To prevent excess milk from gushing out, splash the breasts with cold water before nursing, then express a little milk before putting the baby on the breast. Slow the flow of milk to the baby by pressing against the areola with your forefinger and middle finger. The more milk the baby takes, the more the milk supply is stimulated, so do not let the baby nurse too long, and interrupt feeding frequently.
The milk may begin to “let down” when you hear your baby crying or when you are out and think about the baby. Fold your arms and press your fists firmly against the nipple and areola area until the tingling sensation stops. Lack of muscle firmness can also cause leaking. Splashing the breasts with hot and cold water before each nursing period can improve muscle tone. Make sure your bra fits firmly and always wear it.
Soreness, or even cracks that bleed, may develop if a baby sucks hard or chews the nipple. If this happens, nursing must stop temporarily, and milk from the breasts must be pressed out (expressed) into a sterile container at regular intervals. The milk should then be offered to the baby from a bottle with a small-hole nipple. A mother’s sore nipples heal quickly if the baby does not nurse for about 48 hours. Expose the nipples to the air when possible or sit close to an ordinary light for a few minutes. Take a mild painkiller and use an ointment or spray as recommended by the physician. When the cracks have healed, the baby may be nursed again, but only for short periods at the beginning. Express a little milk first so that the baby finds it easier to mouth the nipple.
Consult the physician if a hard area persists in the breast after nursing and massaging; when a red, painful area, like a boil in the early stages, appears; or if your temperature rises suddenly and you start shivering. Physicians do not agree on whether a nursing mother taking antibiotics should continue to breast-feed. Each situation is different so it would be wise to follow your physician’s instructions.
