My child still wets the bed!

Involuntary urination while asleep is absolutely normal in small children. Under 2-3 years the baby is not able to recognize the stimulus and control the bladder yet, that’s why nappies exist. The capacity of controlling the bladder develops progressively during growth and it should be completely acquired within the fifth year of life. After that age at which bladder control would normally be anticipated, the incapacity to control it is called Enuresis. Bedwetting is one of the most widespread paediatric-health issue and it is very common especially at night when the baby sleeps in the baby cot. Usually the baby that suffers from nocturnal enuresis has no problem to stay dry during the day and control the stimulus.
Studies show that children older than 5 who still wet the bed at night account for the 15%, a percentage that gradually diminishes as age grows. The real causes of nocturnal enuresis are still unknown. It is probably a combinations of psychological, hereditary and hormonal risky factors. An insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production may be also a cause: a portion of bedwetting children do not produce enough anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to produce less urine.
Often, even if the baby has already learnt to control his stimulus, it is possible that some relapses happen due mainly to psychological disturbances caused by events like the beginning of nursery school, the arrival of a brother/sister or parents separation.

The medical name for bedwetting is nocturnal enuresis. The condition is divided into two types:

• primary nocturnal enuresis is the most common form of bedwetting. Bedwetting counts as a disorder once a child is old enough to stay dry, but continues either to average at least two wet nights a week with no long periods of dryness or to not sleep dry without being taken to the toilet by another person. It may be due to a not complete bladder development or to an insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production. In both cases, with doctors’ advice, the problem tends to diminishes until it completely disappears. Most children grow out of bedwetting naturally.
• secondary nocturnal enuresis occurs after a patient goes through an extended period of dryness at night (roughly 6 months or more) and then reverts to night-time wetting. Secondary enuresis can be caused by emotional stress or a medical condition, such as a bladder infection.

In any case, bedwetting is a disorder that does not have to bring particular concerns to parents. If the problem becomes unmanageable and the baby starts to suffer from psychological consequences, it is advisable to talk with the doctor about ways to help your child and if needed prescribe anti-diuretic hormone drugs.

Besides all the standard medical prescriptions, here are a few simple devices that can help solve the problem if followed properly.

One of the most important points to remind parents is that scolding and punishment do not help your child stop bedwetting. Indeed, these behaviours not only have negative repercussions on your baby’s psychological health status but they are useless and unhelpful as nocturnal enuresis is absolutely involuntary and impossible to control. Mothers and fathers, thou, have to be supportive and sympathetic with their child, avoiding to scold him when he wets the bed or at the same time praise him too much when this doesn’t happen. Praising the baby excessively or rewarding him with new toys are wrong behaviours as they may lead to generate an insane sense of duty that will become frustration in case he wets the bed once again.

A well-balanced diet may also be a solution to solve the problem or at least limit its dimensions. Try skipping drinks before bedtime. Avoid drinks with caffeine, like colas or tea. These drinks speed up urine production. Avoid also chocolate as well as all non healthy food. Indeed wholemeal products are advisable as well as the use of herbs like maize, parsley, plantain, oat straw and diosma. Make sure your child uses the bathroom just before bed.

So, mothers, don’t worry: by following these few simple steps and by listening to your doctor’s advises, your baby will soon stop wetting the bed.

Why my child always says "no"!

When babies are nearly two years old, even the most peaceful ones, start to adopt a resistant behaviour towards their parents that often concretizes in the frequent use of the word "no".
For this reason, experts define this stage as the "no phase" that corresponds to a transient and natural state of the psychological infant development that is going to last approximately up to 3-4 years.
It is very important for you being aware that this attitude of your child is absolutely normal during his growth process and it is wrong blaming yourself for being unable to raise him properly.

Why does this behaviour arise and how?

Usually, the typical attitudes of the baby that is going through this stage are:

- Every request made by parents or any other adult finds the clear refusal of the baby
- If he is refused something, he reacts with anger and with real crisis, screaming, kicking or laying on the floor .
- He disobeys every day more, showing an increasing will of challenging adults and their authority.

By discovering the existence of the word "no", the child discovers somehow to be an independent human being, with an own personality, will, thought and attitude; moreover in this period the child also starts to use the personal pronoun “I” and stops to refers to himself in third person (David goes on the baby swing) making parents realize that day by day he is becoming more aware of his individuality.

