Humanity would cease to exist at the first stage of its appearance, if this opinion were true. So, this is reliable information, breastfeeding the baby, good for the mother and for her baby. Referring to the breast after the birth of the child, we will mean the breast of the nursing mother. The whole body, including the breast, begins to prepare for the birth of the baby even during pregnancy.
The breast begins to swell, a little bitter (as they say "it hurts, it means it grows") already from the first weeks of pregnancy. The nipples, at this time, become darker, tense and swell.
Further, sometimes it happens abruptly, and sometimes gradually, the breast of a pregnant woman increases. During this period, it is necessary to change bras rather often. You should not wear out old bras that you used to wear before pregnancy. Do not think that the breast will grow in the future. Do not save on this part of the wardrobe, the chest before and after childbirth should feel comfortable.
The bra that a woman wears during pregnancy must match the size of the breast, be spacious and lift the chest slightly. It should be comfortable, with wide straps and the bottom of the bra under the breast. In this case, it will not crash into the skin.
Correctly matched bra, for pregnant and young mothers, though not so beautiful, but gives a guarantee that the breasts will not later hang and preserve their former shape. And this will happen only if care of the breast during feeding will be fully sufficient. This is the decisive factor in choosing a bra, and the concept of beauty fades into the background.
After the end of breastfeeding, the woman, most likely, will return the previous breast size. During pregnancy or feeding, beautiful models with lace and thin straps will rub the sensitive skin around the nipple. If the shape of the breast does not return to its former size, you can treat yourself to a new set of underwear.
After the birth of the baby, the breast will become even bigger, and the brassiere will need to be changed again. For nursing mothers, the choice is also very large, there are a large number of types: The peculiarity of such models is that the calyx or valve is unfastened on it, and this will open the chest to feed the baby. It is worth to take into account, if you buy such a bra before delivery, it is better to buy it "for growth", since after giving birth, when the milk comes, the breasts will be more approximately by the size.
The number of bras at this time should be at least two: at first, because of leaking milk, the brassiere has to be changed very often. If the milk leaks very much, you can put sterile gauze wipes absorbing excess into the brassiere. But all the same it is necessary to regularly wash clothes, after giving birth, the breasts are very vulnerable, the cleanliness of the linen is very important.
Chest hardening and hygiene begins before childbirth. The mammary glands will strengthen, and prepare them for feeding will help such methods as, pouring the chest with slightly warm or even cold water, air baths, wiping with a towel.
During pregnancy and after the birth of a child, to avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the chest, you need to monitor the diet. Elasticity of the skin perfectly helps to preserve fruits, vegetables and juices. You can perform special physical exercises, thus keeping the breast shape.
However, before you start to do different procedures with the chest, the first thing to do is to consult a doctor. It is recommended to start preparing nipples for 36-37 weeks of pregnancy, but if the uterus is in a tonus, do not do nipples.
Breasts require more palpitating care after childbirth, and takes longer. After birth, the breast is recommended before each feeding, wash with warm boiled water and infusion of chamomile. Of course, you should take a warm shower in the mornings and evenings. Each breast is washed very carefully, well massage with gentle movements. Massage along with a combination of warm water helps to avoid milk stagnation and chest hardening, these are the most common postpartum breast problems.
Pouring cool or even possible with cold water after delivery is a very useful activity - sometimes it helps to increase the flow of milk, and, in addition, makes the breast more elastic.
After washing, the breast is wiped with a soft towel. Air baths, another excellent remedy after childbirth, it is best to take it after feeding, you need to give the breast an opportunity to rest. The benefit of such a procedure is huge, and it takes only 15-20 minutes, not more. Should pay attention and share advice: if there is a possibility or an opportunity to take air baths outdoors in the open air, for example, in the country, in no case should the sunshine touch the chest: it is very harmful not only for the nursing mother, but for all women.
It is necessary to properly take care of the breast every day after childbirth, this helps to avoid a number of problems. About some of them, we will tell separately, in more detail.
The most common problems are:
- With the arrival of milk, for the first time after the birth, the breast can swell and ache. In order to prevent this from happening, in the first days after birth, doctors advise young mothers to limit themselves to eating and drinking (especially on the third day after childbirth, usually on that day milk comes). In this case, the milk will not be too much, just the amount that the baby needs, and the chest will not harden.
- If the breasts are firm and sore, it usually means that too much milk has come, and stagnation has occurred. There is also an increase in temperature immediately after childbirth in the first days of the postpartum period. Such problems appear immediately after childbirth, but have the opportunity to arise during the first months of breastfeeding the baby.
