Nursing pads: how to use, instructions for use

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Since ancient times, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers have known that breastfeeding plays a major role in the development of growth and he alth of the baby. And at the birth of a child, the mother must be ready for this. But not all people are the same, someone has problems with this process. It happens that the mother does not have milk at all, and you have to get out of this situation.

Chest pads

Most often, mothers who start breastfeeding their baby, especially their firstborn, complain of pain when feeding in the breast area, cutting pain in the nipples and discomfort in the mammary glands, in general. And then, during the lifetime of our grandmothers, the level of moral, social and technological development did not allow revealing such problems as deeply as it is done now. And many had to endure, experiencing torture at every feeding. Today, there is a fairly simple but effective way to get rid of pain and discomfort.

The solution in such a situation is special overlays forthe chest, to be more precise, on the nipple area, which prevents strong compression and injury to the nipple tissues. Their goal is to make it easier for moms who have trouble breastfeeding.

Need to use overlays

The fact is that it is not always necessary to use breast pads, since the problem with difficult feeding can be caused by incorrect positioning of the baby or other factors that the mother can correct herself, without extraneous accessories.

It is worth paying special attention, such overlays should be used only when absolutely necessary, because in some situations they will not only not solve the problem, but worsen the situation. The following points will help you understand when you can use breast pads. Be sure to consult your doctor before buying them, who will tell you whether they are needed at this stage or not. In all other cases not described below, self-intervention is not recommended. Overlays are required for the following indicators:

1. Early stage. Feeding your first child can be quite unpleasant and even terribly painful. Therefore, the pad can be used for severe pain at first. Watch carefully for the correct application of such a pad, otherwise you will not see a relief effect, and even the child will not be able to suck, because the pad will block this action with an incorrect location.
2. Baby does not take mother's breast. From the very beginning, the child can kick and reject the breast,which is why many get out of the situation by pumping milk from their own breasts into a bottle. After that, the baby more or less accepts this type of feeding. It would seem that a good way out of the situation, but it must be borne in mind that with such feeding, the baby will no longer want to return to the breast, because it is much easier for him to “get” milk from the bottle. When breastfeeding, the baby needs to make at least some effort in order for the milk to go. This does not happen with a bottle. Therefore, in order to return the baby to breastfeeding for one reason or another, pads are used that facilitate the "extraction" of milk from the breast, which makes it similar to getting it from a bottle. This option will not only teach the baby back to the breast, but also make life easier for the mother.
3. Nipple injury. It happens that already at the initial stage of breastfeeding, a woman can damage her nipples. Moreover, damage most often in the form of cracks does not heal for a long time, because the child must be fed regularly. In this case, special breast pads will be more than ever useful.
4. For educational purposes. These pads are used not only to facilitate the tasks of mothers, but also to teach the baby to suck. There are situations when a child is born with a slightly inhibited nervous system, which directly affects the ability and rapid learning to suckle at the breast. In this situation, the breast pad will teach the baby to feed directly.
5. For premature and weak babies. Especially in the first week, such babies need help in sucking milk, because due toweaknesses they cannot do it properly on their own. If this problem is not solved, the baby will begin to lose weight rapidly due to a lack of milk, and, as a result, the body will be exhausted.
6. First teeth. When a child's teeth begin to erupt, this is a sign that the mother's nipple will be bitten more than once. At this time, the baby's teeth do not allow him to live in peace, he becomes capricious all the time. The child all the time wants to scratch his gums and teeth on various objects. Mom's nipple is one of the main items that the baby intends to scratch the oral cavity. And in this case, the breast pads will correct the situation.
7. Non-standard nipple. All women are different both internally and externally. This pad will make it easier for a baby to extract milk from a nipple that is too big for him, too long or too short.
8. Problems with a child's mouth. Sometimes babies are born with a too short frenulum between the tongue and the palate, which makes getting milk from the nipple more difficult for them than for everyone else.

You must remember that for each of these situations, you first need to consult a doctor and only after his approval, you can proceed to the use of overlays. Also, the doctor should systematically examine the woman when using such devices. These pads should be used as a short-term solution to a problem, rather than using them for a long time.

