Care of mammary glands

Body hygiene - it takes not the last place in the prevention of many diseases. The same applies to the chest. Care of the mammary glands is relevant and in normal life, but it takes special importance during pregnancy, feeding the newborn with breast milk, as well as in the postoperative time interval, when the breast requires special treatment and care. After all, from its quality performance depends not only the health of women and children, and sometimes their lives! And these are not loud words - this is reality.

[1], [2]

Breast Care during Pregnancy

After the conception has taken place, the organism in the accelerated mode starts to be reconstructed under the new status. At the same time, hormonal imbalance occurs, and the defenses of the body fall. It is in this period that the probability of invasion of viruses and pathogenic microflora increases. And this inflammation, it is possible to form abscesses and abscesses. Therefore, caring for the breasts during pregnancy, as well as for the whole body, occupies one of the leading places in women's hygiene.

Hygiene of the mammary glands in this period has its own peculiarities.

In this critical period the organism of the future mother becomes especially vulnerable, the risk of development and allergic reactions increases. Therefore, you should reconsider your cosmetics, which until now used a woman. Remove those that have perfume fragrances. It will not be superfluous to analyze their composition, stopping their choice, on less allergenic. The best choice is a children's soap and children's hygiene products. But at the same time it is worth trusting only the trusted firms.

Having received confirmation of their pregnancy, many women start excessively taking care of themselves so that "do not buy God" does not pick up any infection. Up to the treatment of nipples with alcohol or alcohol solutions. Antiseptic measures - this is certainly good, but there is a serious overdrying of the skin, which invariably, if you do not take adequate measures, leads to the formation of small cracks. And this is just the gate to getting into the body of various pathogenic loras. A similar situation can develop with the frequent use of soap of poor quality.

To prevent such a development of events, the detergent cosmetic agent (in this case soap) should have a neutral alkalinity - pH, which corresponds to a figure of ≈ 5.5 units.

During pregnancy, the intensity of blood flow is activated, and metabolic processes are accelerated. All this applies to the breast of a pregnant woman, which leads to an increase in temperature. The increase in temperature, in turn, stimulates the increased work of the sweat glands. In light of this, you should take a shower. And do it preferably at least two times throughout the day. If the conversation is about hot summer, then it is desirable to conduct such procedures more often.

To wash the breast with soap, except during the shower, more, in the intervals between them, does not follow, since the body gives off a special "fat", which, lubricating the skin, is its protection. Otherwise, you can get the dermis to dry out, with the ensuing consequences.

At the same time, pregnant clothes should only be made of natural materials. This will avoid an allergic reaction to the material.

It is worth paying attention to the deodorants, which are usually used by a woman. For this period, antiperspirants of long-acting action should be removed. Due to their prolapse, talc is included in their composition, which covers the canal channels, which in turn can provoke the development of hydradenitis, a purulent inflammation of the apocrine sweat glands.

If discharge from the milk ducts (this may be colostrum), you should not tear off the dried up crust. So you can injure the nipple and thereby open the path of infection. In this case, during the reception of water procedures, it is necessary to remove the dried substance by soft movements of a soapy washcloth, before letting it soften.

To prevent the appearance of striae (traces of stretch marks), prospective mothers can be advised to purchase a special cream for pregnant and lactating women in the pharmacy. It is applied to the chest after the completion of water procedures and rubbed gently with gentle movements, lightly massaging.

Not the last place is occupied by a bra. It should be matched to the size of the changed breast, it is good to support it. Material is only natural. Starting from about 30 to 32 weeks, it is advisable to switch to wearing special underwear.

At this time, the volume of the glandular tissue of the breast increases, which leads to an increase in its size, and, consequently, the size of the breast itself increases and its shape changes. The bra worn by a woman before pregnancy will now be small and its wearing not only causes discomfort, but can also be dangerous. Therefore, it is better to buy a special bra in your pharmacy, of your own size, and with the inscription - "lingerie for nursing".

