During the first week or so of breastfeeding, your nipples may feel tender, but continued pain is not normal. Poor positioning or latch is the most common cause of sore nipples, and it is important to get help to correct this as soon as possible. When your nipples are very sore, you may feel discouraged and start to dread feedings. Breastfeeding should not be painful.
Preventing sore nipples
- Position and latch your baby correctly on the breast. If your baby is not latched deeply enough, take baby off the breast by sliding your finger between your baby’s gums until the suction is released. Offer baby your breast again.
- Avoid bottle-feeding until breastfeeding is well-established. This will ensure that the baby learns to feed properly at the breast.
- Avoid using cream on your nipples unless recommended for a specific problem. After feeding, express a few drops of breastmilk and gently rub them on your nipples.
- Use cotton breast pads. Avoid plastic liners.
- Avoid using soap on your nipples. It can be drying and remove the natural moisturizing and antibacterial properties of skin secretions.
- Milk expression and pumping should not hurt. If it does, check the directions on the pump, then get advice from a lactation consultant if this does not help.
If your nipples are sore or damaged (blistered or cracked)
- Breastfeed as soon as your baby wakes and before your baby starts to cry. You can wait until after your baby has fed before changing the diaper.
- Start breastfeeding on your least sore nipple first.
- Massage your breast before and during the feeding to help your milk flow.
- Use different feeding positions to reduce the stress on one part of the nipple.
- Studies suggest that the healing of cracked nipples is helped by continuing to apply drops of expressed breastmilk and/or applying modified lanolin (such as Purelan® or Lansinoh®) sparingly to the crack on the nipple after breastfeeding.
- Check with your doctor or lactation consultant about taking a pain medication
- Get help if your nipples are not improving in a day or two.
- Occasionally sore nipples are caused by a yeast infection. If you or your baby has a yeast infection, both of you usually need to be treated with medication.