Disadvantages of breast pads

Like every item, overlays have their pros and cons. The advantages mentioned above arecons occur when using, described below:

1. Prolonged use of nursing pads can disrupt the milk ejection mechanism, because the baby understands that the milk is going well, and begins to suck it faster. As the intensity increases, so do the pauses between feedings, the breasts take longer to recover. The end result of such a result may be the loss of milk from a woman.
2. Even if the breast pad is pressed tightly against the breast, milk can get under it. This means that a considerable amount of milk will simply be wasted, and the babies will not be able to meet their needs completely, they may remain hungry. Such situations prolong the feeding time, because of which the babies get tired. Some of them manage to fall asleep, so normally and without eating, which ultimately affects the weight characteristics of the child.
3. If you use pads, then there is a high chance that the baby will consume more air with milk than necessary when feeding. Because of this, he may experience problems in the intestinal tract, such as belching, colic, etc.
4. Discomfort for both mother and baby in some places (walking in the park or city) and at night or in very cloudy weather.
5. Due to the fact that the pad for feeding can be used for quite a long time without the necessary disinfection, it can serve as a source of infection, in particular, such as thrush. She is the most common enemy of mothers who use nipple covers for a long time without the necessarysterilization.
6. Addiction occurs not only in the child to such a lighter option for obtaining food, but also in the mother because it is much easier for her. Less pain, more comfort make mothers forget that they need to use them much less than they allow themselves.
7. Psychological problem is also present in this aspect. Scientists have found that the mother understands that there is a barrier between her nipple and the child, and psychologically this alienates them from each other so much that very often the production of milk in women stops by almost half. Due to the fact that a woman does not directly contact the child, but is fixated on the process itself, which occurs with the help of the lining, psychologically this affects her, not allowing her to relax.

Types of overlays

There are the following types of overlays:

1. Made of rubber. Such overlays are already outdated and in the modern world they are no longer so easy to find. They were among the first and are not currently recommended for use. They are designed in such a way that they are mounted on a different support such as glass or plastic, as on plastic bottles. They are quite uncomfortable, cause problems with the flow of milk and its minimal ingress to the child. The baby is too far from the mother during feeding, the impact on the nipple is minimal, as a result, the baby will not be able to eat normally, as not only is he far away, but the milk will flow outside the lining.
2. From latex. More frequent than rubber, but allalso not often used. These pads are quite soft, but have a rough yellow tint and quickly absorb odors, literally after the first application. They also often cause allergies in children.
3. The most modern and popular version of overlays is made of silicone. According to reviews, silicone nursing pads are the best. They are transparent, do not cause allergies, resistant to wear and absolutely safe. They gain density as they approach the nipple and are flexible enough to fit as tightly as possible on the chest. By themselves, they are very thin, and their density is in the required norm to provide the necessary stimulation of the nipple.

Choosing a breast pad manufacturer

Currently, there are three leading companies that can provide quality products. All of them are similar to each other, but still have minor differences, each of which will suit one or another woman.

First company - Avent. Before use, read the instructions on how to use Avent feeding pads correctly. This company uses only high quality materials. Silicone has the thinnest base, while it does not smell, does not absorb odors, and has no taste. The sizes of this firm: devices of the standard size, small size. Only positive reviews of the pads for feeding "Avent", photos can be viewed on the manufacturer's website.

Avent has such a thin material that will help your baby feel mommy's nipple without much effort,the child will not feel the difference. If you learn how to use Avent Silicone Breastfeeding Pads correctly, it will save your baby and you from contact with cracked and sore nipples.

The next company is Medela Contact. How to use Medela nursing pads can also be found in the instructions for use. In the assortment of this company there are more sizes of overlays than in the previous one:

1. S - small size, suitable for nipples up to 1 cm in diameter in tension and for premature babies.
2. M - medium size fits nipples that are 1 cm in diameter.
3. L - large size, suitable for nipples that are larger than 1 cm in diameter.

This company also makes a product from a thin material. Silicone is odorless and tasteless. Sits tightly on the chest, which allows the child to fully feel the mother's nipple. But before using, you must definitely familiarize yourself with how to use the Medela feeding pads.

The last company on the list is Ameda. The products of this company not only allow you to maintain maximum tactile sensations, but will also be able to correct the shape of the nipple, if necessary. This company adheres to all the above-mentioned manufacturing rules, like other companies.

