Nipples Bleed And Crack
Nipples Bleed Or Crack, how to continue to breastfeed?
Nipple Crack and Bleed
Breastfeeding Is Not Supposed To HURT
Poor positioning and latch-on is the most common cause of nipple soreness in the early weeks of nursing. A minor adjustment of positioning and latch-on is all that is needed. However, if after 36 hours of conscientious attention to this area, your nipples are no better, or if you are past the newborn period and you suddenly develop sore nipples after a period of pain-free nursing, you should contact a lactation consultant to determine the cause of your soreness.
On occasion, you may see blood though you feel no pain. A bloody discharge from the nipples during the first week of breastfeeding may be caused by increased blood flow to the breast, along with the growth of milk-producing tissue. This is a harmless condition, and should go away without treatment in a few days.
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Reason for the Pain
The most common cause of cracked or bleeding nipples is improper positioning of the baby at the breast. This also causes severe nipple pain. Slightest correction of positioning may make a world of difference.
Your nipples could also crack or bleed because of severe dry skin, or if you have eczema. You can get an eczema-like condition on the nipples or breasts as a result of very dry air, powder, hair spray, deodorant, laundry detergent residue, ointment or lotion applied to the breast, bath soap or antibacterial cleanser, perfume, or cologne.
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If your baby has thrush, you may get cracked nipples and shooting pains in the breast during or after a feeding. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth that results when yeast naturally present in the body grows and spreads out of control.
Using a breast pump wrongly can also hurt your nipples, and make them crack or bleed. Excessive suction from a breast pump has caused hemorrhages under the skin in some women.
Nipples Bleed Or Crack, Try The Following:
- A poor latch-on technique is the most common reason for this condition. Your baby should face your nipple, tummy to tummy with you. Your baby needs to open wide to take in a good mouthful of both the nipple and the areola. The best latch-on position is off-centered, with more of the areola below the nipple in your baby's mouth. Line up his nose with your nipple so that his bottom gum is far away from the base of your nipple when he opens. Your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth.
- Change positions at every feeding. This focuses the pressure of the baby's gums on a different area of the breast each time.
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- Nurse frequently - at least every 2 hours. This will ensure that your baby does not become too hungry between feedings causing him to nurse ravenously and aggressively at your breast.
- Hand express or pump a few minutes before the feeding. This will elicit letdown and elongate the nipple for the baby so that he does not nurse so aggressively.
- Nurse on the least sore side first as this is the side that your baby will nurse more aggressively on.
- Rub a little breast milk on your nipples after each feeding and let it air dry. The milk actually helps heal them.
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- Don't use soap, alcohol, lotions, or perfumes on the nipples. Clean with clear water.
- Take mild painkillers about 30 minutes before nursing.
- For deep, painful cracks, try medical-grade modified lanolin (such as Lansinoh ). Apply a small amount on your nipples. It does not need to be washed off before feedings.
- Consider applying warm, wet tea bags to your nipples for a short time after nursing. Warm, moist compresses (wet washcloth works well) often bring relief to nipples both before and after nursing.
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- After feeding, pat dry your nipples and express some breastmilk to rub into them (this should be avoided if you have thrush as it thrives in milk). Breastmilk has Vitamin E in it which is very healing to the skin.
Note: No Vitamin E oil as this can be toxic to your baby!
- Use hydrogel pad soothing and healing to nipple trauma. Change damp nursing pads immediately. If your pad sticks to your nipple moisten it with water before attempting to remove it. Also avoid nursing pads with plastic linings that prevent the flow of air. Use 100% cotton pads or pads made of plain paper.
- If your nipples become so sore that you cannot tolerate the pressure of your bra or clothing on them, use breast shells inside your bra.
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- If you find it impossible to nurse your baby due to nipple soreness, you may opt to feed him with an alternative feeding device such as an eye dropper, medicine dropper, feeding syringe, soft, flexible medicine cup, spoon, or nursing supplementer , attached to your finger, while your nipples heal.
If a crack or wound shows no sign of healing, check with your doctor. Bacteria can get into the affected area and lead to infections like mastitis.
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Can I still nurse?
Babies generally ignore cracked or otherwise injured nipples. Blood in the milk doesn't hurt them, and breastfeeding can continue. The main issue here is to correct the problem and allow the nipple to heal, so that feeding is once again a pleasurable experience for both you and your baby.
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