It is also important to understand that by saying "no" the child starts to make his first big steps towards the conquer of his autonomy dissociating himself from parents for the first time.
A further reason why the child adopts this behaviour is the wish to verify till what extent he can impose his will on parents’ and which are the boundaries he can or cannot exceed.
For this reason, parents’ reactions take on a significant value in their child’s education. Indeed, on one hand a too strict behaviour may tend to exacerbate his resistant attitude or to repress his natural strive for independence and on the other hand being too much permissive may lead to confuse the child preventing him from creating those few rules that will help him in life.

What should I do?

In order to face and overcome successfully this natural stage of your child, it is important to follow a few simple advices:

- Take a deep breath, keep calm in confrontations
- Avoid challenges trying to do not be too strict and imperative
- Give your child some alternatives to gain his willingness and availability
- Set few simple rules rather than refusing him everything (for example taking all his toys out of the basket, going to sleep at a determined hour or to move about nervously in the highchair when it is meal time).
- Learn to face his scenes rather than being affected by his blackmails and his tantrums in public spaces.

Finally, it is important to remind that this behaviour is just a transient phase that will end up by itself with passing of time so it is necessary to face it in the best way possible with calm and the proper predisposition and serenity..you will see this phase ending up in less than no time.

Infant eczema

Infant eczema refers to an inflammation of the baby’s skin and it is one of the most common skin complaints in infants and small children. It causes itching, oedema, vesicles, lichenification, peeling and redness in the affected area. The eczema may arise for many different reasons and may be caused by inhalation, contact or by certain food.

The typologies of eczema that may arise in infants are mainly three.

Atopic dermatitis

The skin of a patient with atopic dermatitis reacts abnormally and easily to irritants, food, and environmental allergens and becomes red, flaky and very itchy worsening in the evening. This kind of eczema affects babies particularly during the first year of life. The real causes of atopic dermatitis are unknown, but the disease seems to result from a combination of genetic (hereditary altered Omega 6 metabolism), environmental (presence of particular allergens) and psychosomatic factors as it occurs in many skin pathologies. In atopic dermatitis, the skin becomes extremely itchy and dry, causing redness, swelling and cracking due to a lacking activity of the delta-6 desaturase enzyme involved in the metabolism of the essential fatty acids Omega 6. During breastfeeding period, atopic dermatitis arises soon after the third month causing itching and redness that are mainly localized first on cheeks and forehead and then on the trunk and in the forearms and legs’ flexion folds. In babies aged more than one year patches also affect neck’s folds, hands, elbows and knees. Instead, in teenagers eczema may occur on the nape, on the eyelids and on mouth’s corners.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to specific substances that get in contact with the skin. Contact allergy occurs predominantly from the allergen on the skin rather than from internal sources or food.
The dermatitis is generally confined to the site of contact with the allergen, although in severe cases it may extend outside the contact area or it may become generalised. Some typical substances that cause allergic dermatitis are nickel, chromium, cobalt, perfumes and preservatives contained in products like cleansers and creams. Products like toothpaste, medical plasters and some kind of shoes too may cause an allergic reaction on baby’s skin.

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when chemicals or physical agents damage the surface of the skin faster than the skin is able to repair the damage. Babies and newborns are often affected by two kinds of irritant contact dermatitis. The first one is also known as napkin dermatitis as it hits particularly the nappy area. This phenomenon is mainly due to the contact of the skin with dirty nappies and it generally arises when the baby is already able to sit down by himself such as after the fifth month.
Instead, perioral dermatitis is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth but it is rare and hits particularly young women and less frequently babies and adult men. Often, when this kind of dermatitis occurs in small babies many parents blame the soother for being the cause of the irritation but the real causes of perioral dermatitis are still unknown.

Infant dermatitis are treated mainly with cortisone, steroids used locally, soothing and skin’s moisturizing. Anyway, treatment has to be decided by the dermatologist following a specialist examination and under no circumstances it has to be improvised. Often, many parents blame certain kind of food for causing the eczema and start to reduce or change their baby meal and daily diet without following a reasonable criterion. But this is a behaviour that should be absolutely avoided like any other do-it-yourself solutions.

Postpartum depression

Childbirth is a time of great change for a woman and the adjustment to these changes can contribute to depression. There may be an obvious reason, but often there is none.
It may happen that new mothers start to feel sad without any understandable reason or inadequate to face the responsibilities in front of them.
It is important to make clear that these kind of feelings in most cases are natural and physiological and often they are due to the great tiredness the delivery brings and the levels of hormones that quickly return to normal.

