Care for mammary glands and nipples
The woman's milk is the only food for the child in the first months of his life. It remains an important part of the baby's nutrition and in the future - until the 9th and 10th month. Breastfeeding in many ways determines the development of the child and primarily depends on the general condition of the mother and the condition of the mammary glands.
Exceptionally important in the development of mammary glands during pregnancy and in the allocation of milk after childbirth is the rational nutrition of the pregnant woman, adherence to her hygienic regime, sufficient rest and special care for the mammary glands.
This care is associated with those changes in in the mammary glands that occur in them during pregnancy, as well as with the upcoming function - feeding the baby.
During pregnancy, glandular lobules of the mammary glands increase in volume and increase in number. The blood supply of the glands becomes stronger, they become strained.
Clothes and underwear during this period should not tighten the breasts and prevent their normal development. At the same time, we must take care that the mammary glands do not hang, so that the flow of blood to them does not linger and there are no phenomena of stagnation. This is achieved by wearing a bra with fairly wide and deep cups, corresponding to the shape and volume of the mammary glands. Therefore, you can not use the same bras that a woman wore before pregnancy, especially by the end of pregnancy.
The bra should have a wide belt, as well as wide straps that do not injure the skin of the shoulders. Sew a bra is recommended from a dense fabric.
The main rule of breast care during pregnancy is keeping them in immaculate cleanliness. Non-compliance with this rule leads to diaper rash and irritation of the skin under the mammary glands and around the nipple. Care of the mammary glands is of great importance in preventing cracks in the nipples, in which the feeding of the child in the future is painful, and sometimes difficult. Through the cracked nipples in the body of the mother can penetrate pathogens and cause inflammation of the breast - a disease called breast( mastitis).The appearance of the breasts disrupts the normal feeding of the child and is heavily reflected in the general condition of the mother.
Sometimes pregnant women without advice from a doctor to use a variety of "home remedies" to prevent nipple cracks. Do not do this. Prepare nipples in the manner recommended by the doctor.
It is advisable to wash the breasts and nipples daily with warm water and soap, and then wipe them dry with a shaggy towel. Of the various types of soap, it is best to use "baby" soap. Wash and wipe nipples carefully so as not to damage the skin.
It is very useful 1-2 times a day for 10-15 minutes to expose the breast to fresh air - stripped to the waist in a warm but well-ventilated room.
Droplets of the colostrum formed during pregnancy sometimes involuntarily flow outward and, lingering on the nipple, can form crusts near its top or base, under which small cracks easily appear. Such crusts should not be ripped off in any case. It is necessary to consult a doctor and, if necessary, remove crusts according to the method indicated by the doctor.
For the proper breastfeeding of a child, the shape of the nipple is essential. Nipples usually rise above the surface of the breast and have a cylindrical or conical shape. Their magnitude varies.
During the feeding of the baby, the nipple muscles contract, which causes it to grow and become more elastic, which helps to grip the nipple with the baby's mouth.
Some women have flat or even retracted nipples. With such a nipple shape the child can not capture it. Such women need during pregnancy to prepare nipples for the upcoming feeding of the child. In these cases, massage the nipples. It is that the woman, after washing her hands with warm water and soap, gently grasps the nipple with her index and thumbs and pulls it outward. This procedure is performed for several minutes 2 -3 times a day. This should be done only on the instructions of a doctor and after the pregnant woman is trained by this doctor or midwife.
Forms of nipples of the breast.
1 - well pronounced nipple ; 2 - flat nipple ;3 - retracted nipple .