A Modern Solution to Breast Feeding Problems
The clinical benefits of breast-feeding are well understood in modern healthcare. However many new mothers with an intention to breast-feed will fail to continue because of the pain and discomfort of sore, cracked nipples. Gel breast pads are increasingly being used in the first few days and weeks of breast-feeding to help soothe, moisturise and maintain skin suppleness between feeds. In doing so they help to prevent and manage the pain associated with sore and cracked nipples, resulting in a greater chance of breast-feeding success.
Modes of Action:
Soothing: When applied to skin, the dressing immediately soothes the skin by absorbing the excess heat out of the epidermis. This is because the gel contains about 30% water, which has a very high specific heat capacity. Additional cooling effect can be achieved by storing the gel pads in the refrigerator before use.
Cushioning: Unlike creams, gel pads are able to physically cushion the nipple area, avoiding unnecessary friction. The gel is very conformable which means that it is able to absorb sheer forces within its structure without passing them into the skin.
Advanced Healing: The hydrogel pad creates a moist wound environment. This moist environment enables cell movement, growth and division, rapidly creating new epithelial tissue and thus promoting the healing process.
Absorbent: The gel is able to absorb and lock away a reasonable amount of excess milk which can leak from the nipple between feeds. In cases when there is a large amount of such leakage, the gel pads can be used in conjunction with absorbent breast pads.
Skin-friendly: The dressings are supplied sterile and individually pouched in special sachets designed for maintaining the moisture level of the gel. Each component of the dressing passes the series of BS EN ISO-10993 tests for the Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices (namely Cytotoxicity, Skin Irritation and Skin Sensitisation).
Moisturising: Efficient re-moisturisation of the trauma-damaged skin is the key mode of action for the treatment and prevention of cracked nipples. Moist skin is more elastic and able to cope with extended suckling and so the avoidance of skin dry-out is key. The gel increases the moisture level of dry skin by 100% within one hour and is therefore a highly effective moisturiser.
Breathable: The gel pads have an integral white cloth backing for maximum breathability. This means that excess moisture that may build up underneath the dressing has a good chance of escaping through the backing film, minimising the risk of skin maceration.