 Moderate nipple
tenderness is normal for many women in
the first week of breastfeeding.
But it should not be severe or last more than a couple of days. The most
common cause of sore nipples is improper positioning or a poor latch on.
If you are experiencing
sore nipples and you have double checked both positioning and latch, you
may have thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection that can travel between
your breast and your baby's mouth. If you or your baby took antibiotics
during or after birth, you have an increased chance of thrush. Thrush
can make nursing very painful, but it is usually easily treatable. You
must seek treatment if you suspect thrush.
See: Thrush
for more information about symptoms, treatment and relief.
Blisters, cracking,
bleeding and/or pain that is persistent during or in between feedings is
not normal. Check with a lactation consultant, your doctor or La Leche
League if you have any of these problems.
A crack or split in your
nipple can be excruciating and again is often caused by improper
positioning, latch-on, or removal from the breast. For relief until they
heal, try the tips below.
The use of ointments and
creams for sore nipples is fairly controversial. If you do choose to try
an ointment to soothe the pain, keep in mind the following information.
Do not use anything that may be toxic. A product called Lanisoh is
available in many stores and through the La Leche League. It is a
purified Lanolin. A potential drawback to Lanolin is the possibility of
an allergic reaction (your skin or your baby). Do not use a lanolin
based ointment if you are sensitive to wool. Vitamin E oil is an often
mentioned remedy. If you decide to use it, do so sparingly and well
before nursing. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin and could accumulate
in your baby's liver. Safe levels for infants have not been determined.
I don't recommend it. Petroleum based salves will prevent your skin from
breathing while alcohol containing products will be too drying. You may
be better off in the long run not using any special products on your
breasts. No salve or product has been proven to aid in the healing of
sore nipples.
These
tips may be helpful while you fix the source of the pain:
-
Alternate positions
at each feeding. Rotate between various holds like the cradle,
football, and laying down to find the most comfortable positions for
yourself. Use pillows to bring the baby up to the height of your
breast to reduce tugging and pulling on your nipple.
-
Nurse more
frequently. Your baby won't be as hungry and may nurse less
vigorously. Offer the less sensitive breast first.
-
Be sure to release
the suction before taking her off the breast by inserting your
finger gently into the side of her mouth between your breast and her
tongue.
-
You could try rubbing
your nipples with ice before feeding to slightly numb them.
-
Keep your nipples dry
and expose them to air whenever you can. You might try drying them
with low heat from a hair dryer.
-
Applying a small
amount of breastmilk when you are done nursing, then letting it
air-dry before covering yourself up might help.
-
Avoid using soap on
your breasts. It can be very drying.
-
Change your breast
pads frequently if you are using them, to keep your nipples from
soaking in the dampness.
-
If your breasts are
engorged, try expressing a little milk before feedings. Engorged
breasts make it difficult for your baby to latch on. Expressing a
little milk by hand or breast
pump can help make the latch-on easier.
-
Soaking your nipples
in a solution of salt and water (1/4 teaspoon of salt per cup of
water) for 15 minutes or so between feeding may help heal them. If
you have a crack in the nipple this may be too painful.
-
Try using deep
breathing, soft music or other relaxation techniques during
breast-feeding. I probably should have tried this when I suffered
cracked nipple when my daughter was a month or so old. Instead,
every time I fed her I chanted a "mantra" that went something like
this: "Ouch, oh-my-God-this-hurts *expletive deleted* oh, ooh, ooooh,
ouch *another expletive deleted* this hurts..." I'm not sure if it
really helped or not but it did seem to help me get through the
initial pain.
-
If severe trauma to
the nipple is present, it may be necessary to remove the baby from
the breast for a couple of days while you use a pump to express milk
for feedings. If the pain has gone this far you likely will have
sought professional help already.
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