Why do I have painful
lumps in my breasts?
Some women can develop blocked
ducts during breastfeeding. These
are little milk plugs that block the
flow of milk out the breast and cause
pain, because the milk doesn’t drain
properly from the breast. To avoid
blocked ducts, always make sure your
breasts are emptied properly and
avoid wearing tight or ill-fitting
nursing bras. If you experience
this kind of discomfort,
apply a warm compress
and massage your
breasts to encourage
them to drain.
What should
I avoid?
Everything in moderation
is ideal for breastfeeding.
There’s no specific diet
you should follow, but you
should ideally avoid foods that
cause bloating as they could cause
gripes in your baby. If you’re not used
to eating spicy foods, having curry may
upset your little one. Common culprits
of tummy cramps in breastfed babies
are dairy, wheat, chocolate, green
leafy vegetables and spicy food eaten
by the mom. If you notice any of these
trigger a colicky spell, try avoiding or
reducing your consumption of them.
Limit caffeine to one cup a day.
What about
pumping?
There are no rules when it comes to
pumping, but breastfeeding should be
well established first and you should
build a strong supply before pumping.
That said, many new moms enjoy
expressing as it allows someone else
to feed their baby. Some women also
opt to pump to help boost their milk
supply. If you do decide to express,
try to do so immediately after a feed
once or twice a day to build up
enough stored milk for a feed. You
can then express whenever your baby
bottle feeds to keep up your supply.
36 | AUGUST 2019 | L&L
TAKING CARE OF YOUR NIPPLES
Sore and painful nipples are
common for new breastfeeding
moms. Some causes of
sore nipples include:
● Tenderness from breastfeeding.
● Incorrect latching – when
your baby isn’t positioned
properly or his latch is
too shallow.
● Using the wrong pumping
equipment – a pump flange
that is too large or too small
can cause sore nipples and
sometimes even nipple blisters.
● The wrong nursing bra. If
your bra is too tight, it can
put excess pressure on your
nipples, increasing soreness.
● Dry skin, eczema or dermatitis
(from nipple creams or
soaps) can lead to sore,
tender, painful nipples.
● A clogged milk duct
● Thrush
● Mastitis.Co-author of the What to Expect
series Sharon Mazel suggests the
following to treat sore nipples:
● Alternate between breasts,
starting on the less painful side
as your little one will suck more
vigorously on the first side.
● Apply some ice to you
nipple before feeding to
help numb the area.
● Apply a few drops of breast
milk at the end of each
feed as the antibodies will
help speed up healing.
● Apply an ointment containing
lanolin after each feed.
● For pain from milk blisters, soak
the nipple in a saline mixture
and apply a warm compress
before nursing your baby.
● If your nipple pain is the result of an
infection like thrush or mastitis, your
doctor can give you a prescription
for medication to bring relief
to both you and your baby.How
long should
I breastfeed?
It’s entirely up to you. The World
Health Organization recommends
six months of exclusive breastfeeding
before introducing solids. Infants
should receive complementary foods
from six months with continued
breastfeeding up to two years
of age or beyond.