Breast Care for the Breastfeeding Mother

After giving birth to a baby, many mothers focus on taking care of the baby. For the "granary" on the chest, sometimes they neglect to take care of it. So what are the postpartum breast care items? How can we better care for it?

1. Postpartum breast care items

1. Start of lactation

The lactation can be started 2 hours after the normal delivery and 6 hours after the cesarean section. Early sucking of the baby is beneficial to the mother's early milk secretion and more milk secretion, as well as the health of the breast and the contraction of the uterus. Successful initiation of lactation is manifested as the mother feels obvious breast filling or the bilateral milk volume ≥20ml for three consecutive times. If the mother is still unable to perceive breast fullness, fullness, or milk leakage after 72 hours after delivery, it indicates that there is a delayed lactation, and a breast pump is needed to simulate baby sucking to promote the release of prolactin and activate lactating cells.

2. Breast dredging

After 2-3 days after delivery, breast-feeding mothers are most likely to have milk blockage or milk stasis. In severe cases, breast swelling, firmness, elevated body temperature, tenderness, fever, and other symptoms may occur.

Methods of breast dredging:

Choosing a professional prolactinist for local massage and dredging treatment can prevent breast inflammation and help relieve symptoms. The breast pump can promote the patency of the mammary ducts during the breast pumping process, and improve the difficulty of milk discharge and the symptoms of breast swelling and pain.

The low-frequency electrical stimulation function of the rehabilitation device can promote local blood circulation and play an auxiliary treatment and preventive effect on the blockage of the mammary duct.

3. Leaking breast milk

Ninety percent of mothers will leak milk within 2 months after delivery, and the duration can be up to 6 months. Leaking milk from the breast increases the risk of sore nipples and breast infections, and affects whether the mother continues to breastfeed. Washable breast pads can be used for a small amount of milk leakage; disposable breast pads can be used when the amount of milk leakage is large; breast milk collection covers can be used for milk leakage when breastfeeding.

 B. Precautions for postpartum breasts

1. Control breastfeeding or breastfeeding time

Once every three hours, every 20 minutes, to ensure that the breasts are emptied in time.

2. Pay attention to sleeping position

During breastfeeding, mothers should try to lie flat when sleeping, and do not sleep on their sides to avoid pressure on the breasts.

3. Pay attention to breast cleansing

After breastfeeding, wipe the breasts and nipples clean with warm water. Avoid using soap or alcohol and other chemicals to scrub your nipples to prevent the breast's partial defense ability from being reduced, and the nipples will become dry and cracked and cause bacterial infections. When bathing, use a shower head to wash the breasts. It is best to spray alternately with hot and cold water to help increase breast skin tension and promote breast blood circulation.

4. Keep wearing a bra

From the beginning of breastfeeding, we must insist on wearing a bra. The bra provides support and support for the breasts, smooth blood circulation, is good for promoting the secretion of milk and improving the breast's disease resistance, and can also protect the nipple from scratches and pain.

5. Breastfeeding correctly

The two breasts should be fed alternately. When the baby eats only one breast, the breast on the other side should be emptied with a breast pump to keep the breasts on both sides symmetrical in size. At the same time, don't let the baby pull the nipple while feeding.

6. Don't diet to lose weight

Some women are eager to go on a diet to lose weight in the face of their fat body after childbirth. As a result, the fat tissue of the breast is also affected, and shrinkage is inevitable. For postpartum women, it takes about a year for the weight to recover, so don't rush to diet to lose weight.

7. Massage the breasts

Clean your hands, wash your breasts with warm water, apply appropriate amount of moisturizing oil on your hands, place the roots of your palms on your breasts, use your thumb and forefinger to hold your breasts in a C shape, and massage the other hand clockwise along the outside to the inside of the breast, on each side Massage your breasts for 3~5 minutes; massage 1~2 times a day for 5~10 minutes each time.

8. Keep exercising

Persisting in doing chest expansion exercises every day after childbirth can help exercise the chest muscles and make the breasts look firmer, firmer and fuller. Push-ups, dumbbell lifting and other exercises can strengthen the chest muscles and enhance the support of the breasts. As for full-body exercise, you can go to the gym to do aerobics, etc., but you must do it 6 months after delivery.