The Breastfeeding Couple: Routine Breast Care

Prenatal Breast Care

Prenatally, a woman's breasts need to be examined for any breast abnormalities. The most common abnormality that is found is an inverted nipple. This is caused by fibrous bands connecting the nipple to the underlying breast tissue. In many cases these bands will loosen due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy and the nipples will become everted during pregnancy. At times a breast shell in a woman's bra worn during the daytime of the last month of pregnancy may be recommended to help stretch these fibrous bands to get the nipple more erect. This will allow the baby to latch on more easily. Women with inverted nipples can breastfeed. They may have a little more difficulty getting their baby latched on to that breast. Many inverted nipples will become everted after a woman has been breastfeeding for a period of time.

If a woman has no breast abnormalities, no special preparation is needed for breastfeeding ( Biancuzzo, 1994 p15-16; Powers, 1997 ).

Breast Care During Lactation

During lactation, women do not need to wash their nipples with soap. The use of soap may cause drying and cracking of nipples. Daily bathing is encouraged; the nipples do not need to be washed after each feeding or prior to a feeding. Prior to each feeding some gentle massage may be helpful in stimulating the milk ejection reflex.

After each nursing the expression and application of a few drops of breast milk onto the nipple will help protect the skin and heal abrasions. The use of most nipple creams is not recommended. Milk expression either by hand or with a pump should never be painful and should never cause trauma to the breast. Women may benefit from the additional breast support provided by a properly fitted nursing bra. Many women will elect to use breast pads if they leak milk. These breast pads should not have plastic liners.

Exercises which help tone and strengthen the underlying chest muscles will help maintain breast shape. Sagging and drooping of a breast is a result of age, gravity and the influence of pregnancy. Lactation alone does not cause changes in breast appearance.