Crack in the middle of the nipple

After entering the breastfeeding period, many mothers will find cracks in the middle of their nipples during feeding. Some will even feel pain, which will affect the normal feeding of the child. This situation is actually nipple fissures. Nipple cracks are very common during breastfeeding. We need to have a general understanding of the causes of nipple cracks, and then take targeted measures based on our own situation to make feeding normal.

1. Incorrect breastfeeding method

When breastfeeding, the mother should put the nipple and most of the areola into the baby's mouth. If the baby sucks on the top of the nipple for a long time and repeatedly, the mother's nipple will easily crack. If the mother is accustomed to letting the baby suck on one breast, it is easy to cause unilateral nipple fissures.

2. The baby sucks improperly when milk is blocked or insufficient

Many mothers experience milk engorgement and milk blockage during breastfeeding. The blocked mammary ducts cause the baby to suck milk for too long or with improper force. Mothers with little milk frequently feed the baby or soak their nipples in the baby's saliva for a long time, which can easily cause nipple cracking or infection. In addition, some mothers have short or inverted nipples, which can easily lead to cracking due to improper sucking posture or force, affecting breastfeeding.

3. Excessive cleaning, baby's oral cause

Mothers should be careful when cleaning nipples and not use products such as soap or ethanol desiccant, which will irritate the nipple skin, break the skin, and cause nipple cracks. After feeding, wipe your breasts with warm water and leave them exposed for a few minutes to dry. When inflammation occurs in the baby's mouth, the bitten nipple is prone to infection and causes nipple cracks.

Can I continue breastfeeding if I have cracked nipples?

A little blood in breast milk will not affect the baby, because even if you don’t have nipple cracks, there may be some blood in your breast milk shortly after giving birth and starting lactation, but there will be no problem. So even if your nipple is broken and bleeding, you can still continue breastfeeding as long as you can endure the pain.

If you really can't stand the pain, or your nipples are severely cracked, such as festering, or you have mastitis caused by fever, you can use your hands or a breast pump to express the milk and then feed your baby with a small spoon, reducing the number of breastfeeding times a day. Give the cracked nipples some time to heal. Generally, after 1-2 days, many mothers' cracked nipples will improve a lot. There is no need to give up breastfeeding because of cracked nipples.

Prevention is key to avoid nipple cracks:

1. Apply hot compress to the breasts and nipples for 2 to 3 minutes before breastfeeding, and gently massage the breasts to squeeze out a small amount of milk to soften the areola, making it easier for the baby to suck.

2. If only one side of the nipple is cracked, you can feed the uncracked side first, and then the affected side. This way the baby's sucking force will be slightly smaller, reducing damage to the nipple.

3. Let the baby hold most of the areola in his mouth, and the nipple should completely pass over the baby's gums. If you only suck the nipple, not only will the baby not be able to get milk, but it will also cause nipple cracks.

4. Once you find that the baby's latching posture is wrong, the mother can put her fingers between the baby's lower lip and breast, break the connection, and start over.

5. The time for single-sided breastfeeding should not exceed 10 minutes. After feeding, gently squeeze out a drop of milk and apply it evenly on the nipple to dry.

6. Keep your nipples dry, especially when the weather is hot and humid. Try to wear sweat-absorbent and breathable clothes, or expose your breasts to promote healing of nipple wounds.

7. Do not use non-breathable bras or breast pads, and do not use soap to wash your breasts.

8. After each breastfeeding, apply a little egg yolk oil, cod liver oil ointment (10% cod liver oil bismuth) or Bactroban on the nipples, and wash them off with clean water before the next breastfeeding. This will help protect the wound and promote healing.

9. If both nipples are cracked, or the mother still feels unbearable pain after correcting the baby's sucking method, she can try using a nipple shield, or stop breastfeeding, and use her hands or a breast pump to squeeze out the milk before feeding it to the baby.

10. The cholesterol and lecithin in egg yolk are important substances for repairing cells. Treating nipple cracks with egg yolk oil can promote skin cell regeneration and accelerate wound healing. In addition, it is safe and non-toxic, so mothers who are afraid of drug residues can use this method.

Method: Prepare two or three eggs, boil them, then crush the egg yolks and put them into a pan to fry to make egg yolk oil. Discard the residue and apply the oil to the affected area 3 to 4 times a day. It will be healed after 3 days.