Even though some tenderness in the early days of breastfeeding is rather common, breastfeeding should not generally hurt. Sore nipples can be caused by the baby not being positioned, latched on or removed from the breast correctly. If you experience nipple pain, always contact your lactation consultant.
Sore nipples are a frequent complaint for breastfeeding mothers, and some assume it’s an inevitable part of the nursing experience. But lactation experts agree that pain is a sign that something isn’t right.
Make sure latching is proper
The baby is not taking the nipple deeply enough into his mouth. For breastfeeding to be comfortable, the baby needs to have the entire nipple and part of the breast in his mouth, so that the nipple is near the back of his mouth where the palate is soft. This good latch is more likely to happen if the baby latches on with his head tipped back so that his chin is pressed into the mother’s breast and his nose is away from the breast. Of course, every baby and every breast is a little different, so you may need to adjust the positioning to find what works best for both of you.
Watch for early hunger cues
Mothers with sore nipples often want to space feedings out as long as possible, and that’s definitely understandable! If something causes you pain, you want to do it infrequently. However, a very hungry baby isn’t going to have much patience, and may try to grab at your nipple, causing more pain. Feeding the baby as soon as he seems hungry will make it easier to work on getting a good latch every time.
Remember that not all sore nipples are caused by latch problems (although the majority are)
Some other possible causes: thrush (a yeast infection on the skin of the nipple, which can also be inside the baby’s mouth); a bacterial infection on the nipple or in the milk ducts; a nipple bleb, which looks like a tiny white blister on the end of the nipple; Raynaud’s syndrome, which is a condition where the nipple turns white after a feeding and hurts as the blood flows back in. If you suspect any of these (or some other issue) might be the problem, check with your doctor or a lactation consultant for treatment recommendations.
Check for tongue-tie in baby
A baby with a tongue-tie isn’t able to lift his tongue or move it forward normally and this means she can’t use it to help extract milk from the breast. Instead the baby will push the nipple up with her tongue, pressing it against her hard palate as she sucks and often causing a lot of pain and damage. Look to see if your baby sticks her tongue out past her bottom lip and if she lifts her tongue to the roof of her mouth when crying. If she seems unable to make these movements, consult with your doctor. A medical professional can clip the membrane that restricts the tongue’s movement, which can make a big difference.
Treating sore/cracked nipples –
Breast milk – Breast milk is one of those incredible things that works like magic on pretty much everything. According to lactation consultants, breast milk can “heal wounds. It is great to put on your nipples after you nurse as long as you do not have thrush.”
Nipple creams – There are a variety of nipple creams out there, and it pays to look at the ingredients. Make sure to stay away from any creams that include parabens, dyes or fragrances.