Breastfeeding: How to Avoid Unpleasant Moments

Breast care after childbirth does not require supernatural abilities and does not take much time, which a young mother is already sorely lacking. By adopting some simple techniques as a habit, you can ensure a comfortable feeding process for yourself and your baby, and also help your “female dignity” quickly recover after the baby starts eating with you.

The role of a bra

The first weeks of pregnancy are accompanied by noticeable changes in a woman’s breasts. They become hypersensitive, fill up, the nipples darken, swell and become tense. As gestation progresses, the pain goes away and the volume increases. Therefore, it is important to choose the right bra. It is not recommended to wear old ones, as they are already too small, they tighten and squeeze the enlarged mammary glands.

The main criterion for a bra is comfort. Choose a spacious model that matches your size and lifts your breasts slightly. Opt for wide straps so that they don't cut into your skin while supporting your heavy breasts. It's best to leave lace bras for later, as they can rub sensitive nipples. The best choice is a seamless and elastic product that won't squeeze your breasts with stitches, stimulating congestion. With the arrival of milk after the birth of your baby, your breasts increase by about a size, so when buying a special nursing bra in advance, take this fact into account.

During breastfeeding, a mother will need at least two bras due to leaking milk. If there is a lot of fluid, use sterile gauze pads to soak up the fluid, but this won't save you from having to wash your bra regularly. Remember that clean underwear is especially important during lactation due to the high vulnerability of the breast skin.

How to prepare for breastfeeding

As the birth of the baby approaches, glandular tissue develops, which is responsible for milk production. There is less fatty tissue, which helps maintain shape, and glandular tissue is not responsible for this function at all. During breastfeeding, the bust "stands" solely due to the milk content. After the baby switches to complementary foods, fatty tissues again replace glandular tissues, and it becomes possible to return to its previous state.

The female body has a unique feature: if breastfeeding is interrupted prematurely, glandular tissues are not replaced by fatty tissues until the next lactation period, which means there is no chance of acquiring the previous shape. The longer a mother breastfeeds her baby, the higher the chance of restoring her bust.

During pregnancy, the breast can be hardened. The main thing is not to overdo it with the procedures, and before manipulations, consult a gynecologist-obstetrician. Contrast dousing with warm and cool water is useful, which adds elasticity to the skin. Rubbing is not advisable, as you can destroy the natural lubrication secreted by the nipples and earn irritation.

Proper nutrition during gestation and after childbirth also helps maintain a healthy appearance and condition of the breast and prevents stretch marks. Fresh juices, vegetables and fruits have a beneficial effect on the skin.

Simple physical exercises for pregnant women will help to quickly restore muscle tone.

• Place your hands at chest level and bend them at the elbows, join your palms so that your fingers point upwards. Alternately or simultaneously press your palms into each other, creating tension lasting 2-3 seconds. Do not lower your elbows down.
• Bend your arms at the elbows and place your hands on your shoulders. Smoothly make circular movements forward and backward.
• In a sitting position, stretch your arms out in front of you, bend your elbows and bring your forearms together, and clench your hands into fists. Slowly spread them apart, holding them there for 3 seconds, and return to the original position.

Remember that physical activity is contraindicated for women with a risk of miscarriage, low placenta previa, severe toxicosis accompanied by vomiting, bleeding, colds or other diseases. During the third trimester, the intensity of the exercise should be reduced.

Non-professional massages and rubbing during the gestation period can be harmful, provoking premature labor. During such procedures, oxytocin is additionally produced - a hormone responsible for contractions of the uterine muscles.

How to prepare your baby for feeding

Every mother should understand that the baby does not know how to properly latch on and suck. Help him! You are his mentor, and your lesson will determine your and your baby's peace of mind.

Take a comfortable position so that the baby does not have to reach for the breast. The tip of his nose should be level with the nipple. Lightly massage the areola, the first drops of milk that appear will attract the attention of the hungry baby, and he will instinctively open his mouth. He should grab not only the nipple itself, but the entire circle.

The first experience can cause pain for the mother, but over time the baby will polish the nipple. The skin will become less sensitive, as a "labor callus" is formed.

Washing the breast with soap or wiping with alcohol-containing solutions dries out the skin, which provokes the appearance of additional microcracks.

Do not forcibly tear the baby away from the breast. He will instinctively squeeze his gums, not wanting to part with the treat, and this will cause you pain. Wait until he releases the source of nutrition himself. If you need to change the breast for feeding or interrupt feeding for another reason, then carefully place the tip of your little finger in the corner of the baby's mouth. He will open it slightly, and you will take the breast.

To avoid overdrying the skin and cracks, special creams and oils are used, but only after the baby has eaten. Choose products that do not have strong odors, do not cause allergies or digestive upset in the baby. Pay attention to preparations based on lanolin (animal wax).

What to do if cracks appear

Many nursing mothers cannot avoid wounds and inflammations. Therefore, breast care tips during feeding come to the rescue.

Don't forget about air baths after feeding the baby (if possible, let your breasts "dry" without putting them in a bra or top).

Make sure that the milk does not stagnate. Use breast pumps that repeat the natural process and evenly express the liquid.

Try healing gels and creams, natural butter or vegetable oils (sea buckthorn, olive), melted goose fat also has a quick healing effect. Pharmaceutical products that help include a solution of vitamin A, ointments based on panthenol (bepanten) or calendula.

Improper breast care can have serious consequences, so it is better not to self-medicate, but first consult a doctor.

Breastfeeding is the sacrament of the mother's bond with her child. Make every effort to ensure that the process does not become torture, but brings only pleasure to both participants.