A supportive nursing bra is one of the best ways to reduce breast discomfort women experience during pregnancy and after child birth. The most joyful period of every woman’s life is the birth of a newborn baby. While this period is filled with joy it can also be filled with discomfort. In this piece we are going to discuss some of the discomfort some women experience after the birth of a child and ways to reduce these discomforts by wearing good supportive nursing bra.
Breast discomfort women experience during pregnancy and after child birth
Breast discomfort women experience during pregnancy and after the birth of a child are; breast tenderness, mastitis, fibrocystic breast changes, and breast engorgement. These breast discomforts can be relieved by wearing good supportive nursing bra
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness is a result of increased estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy. This cause the fat layer of breasts to thicken and the number of milk ducts and glands to increase during the first trimester, many women experience breast tenderness. One of the ways to reduce the symptoms of breast tenderness is to wear a larger bra with good support. Wear a supportive bra, even while sleeping. As your breasts increase in size, change your bra size to ensure adequate support. Because the breasts enlarge significantly and become heavier throughout pregnancy, you need to wear a firm, supportive bra with wide straps to balance the weight of the breasts. Anticipate buying a larger-sized bra about halfway through your pregnancy because of the increasing size of the breasts. Avoid using soap on the nipple area because it can be very drying. Rinse the nipple area with plain water while bathing to keep it clean. Do not use alcohol or other antiseptics on the nipples
Breast Discomfort Due to Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection or inflammation of the connective tissue in the breast that occurs primarily in lactating or engorged women. Mastitis could be due to bacteria infection resulting from cracked nipples, wearing tight bra, clogged ducts or ducts that drain poorly, irregular or missed feedings; failure to allow the infant to empty one breast completely before moving on to the next breast; poor latch and transfer of milk due to illness of mother or infant.
How to relieve symptoms of Mastitis
You can relieve mastitis by wearing supportive bra 24 hours a day to support the breasts for comfort. Take medications as prescribed by your physician. Continue breast-feeding to keep the milk flowing. Always begin feeding on the most affected breast to allow it to be emptied first. Massage the breasts before and during breast-feeding to encourage milk extraction. Increase fluid intake to stay hydrated. Gently massage toward nipple several times daily. Vary your infants breast-feeding position. Positioned your infant correctly on the nipple to prevent discomfort. Practice good hand hygiene techniques to reduce risk of bacterial infection.
Discomfort Due Breast Engorgement
Breast engorgement usually occurs during the first week after birth. This is due to sudden change in hormones and the presence of an increased amount of milk in the breast.
How to alleviate the symptoms of breast Engorgement
If you are breast-feeding, wear a supportive bra 24 hours a day to support the breasts for comfort. Place ice packs on your beast for no more than 15 mins at a time several times a day. Feed your baby at least every 2 to 3 hours, using manual expression just before feeding to soften the breast so the newborn can latch on more effectively. Allow the newborn to feed on the first breast until it softens before switching to the other side. If you are bottle-feeding, wear a snug, supportive bra 24 hours a day, and take mild analgesics such as Tylenol . Avoid any stimulation to the breasts that might foster milk production, such as warm showers or pumping or massaging the breasts.
Relieving Symptoms of Fibrocystic Breast change
To relieve the discomfort of fibrocystic breast changes; wear an extra-supportive bra to prevent undue strain on the ligaments of the breasts .Take medications as recommended by your doctor to stabilize the monthly hormonal levels. Eat a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains to maintain a healthy nutritional lifestyle and ideal weight. Apply heat to the breasts to help reduce pain. Reduce salt intake to reduce fluid retention and swelling in the breasts. Avoid caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, soda) which tend to trigger breast discomfort.
Instructions on how to care for your breast after child birth
Regardless of whether you are breast-feeding your newborn or not, wear a very supportive, snug bra 24 hours a day to support enlarged breasts and promote comfort. If you are breast-feeding, wear a supportive bra throughout the lactation period. If you are not nursing, wear supportive bra until engorgement ceases, and then wear a less restrictive bra. The bra should fit snugly while still allowing the you to breathe without restriction. As a new mother use plain water to clean your breasts, especially the nipple area; soap is drying and should be avoided.
Conclusion
We have discussed the various breast discomfort women experience during pregnancy and after giving birth and ways to alleviate these symptoms. One of the ways to reduce breast discomfort is to wear support bra 24 hours during lactation as to reduce breast engorgement and provide comfort. Always remember to measure your bra size before buying one
