What’s wrong with itchy nipples while breastfeeding

Itchy nipples during breastfeeding is a relatively common condition, and the causes of itchy nipples during breastfeeding may be two things. First, it may be due to an increase in the amount of milk that is being pumped after delivery. At the same time there will be swelling of the milk ducts and breakage of the surrounding skin. In order to adapt to the needs of breastfeeding, the mammary glands are required to increase in size, which leads to the pulling of the breast skin, resulting in the so-called stretch-mark-like changes in some of the breasts and causing the symptoms of itching. At the same time another reason is caused by the action of breastfeeding itself, because when the baby sucks on the nipple, it may cause discomfort to the nipple, breast and areola, that is, similar to the symptoms of allergy. At the same time, the baby’s mouth is also an acidic environment, saliva or inhaled into the milk ducts, may block the milk ducts, or to the skin or mucous membranes inside the milk ducts to cause a reaction similar to inflammation, the mother may be manifested as itchy symptoms. Generally speaking, itchy breastfeeding without obvious inflammation or abscess does not need special treatment, just need to ensure that the nipple as well as breastfeeding clean. At the same time when breastfeeding as much as possible need to empty the milk, and in breastfeeding, the right and left breasts should alternate breastfeeding, to avoid too much breastfeeding a breast, resulting in breast asymmetry. At the same time, more attention should be paid to hygiene and health care during breastfeeding to avoid accumulation of breast milk, trauma and nipple biting by the baby.