By the time of delivery, the breast of a woman and her mammary gland should be ready for lactation. To do this, it must be prepared. To the newborn it was easier to suck the milk, the nipple should have a convex shape, then it will be easier for the baby to grab.

One of the methods of preparation can be a special massage pile of the gland. To do this, clean (washed with soap) hands should grab the nipple and slightly pull it away from yourself. This exercise should be done two to three times a day for several minutes. During water procedures, the nipples and the entire surface of the breast are preferably lightly massaged with a washcloth having medium hardness. This will provide the necessary effect on the dermis and subcutaneous layers without injuring the nipple.

A positive effect on the tone of the chest and have air baths, which are enough to spend once a day for several minutes.

[3], [4]

Care for mammary glands in the puerperium

The child was born and a new, difficult, but joyful - exciting, exciting period in life begins for the parents. For the first time the baby is applied to the mother's breast. During this period, the young mother should have a special attitude and hygiene to her breast. Colostrum can begin to appear just before the very birth (which is the norm), and immediately after delivery. If the mother is exposed to a caesarean section, this process may slow down and the first drops of colostrum will appear only after 24 hours - two after the operation.

Care for the mammary glands in the postpartum period is mandatory and has some special features.

From the first minutes of lactation, the changes are almost imperceptible, because the volumes of colostrum are insignificant, but they are simply indispensable for a newborn, both nutrition and protection. Only after two - three days of production of colostrum stops and begins to produce mother's milk. It in the mammary glands begins to actively come, giving the nursing mother an unpleasant sensation: a feeling of raspiraniya, burning, soreness. This fact is connected with the fact that the baby can not fully suck milk from the breast, which leads to stagnant phenomena. Hardening, it forms painful seals, easily palpated with fingers. It's lactostasis. Their formation leads to an increase in the temperature of the body, which is not corrected medically.

Therefore, in order not to allow negativity in this joyful period of life, one should listen to the advice of specialists and properly take care of their breasts.

Every day, as in the period of pregnancy and daily life, a woman should take a warm shower twice a day. The chest is washed with warm water before each feeding and promakivaetsya (and not wiped) with a clean napkin.

After the meal is completed, the nipple should also be dried with a clean napkin or swab. As already mentioned, in this period it is desirable to wear linen made of natural material. Cotton is hypoallergenic, pleasing to the body, and with proper selection of the model and size, fully fulfills its supporting and protective functions. The bra needs to be changed daily, so in the wardrobe of a woman in labor, there must be at least two "bras for a nursing mother."

If a woman has excessive milk production, and it simply oozes from the outlet of the milk duct, breastfeeding mother should reduce fluid intake, and the brassiere should be changed more often. In this case, after each feeding, it is necessary to decant, trying to completely empty the mammary gland - this is a kind of prevention of lactostasis and mastitis.

Expressing is done only with clean hands. For this purpose, one hand lifts the chest slightly, and the thumb and index finger of the second arm wraps the paranxal region. Two fingers should be gently pressed on the nipple. This procedure takes no more than a quarter of an hour. If a special medical device - breast pump is used for expression - its parts that contact the nipple should be treated with boiling water before each use.

Such simple precautions will protect the mother and child from infection and further health problems.

Recently, the question of how much breastfeeding is more useful than artificial breastfeeding, and not only for the newborn, raises its "health benefits" and mother. At one small specification - she should do or make all correctly and not to forget about care of mammary glands in the postnatal period.

If at the next examination in the breast of a woman, dense formations are felt, urgent measures should be taken urgently. The struggle with the formation of lactostasis zones is to carry out a special massage. Its essence is to perform soft, but elastic, circular movements of the hand, which begin at the base of the chest, gradually shifting to the nipple. The compacted areas are kneaded more thoroughly. In this situation, a breast pump can come to the rescue. It will remove the remaining milk from the breast after each feeding.

To date, pharmacies offer women in labor a whole range of different models, they are both mechanical (manual) and automatic (powered by electricity). Therefore, every woman can choose the most suitable for herself. To date, the most popular and valued are breast pumps of such brands as Chicco, Canpol, Avent and Medela.

