Do your nipples look creased post-breastfeeding? Read on to know the causes and cure for creased nipples after breastfeeding.
Creased Nipples after Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a uniquely different experience for each mom and her baby. It takes time to get it right and to be comfortable with it. To avoid pain and damage to your breast and nipples, it is important to ensure that you have got the latching technique right. If your nipple looks round and normal after it comes out of your baby’s mouth, it means your baby is latching on the right. Distorted nipples point to an improper latch. Creased nipples after breastfeeding refer to your nipples having vertical or horizontal creases or having a white line when you finish breastfeeding your little one. It shows that your baby has a shallow latch and that s/he has been biting your nipple.
Causes
A shallow latch can be rectified by consulting a lactation consultant, who will show you the correct latching technique. Sometimes a shallow latch can be due to anatomical issues like tongue tie or lip tie, palate anomalies or receding chin in your baby, or flat or inverted nipples in your breast.
Sometimes your milk flow could be too fast and too abundant for your baby to swallow, this may make him/her clamp down on your nipple to reduce the flow. Once these problems are identified and treated, you can adopt the proper latching technique. A proper latch ensures that your baby feeds effectively and you are comfortable and pain-free.
How to Prevent Creased Nipples
A creased nipple signifies that your baby has a shallow latch and cannot transfer the milk from your breast to their mouth. To remedy this:
- Begin your breastfeeding by holding your breast with your thumb and forefinger on the edge of the areola.
- With the heel of your other hand, support your baby under their shoulders and support their head by fanning out your fingers.
- Squeeze your thumb and forefinger to compress the breast and line your nipple with your baby’s nose. This will make your baby lift the chin and open the mouth wide to take in both the nipple and the areola and start nursing.
A correct latch is characterized by the nipple pointing towards the roof of your baby’s mouth, their lower lip further away from the base of the nipple than their upper lip, and both lips turned outward. Both your baby’s chin and nose must touch your breast. A proper latch also means that you will not experience nipple pain. It lowers the risk of or prevents nipple damage. Your baby will be able to get enough milk, and as your breast regularly empties, your milk supply will also increase.
If your baby is growing well and putting on weight, it means that your breastfeeding is on point.
