Breast care

If you are starting to breastfeed for the first time, or are breastfeeding again after a long break, your breasts will initially need regular care to prevent minor injuries or inflammation.

Wash your breasts with clean water only and keep them dry after showering. Wear cotton nursing bras and change your breast pads regularly. There is no need to wash your nipples before every feed; your baby needs to be exposed to a safe microbiome. Applying ointments designed for this purpose (Purelan, Bepanthen, Weleda Nipple Cream, etc.) to the nipple and areola has a healing effect and prevents microtraumas caused by breastfeeding from developing into more extensive nipple cracks – fissures. Mild discomfort can be alleviated by using cooling hydrogel pads. 

If your nipples are sore, or if ragades have already formed on your breasts, it is advisable to use nipple shields inserted into your bra – hollow silicone discs that prevent chafing, with ventilation holes and a reservoir for breast milk (e.g. Medela, Avent, Suavinex, Canpol). It is also advisable to check the mouth of the breastfed baby. Any frequent yeast infection should then be treated both on the breast and in the baby’s mouth. 

Hardened lumps in the breast or armpit can usually be massaged towards the nipple after warming up in the shower. If your breasts tend to become so engorged that they harden, feel tight and are painful, warm the breast before breastfeeding (with a shower or a warm compress) and cool it down again after breastfeeding. 

If one of your breasts starts to hurt severely, feels hot and the skin surface turns red, if the milk starts to change colour or smell, or if you experience general symptoms such as fatigue, bone and muscle pain, fever and chills, please visit our gynaecology clinic; this could be an infection – mastitis – which is not a reason to stop breastfeeding, but may require treatment with safe antibiotics.