Typologies and treatment

- The "baby blues" are a passing state of heightened emotions that occurs in about half of women who have recently given birth. A woman with the blues may cry more easily than usual and may have trouble sleeping or feel irritable and sad. This state may last from several days to 2 weeks and symptoms generally go away on their own with the patience and love of family and friends.

- Postpartum depression is a depression that occurs soon after having a baby. Some health professionals call it postpartum non psychotic depression. Symptoms include depressed mood, tearfulness, inability to enjoy pleasurable activities, trouble in sleeping, fatigue, appetite problems, suicidal thoughts, feelings of inadequacy as a parent, and impaired concentration. If you experience postpartum depression, you may worry about the baby's health and his well-being. You may have negative thoughts about the baby and fears about harming him.
Symptoms may last from few weeks to one year; in this case doctors may prescribe antidepressants (with the consequent interruption of breastfeeding) and psychotherapy to be carried out even after symptoms disappearance.

- Postpartum (puerperal) psychosis is the most serious postpartum disorder. It requires immediate treatment.
This condition is rare. A woman with this condition experiences psychotic symptoms within 3 weeks of giving birth. These include false beliefs (delusions), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), or both. This condition is associated with mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Symptoms can include also inability to sleep, agitation, and mood swings. In such a cases baby or mother’s life can be seriously at risk. The best solution is the hospitalization and a targeted treatment.

Postpartum Depression Causes

The risk factors that may lead to the arise of this phenomenon are hormone imbalances, mental illness before pregnancy, traumatic events during the latest period, conflict in the marriage, loss of employment, or poor social support from friends and family. Often, post partum depression occurs in single mothers who are emotionally weaker.

Prevention

Even though postpartum depression is primarily linked to your physiology, your emotions and feelings, it is possible to prevent or at least minimize depression’s onsets by acting in particular at a psychological level.

For example, it may be useful limiting visits in the days soon after the return at home, sleeping during the same hours the newborn sleeps too, finding moments to dedicate to rest and your baby like nappy changing, follow a well-balanced diet, strengthens the relationship with partner, family and friends.
It is also extremely important to ask for help whenever you need it and keeping a realistic attitude towards yourself and the baby, being aware that you are going through a period of ups and downs but that within a few days any discomfort will disappear leaving the way to the joy and happiness maternity can give you.

It may also be important receive some help from family and friends, for example in doing housework, taking the baby out in the pram or simply listening to you and giving you the support you need.

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Sleeping during pregnancy

During pregnancy, sleeping patterns go through unavoidable changes. Actually, you may sleep more than usual during the first trimester of your pregnancy: this is absolutely normal as your body is working harder to protect and nurture the developing baby. The placenta is just forming and you body needs to make more blood and consequently, your heart is pumping faster. Moreover, it’s normal that moms-to-be dedicate too much time to the typical activities before birth, as they feel enthusiastic and anxious at the same time: as a consequence, they may feel more tired than usual. Choosing the nursery furniture, the pram, the stroller and all the products your baby is going to need can definitely be a tiring activity causing fatigue. Apart from tiredness and sleepiness during the first trimester, there are other common physical symptoms may interfere with sleep, such as the frequent urge to urinate: as your baby grows and the uterus gets bigger, the pressure on your bladder increases. This means more trips to the toilet, day and night. Also, the increase of the heart rate makes your heart pump more blood and as more of your blood supply goes to the uterus, your heart will be working harder to send sufficient blood to the rest of the body. In the second trimester you may experience difficulties in finding a comfortable position and insomnia may arise causing bigger troubles during the third trimester. Indeed, in the last phase of pregnancy, new symptoms may cause more discomfort making sleep even more difficult, like heartburn, leg cramps and backaches, nausea and even your baby moving. Your sleep problems may have other causes as well. Many pregnant women report that their dreams become more vivid than usual; stress can also interfere with sleep, too. You may be worried about your baby’s health or anxious about your ability as a parent or feeling nervous about the birth itself.

