There is never a good time to experience pain in the form of sore nipples, so it is frustrating that both hot and cold weather can actually create more complications or intensify the pain you are already experiencing.
The weather affects us all whether we are conscious of it or not. It is, however, more noticeable if it is leading to misery.
Little babies don’t seem to cope with the heat very well. They become very sleepy, making it difficult to wake and feed them properly and frequently. Their sleepiness can lead to moms missing feeds and becoming engorged, leaving moms prone to developing breast tenderness and possibly mastitis.
It can also lead to babies not feeding effectively at feeding times and then not settling well for good periods of sleep. This cycle develops very quickly and before you know it, you have a baby who is not feeding well, but seems to feed every hour or so, breasts that are not being drained well and are becoming sore and tender and a great deal of pain as the baby is too sleepy to wake and latch onto the breast properly.
If this isn’t tricky enough, many moms suffering with sore nipples are actually also harboring a bacterial infection which is delaying healing of wounds on the nipples. When this happens, you will experience pain regardless of how well you are positioning and attaching your baby.
SO BEFORE YOU CONSIDER GIVING UP BREASTFEEDING, PAY YOUR GP A VISIT AND ASK WHETHER HE/SHE THINKS YOU MAY HAVE A SLIGHT BACTERIAL INFECTION ON THE NIPPLE. THIS IS EASILY TREATED, IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR BABY AND YOU WILL SEE RESULTS WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have visited 23 moms, of which 12 were suffering from sore nipples that needed a course of antibiotics to aid and complete the healing process. This is a lot higher than normal and from experience I know that the heat we are currently experiencing, is playing a big part in moms developing a bacterial infection on the nipple, which is delaying healing time.
If you have any further questions, I would suggest that you find your local Breastfeeding Specialist and consult with her for good advice. Alternatively, you know my number, either contact me by email or mobile.
I hope this helps.
Happy Feeding!
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