Breastfeeding is a simple and profound joy; a mother who gives and a baby who soothes, for a bond that is woven. Moreover, in parallel with this gesture of love, the breast lives and changes. And if we know that breastfeeding supports immunity as well as the healthy growth of babies, several studies show that it is also associated with a reduced risk of certain maternal cancers. Without making a promise, it is a lever of prevention that Élhée wishes to address, with you, in this month of Pink October placed under the sign of attention and kindness.
Summary
- The breast, this essential, living and changing organ
- Pink October and prevention as an act of love
- What if breastfeeding could reduce the risk of cancer?
- Breastfeeding after treatment or surgery: a different relationship with the body
- Throughout life, extend self-love
The breast, this essential, living and changing organ
Throughout life, with each new cycle and especially during breastfeeding, the breast changes, in particular to meet the baby's needs when the time comes.
Under the influence of prolactin and oxytocin, two hormones essential for lactation , vascularization intensifies, the milk ducts become active, and the tissues become more supple. These are all physiological signs of a female body at work . These transformations are a reminder of how motherhood engages the body in a constant dialogue between intensity and fragility.
Your breasts may feel warmer, heavier, more tender or more painful during milk production and feedings... But the most important thing for you is to learn to differentiate between natural reactions and sensations that require medical attention (localized redness, persistent pain, fever, etc.).
This gentle and conscious listening to your body is part of the breastfeeding journey and more broadly of that of femininity. It links confidence, self-knowledge and prevention , in the same movement of care.
Did you know? Élhée designed its iconic bottle as a tribute to the maternal breast , its roundness, its flexibility and its nourishing function, eminently essential, founding and poetic . A way to accompany all breastfeeding breaks with the same tenderness, recreating the magic of the bond and the gesture.
How to take care of your breasts on a daily basis?
Because breastfeeding your baby also means learning to observe your body, a few simple steps are often enough to prevent temporary sensitivity. Moisturizing, massaging, soothing... these are all actions that preserve the comfort and health of your breasts, while cultivating a peaceful bond with your body.
- Moisturize your skin regularly , away from breastfeeding, using unscented organic skincare products that are compatible with breastfeeding. Here, for you and your baby, Élhée has developed its moisturizing milk with sweet almond oil and organic olive oil, usable from birth thanks to its 99% ingredients of natural origin . A cocooning treatment, to be tested as a family.
- Always breastfeed in a position that is comfortable for both you and your baby. Your baby's mouth should cover the areola to avoid pain, cracks, and engorgement.
- Gently massage your chest with every shower to stimulate blood circulation and promote tissue drainage.
- Choose breathable underwear, without underwire or irritating seams , as well as natural materials. Nursing bras are particularly suitable for their comfort, attractiveness and practicality.
So many attentions, which, day after day, nourish the relationship with your body as much as they prevent complications.
Engorgement, cracks and irritations: the right actions to soothe
During breastfeeding, sometimes from the beginning, sometimes because it is prolonged, your body can show its difficulties by tension in the chest, unusual warmth or discomfort in the nipples... Signals which call above all, a little attention.
- In case of engorgement , heat helps relax the tissues. You can therefore apply a warm cloth to the tense breast before feeding, then a cooler one after feeding, to soothe and drain. A slow, circular massage, always without pressing, also helps to relieve engorgement.
- For cracked nipples , vary your breastfeeding positions and leave a few drops of breast milk, which is naturally restorative, on your nipple at the end of each feed. In addition, you can use a cream formulated for breastfeeding, based on pure lanolin (Lansinoh, Medela, etc.). Applied in a thin layer after feeding, it protects and soothes without bothering your baby.
- If the skin becomes irritated or sensitive , moisturize your chest every day with a neutral and gentle treatment, an organic moisturizing milk or a natural vegetable oil (sweet almond or calendula for example), without rubbing or using aggressive soap in the shower.
And above all, listen to yourself. If the discomfort persists beyond 48 hours and you have questions , don't hesitate to consult a midwife, a lactation consultant, or your doctor. Because it's better to take action and provide relief than to let pain and worry persist.
🩷 Remember: Temporary sensitivity is common, especially during menstruation, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. But persistent pain should never be trivialized. For compassionate support, organizations like La Leche League France and Santé publique France offer a listening ear and advice, without judgment or pressure.
Pink October and prevention as an act of love
Beyond immediate relief, these gestures are also a way of taking care of yourself as a whole. Self-examination, for example, is not just a screening , it is an active listening to the body, to be carried out without fear or obsession, without looking for the worrying sign, but to remain familiar with your chest, according to its different states .
Pink October (the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness and prevention) reinforces and extends this message. Taking care of yourself is not a selfish act; on the contrary, it is an act of generosity and love . A reminder that prevention begins with attention.
What if breastfeeding could reduce the risk of cancer?
We still know too little about it, and yet studies converge: breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in the mother . This protection increases with the cumulative duration of breastfeeding, particularly beyond six months. (Sources: PubMed Central , HCSP , Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Frontiers in Oncology, 2023 )
A protection which, if it does not replace vigilance, reminds us how deeply the link between nourishing and protecting is anchored in women's bodies.
🩷 And if you haven't breastfed, or haven't for long, don't worry. Breast health can also be cultivated through other preventive and self-care practices, such as regular medical follow-ups, monthly self-examinations outside of your cycle or breastfeeding periods, regular, gentle physical activity, a balanced diet, and kindness to your body over time.
Breastfeeding after treatment or surgery: a different relationship with the body
Occasionally, mothers resume or begin breastfeeding after breast surgery, radiotherapy, or medical treatment. In these specific situations, lactation may be partial, but often remains possible with appropriate support.
If this is the case for you, first and foremost, think about surrounding yourself . A midwife, lactation consultant, oncologist, or referring physician can work together to build a realistic and peaceful breastfeeding plan that suits you as well as your baby.
Because here, it's no longer just about feeding, but about reconnecting with a bodily confidence , sometimes tested. Each drop of milk, each feeding, each skin-to-skin contact then becomes a symbol of resilience and love. A gentle way to reclaim your body.
Throughout life, extend self-love
And, later, when weaning begins , the breast gradually returns to its initial state. This is the ideal time to reinvest it differently, to moisturize it always, to massage it again and to observe it in all the dimensions of its beauty. To reconcile body and mind, and to close the chapter of breastfeeding gently, without rupture.
🩷 Élhée supports all women, at every stage of their motherhood. Those who nourish, those who accompany, those who get up and listen to themselves, those who start again and those who also try. Through each bottle, each product, each accessory, the brand celebrates this bond of love and kindness. Because taking care of mothers also means honoring the life they carry, within them and around them.
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