The fight against lactostasis should also be conducted because their ignoring or improper care of the breast can lead to the development of an even more unpleasant disease like mastitis. This is an acute form of the infectious inflammatory process that takes place in the area of the mammary gland. Provoke it can stagnation, catalyzing inflammation, and even microcracks on the nipple, through which the infection (it can even be staphylococcus) can be invaded inward.

To prevent cracks, a woman, with the consent of her treating doctor, can take advantage of special hypoallergenic creams. Particularly recommended goods of such companies: Sanosan, Mama Comfort, Mustela and Avent. But the nipples can be treated with ordinary sea buckthorn oil. It will soften and enrich the skin of the nipple and the peri-nasal zone, preventing their drying out.

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Breast care for lactation

Many women during pregnancy have one fear that after birth, the mammary glands will produce an insufficient amount of mother's milk (hypogalactia). It is worth reassuring future mothers. This disease is rather an exception than the rule and is rare. Much more often, only those who give birth to women begin a rapid colostrum, and then the milk itself. At the same time, if due to certain circumstances, the selection of the fluid is not sufficient (the newborn was not applied to the breast or its feeding did not "take away" all the liquid produced by the glands), the parturient begins to feel discomfort in the chest area: raspiranie, burning, from the nipples begins to suck the milk spontaneously.

The main thing in this situation is not to engage in self-medication, attributing to yourself drugs that reduce lactation. If the problem arises, it will be right to express yourself, you can also use the help of technical progress and apply a breast pump to solve this problem. But you should try to drain all the milk that has accumulated in your chest. This step will save the woman in the future from many health problems: the appearance of stagnant phenomena, the formation of lactostasis and then the development of mastitis.

To mitigate discomfort and solve the problem, it will be sufficient to perform a pumping two to three times a day, until the baby begins to suckle. But even after that, to check the quality of the selected milk will not be superfluous. That is, after each feeding, it is worth decanting. This should a woman leave no more than a quarter of an hour.

At the peak of the problem, for a given period of time a woman should reduce the amount of liquid consumed, sometimes even up to half a liter-liters per day. To ease discomfort in the chest, doctors advise for about ten minutes to put on a woman in this area a cool wet towel or napkin.

Proper care of the mammary glands during lactation will save the woman from many troubles.

During the feeding period, the woman's breast changes its shape and increases in size, so it is advisable to purchase a bra of the appropriate size. Of course, ideally - it should be a special underwear, made for nursing mothers. It is convenient both in wearing, and, having a special detachable valve, - when feeding the baby. But if you buy this model, for some reason you can not, you can do with an ordinary bra. But pick it up in such a way that it does not cause discomfort, does not press or grate anywhere, but perfectly supported the breast full of milk.

When buying a non-specialized bra instead of gaskets, you can use a clean, ironed cloth on both sides made of natural material: cotton, linen. Change it is necessary on demand, but not less than once a day.

Rough tissue, with constant contact with the nipple will somewhat reduce its sensitivity, which will eliminate a number of symptoms caused by increased susceptibility of the nipple.

One - two times during the day it is desirable to give your chest to air baths. Sufficient will be with an open chest from fifteen to twenty minutes of hardening at room temperature, so that the skin is stronger, and the breast is fully hardened.

A woman should know the rules of hygiene, preferably with her nuances to get acquainted even before conception. The woman in childbirth should take care of herself to prevent the occurrence of even microscopic cracks on the skin of the breast and especially the nipples. Their appearance delivers a nourishing mother a lot of unpleasant and painful minutes. In this case, through such damage to the body of a young mother, microbes and infection can penetrate, which are dangerous both for the woman herself and for the newborn. Infection of a child can be accelerated if there are also ulcers or cracks in the baby's mouth.

If a woman gives birth to a first-born, it will not be superfluous to consult a specialist (or pass prenatal courses for young mothers) to learn not only to behave correctly during childbirth, but also to know the nuances of feeding a newborn. After all, the incorrectly chosen position of feeding can make it difficult for the feeding process itself, as well as deliver unpleasant painful feelings to the parturient woman.

