Avoid using soap or shampoo on your nipples. Wash your nipples with just water, as soaps can remove your natural lubrication. This lubrication prevents your nipples from drying out and cracking while nursing. After each feeding, put a few drops of breastmilk on your nipples.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before pumping. If you are not near a sink, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. It is not necessary to wash your breasts or nipples.
You do not need to wash your breasts before you pump unless you have been using a cream, ointment, or other product on your breasts that must be removed first.
Make sure the baby is positioned properly with a wide-open mouth and has hold of a large mouthful of breast. After breastfeeding, soak nipple(s) in a small bowl of warm saline solution for a minute or so–long enough for the saline to get onto all areas of the nipple.
Wash hands thoroughly. Soften a pea-sized amount between fingers and apply to the entire nipple area after each feeding or as needed. Apply before showering to protect sensitive nipples. No need to remove before breastfeeding.
Purified lanolin in nipple creams is safe for babies and does not need to be removed prior to nursing or pumping. So why would some creams market themselves as “lanolin free”? There are a few reasons. First, some studies that have been done have not shown lanolin to have any impact on healing.
Others recommend massaging in a circular motion, similar to a breast self-exam. Make sure to massage your breast for about 1–3 minutes before you put the flanges on your breasts and begin pumping. For some women, this will be enough stimulation for them to pump the amount of milk they wish.
Only wash your breasts with water when you bath or shower. The little bumps (Montgomery glands) on your areolae produce an oil that moisturises and protects your nipples. Soaps and shower gels can strip this natural oil, causing dryness and irritation. Air-dry your nipples or dab them gently with a towel.
Fluid leaking from one or both nipples when you are not breastfeeding is called nipple discharge. Clear, cloudy, or white discharge that appears only when you press on your nipple is usually normal. The more the nipple is pressed or stimulated, the more fluid appears.
Cleaning the nipples after feeding: Wipe the nipple with a moist cloth to remove milk from the breast and prevent clogged pores. Speaking with a lactation consultant: It may be necessary to reach out to a professional if a baby seems unable to latch onto the nipple correctly.
Keep Your Nipples Clean
Use warm water to rinse followed by patting dry with a clean towel after every three feeds throughout the day. In addition to rinsing after feedings, wash your breasts during your daily shower.
Pump between breastfeeding, either 30-60 minutes after nursing or at least one hour before breastfeeding. This should leave plenty of milk for your baby at your next feeding.
The general rule of thumb is that mom should pump at the same times that her baby would normally feed. This will give her body the signals to keep making breastmilk based on the baby's needs."
Galactorrhoea is milky nipple discharge not related to pregnancy or breast feeding. It is caused by the abnormal production of a hormone called prolactin. This can be caused by diseases of glands elsewhere in the body which control hormone secretion, such as the pituitary and thyroid glands.
White spots can appear on the nipple and the surrounding areola during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, as a result of hormonal changes or a blocked pore. They can also be a sign of an infection, such as thrush.
No. Washing your nipples after (or before) feeding will only cause your nipples to become dry and irritated. Your breast milk actually contains many factors that inhibit the growth of bacteria and yeast and help provide natural protection to your nipple and your baby, so it's okay to leave some of it on your nipples.
Under no circumstances should you scrub your nipples in the hopes that this will toughen them up, says Kossl. On the contrary, scrubbing or exfoliating your nipples in any way could create micro abrasions that can lead to infection.
Otherwise, as you know, taking a shower is the best solution. If all else fails, carry some fragrance- and alcohol-free wet wipes with you, and use these to clean your breasts and nipples. This prevents accumulation and growth of bacteria. It also reduces the risk of the infection being passed on to your child.
Your breasts will feel lighter
When your breasts are empty, they will probably feel lighter and no longer uncomfortably full, as they might have at the start of the pumping session.
Hand express a few minutes before pumping and squeeze a few drops of breastmilk to lubricate the inside of the tunnel. This can help keep your nipple in place and help with soreness too. You can do this with lanolin or a few drops of olive oil too! Reposition your flanges every few minutes while pumping if needed.
The results of this study suggest that lanolin use on nipples may increase women's chance of infection [2]. While further research is needed to determine whether lanolin increases women's chances of breast infection and why, we'd recommend using alternative methods to alleviate nipple pain.
Lanolin products should be avoided in people with a known allergy to wool. If you experience any increased skin irritation or pain, skin cracking, or bleeding after using lanolin cream, or your baby's mouth develops any sores or redness, you should discontinue using it.
Risks of Lanolin
Lanolin allergies may cause the following symptoms: Rash or itching where it was applied. Shortness of breath. Swelling of the throat, lips, eyes, or mouth.