The first thing to do is assuming a comfortable position. Early in your pregnancy, try to get the habit of sleeping on your left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on the left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. But do not worry if you might turn onto your back: most likely, during the third trimester, your body will not shift into the back position because it is going to be uncomfortable anyway. Also, sleeping on the left side makes your heart’s job easier because it keeps the baby’s weight from applying pressure to the inferior vena cava that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs. If this vein is compressed you can experience low blood pressure, dizziness and tiredness. Furthermore, this position helps you relieve swollen legs and hydric retention and definitely encourages the passage of nutritive to the placenta. If you can’t sleep on your side because you are not used of it, try experimenting with pillows to discover a comfortable sleeping position. Some women find that it helps to place a pillow under their abdomen or between their legs. On the market you can many models of pillow specially designed for expectant women.

Another important thing to consider in order to have a good night sleep is definitely nutrition. Often, the problems your stomach may experience at night time depend on your digestion and for that reason, try to avoid eating a full meal within hours of going to bed and certain foods, especially acid, fried, dressed or too spicy foods. Even if it can sound superfluous, it is very important to avoid alcohol and cigarettes. These two substances, apart from representing a serious threat to baby’s health, also provoke severe sleep disturbance. It is essential to avoid excitant substances, such as coffee, tea and in general, drinks with caffeine, like coke for example. It is very important to drink plenty of water, but it would be better to drink more during the day and not in the evening, so you do not wake up during the night because you need to go to the toilet. Get a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

Another factor that influences on sleep is undoubtedly the sleep environment. The bedroom must be equipped with all the comforts a mother may need to relax to best satisfy all her needs. The room must be very cosy and must have the right temperature and the right level of humidity.

In order to have a good night sleep, it is necessary that you feel relaxed and calm: try to have regular sleeping patterns so you won’t feel tired during the day causing you needless stress. It is advisable to have a nap in the afternoon which mustn’t be longer than one hour because if you sleep too much during the day, you may increase the risk of experiencing insomnia during the night. Your mind has to be free of all worries and don’t let anxiety takes over you disturbing your peacefulness.

Of course, there are times when you just can’t sleep. Instead of tossing and turning, worrying that you are not asleep and counting the hours, get up and do something: read a book, watch TV, catch up on letters or email, eventually you will probably feel tired enough to go back to sleep.

Three day discount on all toys!

If you are thinking about getting a present for your child, this is the perfect moment to buy it.

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On Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September you will be able to buy all the toys available on Bimbomarket with a special 15% off!

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Losing weight after pregnancy

Giving birth to your baby is undoubtedly one of the most exciting experience you can go through, an overcoming joy able to make you forget all the discomfort and pain felt during pregnancy and delivery.
Unfortunately, one of the possible consequences of this extraordinary event is the overall weight increase that all new mothers would love to immediately get rid of even if it is considered to be a normal and necessary physiological effect especially during breastfeeding.
But don't be too impatient. You will regain your pre-pregnancy shape very soon.

Few tips to get your figure back after childbirth

Those mothers that lose weight immediately after birth or during breastfeeding are only a small minority: the most efficient way to regain pre-pregnancy shape is moving your body, follow a well-balanced diet as well as a few simple advices:

- Do not diet during breastfeeding: indeed, your baby will need lots of specific nourishing like calcium, iron and proteins; moreover during breastfeeding you will waste more calories compared to those necessary to your body and you will produce hormones that help losing weight by reducing uterus volume. Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day so the longer you breastfeed, the more calories you burn.

- Diet is important, but it's only one part of your post-pregnancy weight loss plan. You also need to incorporate aerobic and strength training exercises after pregnancy to burn calories and keep your muscles and bones strong. Or you can simply go out with your baby in the pushchair: taking at least a 10 minute walk will help you to burn calories.

- Drink plenty of water throughout the day so to prevent you from getting dehydrated. Replace your high sugar beverages such as sodas and juices with some water and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

- Eat and cook healthy: avoid too much salt in your diet as it causes water retention and avoid sweets, fried food, fizzy drinks and alcoholics; eat vegetables every day and make some snacks during the day to help you be less hungry.

- Get some rest: it is important to sleep at least 8 hours a night as during sleep the body produces leptin a protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, helping increase the feeling of satiety.

- Share your object: the complicity of your husband, your friends or your parents’ support will encourage and help you succeed in the difficult moments and discouragement.

Listen to your body

Remember always that your body has changed for giving birth to your baby so it is not necessary being stringy to like yourself and the people around you in spite of what our society lead you to believe.
Indeed, if regaining pre-pregnancy shape can make you feeling better, remember that the weight loss has to be gradual. So don’t rush, it took 9 months to gain the weight; give yourself at least that long to take it off. Listen to your body, try to find a few moments to dedicate to yourself and have some rest between baby meals and nappies: you will face more positively the challenges of life!

