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Baby in Decke eingewickelt gähnt

Stillen - Pflege der Brust

Übersicht

Nursing bra

A nursing bra should be worn according to individual needs. Make sure it fits well!

Hygiene

Clean your breasts with water only; it is not necessary to clean them before breastfeeding.

Sore nipples - what can I do to prevent them?

  • Check whether the baby is properly latched on to the breast and has the areola in its mouth. Lips turned out, tongue on the teething ridge.
  • Change breastfeeding positions during the day
  • Spread a little breast milk on the nipples after each feed and allow to air dry (this has an anti-inflammatory, wound-healing effect).
  • Change the nursing pads regularly; use disposable nursing pads, but it is better to use silk or silk-wool pads.
  • If sore nipples occur despite all measures, apply a breast ointment to them after the breast milk has dried up.
  • It is important to check the baby's palate and tongue regularly for white, firmly adhering plaque. This could be a fungal infection (thrush). This causes sore nipples in the mother. In this case, medicinal treatment is necessary for mother and child.

What helps with a lack of milk?

  • Reduce stress! Minimize visits.
  • Bonding - cuddling
  • Frequent breastfeeding, especially at night
  • Relaxation, rest and patience
  • Correct breastfeeding position, correct latch-on
  • Drink lactation tea, breastfeeding tea
  • Carbohydrate-rich and balanced diet
  • Drink enough (at least 2 liters per day)
  • Breast massage (with Weleda breastfeeding oil)
  • Let the child drink from both sides at every meal and switch sides more often

What helps with too much milk?

  • Reduce stress!
  • Block breastfeeding (preferably the same breast several times, if the other breast can tolerate it)
  • Place warm compresses on the breast to be emptied before breastfeeding. This promotes the flow of milk.
  • After breastfeeding, apply cold compresses, e.g. with curd cheese

What to do with milk stasis?

  • Hard spots on the breasts, pain and a slightly elevated temperature are signs of milk stasis.
  • Breastfeed your baby more frequently, at least every two hours.
  • Apply heat packs to the breasts ten minutes before breastfeeding or take a warm shower.
  • First breastfeed your child on the sore breast and make sure that the lower jaw is in the direction of the hard area and apply light finger pressure to the hard areas (this empties the areas touched). The breast should be drained.
  • If the breast is not drained after feeding, this can be done as described above by massaging the breast and emptying it manually. Then express the excess milk.
  • After breastfeeding, apply cooling compresses with curd cheese or white cabbage leaves.
  • If there is no improvement or the engorgement worsens, consult a midwife or doctor.
  • Homeopathic treatment is possible.

What to do in case of mastitis?

Symptoms:

  • Fever and flu-like symptoms
  • The breast is hot and red in the affected areas and reacts sensitively to pressure. In this case, there is an inflammation of the mammary glands, which must be treated by a doctor; an antibiotic may be administered.
  • You can continue to breastfeed your child.
  • If you have a very high temperature (over 39 °C), you must contact a midwife or specialist.

Therapy:

  • In addition to possible antibiotics and bed rest, the same treatment applies as for milk stasis.
Baby trinkt an der Brust

Suction caps

  • Use on the advice of specialist staff.
  • Suction cups are used for inverted nipples and flat nipples if the child cannot grasp them.
  • If used, pumping should take place at least 1-2 times a day.
  • Suction cups are available in different sizes.
  • Clean with hot water after each breastfeeding session, vaporize once a day or boil in water.
  • Disadvantages of suction cups: reduced skin contact, therefore possibly less milk, confusion when sucking, difficult weaning, more complex handling when breastfeeding

Expressing breast milk

Breast milk is undoubtedly the best for your baby. In some situations (e.g. suckling weakness or illness in the newborn, obtaining a supply of breast milk), breast milk must be expressed. An electric breast pump is suitable for this.
The staff on duty will inform you about how to handle and use the breast pump. If you need a breast pump for use at home, you will receive one with a prescription from your GP.

Storing and preserving breast milk

  • without refrigeration: 6 to 8 hours
  • chilled in the fridge (not in the fridge door) at 4 °C: max. 3 days
  • Frozen (-18 °C): up to 6 months

Breast milk containers or special breast milk freezer bags should be used for storage. Always label with the date and time of pumping so that the breast milk can be used in the order in which it was pumped. If you pump several times within 24 hours, you can add the pumped milk to the cooled breast milk.
Important: cool to the same temperature beforehand.

Thawing the breast milk

Thaw the breast milk gently. Either in the refrigerator, at room temperature or in a bottle warmer (max. 37 °C).
NEVER IN THE MICROWAVE!
Thawed breast milk can be stored unopened in the refrigerator for another 24 hours, but must not be refrozen or reheated.