The best ointment for nipples when breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a natural process that is inherent in nature. So every young mother thinks, especially the first time. But when the baby is born and the time of the first application to the breast comes, problems are often found that the woman is not ready for: difficulties with applying and seizing, weak or, conversely, too strong milk flows, lactostasis and the inevitable problem - cracks on the nipples. Often, a young mother is not able to cope with the pain and discomfort during feeding. This process becomes so painful that a woman simply gives up feeding. However, there are many ways to cope with cracks, minimize pain and improve breastfeeding, which will bring joy to both mom and baby.

The most effective treatment for cracks is local therapy, that is, cream or ointment for nipples, which heal wounds, heal delicate skin and prevent the appearance of new lesions.

How cracks appear

The skin of the nipple is tender and delicate, but during the feeding process it undergoes serious tests - the baby's gums are very firm and during the sucking it makes serious efforts. All this can not help but affect the nipples - the skin experiences stress, cracks appear. They cause sharp, at times unbearable pain at feeding, from blood wounds blood which can get to the child in a mouth together with milk.

It is necessary that a so called callus appears on the nipple, similar to the one that appears on the fingers of the guitarists - first they touch the strings very painfully, but pretty soon the pads of the fingers coarsen and do not notice the tension. The same and with a gentle area of the breast - the skin there becomes a little rougher, and it does not hurt to feed.

To create this callus, someone needs a week, and someone much more. If early in the process does not heal wounds, do not use ointment from cracks on the nipples, while feeding, inflammation can form, during which white blisters and redness appear on the injured area. If you do not run the problem, it will be resolved quickly, and the treatment minimizes the painfulness of the process.

Causes of cracks

• Incorrect baby grip on the nipple - the mouth must not only grab the nipple itself, but also the nipple region, then the baby will not pull the skin onto itself, thereby traumatizing it.

• Incorrect removal of the breast - if selected from a sucking child, it instinctively compresses the gum even more and pulls the nipple, injuring the skin. Be sure to wait until the baby releases the breast or stops sucking.

• Excessive hygiene is a relic of Soviet medicine, which advised young mothers before and after each feeding to wash their breasts with water and, of course, soap. This frequent exposure to aggressive environment dries delicate skin, which becomes even easier to injure.

• Incorrect treatment of the nipples - follows from the previous point: until now in many maternity hospitals, old-school doctors recommend to process the cracks with greenery. Meanwhile, the alcohol solution dries the skin even stronger than water and soap.

• The use of absorbent pads for the breast - such a means, of course, a wand-zashchalochka for young mothers, who have periodic high tides of milk. However, if the gaskets are not changed too often, a warm moist environment in them will be an ideal place for the appearance of inflammation in already existing cracks. Use such devices on the way out or only during the day, changing them regularly.

Why it is important to treat cracks in the nipples

Cracks are actually open wounds, from which oozes blood and sugars during feeding. Naturally, such wounds are the gate for any infection. If you run the problem, very soon the mastitis - inflammation of the mammary gland - will join the cracks. This disease often requires surgical intervention and is dangerous for complications for life.

Than you can not smear the crack

Categorically, it is forbidden to apply or spread the injured nipples with the following preparations:

• Ointment for nipples with antibiotic - it is prescribed only by a doctor in the presence of a serious infection and, as a rule, is incompatible with breastfeeding.

• Iodine or zelenka is alcohol-containing solutions, and alcohol dries the epidermis - not the best solution for tender injured skin.

• Lotions of alcohol or vodka - for the same reason.

How and what to do with injured nipples

Cracks, if they are shallow and not accompanied by purulent wards, ulcers, blisters, can be treated independently, although it is always better to show the breast to a doctor or a breastfeeding consultant. They will help fix the seizure, which will not let the cracks appear again.

In the treatment of such damage, local therapy works best, and in the pharmacy you can buy many different ointments, creams or gels. In such a variety it's easy to get confused, especially if you do not know which ointment for nipples is better. First of all, it is necessary to deal with the active substance in these preparations.

Ointment based on dexpanthenol

These are the most common and popular drugs. They are based on dexpanthenol - a substance derived from pantothenic acid, in fact is a vitamin of group B. The most popular representatives are Panthenol and Bepanten (cream or ointment).

For nipples, the well-known "Panthenol", which is available in the form of an ointment or cream for 25 and 50 grams, perfectly suits. It is permitted during pregnancy and is safe during breastfeeding. Conveniently, the drug can not be rinsed off the nipple before feeding, since it almost does not have allergic reactions in children. Also, "Panthenol" is available in the form of a spray. The cost of the drug is 200-350 rubles. Depending on the shape and volume. Also note that there is a means of domestic and German production.