Sex during pregnancy

Pregnancy, very often, brings heavy consequences on the sexual activity of future parents. The reasons that lead parents-to-be to stop sexual intimacy during pregnancy depend on many different factors. Perhaps because our culture’s tendency to dissociate expectant mothers from sexuality.

Sometimes, parents-to-be may feel awkward in having sex as the sexual act is considered inappropriate or amoral. With regard to the woman, due to the innumerable body changes, she thinks that she’s not longer attractive and she actually refuses sexual intercourses with her partner.

Some parents think that sex can be harmful and the baby could be hurt somehow and they decide to abstain from having it. In this respect, it is important to make the point that if you are having a normal pregnancy, sex is considered safe during all the stages. The fetus inside the womb is very well protected by the amniotic sac which is impossible to break during a normal intercourse. Also, you may be afraid of transmitting microbes that can cause infection to the baby. This concern is absolutely unfounded under a medical point of view: the womb’s neck is completed isolated by a mucous membrane that blocks the access of any type of microbes, protecting baby 100%.

But there are some circumstances that can make sex during pregnancy unsafe: women who have the following health complications should talk to their health provider before engaging in sex:

• A history or risk of miscarriage
• A previous preterm birth or other risk factors for preterm birth
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding, discharge or cramping
• Placenta previa (when placenta is low and cover the cervix)
• Incompetent cervix (when the cervix is weakened and opens too soon)
• Twin pregnancy.

If your pregnancy is considered to be high risk, you may need to be more caution than other women. As for the baby, he or she has no idea what mom and dad are doing. The baby is protected by a cushion of fluid. Many women find that pregnancy makes them want sex more than they did before they became pregnant. This sex drive is caused by hormonal change and some of them feel sexier than ever.

During a low risk pregnancy, there is no reason why the parents-to-be shouldn’t have a normal sex life, in order for them to live this amazing and precious moment with absolute serenity, without the stress that can arise due to useless deprivation. Soon after birth, sexual activity will definitely stop and the sexual abstention will be mandatory. In fact, after birth, whether natural or by c-section, it is better to avoid sex for at least 4 weeks or until a woman feel comfortable and ready for sex again. The best thing would be to wait until after your postpartum check up because most of the time, a women undergoes a small surgery incision during birth, that prevents women from having sex during the postnatal period. You and your partner need to keep the lines of communication open regarding your sexual relationship. Talk about other ways to satisfy your need for intimacy, such as kissing, caressing and holding each other. In this period , an obstacle can definitely be the psychological status of the new mom that could lead her to depression. Do not underestimate the fatigue and the stress you may experience when a newborn arrives: feeding, baby bottles and nappy changing will necessary make you wake up at night time and then, tiredness may take over desire.

A myth to explode is definitely that during breastfeeding it is not possible to fall pregnant and you can easily have unprotected intercourses. Breastfeeding, thanks to the high level of prolactin, is able to reduce ovary activity but it doesn’t stop it completely and very often, soon after birth, ovulations start periodically again.

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Conservation of stem cells from umbilical cord blood

Stem cells are immature primitive cell types that have the ability to divide and create another cell like itself and also divide and create a cell more differentiated than itself. These cells are the most important mean the human body has to regenarate its tissues and once they specialize, they replace those cells that are nearly ending their life cycle.
Their preservation represents a resource of utmost importance as it has been shown that thanks to these cells it is now possible to successfully heal severe diseases that in the past did not leave any hope to survive.

Stem cells and umbilical cord

Stem cells are mainly found in the spinal cord and in the umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is rich with blood-forming cells that are no longer needed by the baby after delivery. They are more vital and active and have major capacity to develop into different kinds of tissue. It is also easier to extract them and their collection does not entail any invasive intervention on the mother as well as on the baby.
For this reason today new mothers increasingly are deciding to preserve their newborn’s stem cells as this could be the only solution he or any other genitically compatible relative have to heal in case they are hit by a life-threatening disease.

There are subjects that are more at risk and may have higher chances to need these cells in the future, particularly:

- Families that have a genetic predisposition to diseases that can be treated and healed only by using stem cells.
- Babies born thanks to the fertilization in vitro as in this case it is extremely difficult finding suitable donors.

How are the stem cells collected and preserved?

