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Beauty of the Breasts
Breast Care for Lactating Mothers.
It is necessary to give supplements of vitamins or minerals to lactating mothers. In case the mother is healthy and the baby is not premature, there is no need to give vitamin supplements to the mother or to the baby at least three months after the delivery as breast milk supplies these in sufficient amounts to the baby. If the mother has any vitamin or mineral deficiencies or she is malnourished she may be required to take them. The mother may have a deficiency of vitamin B-12 if she is vegetarian. For a supply of vitamin D, it is advisable for the mother to be in the sun for some time each day. In case the mother is deficient in Vitamin B-1, the baby can suffer serious symptoms. This problem is very rare but proper medical attention is very necessary. By improving the diet, vitamin deficiencies can be rectified. Mothers who are deficient in calcium should increase the intake of foods rich in calcium, like cabbage, lentils ( dals) milk, cheese and other milk products.
Care should be taken for breasts during lactation in the following ways :
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keep your breasts and nipples clean and dry as this will prevent them from becoming sore and infected.
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Do not use soap to clean the nipples and areola since this may make them sore and cracked.
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Do not soak the nipples in water or let them remain moist as this will lead to cracking and infection of the nipples. Just wash the breasts and nipples with water during your daily bath.
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The breasts may be cleaned with water to remove the traces of milk that might be sticking to them after a feed.
Crack and Fissure in the Nipple
The difference between a crack and a fissure is very little. A fissure is generally at the base of the nipple and is often very painful and may ooze blood. It may become infected if the baby has thrush in its mouth. In case a mother suffers from a fissure she may have to keep the baby off the breasts for a couple of days till the fissure heals. In case of a crack, a mother does not have to take the baby off the breasts.
You must keep in mind the following precautions to prevent cracked or sore nipples:
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Just wash your breasts with plain water and keep the nipples dry in between the feeds. If these are not kept dry, then tend to become sore. Therefore, do not soak nipples in water.
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Do not clean the nipples with soap, as this leads to cracking.
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If you experience the problem of leakage of milk, then absorb this leakage with a piece of clean cloth or cut a piece of cloth cut from a nappy, keep in the cups of your bra and change this as required.
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Always wear a clean bra.
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Clean your nipples after feeding
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Expose the nipples to air for some time every day.
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Apply cream or oil to keep the nipples soft and supple. Do not use mustard oil, since it is irritating. Make sure to wash the cream or oil from the nipples before you breast-feed.
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Apply cream or oil during the pregnancy, even though greasy material is produced during pregnancy which keeps the nipples supple.
How to treat a Cracked or Sore Nipple
Continue breast-feeding even if nipples are sore or cracked. Try to feed the baby from the less painful nipple first sp that it does not hurt too much during feeding. By the time you have finished, the milk may start to drain from the other side and the breasts will become soft, allowing the baby to feed without sucking too hard. Express milk from your breasts to take tension away and prevent aggressive and painful suckling by the hungry baby. Remember, pain can be reduced and haling promoted by paying attention to the way you breast-feed. Make sure that the areola is in the baby’s mouth so that the baby cannot bite or chew at the nipples. Change your position every time you feed the baby so that the body does not suckle at the nipple continuously in one position and make it more sore. Feed the child in such a position that the child is unable to pull the nipple. Do not remove the crusts of dried milk from a sore or a cracked nipple since this can worsen he situation. Occasionally blood oozing from the sore or cracked nipples may be swallowed by the baby, but it will not harm the baby in any way. If the problem is very severe them consult the doctor, who may suggest exposure to a sun-lamp and application of an antiseptic cream. Exposure of nipples to air for some time every day would help in the healing process.
The treatment of a fissure is the same as for a cracked or a sore nipple. Remember, the fissure may be considered more painful and you may have to use a nipple shield when you resume the baby on a breast-feed. Make sure that the nipple shield is clean.
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