When feeding specialists advise to modify the position of the baby somewhat, this will make it possible to change the force of influence on various sectors of the nipple, this will allow more efficiently sucking milk from different lobes of the breast, which is an excellent prophylaxis for the development of lactostasis and subsequently mastitis.

A woman should also know that it is not necessary to stretch the feeding in time. The kid should feel that feeding is feeding and it is unacceptable to play with the mother's breast for, say, an hour.

The basic postulates of care in this period have already been voiced earlier, but it is not superfluous to recall this again:

• Do not excessively get carried away with soap, for breast and nipple refining. The same applies to alcohol tinctures.
• Before breast-feeding, rinse the breast with warm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
• After the end of feeding, drain excess milk, nipple with a napkin. After that, the nipple can be lubricated with breast milk - it is an excellent natural protection, which includes a number of tannins and vitamins.
• Massage, shower and air bath.
• Comfortable clothes made of natural fabric.
• Do not allow the nipple and the skin of the entire breast to dry out.
• Sterility of materials that contact the breast of a nursing mother.
• If the cracks still appear, do not despair, you should immediately take measures for their healing. To consult a doctor or a pediatrician who is treating him, he will appoint appropriate means that will help solve the problem more efficiently and in the shortest possible time.

[10]

Breast Care after Expression

There are a number of rules that need to be adhered to so that the lactation period does not bring disappointment and complications. To protect yourself, a woman should not allow fluid stagnation in the mammary glands, regularly producing a pumping, but it must be done correctly. In this case, not the last place is taken care of the mammary glands after pumping.

The procedure itself is carried out only with sanitized hands. The technique of expressing is quite simple, and mastering it is not a problem. The phalanges of the thumb and index finger should be seized with a nipple circle: the phalanx of the thumb above, the index finger from the bottom. Intense, but soft, pressing down, and simultaneously shifts your fingers to the exit stroke from the nipple. It should be remembered that the tandem of the fingers should not slide on the skin and strongly press, it must be slightly pressed, "expelling" the milk of their milk ducts. If done correctly, the milk should run a jet.

Pressing should be done on the area of the sucking mug, it is not permissible to squeeze the squeeze above, this can provoke its damage. The procedure itself should take no more than a quarter of an hour and be repeated after each feeding and until the gland is completely emptied.

In a number of cases, milk from the nipple can spontaneously coagulate. There are two possible reasons: large amounts of milk produced and pathology of nerve fibers at the base of the nipple.

If a woman has a second option, she should know that the feeding procedure should take place in a quiet and calm environment. Any excitement or stress affects the nervous system of a woman, sending a signal to the nerve endings, which when lactating and affects the process of lactation.

For women with this problem, doctors recommend putting sterile pads or a napkin into the bra in the nipple area. They should be changed according to need, but not less than once a day.

After decanting, the nipple should be soaked with a soft, sterile towel. Some doctors recommend that nursing mothers, after completing the procedure, moisten the nipple in breast milk. Since it is rich in vitamins and minerals, and when dried, forms a kind of film, it serves the breast as a protection, as well as medicinal material that feeds the tissue and prevents the formation of cracks.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Care after surgery on the mammary gland

Surgical treatment of the breast can be divided into three groups:

• Operative intervention in connection with the inflammatory process. This mainly applies to the acute or chronic stage of mastitis. The procedure of treatment basically consists in opening the abscess and draining the wound to remove the purulent formations from the inflamed area. In exceptional cases, the segment is excised or the mammary gland is completely removed (gangrene - tissue death in this area).
• Operations performed on neoplasms, both benign and malignant.
  • Enucleation of the tumor. It is carried out only with a benign neoplasm, since it does not involve excision of tissues nearby with the tumor.
  • Sectoral resection is the excision of one or more segments.
  • Radical resection is a tumorectomy with lymphodissection performed at an early stage of a progressing cancerous tumor.
  • Mastectomy is the complete removal of the mammary gland.
  • Lymphadenectomy - one or more nearby axillary lymph nodes are removed.
• Breast plastic surgery:
  • Endoprosthetics - breast enlargement with the use of silicone implants.
  • Reconstruction of the breast.
  • Reduction mammoplasty - on the contrary, a reduction in breast size.
  • Mastopexy - surgery for a breast lift.

