Sore Nipples, Plugged Ducts, Mastitis & Thrush
Nipple sores: breakdown in the skin of the nipple,
usually from sensitive skin or improper latching.
- Symptoms
include visible sores like blisters or scabs on nipple and sharp pain
during latching.
- How to
take care of nipple sores
- Make
sure your baby is latching completely on the breast (most of your aerola
should be covered)
- Make
sure you break the suction/latch properly before taking your baby from
the breast. Place 1 finger in the
side of the baby’s mouth to break the suction and keep your finger
between the baby’s gums until the nipple is completely out of the mouth.
- If
your baby slides down to the end of the nipple while nursing, break the
latch and relatch.
- After
nursing, express a small amount of your breastmilk onto the nipple and
rub it in-let air dry. You milk
has hormones that will help you create new cells.
- You
can use products like lanolin creams (lasinoh) or gel pads (soothies) to
help protect the skin between feedings.
- Breast
shells can be use to prevent clothing from rubbing against your nipple.
Plugged ducts:
breast milk that does not completely release or empty from the breast
and sits in the ducts.
- Symptoms
include a hard area of the breast that may be warm and tender to the
touch.
- How to
take care of plugged ducts
- Continue
breastfeeding/pumping: although the milk will contain bacteria it is not
harmful to your baby.
- Place
warm/moist heat to the area for 5 to 10 minutes prior to nursing or
pumping.
- Latch
baby on the breast with the plugged duct first (the baby will drink the
largest volume from the 1st breast)
- Make
sure the baby is latching completely to the nipple
- Latch
the baby with it’s chin facing the side of the plugged duct
- Massage
the area toward the nipple to help the milk release while nursing
- If
the area is still firm after nursing, hand express or pump breast to
completely release the milk.
- Once
the milk is completely released, you can use cool packs for comfort.
Mastitis: an infection in the breast, usually from
bacteria growing in milk that has been sitting the ducts or from sores on the
nipple allowing bacteria to enter the breast.
- Symptoms of plugged duct with hard areas that
are red and hot to the touch and also ‘flu-like’ symptoms: fever, body ache
and/or chills.
- Continue
with all of the above directions for plugged ducts.
- Take your
antibiotic on time and finish the prescription
- Take
Tylenol for fever or Motrin (up to 600mg every 6 hours) for both breast
pain & fever.
- If the
infection does not improve, return to the office for further evaluation.
Yeast/Thrush: a fungal
infection in the breast
- Symptoms
include nipple pain, redness and/or itching. You may have shooting pain in
the breast during of after nursing.
Your baby may have white spots on the tongue that do not rub off. These infections may occur after taking
antibiotics.
- How
to take care of breasts
- Continue
breastfeeding/pumping
- Air
dry your nipples
- Change
your breast pads regularly to prevent a moisture on the nipple
- Avoid
plastic lined pads that may hold moisture in
- Wash
your bras in hot water and pump parts in hot water or dishwasher (if
safe)
- You
may need a prescription for an antifungal cream to rub onto you nipples
after breastfeeding.
- You
baby should be treated with nystatin drops after each feeding to prevent passing
the infection back to your breasts: contact your baby’s pediatrician for
a prescription.
By
Cyndi Ayoub, WHNP
August
28, 2010
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