Breast care

Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible postpartum to encourage it, since babies usually fall asleep for a few hours after ½-1 hour postpartum. In any case, breast engorgement or ""milk surge"" does not occur until 2-4 days postpartum, which may coincide with a rise in body temperature.

If breastfeeding is not desired or is not possible, it should be discussed with the doctor at the time of delivery so that he can prescribe the necessary mediation to inhibit lactation, 1 bromocriptine or cabergolide. It is important in these women not to stimulate the nipple and to slightly restrict fluid intake. If breastfeeding has started, it is important at the time of the decision to switch to artificial breastfeeding to stop stimulating the nipple, not to put the baby back on the breast since sucking stimulates milk production. The doctor will indicate the necessary medication, recommend the restriction of liquid intake and the use of tight bras as complementary measures.

During pregnancy you can use a cream that prepares the nipple to try to minimize the cracks. Apart from that, you only need a daily shower during breastfeeding. It is not necessary to wash the breast after each feeding. Absorbent pads can be helpful to avoid staining clothing. It is helpful to express a few drops of colostrum or milk and apply them as a cream to the nipple to keep the nipple well hydrated and minimize cracking.

Cracks are more frequent if the shot is made in the wrong position, so it is very important to insist on this aspect. Above all, a comfortable posture must be adopted to avoid back pain, both sitting and lying down. The position of the baby should be tummy to tummy with the mother, so that she does not have to turn her head to find the nipple, the baby's head should be straight and facing the mother. If the tip of the nose is at the level of the nipple, the baby looks and when he opens his mouth he finds it. As much breast as possible should be put into the mouth, not just the nipple. The areola is more inserted in the mouth by its lower half than by the upper one, so the part that is visible while breastfeeding is greater in the upper part than in the lower part. The baby has to be with the chin touching the breast, and the lips everted outwards. In some cases it may be helpful to support the chest with the thumb on top and the other fingers on the underside of the chest. When observing the child's jaw, a rhythmic muscular movement should be seen from the lower jaw to the ear, when he sucks with force. As the baby sucks and swallows, there is also a rhythmic movement that starts at the edge of the baby's chin and reaches the throat. The cheeks should not sag.

The local heat before or during feedings can help a good breast emptying.

The breast does not have schedules and that means that it must be offered every time the baby asks for it, it is breastfeeding on demand. It is preferable to offer a breast first and keep it until you release it, the important thing is not that I suck on both breasts but that I empty at least one since the composition of the milk is not the same throughout the feeding. When he has released one breast, the other should be offered to him. In the next shot, the order of the offered breasts must be reversed.

The woman will feel more comfortable wearing a slightly tight bra due to the increased weight of the breasts, but leaving the nipples in the air for a few times helps to heal well and improve cracks.

You can express your milk for later use, both manually and with a breast pump, but it will require a technique that will be learned with practice. It is very important to wash your hands and utensils first. It can be stored in glass or hard plastic containers or in bags for this purpose. It can be kept in the fridge for about 5 days, and in a ""combi"" type freezer with a separate door from the fridge for about 3-4 months.

To heat it, it should be put under the tap of warm water or in a water bath, but never in the microwave. It is very important to check the temperature before offering it to the baby.

The dreaded mastitis are caused by an infection of the breast tissue. The chest is very painful, fever and chills and redness of the breast may appear. You should continue breastfeeding and consult your doctor.