Ointment "Bepanten" for the nipples - a very popular product specifically for the treatment of cracks, as well as diaper rash in the child. It is produced by the German company Bayer. In the sale of the product comes in the form of cream and 30 and 100 grams. There is also an ointment marked "plus", in it chlor-hexidine is added to dexpanthenol for disinfection. The drug is applied to the nipples after each feeding. The price for "Bepanten" starts from 380 rubles for a small amount and up to 800 rubles. For a tube of 100 grams.

You can also ask in the pharmacy ointment "Dekspantenol" of Russian production - this is the most budgetary option, only 130 rubles. For a 25-gram tube, and the active substance is the same as that of analogues.

Ointment for nipples with zinc oxide

Zinc oxide has excellent wound healing properties, in addition, it dries the wound and resists its infection. On the basis of zinc oxide, both specialized preparations for breast-feeding and general spectrum products are produced. An important feature of them is the need to wash off the ointment before feeding.

The most popular product is "Sudokrem", it can be found in American and Irish production. They have an identical composition and they are produced in jars of 60 and 125 grams. By the way, "Sudokrem", as well as the means with panthenol, is also suitable for the treatment of diaper dermatitis. The price of cream is 350-500 rub.

You can also try a teat for the nipples "Desitin" from "Johnson and Johnson." 50-gram pack will cost 260 rubles. A characteristic feature of Desitin is the content of cod liver oil, which gives it a specific smell.

If you want to save, then take zinc ointment or paste, they are, as a rule, of Russian production and cost within 100 rubles.

Lanolin for treatment of cracks

Lanolin is a natural animal fat, it is also called wool wax and is produced by digesting sheep's wool. Ointment from cracks on the nipples with lanolin allows you to create a protective film on the skin, under which the wound is tightened more quickly, and the dry skin becomes more hydrated. However, such creams are more suitable for prevention.

The most popular cream for nipples with lanolin - "Purelan" from the Swiss company Medela. It is available in tubes of 37 grams, the cost is about 500 rubles. "Purelan" is 100% lanolin, and this allows you not to wash it before feeding. Apply the cream to a thin layer, not rubbing into the skin.

Similar creams are available in other manufacturers of children's cosmetics and products for moms - Avent, Baby line, Sanosan, Pigeon.

Ointment for nipples when fed with retinol

Retinol is a vitamin A, a dermatoprotector that effectively repairs damaged epidermis. Treatment should be done twice a day, be sure to flush the drug before feeding. Look for products with retinol in the pharmacy - for example, ointment from the cracks of the nipples "Videastim" of Russian production (100-200 rubles depending on the volume) or "Ralevit", reinforced with vitamins E and D2 (350 rubles). However, to apply these ointments is better for the doctor's prescription and not to combine with the intake of vitamin A, so as not to get an overdose.

Natural oils and plant extracts

Natural components that have excellent moisturizing and wound healing properties are sold both in pure form and in combination, in the form of creams and ointments. For example, a cream from Mama Comfort with aloe vera, buckwheat oils, wheat germ and peach.

Ointment for the healing of the nipples "Vulnuzan" from the Bulgarian concern "Sopharma" is made from the extract of the queen cells of the Pomorie salt lakes and perfectly heals even deep cracks. Also, the ointment has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.

Excellent properties and have natural oils - olive, sea-buckthorn, cedar. They are completely harmless and can not be washed off before feeding.

Folk recipes

Cracks on the nipples tormented nursing women at all times, even before the appearance of so many drugs. Our mothers and grandmothers successfully cope with damage by popular means. In this they were helped primarily by their own milk. It has good antiseptic properties and helps in tightening the wounds, so after feeding it is recommended to leave a little of your milk on the nipples and let it dry out in the open air.

Cabbage, rich in riboflavin, accelerating the regeneration of tissues, helps to fight and with cracks, and with mastitis, and with lactostasis. Discard the cold cabbage leaf until juice is obtained and attach to the sore chest, which will ease the pain and help in healing the skin.

You can also treat the nipples with infusion of birch leaves - it helps to tighten the wounds.

Prevention of the appearance of cracks

Using any of the listed tools (or several at once), you can quickly heal cracks, but if you do not engage in prevention, they will appear again. Therefore, in the first days, it is necessary to arrange the correct capture of the baby's nipple, and in the following weeks and months of breastfeeding it is important to keep hygiene, not overdoing it, but not launching it. It is also important not to injure the nipple by hand or breast pump - to express the milk should be neat. Also, one should not forget about moistening the tender skin of the nipples and protecting them, then breastfeeding will last as long as the mother and baby will like.