How To Prevent Sore Nipples
Carlie Edwards
FACT: As you may have guessed, sore nipples are the number one
reason that women quit breastfeeding their babies. How do you
avoid this? Prevention!
You need to know that many women avoid breastfeeding their
newborns simply because they are afraid they will suffer from
sore nipples. The most difficult period of nursing is during the
first few days and weeks as you are forming a relationship with
your newborn. You're most likely tired from the lack of sleep and
if this is your first breastfeeding experience, you could be
struggling to find the right positioning for your baby during
feeding time. You may also feel apprehensive about what to expect
during a feeding session. Any and all of these anxieties can lead
to sore nipples. Prevention is the key to avoiding sore nipples
before it starts.
One of the best ways to prevent sore nipples is to get your baby
positioned properly. There are several different positions that
you can choose from. The cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, the
football or clutch hold, or nurse your baby while you are both
lying down. Regardless of which position you choose, there are
some things you need to do to be sure that both of your are in a
comfortable position.
Find a comfy place at home where you'll do most of your
breastfeedings. Make sure YOU are comfortable before you ever
start breastfeeding your baby. You should use a nursing pillow.
If you don't have one it's highly recommended that you get one! If
for some reason you decide against a nursing pillow, at least
have other pillows lying around, just in case. You need to be
supporting your back, your arms and your feet. After you get
comfortable and are ready to start feeding, try to have someone
available that will be able to bring your baby to you, during
your first few nursing sessions. Your baby needs to be close to
you. It doesn't matter which position you decide to use, just be
sure your baby's mouth and nose are facing your breast. Your baby
should not have to turn his/her head to find and/or reach your
breast. Check to be sure your breast is not pushing against
baby's chin, your baby's chin should push on you, not the other
way around. During each nursing session you'll need to support
your breast. Do this by cupping your hand into the "U" or "C"
shape. Getting your baby to latch on is the final step in the
nursing process. If you feel that your baby has a bad latch at
any point during the nursing session, you should detach your baby
and try again. This is the best way to avoid sore nipples, get a
good latch. When you're sure your baby is well latched, you can
nurse as long as your baby wants.
If you feel the need to detach your baby, always remember to do
this very gently as that can also cause sore nipples. Here are a
couple of ways to gently break the seal without causing any
damage to your or to your baby.
-Gently tug on your baby's chin.
-Another way would be to try inserting your pinky finger into the
corner of your baby's mouth and use a sweeping motion, pulling
your breast out of baby's mouth. Remember, always have cleans
hands before you put your fingers into your baby's mouth.
-Another way would be to press down on your breast where it meets
your baby's mouth.
Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for
Today's Women. For more information on Breastfeeding visit:
http://breastfeeding.health-and-beauty-worx.com To find a
variety of related topics & issues visit: http://health-and-
beauty-worx.com
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