Patient's question:
Hello expert!My child uses a lot of force to bite when drinking milk, it hurts a lot. I'm afraid my nipple will be bitten, and then it won't be easy to breastfeed. Is there any solution? Thank you!
Doctor's answer:
Using a breast pump can be a bit painful. You can sometimes switch to hand expressing, and try to let the baby empty the breast as much as possible. If that's not feasible, ask your husband to help pump, which will be more comfortable. If too much milk is not expressed, it can lead to lumps.To avoid the discomfort of the baby sucking, you can buy a nipple shield. It's similar to a bottle nipple and fits over the breast, allowing the baby to suck without pain. This is especially useful when the baby is teething, as it prevents them from biting the nipple.
If the cracks are very painful, temporarily stop the baby from suckling. Use a breast pump to express the milk promptly, or hand express and feed the baby to reduce inflammation and promote healing of the cracks. However, don't give up breastfeeding easily, as it can lead to reduced milk supply or conditions like clogged ducts or mastitis.