Breastfeeding is hard! However, there a many different ways to help mom's give their babies the very best! Still, for many those first weeks are painful. If you get cracked nipples the pain is considerably amplified, and because of the constant feedings hard to heal. Ouch!
I had such a tough time nursing my son that I almost gave up, on a daily basis! I saw specialists and tried everything I could find to ease the pain and make it work. There are a lot of good techniques and tricks out there that WILL get you through. Some are wildly known and easily found, but apparently not my favorite healing trick.
This morning I read through a breastfeeding article in Parents, my favorite magazine, and loved the ideas and suggestions there, however one helpful trick was no where to be found. I discovered this trick after hours of searching online for relief and after weeks of sore, cracked nipples, and I only wished I had found it earlier. So, my first go to for cracked nipples this time around was the tea bag. That's right a tea bag.
Steep a tea bag, I used Lipton but only because that's the kind my husband drinks, in warm water, or if your in a rush just run it under warm water until the color starts to run out so you know the bag is soaked through. Place it in a washcloth, dark is better because tea can stain, and just press the warm tea bag to your cracked nipple. Obviously, make sure it's not too hot. It's soothing and helped heal the cracks. Sometimes, I would apply it right before I nursed. The wet warmth relaxes and allows for let down before baby even gets on, cutting down on furious, hard sucking. :)
If your having a hard time breastfeeding, don't be discouraged-you CAN do it!!!
I had such a tough time nursing my son that I almost gave up, on a daily basis! I saw specialists and tried everything I could find to ease the pain and make it work. There are a lot of good techniques and tricks out there that WILL get you through. Some are wildly known and easily found, but apparently not my favorite healing trick.
This morning I read through a breastfeeding article in Parents, my favorite magazine, and loved the ideas and suggestions there, however one helpful trick was no where to be found. I discovered this trick after hours of searching online for relief and after weeks of sore, cracked nipples, and I only wished I had found it earlier. So, my first go to for cracked nipples this time around was the tea bag. That's right a tea bag.
Steep a tea bag, I used Lipton but only because that's the kind my husband drinks, in warm water, or if your in a rush just run it under warm water until the color starts to run out so you know the bag is soaked through. Place it in a washcloth, dark is better because tea can stain, and just press the warm tea bag to your cracked nipple. Obviously, make sure it's not too hot. It's soothing and helped heal the cracks. Sometimes, I would apply it right before I nursed. The wet warmth relaxes and allows for let down before baby even gets on, cutting down on furious, hard sucking. :)
If your having a hard time breastfeeding, don't be discouraged-you CAN do it!!!