Persevere
Engorged breasts
Engorged breasts usually appear between the third and fifth day after the birth. Your breasts are swollen and painful. This is a hormonal reaction when you are preparing to breastfeed. The typical engorged sensation usually disappears after 18 hours.
Tip: By putting your baby to the breast as soon after the birth as possible, you reduce the accumulation of milk and thus the pressure on your breasts. Hot or cold compresses can also provide relief.
Cracked nipples
Your nipples are very painful and have unsightly cracks in them. A possible cause is that your baby sucks on the nipple during breastfeeding and not on the head of the areola. Painful and cracked nipples are also often caused by irritation because they are moist for too long. Careless breast hygiene can also be the cause of cracked nipples.
Tip: Keep your nipples dry with nursing pads. Clean your bra regularly. Try to ensure good breast hygiene. Wash your breasts every day. Your own mother?s milk contains healing substances. If, after feeding, you leave a few drops to dry on each nipple, you will see that this has a healing effect on your cracked nipples.
Blocked milk ducts
A painful, hard patch appears on your breasts. Sometimes this patch is red. One or more milk ducts are blocked, so that the milk is also blocked. A blocked milk duct is often caused by adopting the wrong position while nursing or wearing a feeding bra that is too tight. Beware of this because it can lead to breast infection.
Tip: Change position while nursing. Put your child to the breast as often as possible and give them the painful breast first. Make sure they empty it completely. Then give them the other breast. You can make a compress out of white clay or powdered ginger (from the chemist) and place it on the painful spot. Wear a well-fitting nursing bra.
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