How to keep your nipples clean during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Don't forget to take care of your nipples.

Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : November 6, 2017 11:26 AM IST

The thing with nipples is that they can take care of themselves sparing us the effort. But if you are pregnant or breastfeeding a little care and attention won t hurt. Here are five things that your nipples say about your health.

During pregnancy

Your breasts might swell and become sensitive during pregnancy as they start to lactate and prepare you for the breastfeeding phase. Many women during this time experience dryness around the nipple area. For some, the nipples turn to be sensitive. A breast massage with olive oil or a moisturiser takes care of the dryness. Many doctors advise women to do some nipple massage a little after the second trimester. This takes care of inverted nipples if you might have and the dryness around the area.

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All you need to do is rub some moisturiser or massage oil on your fingertips, massage over your nipples in a circular motion and gently pull your nipples outward with your thumb and index finger. You can do this twice a day for five minutes each. This is all you need to do to take care of your nipples during pregnancy. Don t overdo it as nipple stimulation close to expected delivery date can trigger labour. Read to know if breast massage during pregnancy really necessary.

Try and avoid wearing the fancy Lycra and satin bras during pregnancy as they stick to the skin and can make the area damp giving rise to itching and rashes. The last thing you would want your sensitive nipples to face. Here are five things to keep in mind before choosing your maternity bra.

During breastfeeding

This is a time when your nipples are exposed to a lot of vacuum and suckling. They help the baby to get their fill. So there is obviously some wear and tear happening. But your nipples don t ask for too much of upkeep. Many mothers are worried that they might have to clean nipples before and after feeds. Well, it isn t necessary. But if you are worried that there could be germ manifesting in and around your nipple area which might be harmful to your baby or you, then clean your nipples before and after feeds. Here is what you can do:

Before the feed, you can just wipe your nipples with a clean cloth and water. If you are germ phobic, clean them with lukewarm water. Just wipe them and that would be enough.
After you finish a feed, you can repeat the same. This will remove the saliva from the area and minimise chances of bacteria build-up. However, your breast milk has antibodies that keep your child healthy and helps to fight infections. So you don t have to worry about cleaning the area after the feed.
If you have cracked nipples, press your breasts and squeeze out a little of your breast milk and apply it on your nipples and around. Your breast milk has the capacity to heal cracks. But if sore and cracked nipples are making it difficult for you to breastfeed then talk to your doctor who might prescribe some medicated creams.
If you are applying medicated creams on your nipples, then make sure to clean them thoroughly before offering a feed to your baby.
Make sure that your nipples are not exposed to any kind of cosmetics like perfumes, creams, etc that could be harmful to your baby. If you are using medicated creams or your nipples come in contact with cosmetic products it is necessary to clean them before offering feeds to your child. Else, they can take care of themselves and self-clean.
During breastfeeding too, wear maternity bras that are made of skin-friendly fabric like cotton or organic cotton. Avoid the satin, Lycra or polyester ones. They can make the nipple area damp if worn for too long and cause thrush or make it worse if you are already suffering from one.
Don t try to especially wash your nipples with soapy water regularly to keep them clean. This will dry out the natural moisture from the skin and make it dry. It could also lead to crack nipples or worsen the existing situation.

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