Breastfeeding and nipple wounds: how to treat bitten nipples?

Breastfeeding is sometimes associated with great discomfort caused by bitten nipples and injured nipples. Moms wonder if they can breastfeed if their nipples are injured and bleeding? And if possible, how to feed when injured nipples cause great discomfort?

Bitten nipples can become a serious problem, so in today's article we present valuable tips and proven methods for treating nipples that are injured while breastfeeding.

Bitten warts: Why does a baby bite the nipple while feeding?

Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful. However, in the first days after delivery, tender and injured nipples during feeding may be the result of the physiological adaptation of the nipple tissue to the feeding process. The greatest severity of these symptoms is observed in the first 3-7 days. What else can cause painful, sore nipples?

• Feeding technique:

• Train: bitten nipples are the result of a baby with a stuffy nose trying to breathe through the mouth, suck and swallow milk at the same time, which may cause it to tighten its gums on the nipple.
• Excessive milk flow: may encourage the baby to bite the nipple to stop the excessive flow of milk.
• Teething: When your baby feels pain, he or she may press his or her gums against the nipple in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.

If a woman unsuccessfully struggles with the problem of bitten nipples, she should seek advice from a midwife or a Certified Lactation Consultant (CDL).

How to feedto reduce pain and eliminate the problem bitten warts?

We have already mentioned that minimizing the soreness of bitten warts is crucial checking the breastfeeding technique. How to feed when nipples are injured?

• Let's check whether the baby is being put to the nipple correctly, including: does the mother put the baby to the breast and not the breast to the baby?
• Aren't injured nipples during feeding the result of grasping the nipple too shallowly? Does the baby's mouth cover most of the areola?
• Does the baby suck and swallow food effectively? Are the indicators of effective feeding maintained, including: correct number of bowel movements, appropriate weight gain of the child?

How to feed - For wounded nipples, many midwives and CDLs also recommend changing the position during feeding so that the pressure created by the baby while sucking is applied to different parts of the nipple. If the mother wants to suck the baby painlessly, she should put a small, clean finger into the corner of the baby's mouth.

Specialists asked: How to feed with sore nipples?, indicate that for sure skipping or delaying feedings is not recommended, which may disturb lactation and even lead to mastitis.

How to feed with sore nipples?

Proven home remedies injured nipples during feedinga

Now that we know how to feed with sore nipples, let's take a look at effective ways to treat sore nipples:

• feed on demand – 8-12 times a day, at least once at night;
• check your feeding technique, if in doubt, consult CDL;
• don't harden your nipples — scrubbing/rubbing/pulling nipples has no proven effectiveness in relieving pain during feeding and may worsen the problem of sore nipples;

• in the case of bitten warts, to prevent the skin from drying out while bathing wash your breasts with a mild gel or soap. Dry your nipples gently with a clean cotton towel or disposable paper towel;
• In the hygiene of nipples injured during feeding, the so-called airing, i.e. ensuring a constant supply of air to the breasts: frequent walking without a bra, wearing only non-compressive bras made of natural, breathable materials.
• change nursing pads often and replace bras regularly with clean ones;
• In the case of bitten nipples, many women find relief by using it between feedings silicone breastfeeding shells.

If after a week of using home remedies for painful, injured nipples, a woman does not notice any improvement, she should consult CDL.

Let's remember that wounded nipples are an open path for various types of microorganisms. Therefore, if the condition of the breasts worries a woman. The following symptoms appear: breast swelling, severe redness, itching, rash, flu-like symptoms or pus oozing from the bitten nipple - contact your doctor immediately.

Is it possible to feed? breastfeeding if lacerated nipples they bleed or ooze clothing?

Many women ask the question - Can you breastfeed if your nipple is injured? 

Yes, there are no contraindications to this. It also happens that women have great doubts whether they can breastfeed if blood is oozing from the injured nipple?

Unless a breastfeeding mother suffers from infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV, small amounts of blood oozing from a wounded nipple are not a contraindication to feeding the baby.

Can you breastfeed?, if z the injured nipple is oozing pus?

Can you breastfeed if your sore nipples have resulted in mastitis treated with antibiotics? In case of mastitis, doctors prescribe antibiotics to women, which do not require discontinuation baby from the breast.

Any doubts regarding breastfeeding during infection and inflammation of the breast should be discussed with your doctor or midwife.