It is clear that after carrying out any of the data operation, the breast requires special attention, especially directly in the postoperative period.

Such withdrawal after surgery on the mammary gland includes both the physiological and psychological aspect. The help of a psychologist as "before" and "after" the operation is invaluable. In this case, it can be both professional and provided by relatives and relatives of the operated woman.

After the surgical intervention, caring for the injured breast comes out on top in preventing complications and for getting the fastest healing.

Consequences of surgical treatment of the mammary glands is swelling of not only the breast itself, but also the shoulder with the upper half of the hand located on the affected side. Particular attention should be paid to the surgical wound.

To overcome mobility problems, a specially designed medical gymnastics is prescribed, which should be gradually carried out from the first days after the relief of the problem. First, the patient does all the exercises under the supervision of an instructor who has a medical education, and then at home on his own.

To stop edema, the doctor attributes special anti-edema ointments and developed massages. To speed up the healing process, it is necessary to activate the blood flow and normalize the outflow of lymph.

A woman must also withstand all measures to prevent infection of the operating wound. During this period, the patient is under medical supervision, and only they must make dressings, changing tampons covering the wound. But after discharge from the hospital (although the woman also has to periodically visit the doctor), but the care for the mammary gland is gradually assigned only to her.

If necessary, she will have to change her bandage for some time (medical advice will be given on this matter), but the main postulate is sterility of the wound and prevention of drying of the skin, both the scar itself and the entire skin around.

If necessary, elastic bandaging is possible. Until a certain moment, the place of surgery can not be wet - this period is determined by the attending physician. Therefore, during the adoption of the shower (the bathroom will have to be sacrificed for some time), the place of operation should be covered with bandage - gauze bandage, and on top - cellophane or other waterproof matter.

All the precautions of women in this period should be aimed at preventing the development of the inflammatory process, getting the infection and suppuration of the wound.

[16], [17], [18], [19]

Means for the care of breast prostheses

If a woman was removed from the breast, and then she was selected prosthesis. She should know how to properly care for him, what are the means to care for breast prostheses, to date, the pharmacological industry can offer.

It is quite easy to care for such prostheses. There are two main ways of processing. The first way:

• It should be on the side of the prosthesis that contacts directly with the body of the woman to apply a swab or spray a detergent specifically designed for the treatment of implants. For example, you can use a cleanser Soft Cleanser or Amoena Soft Cleanser.
• Then it is taken specially for this process, the acquired brush and is wetted in warm water.
• For three to five minutes, it is necessary to rub the prosthesis with a brush. Do this carefully.
• After this, wash the artificial breast in a large amount of water, preferably flowing.
• Then put the prosthesis on a sterile surface, allowing it to dry out. To speed up this process, you can resort to the help of a hair dryer. In this case, the temperature regime should be small (the outgoing air is warm or slightly hot).

The second way. It can be used for implant treatment and several times throughout the day. For example, if there is a high temperature outside the window, the heat causes increased sweating, which causes an additional discomfort to the woman after the organ removal operation.

1. In a deep container, dilute with a warm water, a special detergent. The container should be at least as large as the diameter of the prosthesis, but it should not be taken much more - a greater consumption of detergent and water, which is not economically profitable. The water layer should be small. It is enough 1.5 cm.
2. Place the implant in a container, flat side down. Leave this vessel overnight.
3. After waking, the prosthesis should be wiped with a special brush and rinsed in plenty of clean water.

After reading this article, you can draw only one conclusion - care of the mammary glands is necessary in any situation: in normal daily life, during pregnancy or lactation, and even more so in the postoperative period. Such an attentive attitude towards your body will allow a person not only to get aesthetic comfort, but also to save himself from many health troubles.