CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF SOOTHING NIPPLE CARE FOR BREASTFEEDING MUMS
Some Hints for Successful Breastfeeding
Preventing Nipple Damage
To prevent nipple damage, here are a few tips you can try:
- Use Marcalan once or twice daily in the third trimester to improve the smoothness, elasticity & moisture balance of the nipple making it better able to cope with the demands of breastfeeding.
- Ensure baby is positioned correctly and attached well.
- Change breast pads frequently.
- Avoid the use of products which may dry the skin, eg.soaps and bodywashes.
- Avoid rapid air drying which may cause irregular shrinkage, leading to the nipple cracking.
Managing Damaged Nipples
Many mothers are advised to treat damaged nipples with exposure to the air. Aside from the impracticality of this advice for many busy mums, it is also contrary to modern principles of healing which stipulate establishing a moist wound healing environment.
Research has revealed wounds can heal 50% faster and without scabbing or crusting using moist wound healing techniques. When baby breastfeeds, the nipple is in a wet environment and the tissue absorbs moisture and swells. Rapid air drying causes irregular shrinkage and the resulting tension on the skin causes cracking.
Marcalan provides a semi-occlusive barrier to slow the evaporation of moisture already present in the skin, thereby eliminating further drying and cracking. It is absorbed into the nipple, so tissue is re-hydrated from within, and exposed nerve endings (which are a source of pain) are returned to a more normal moist state.
CHECKLIST for successful breastfeeding
- mother is comfortable and well supported
- baby's stomach is held close against yours
- baby's body turned towards you, supported so head is free to tilt slightly
- nipple aimed just above baby's mouth
- wide gape, with tongue well down (tickle upper lip with nipple and baby should automatically gape)
- chin well in against the breast
- mouth open well onto the areola, with top lip out and tongue over lower gum
- baby's ears and temples moving with each suck
If you need to remove baby from breast, either break the suction by depressing the breast, or insert a clean finger into the corner of baby's mouth. Failure to break the suction may result in nipple damage.