Author Topic: Sore nipples - preventing them and treating them.  (Read 21499 times)

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Offline Samuel's mum

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Sore nipples - preventing them and treating them.
« on: August 26, 2006, 11:49:17 am »
Lactation consultants and breastfeeding specialists are not always in agreement about whether sore nipples are a normal part of the early weeks of breastfeeding. Some experts feel strongly that breastfeeding should never hurt and if it does further advice should be sought. Others feel some tenderness is normal (especially for mothers who have very sensitive skin - those with red hair and a paler complexion are especially prone apparently.)

However it seems a few things are agreed on:

1. If the tenderness is painful to the point you are dreading the next feed or continuing during the feed - you should certainly get help. A poor latch is a very common cause of nipple soreness. e.g the baby not opening his mouth widely enough and instead feeding too much on the nipple. In a correct latch the nipple should be so deep inside the baby's mouth that it bypasses the baby's hard palate and is no longer rubbing painfully. This page has several videos that demonstrate a good latch:

http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos

However if you do suspect latching is the problem it is vital you get help from a qualified professional. If the baby is not latching on properly or has a poor position (perhaps nipples continue to be painful, baby doesn't have a wide gape of breast, baby's head is turned to feed, baby makes a clicking sound while feeding) then the baby will not be feeding properly. This can mean the baby does not get enough milk but also that your milk supply will not be stimulated effectively and you could soon run into supply problems. Speaking to a professional does not need to be expensive - there are free helplines available with numbers on the FAQ board ("In real life" help, Useful websites, helplines). It is also possible to speak to a La Leche League leader or go to a breastfeeding group (hospitals are great contacts to find these) or 'baby cafe' (in the UK) where a breastfeeding expert should be in attendance. Ideally you would want to have a face-to-face consultation. You could also ask your doctor about what resources are available.

2. It's also agreed how best to look after breastfeeding nipples. Nipples have their own secretions and oils to protect them and washing nipples with soap is a bad idea. All you need is some plain water and a gentle towel dry. It's also amazing how many utterly useless nipple creams are on the market. The La Leche League recommend a cream called Lansinoh which is pure medical grade lanolin. (comes in a purple tube, costs about £9 in Boots in the UK but available worldwide.) Only a tiny amount goes a long way and it doesn't have to be removed before a feed. However if you are finding yourself relying on a cream to get you through the day then, again, it is worth remembering that a poor latch is a major cause of nipple pain and there are other causes too that you should get ruled out by an expert. Rubbing on a few drops of your own milk is also recommended.

3. Nipple skin is also very sensitive to allergic reactions so if you find any itchiness think about whether you might have been exposed to something like new washing powder. Nipple soreness can also be thrush related so have a look at the Thrush FAQ (Thrush) to see if you recognise any other symptoms such a deeper pain between or after feeds/ red shininess/ signs of thrush in your baby.


4. If your nipples begin to have small cracks this can make you more vulnerable to other infections. Lansinoh can help you create a moist healing environment which is the recommended way to go. There is some good advice about how to help heal cracked nipples here:

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplehealing/

(However this is assuming you have already got some advice about your latch as nothing will heal properly if a latching problem continues.)

So from what I've read it seems:

Slight tenderness is not uncommon for the first few days/ couple of weeks but do check you don't have any latching problems in the meantime and the baby has a good mouthful of breast.

Avoid soap and unnecessary creams but pure grade lanolin can be a useful tool.

Pain that does not go away once the feed is established or continues beyond the first couple of weeks or makes you feel really sad should be checked out by someone trained.

Nipple pain that comes on suddenly with no previous history (perhaps you've already been feeding a few weeks/months successfully) could be related to another infection such as thrush.




There's more to read about sore nipples here:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/sore.html

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/heal.html

In my experience I had sore nipples for the first 10 days or so (and some small cracks). I ruled out latching problems and used pure grade lanolin. I varied feeding positions to give some relief and within a few days I was completely painfree. In the end, yes it was a bit sore but it was certainly certainly worth it. Not everyone even has my amount of soreness.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2013, 01:51:33 am by Erin M »
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