Features of choice

First of all, decide on the size. This is quite an important step. Which company to choose is up to you. According to reviews, pads for feeding "Avent"-one of the best. But the ideal option in this situation is the opportunity to try on different sizes from different manufacturers. So you will select the necessary pad with maximum accuracy. When trying on, remember that the nipple should be in tension. For premature babies, smaller pads are chosen than standard ones, but they still need to be tried on.

Remember, the highest quality and safest material for overlays today is silicone. Latex and rubber are the worst choice, they cause allergies in both babies and mothers. Silicone will give a feeling of lightness, and you will generally forget that the overlay is on you.

How to use nursing pads correctly?

The pad itself is easy to put on, you just need to make sure that the nipple hole does not fit snugly against it at the base. This small gap is deliberately left so that when the baby begins to suck on the nipple, it will pull up and touch at the tip of the pad.

Knowing how to use the feeding pads correctly, the baby will not remain hungry. They are specially designed so that with a good shrinkage of the nipple, milk enters the baby's mouth, and not under the product itself. This is the size that should fit. If you feel that the nipple is strongly compressed and rubs, then the size of the pad is small, if the tip of the pad is loose and does not come into contact with the nipple, then it is large.

Instructions for use

Since Avent is one of the best, let's consider how to usesilicone pads for feeding Avent. Instruction manual:

1. The first step is to clean the lining from various bacteria. Sterilization is a very important step, don't skip it.
2. The next step is to put on the overlay. To do this, excite the nipple, turn the product inside out, then, attaching it to the nipple, turn it back according to the shape of the breast. You need to make sure that the pad sits tightly on the chest.
3. You can moisten it a little with warm water, so there will be less air between the chest and the pad, and it will sit tight on the chest like a suction cup.
4. If the baby does not want to take it, you can literally add a couple of drops of milk to its tip.
5. The baby's nose should not rest against the pad, so place it so that the cutout edge is opposite the baby, not to the side.
6. The process of feeding the baby and the sucking mechanism should be identical with and without the overlay.

Product prices

Prices for products are different, they differ depending on the company, country of manufacture and quality of execution. On average, the cost of such overlays is about 150 rubles for one pair. But in order not to risk the he alth of the child, it is better to choose a trusted manufacturer who uses only the best materials and tests their products to obtain the highest quality result. Prices for overlays from such companies start at about 300 rubles per pair and end at 500 rubles per pair.

Care

Pads, like rubber nipples, also needin certain care. Minimum hygiene must be observed. With frequent use of boiling as a processing method, rubber and latex lose their softness, but silicone lasts much longer. Required:

1. After purchasing a new pad, be sure to boil it.
2. After using it, wash it with soap. Do not be afraid to do this, it will kill all germs. It is recommended to use the usual antibacterial, without various additives. After using the soap, be sure to rinse it again to wash away any residue. Wipe the pad dry or let it dry on its own. Just don't leave it in the sun for too long.
3. Regular boiling is also one of the necessary cleaning processes. Use it every other day or two (depending on how often you use it). A couple of minutes of boiling will be enough.
4. If you have a steam cleaner, you can use it instead of boiling. This is even a plus, since silicone will retain its softness longer compared to boiling. But you will need to keep the pads a little longer, about 5 minutes.

How do I cancel a fixture?

When choosing overlays, you need to remember that sooner or later it will be necessary to completely stop using them. If it is easy for you to do, then for the baby - not at all. And you need to know how to do it, just like you need to know how to use nursing pads (Avent, Medela, etc.). This is quite important information, which is on a par with the instructions for use:

1. Wofeeding time, when you use the pad, try to remove it as quickly and gently as possible. If the baby is hungry enough, and you do everything carefully and quickly, then he may not even notice that he is already eating without the help of a silicone product.
2. Just try to feed him already without a pad. Just make it a little smarter, choose a time when the child is still sleepy and will not be able to fully assess the situation.
3. Gradually, cut off the silicone pad in small but sure pieces. With each feeding, it should become less and less. And when only the nipple hole remains, throw it away and boldly try to feed without anything.
4. Weaning off the overlays can take a week or even two. Therefore, it is necessary to be patient, and also, if possible, hide all the things that the baby likes to suck, increase the tactile contact between mother and child, and, if everything is bad, encourage the baby. If refused, bottle, cup, or dropper feed and breastfeed.

This knowledge will help you arm yourself with everything you need in the fight against the whims and difficulties with the child in terms of feeding.