7 breast care tips for breastfeeding mothers that are easy to do

The mother's breast can be said to be an important "asset" during the breastfeeding period. That is why, breast care for nursing mothers must be carried out in order to facilitate breastfeeding for babies. Especially at the age of 6 months, where exclusive breastfeeding is the only food for your little one. That is why it is important to understand how to care for breasts while breastfeeding. So, what is the most appropriate breast care?

Why is breast care for nursing mothers important?

Since the beginning of pregnancy, you may have noticed changes in your breasts. Whether it's a quite striking change or a little bit, the alias doesn't really change.

These changes will usually continue until the breastfeeding period. This is because the breast is responsible for producing breast milk.

During pregnancy, the body releases hormones as a way to prepare breast milk when it is time for breastfeeding to arrive.

This hormone will then trigger the breast tissue to develop and start producing milk.

Then after you give birth, the breasts will automatically start producing milk by themselves. This way, you are ready to breastfeed your baby whenever he needs breast milk.

Whether you realize it or not, the breast size during breastfeeding also looks bigger than before. This is also influenced by hormones that support milk production, thereby increasing the size of the breasts.

One of the important keys to breastfeeding is by applying breast care for the mother. The reason is, Kerao's breasts have problems during breastfeeding.

These problems range from pain or pain in the nipples, breast engorgement, fungal infections, and so on.

On this basis, it is important to understand how to care for or care for breasts for mothers while breastfeeding.

This breast care can help prevent and overcome any problems that may arise. As a result, applying ways to care for or care for breasts while breastfeeding can help mothers do it smoothly and babies can also enjoy the benefits of breast milk.

There are various ways to maintain breast health for breastfeeding mothers

When the breasts are fully filled with milk, you may feel breasts swelling, pain, tingling, until the milk is easy to pass. But there is no need to worry, because this condition is actually normal during breastfeeding.

Well, the most important thing is to keep trying to enjoy each breastfeeding process as comfortably as possible so that the baby can suckle smoothly.

Not only that, it is also important to know how to care for breasts for mothers while breastfeeding. Here are some tips on how to care for or care for breasts for breastfeeding mothers that can be routinely done at home:

1. Keep breasts clean

The easiest way to care for or care for mothers during breastfeeding is by diligently washing their hands before and after holding the breasts.

Wash hands first before breastfeeding and pumping breast milk as well as after the easiest breast care for nursing mothers. Whether it's pumping with a manual or electric breast pump.

Pumping breast milk is also one of the suggestions in how to care for or care for breasts for mothers while breastfeeding, which is published on the Women and Infants page.

In addition, try to keep your breasts and nipples clean by cleaning or washing them as a way of caring for or treating mothers at this time.

You can use warm water to clean the entire breast while bathing. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid cleaning your breasts with soap.

This recommendation is recommended by the Canadian Women's Health Network. The reason is, this can cause the skin of the breast to become dry, cracked, and irritated.

In fact, using soap also runs the risk of removing natural oils produced by the montgomery glands in the areola or the dark area surrounding the nipples.

In fact, this oil serves to keep the nipples and areola clean and moist. For that, it is enough to clean the breast area using only warm water.

However, if the mother does not experience problems with using soap, it is actually okay to clean the breasts using soap as a form of care while breastfeeding.

With a note, you should choose a soap that is safe and does not risk causing problems or irritation to the breasts during the breastfeeding period. This is important as breast care for nursing mothers.

2. Gently pat the nipples to dry them

If the breast has been cleaned and you want to dry it, you should avoid rubbing the nipple and the entire breast area too hard.

Alternatively, dry the nipples and other parts of the breast by gently rubbing or patting them.

Don't forget, make it a habit to use a clean towel to dry your breasts. Avoid scrubbing too hard and firmly as a way of caring for or treating the breast for the mother while breastfeeding as it risks causing irritation and injury.

3. Routinely replace the breast milk collection bag in the bra

Source: First Cry Parenting

For breastfeeding mothers, another treatment that should not be forgotten is changing the breast milk collection bag regularly.

Breastmilk collection bags or what can also be called breast pads usually placed inside a bra.

The goal is that the dripping milk does not directly wet the bra and the clothes you are wearing, but is collected inside breast pads .

The breastmilk collection bag has a round shape with a size resembling a breast. To make it easier to carry out their duties in accommodating breast milk, breast pads given a hole in the middle.

That way, the areola and nipple can enter the hole to ensure that the milk is well collected and doesn't spill.

Even though it is not visible directly from the outside, try to replace it breast pads regularly.

Feel when the breastmilk collection bag starts to feel full and wet. This means that this is the right time to replace and wash the breast milk collection bag. This aims to ensure that it is always clean when used.

In addition, replace regularly breast pads as a treatment for nursing mothers it is also useful to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that are at risk of causing problems.

4. Use a comfortable bra

Wearing the right and comfortable bra is one of the several important treatments that need to be done while breastfeeding.

For breastfeeding mothers, choosing and using a bra according to the size and shape of the breast can be the right breast care.

You can use a special bra for breastfeeding or a regular bra that is comfortable to wear. Try to choose the right size, aka not too tight or too big when used.

Also choose a bra with a cotton or fabric base material to support the breasts to "breathe" easily as a form of care or a way to care for the mother's breasts while breastfeeding.

5. Make sure the baby is breastfeeding properly

Another breast treatment involves making sure the baby is breastfeeding properly. Since the first time you breastfeed, make it a habit for your baby to breastfeed regularly at least every 2-3 hours.

Adopting a frequency and schedule of breastfeeding can help prevent breast problems.

Nipple pain, breast engorgement, and blockage of the milk ducts that can be avoided by taking proper care for nursing mothers.

If you don't apply it, these conditions can interfere with the breastfeeding process.

6. Release the baby's mouth appropriately after feeding

After the baby has finished breastfeeding, do not immediately pull your nipple out of the baby's mouth.

Instead of acting as a treatment, this method can actually make the nipples hurt and sore and hinder the breastfeeding process for the mother.

Try to place your fingers on the part of the breast closest to the baby's mouth.

Then follow up the treatment for nursing mothers by pressing the breast area to release the suction between the baby's mouth and your breast slowly.

Furthermore, you can slowly pull the breast and nipple out of the baby's mouth as a treatment for breastfeeding mothers.

7. Routine breast health checks

Apart from getting used to applying various methods of breast care or care for mothers while breastfeeding, don't forget to check your breasts regularly.

Especially if the breasts feel problematic during breastfeeding, for example, a lump appears that doesn't go away for several days.

This is why breastfeeding mothers need routine breast care. Immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of the appearance of lumps in the breasts and the right way to deal with them.

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