Common Concerns While Breastfeeding - Sore Nipple Therapy for the Breastfeeding Mom
Help! I Think My Nipple Just Fell Off!
Welcome to our newest blog series…. Common Concerns While Breastfeeding. These aren’t the complicated, ‘come-to-my-house-immediately’ phone calls I receive. Rather, these are the questions that come from clients and friends in the middle of the night, by text or by email, that don’t necessarily warrant a lactation consultation. They can often be easily resolved with a few simple tricks. So, I would like to share those tricks with you!
Help! I Think My Nipple Just Fell Off!
Welcome to our newest blog series…. Common Concerns While Breastfeeding. These aren’t the complicated, ‘come-to-my-house-immediately’ phone calls I receive. Rather, these are the questions that come from clients and friends in the middle of the night, by text or by email, that don’t necessarily warrant a lactation consultation. They can often be easily resolved with a few simple tricks. So, I would like to share those tricks with you!
12 hours before sore nipples! Painful, sore nipples are the worst thing EVER when you are a breastfeeding mom! My youngest son is almost 5 years old and I can still remember crying every time he woke up to breastfeed that first week of his life. There are so many horror stories about painful nipples out there that some women are petrified of breastfeeding.
Well, my friend, let me give you the low down about sore nipples and how to prevent and overcome them! With a few simple tips, and the support of your ‘circle of breastfeeding support’, you should be able to avoid painful nipples, or at least know how to get your nipples back on track.
Symptoms:
One side of the spectrum is nipple tenderness. This is normal. When’s the last time you had hours of nipple stimulation in a 24 hour period? My guess is NEVER or NOT SINCE THE LAST BABY WAS BORN.
Middle of the spectrum is painful feedings with maybe some cracking. This shouldn’t happen, but it could have been the result of a poor latch here and there. Have a lactation consultant or a support group leader take a look, just to make sure.
The opposite side of the spectrum is bleeding and cracked nipples. RED FLAG!!! This is not supposed to happen. This is your body’s way of telling you that you could use some assistance from a lactation consultant to see what is causing this pain. Don’t wait!
Prevention:
Look at this gorgeous latch!
Nice wide latch – you don’t need your whole areola in your baby’s mouth, but the latch should be more than just on your nipple.
Your baby’s lips are flanged like a fish’s mouth
Don’t push on the back of your baby’s head to bring him/her to the breast. Instead, try a laid-back feeding position. Bring your baby’s torso into yours. His/her head will follow.
Treatment:
Express breast milk on your nipples after your baby has fed and then let the ‘girls’ hang out for a few minutes.
Some sort of nipple chapstick: Organic coconut oil, organic nipple cream, etc.
For those breastfeeding parents with cracked and bleeding nipples, you might need to try a few other options
Hydrogels – wet wound management to place on your nipples in between breastfeeding
All-purpose Nipple Ointment – can be prescribed by your physician to be made at a compounding pharmacy. This link, from breastfeeding expert, Jack Newman, includes the ingredients to give to your care giver.
Don’t hesitate to call a lactation consultant! When a baby is latching correctly and his/her tongue is doing what it should, a mom’s nipples should not become cracked and bleeding. A lactation consultant should be able to figure out the cause of your pain and offer suggestions of how to fix the situation, ASAP!
Does traveling cause a dip in milk supply?
A close friend of mine was at a breastfeeding support group recently and was told that many moms see a dip in their milk supplies when traveling with their babies. My friend speculated that this may be a reaction to the stress of traveling with an infant. I told her I would look into this, since I couldn't fathom why traveling would make a mom's milk supply decrease. A mom's milk supply could surely decrease when traveling WITHOUT her infant, but why WITH her infant? After some internet and article searching, I couldn't find any scientific reasons that would cause this phenomenon. But, since a few moms have seen this happen, I thought I would offer some advice on how to make sure that this doesn't happen to you.
A close friend of mine was at a breastfeeding support group recently and was told that many moms see a dip in their milk supplies when traveling with their babies. My friend speculated that this may be a reaction to the stress of traveling with an infant. I told her I would look into this, since I couldn't fathom why traveling would make a mom's milk supply decrease. A mom's milk supply could surely decrease when traveling WITHOUT her infant, but why WITH her infant? After some internet and article searching, I couldn't find any scientific reasons that would cause this phenomenon. But, since a few moms have seen this happen, I thought I would offer some advice on how to make sure that this doesn't happen to you.
5 WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR MILK SUPPLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH AN INFANT
1. If traveling by plane, nurse your baby during take-off, landing, and turbulents. This will relieve the pressure in your baby's ears, thereby relieving your stress level.
2. Keep to your baby's regular feeding schedule. If this means you will have to nurse in public, practice before you go on your trip so that you are confident and comfortable. A baby wrap is a great way to nurse discreetly in public.
3. If you plan to go out and have someone else watch your baby, pump before you leave so that you are not full and uncomfortable while away from your baby. A hand pump should suffice for this moderate use.
4. Some babies have a difficult time sleeping away from home, so plan to take a few naps during your trip, so that you can make up for some lost sleep during those restless times.
5. Don't plan too many activities during your trip. Try to keep your stress level down, which will preserve your milk supply, making for a happier, more content baby....maybe even a rested and relaxed mommy!
Happy travels!
Welcome to The Sanity Spot
Sleep deprivation, diapers, feeding, crying.....sound a little familiar? And not just describing your baby??? All within a matter of minutes, your life has completely changed and sometimes all you want is for it to go back to the way it was.... pre-baby! But then, that sweet little baby of yours (or your three and four year olds, in my case) just look at you with those adoring eyes and you are brought to tears as your heart fills with so much emotion that it is impossible to describe. Welcome to motherhood... the most rewarding and, definitely, the most difficult job you will ever have in your life!
So sit back, put your feet up, lay your baby (infant, toddler) on your chest, and smell his/her sweet scent while he/she sleeps for a few moments. It is all about being present, in the moment (if you will), and taking a deep breath. For it is those moments you will remember the most. Hey, if we remembered all of the difficult times, we would never have any more kids.
