What causes pain next to the breast?

Pain near the breast may be caused by mastitis or breast hyperplasia. Whether it is mastitis or breast hyperplasia, it must be treated in time. Although these two diseases are not serious breast diseases, they are the most common diseases. If not treated in time, breast diseases will become more and more serious, which will not only affect the patient's physical health, but also have a great psychological impact.

How to prevent mastitis

Choose the right bra to promote blood circulation

During the entire pregnancy process, female friends should choose suitable bras to properly support their breasts to prevent sagging breasts or breast tissue damage, which would affect the normal blood circulation of the breasts.

Proper breast cleaning is beneficial to breast health

Pregnant women have vigorous sebaceous glands, and there is often dirt or scabs on the nipples. Forcibly removing them will hurt the epidermis. You should first soak them in peanut oil or soybean oil to soften the dirt, and then remove them. This will make your breasts healthier!

Enhance nipple resistance endurance

During pregnancy, you can use clean and soft cotton fabric to gently wipe the skin of the nipples and areola to increase the elasticity and toughness of the skin, so that the breasts can increase their endurance against stimulation during breastfeeding and reduce the chance of mastitis.

Expectant mothers with one or both inverted nipples should use traction

Expectant mothers can first wash their nipples and breasts, pinch the nipples with two fingers, and gently pull them in the order of up and down first, then left and right, and repeat this process twice a day, each time for 5 minutes. Firstly, it can protect the nipples; secondly, it can make the nipples protrude, creating good conditions for the baby to suck breast milk in the future.

How to prevent postpartum mastitis?

1. Maintain breast hygiene

Pay attention to breast and nipple cleanliness starting before delivery to enhance local skin resistance. Scrub the nipples with warm water before and after breastfeeding to prevent bacterial growth, remove sticky dirt from the nipples, and also benefit the baby's oral hygiene.

2. Empty the milk on time

Start breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery to promote smooth milk flow. Breastfeed regularly and let your baby suck out all the milk each time, or use a breast pump to empty your breasts to avoid milk congestion and the formation of lumps.

3. Prevent nipple rupture

Adjust your baby's correct way of sucking milk, hold the nipple and the entire areola in the mouth, and do not develop the habit of sleeping with the nipple in the mouth, so as to avoid prolonged sucking, which may cause nipple rupture and bacterial invasion. If ruptured, timely treatment is required.

4. Do self-massage regularly

Developing a habit will not only help unclog the milk ducts, but also allow you to detect any lumps at any time and deal with them in a timely manner. Method: Apply a hot towel and massage in a clockwise direction with your hands. If you feel bloating or lumps, you can use heavier pressure.

5. Eat less stimulating food

The diet should be light and nutritious. Avoid spicy, irritating, meaty and greasy food to prevent the accumulation of heat and toxins, which will generate heat and further spread the inflammation.