequent massage the nipples with a cosmetic oil. In the last three months of pregnancy is better to use less soap, as it removes the natural lubrication nipples. Pacifiers can be cleaned with warm water, then wipe dry.

To prevent cracks conduct careful pulling the nipple, rubbing it with coarse cloth, wash with warm and cold water alternately to produce the contractile ability of muscles.

Why nipple cracks and signs

Cracked nipples occur after birth in the first days and months of lactation. Reasons contributing to the development of cracks, diverse, and include structural features of the nipples (inverted nipples are underdeveloped), easily vulnerable skin of the nipple, weak neuromuscular excitability nipple sucking child, lack of hygienic care of the nipples, poor attachment of the child to her breast.

Cracks can be single or multiple, superficial and deep, on one or both nipples. Infection cracks causes swelling, redness, formation of erosions and ulcers. For cracks characteristic pain, worse during suckling and forced to interrupt the feeding, which may eventually lead to the end of lactation, sometimes cracks appear a drop of blood. Join infection, staphylococcal or fungal often may lead to the development of mastitis.

How to breastfeed, so as not to hurt the nipple

Breastfeeding - a specific skill that you need to master, and the woman and child. The child must grasp the nipple with the areola, or nipple is injured, it will scratches and cracks.

You should not take your child from the nipple - it can also lead to injury of the nipple. It is better to gently put a finger in his mouth to break the suction. It is not necessary at first to give the baby to breastfeed for too long.

Treatment of cracked nipples

Treatment of cracked nipples should aim at their rapid healing, which is important for the preservation of lactation. When small cracks to stop breast-feeding is not recommended, it is better to try to feed the baby through a special cover made of thin silicone, which creates a separation layer between the lips of the child and the nipple. For very large and painful cracks baby to the breast temporarily applied, and milk gently without damaging the nipple, decant. After healing of cracks breastfeeding renew.

Cracks in the nipples may be treated with disinfectant, for example, potassium permanganate, and then lubricate the green paint. If the nipples dry, then they need to put gauze with lanolin or fish oil. Well suited for this purpose Bepanten, it has wound healing and antimicrobial action. It can be used as oily solution of vitamin A Vitamin A: An important element of the health and beauty Ointment and gel solkoseril. Cracked nipples can be treated with breast milk. To do this after breastfeeding to wash with warm water without soap, and then squeeze the nipple of a few drops of milk and rub on the skin of the areola and allow to dry.

Care of breasts during breastfeeding

Nursing mothers should not wear tight bras, as the compressed blood vessels and ducts of the mammary gland, mammary gland occurs stagnation nipples are also suffering from a lack of nutrients, become dry. It is also not recommended bras made of synthetic fabrics: they breast skin is not breathing, it is very harmful.

Before breast-feeding you must wash with warm water, gently blot with a clean towel. After feeding, you must not wash nipples with soap and milk residues to dry them. It is useful to hold open the chest for some time - to make air bath.

For the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the need to use special padded Feminine pads - talk about wings   in the area of ​​the nipple and change them regularly in cases of involuntary separation of milk in between feedings. You can use special creams for breast based on the lanolin.

And do not forget that the benefits of breastfeeding far exceed those small problems that may arise in the first few weeks after birth.

  Galina Romanenko

The causes of pain in the breast

The causes of pain in the breast varied.

• hormonal changes during pregnancy, pre-menopause Premenopausal women - one step in a woman's life   or during puberty;
• premenstrual syndrome (hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle);
• infectious and inflammatory processes in the breast (mastitis, abscess Abscess - why it is so dangerous ulcers?   mammary gland);
• benign (cysts breast fibroadenoma) and malignant tumors of the breast;
• trauma (a blow, compression tight bra, surgery on the breast);
• drugs (estrogensoderzhaschie contraceptives, certain diuretics, antidepressants, ovulation stimulants);
• osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, intercostal neuralgia Intercostal neuralgia - learn to distinguish between pain ;
• too much chest.

Any pain can be caused or, conversely, not associated with the menstrual cycle. In connection with this are cyclic and acyclic pain.

Cyclic pain

• occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, the end of menstruation usually disappears;
• the nature of the pain aching or dull, may radiate to the arm or axillary region;
• localized in the upper and outer area of ​​the breast;
• pain affects both breasts;
• women age 30-40 years;
• breast swelling, swollen, irritated.

Acyclic pain

• It occurs regardless of the phase of the menstrual cycle;
• women over the age of 40 years;
• nature of pain - a long, one-sided, sharp or burning;
• usually localized in the middle part of the breast and surrounding the nipple;
• palpation determined portion seals, with smooth (cyst) or irregular contours (fibroadenoma, breast cancer).

It is necessary to seek medical attention

Cases where an urgent need to see a doctor:

• in case of changes in the shape, size or asymmetry of the breast;
• changes in the nipple (retraction) or the appearance of it when you discharge;
• presence in the mammary gland seal The seal in the breast - a cause for concern   or axillary, supraclavicular and subclavian areas (swollen lymph nodes);
• changes in breast skin (redness, scarring, appearance of "orange peel").

A little about breast mastitis

Mastitis - an acute purulent-inflammatory diseases of the breast.

• Acute pain, throbbing, sometimes so intense that there is no strength to endure;
• breast reddened, swollen and tight, any touch intensifies the pain
• with festering determined fluctuation (softening of the affected tissue);
• It is accompanied by severe intoxication (fever, loss of appetite, weakness, nausea);
• Mastitis usually occurs in the postpartum period and involves a violation of Hygiene breast, engorgement, nipple and the emergence of micro traumas of infection in the mammary gland.

Survey woman with pain in the breast

A survey of women with low breast complex and varied.

• inspection and palpation of the breast;
• anamnesis (identification of risk factors for breast cancer: a genetic predisposition, being overweight, lack of birth or later first birth, breast);
• Breast ultrasound, liver, thyroid, and ovaries;
• mammography (breast x-ray);
• puncture and target biopsy of the breast;
• determining hormone levels;
• Consultation of mammalogy oncologist and endocrinologist.

Treatment of pain in the breast

Treatment depends on the cause of the pain. When mastitis conducted antibiotic therapy, if necessary - opening of a purulent focus. The presence of benign or malignant tumor is an indication for surgical intervention.

But generally, the pain in the breast is related to hormonal changes, and its treatment is three principles. First, a diet low in fat, restriction of tea, coffee and chocolate. Secondly, the use of vitamins of group B, E and A. The third purpose analgesics (indomethacin, aspirin, diclofenac) and diuretics.

In the absence of the effect of this treatment is given hormones.

Getting rid of the pain in the breast is not only normalizes the health and mood, but also reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.

Anna Sozinova