Collecting and preserving stem cells from the umbilical cord blood is very easy.
Indeed, at the moment of birth it is sufficient to use a simple Umbilical Cord Blood collection kit to take a sample that will be sent to specialized laboratories to be processed and stored in liquid nitrogen.
It is important to restate that the process is simple and painless to you and your baby and takes a maximum of 10 minutes.
Afterwards you will be free to take care of your baby, start the breastfeeding and go back home with your baby in the pram only after a few days of rest in the hospital.

Where to carry out the blood drawing

Those mothers that intend to preserve the umbilical cord stem cells have to inquire about this practice in the hospital they will give birth in especially if it supplies this blood collection service. If there is the possibility to do it, you can forward the inquiry so that the staff can get everything prepared at the moment of delivery.
Unfortunately, this practice is not sufficiently widespread in all the countries and hospitals all around Europe; furthermore even in the hospitals that supply this service, it is not conveniently suggested nor signalled by doctors and nurses. For this reason, we suggest you discuss carefully and timely the collection with your midwife or doctor before you actually give birth.

EU Directives

The European Union Tissue and Cells Directives (EUTCD) set out to establish a harmonised approach to the regulation of tissues and cells across Europe. The Directives set a benchmark for the standards that must be met when carrying out any activity involving tissues and cells for human application (patient treatment). The Directives also require that systems are put in place to ensure that all tissues and cells used in human application are traceable from donor to recipient.
EU Directives allow umbilical cord blood storage in Private Banks that collect donated cord blood from pregnant mothers and couples that recognize that their newborn’s cord blood can potentially save his life and store it cryogenically.

Since the practice of the umbilical cord blood storage could be very expensive, in the last few years many associations are born to help poorest families to get access to cryopreservation of their baby’s stem cells. Indeed, considering that it is an expense made once for 20 years of preservation, many mothers consider it a real life insurance and they are even ready to reduce family expenses or to buy cheaper baby products just to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sore and cracked nipples

Breastfeeding is definitely one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can encounter in her life. But many women have stopped nursing their babies long before they intended to because of some very unpleasant and, sometimes painful, problems like sore nipples, that occur during this amazing period and push mothers to use baby bottles. These problems are very common during breastfeeding: the most frequent cause of pain is incorrect positioning or latch and most often when this happens is because the baby is not taking a large mouthful of breast tissue and the wrong technique that the mother uses to nurse her baby. Soreness is also caused by other factors like long feeds and the specific characteristics of mother’s skin. Moreover, inverted nipples can increase the risk of soreness.

However, there are preventative measures mothers can take in order to avoid the appearance of sore nipples or help them healing:

• Don’t try to put your baby’s mouth and don’t let your baby suck up your nipple like a piece straw. Instead, wait until he opens his mouth wide, and then gently pull his head to your breast.
• Support your breast with your free hand. Sometimes baby will really clamp down on their mom’s breast if they are thinking they are going to lose it!
• Make sure your baby’s body is well supported around your body so that he can concentrate on sucking rather than having to worry about the rest of his body dangling.
• Try using a pillow to support your arms while you are holding your baby.
• Do not pull your baby off the breast, always break his suction by placing your finger in the corner of his mouth before removing him from your breast.
• Wear breathable, natural fabrics and avoid plastic liners in nursing pads. Try wearing breast shells inside your nipples and keep the fabric of your bra from rubbing against your nipples
• Saline soaks can be very healing too. Just melt some in a cup of warm water and apply it a pad three or four times a day.

Some mothers find hydrogel pads soothing and healing to nipple trauma. Do not believe people who tell you to apply alcohol or do stretching exercises for your breast, in fact these “treatments” are absolutely wrong as they can damage the tissues. Ask your doctor about using medication if you need to and talk about the possibility of using an antibiotic ointment.

Among the numerous breastfeeding accessories, some of them are more useful than others, like nursing pads to be placed between the nipple and the bra. They do not just absorb the excess of milk but protect the breast from rubbing it against the fabrics making the irritation even worse.

Even if sore nipples can be very painful and annoying, don’t stop nursing your baby as you can still breastfeed. But do not suffer: in fact, if you correct baby’s posture and you follow the advices mentioned above, cracked or sore nipples go away in a couple of days. If your nipples are so painful that you simply dread putting your baby to the breast, just take a short break and use a breast pump for 12 to 24 hours. Do not underestimate sore nipples as they can lead to small infections or mastitis. So, it is extremely important to keep your breast dry and clean and just remember to wash your hand before each feeding.