It is not necessary to panic, the child can independently dissolve the breast, without any breast pumps - this is the best medicine. If nevertheless the child has not coped with this task and could not overcome the stagnation of milk, the breast at this time remains firm, you should try to massage the breast with your hands or with the help of a breast pump. You can ask for help from close people, for example, a husband or grandmother of a baby - they in the same way, with gentle movements can dissolve the breast of a nursing mother. It is necessary to achieve, that the breast became soft, it is not necessary to express completely all milk.
- The restriction in food, and especially in drinking, helps to get rid of milk stagnation. You can use the "grandmother's" recipes: for example, apply to the breast hammered cabbage leaves, birch leaves and parsley. Compresses from sour curd and honey cakes (made from a mixture of water, flour and honey) can also be applied to the chest. It should be noted that all compressors should be done in no case on the nipples, but only on the hardened mammary gland.
- Homeopathic remedies are also used. However, if the temperature is above the norm for more than a day, it is necessary to consult a doctor for help - this may be a result not only of normal milk stagnation, but also symptoms of any serious postpartum complications, for example, beginning mastitis or endometritis.
- The child is better to feed at his request, and not by the hour, so you can avoid milk stagnation. You need proper courtship for your breasts, after each feeding gently massage your chest with your hands, and check to see if there are any seals and painful areas on it.
- Cracks in the nipples are a postnatal problem. The causes of cracks, in most cases occur when the child takes the breast is not correct, captures only the nipple, and not the entire circumsolar circle. But this is not the only reason for the appearance of cracks, this happens because of the soft and delicate skin of the nipples. If a woman does not prepare a breast for feeding during pregnancy, or the baby sucks her breast too much and for a very long time. The nipples of an uncombed and irregularly shaped skin crack more often. Overdrying, overcooling or overmoistening of the nipple skin can also lead to the appearance of nipple skin. Nipples may not get used to the constant suckling of the baby's breast, this is a big problem for the tender skin of the nipples, because of this they can get sick.
- In advance, during pregnancy, you need to start fighting with cracks, even when they are not yet. Wiping and washing the nipples, rubbing with a terry towel, as well as stretching the flat nipples, all this in the future will help prepare the skin for unusual loads during feeding.
- A pledge of success, it is right after giving birth correctly to give the baby a breast. Baby, just came into the world, and does not know how to properly handle the chest, he does not do everything right from the first attempt. Immediately after childbirth, the baby needs to be taught how to take the breast correctly, while the wrong approach to seizing the breast has not become a habit to him. It is easier to teach than to accustom, the mistake of many young mothers, this is "letting things go on their own".
- To improve the circulation of milk in the chest, as long as the nipple skin is not accustomed to the loads during feeding, you can massage your nipples after each feeding. Nipples can be massaged with the use of breast milk or colostrum - this is an assistant in the healing of small "scuffs" of the nipple skin, and does not allow them to turn into cracks.
- It is necessary to know that there are tiny hillocks on the surface of the parasol mug - these are glands that release fat, soften and disinfect the nipples. Wash with soap only the gland itself, nipples should be washed without using soap only with warm water, in this case the nipple skin does not dry out, otherwise you can remove the natural lubricant from it.
- Air baths help to dry the skin of the breast in a natural way and prevent overmoistening, this is an excellent prevention of the appearance of cracks.
- Various vegetable oils, such as olive, sea-buckthorn, peach, rosehip, calendula ointments, arnica, a liquid solution of vitamin A are recommended to lubricate cracks, around the area of the sick nipple. In this case, it is better not to give the sick chest to the child, or use special silicone pads on the chest, in order to avoid new nipple injuries. Such pads can often not be used, the child should inhale the smell of the mother's breast, but not the silicone.
- There are cases when some means are suitable for one woman, but do not fit the other, which is why when treating nipple cracks, you should always consult a doctor. The first weeks after childbirth, the most difficult, at this time there is a problem - cracked nipples. Through time this problem, most often, disappears by itself, and the skin becomes more rough and trained.
After the transition of the child to a mixed diet, supplementation usually begins to be introduced with the first appearance of the tooth in the infant. At this time, the amount of milk gradually decreases in the breast of the mother.
The breasts will quickly become elastic, as before, and will find a beautiful forum if the young mother, at the time of feeding, followed all the recommendations related to breastfeeding. Currently, scientists have proven that the breast shape of a woman breastfeeding has a more beautiful shape than those who did not want to breastfeed their children.
Breasts recover faster if and after stopping feeding, mom will continue to do gymnastics, do hardening procedures and eat right.
After cessation of breastfeeding, on the breast milk droplets may be allocated - this can last a long time. This is normal. However, it should be noted that if, in addition to such secretions, it becomes even painful or the chest becomes excessively dense, you need to consult a doctor quickly.